Frugal Living 2011 - the preparation stage

londonirish_3

lynzpower wrote: »

Yes, it does sound like there might be gas escaping, that bouiler clicking away sounds weird, did you get a carbon monixide alarm?

Hope it comes down for you a lot, sounds like you have been spending a fortune and you do have to wonder why :eek:

yes I bought 2. iv put one on lounge wall, as thats where the fire is , and one in kitchen as we use gas for the hob.

and thanks cw18 , for the licence info x

hollysmum22

Home £187.08 Insurance £12.05 Eats, Drinks & Smokes £85.00 Transport & Travel £20.00 Debt Repayments £92.27 Savings & Investments £0.00 Family £40.00 Fun & Frolics £0.00 Health & Beauty £0.00 Clothes £12.50 Education & Courses £0.00 Big One Offs £119.93 Odds & Sods £10.00 does this seem like a realistic first budget (used :money: planner)
£578.84 per month

Doom_and_Gloom

cw18 wrote: »

£145.50

They announced they were freezing it for the next 6 years

I was so happy when I looked on there and they said they were freezing the cost . It basically works out at £2.80/week now which I don't think is too bad.

cw18

hollysmum22

I assume 'home' includes utility bills?

Have to say that your grocery budget looks low. I'm not saying it's not 'do-able', as I know there are some low budgets in the grocery challenge thread, but the lowest I managed in 2010 was £1.70 per person per day and you appear to be 2 adults and a nipper.

cw18

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

It basically works out at £2.80/week now which I don't think is too bad.

But £2.80/wk I can utilise better elsewhere, especially given I haven't watched TV since April time. And between then and June I only turned it on for my GDs.

Had to have the licence until early Sept though, as DS used to watch the set in his room - and that knocked me into a new quarter of my licence, so I can watch any Christmas shows I hear about and fancy..... then on New Years Eve I'll be up in my loft disabling the aerial

hollysmum22

ok revised budget thank you cw18 for point out my mistake lol

Home £187.08 Insurance £12.05 Eats, Drinks & Smokes £135.00 Transport & Travel £20.00 Debt Repayments £92.27 Savings & Investments £0.00 Family £40.00 Fun & Frolics £0.00 Health & Beauty £0.00 Clothes £12.50 Education & Courses £0.00 Big One Offs £119.93 Odds & Sods £10.00 £628.84

cw18

hollysmum22 wrote: »

ok revised budget thank you cw18 for point out my mistake lol

I wasn't sure if you were a very savvy shopper / grew a lot of your own produce or whether it was an optomistic figure..... just didn't like to think of one (or more) of you going hungry in order to come in on budget

londonirish_3

this year I have spent £20 plus on washing detergent. Last night I bought a pack of soapnuts, which will last 75 washes, so with the stuff I have stored in cupboard ( cos I dont really like the smell of it ) I will have enough to wash clothes all year. that is providing I do not have an adverse reaction to soapnuts. total cost £3.75 inc packaging and posting.

sparkle76

Hi LondonIrish,
I have loads of soapnuts as did not continue to use them, laziness really. Does anyone reckon I could use say 2 soapnuts and a mix of Bold powder (I like the smell)?

NualaBuala

londonirish wrote: »

this year I have spent £20 plus on washing detergent. Last night I bought a pack of soapnuts, which will last 75 washes, so with the stuff I have stored in cupboard ( cos I dont really like the smell of it ) I will have enough to wash clothes all year. that is providing I do not have an adverse reaction to soapnuts. total cost £3.75 inc packaging and posting.

They are very gentle on skin - and you can reuse them too. I have about 4 in the little bag and they do me for several washes. I add some soda crystals for a boost if if there is a lot of dirt. If the stains are really bad I use the oxy bleach powder which is much cheaper in the pound shop. And then I use white vinegar for fabric conditioner which works great.:)