Frugal Living 2011 - the preparation stage

Marru

Ok I have now budget. It is completely pulled out of thin air as I have just moved and don't know how this house behaves when it comes to utilities costs. I have excluded my rent, council tax, car, my study expenses, child care, DD's school uniform and loan payments.

So this is what is left:

Electricity -120
Gas -360
Water -240
Broadband -120
Landline -180
Mobile -120
Memberships -15
DD Saturday school -70
Food -1300
Toiletries -100
Clothes & shoes -400
Haircuts -150
Household -100
Cards and gifts -100
Fitness -300
Days out with DD -240
Other -85
In total £4,000.- :eek: gulp....

ETA: ops forgot TV licence which is 12.37 per month and might go up in March so that wipes out my other and brings clothes and shoes down

cw18

Marru wrote: »

ETA: ops forgot TV licence which is 12.37 per month and might go up in March so that wipes out my other and brings clothes and shoes down

No it won't go up (or shouldn't anyway) - the government have frozen it for a few years

10canjul

Hi I'm new to these forums but like the look of this one. Reading the post have a lot of planning to do over next week to work out budget ect. So any advice would be welcomed

Marru

Oh good , anyway if I can stick with this budget I should be able to throw £4k towards my loan :j

cw18

10canjul wrote: »

Hi I'm new to these forums but like the look of this one. Reading the post have a lot of planning to do over next week to work out budget ect. So any advice would be welcomed

Start by making a list of where your money goes, then try and figure out what you need/want to be spending on each of those categories next year.

If you opt to include things like council tax, then this is a 'need to spend' that you can't do anything about to change the amount. Things like insurance are a 'need to spend' that you have some control over as you can shop around. Gas/Electricity are also 'need to spend' categories you have some control over (ie. switch supplier and/or reduce use).

Groceries is clearly a 'need to spend' category, but should be one you have a lot more control over. So have a good think about what you're currently spending, and then about what you'd like to be spending (which for most us is probably lower than the first figure )

Things like clothes are 'want to spends', but you should still try and come up with a figure you don't want to exceed (and realistically think you have a chance of staying within)

grandma247

hello Marru :hello:

Marru

Hello!!

Hope you are well

grandma247

Yes I am. I hope you are feeling ok too now. I had a little peep at your diary? the other day. Things seem to be better for you now.

jo70mo

Ok, found this thread thanks to elly68 and have been lurking but now decided to join. will try and work out my budget by weekend - GULP.
Jo x

Marru

grandma247 wrote: »

Yes I am. I hope you are feeling ok too now. I had a little peep at your diary? the other day. Things seem to be better for you now.

Yes thanks, as long as I think I am in control it is ok hence needing this challenge. Working on my spreadsheet now