Frugal Living 2011 - the preparation stage

cw18

elly68 wrote: »

Cheryl i have advertised this challenge on the challenge i have started so hopefully even more will join think the link list is similar but are you ok if i post your link on the challenge elly

I don't consider this my challenge - I still think of it as Frugaldom's as she ran it until recently. I'm just the current caretaker of a challenge that's owned by all the participants

cw18

Dawning wrote: »

Crikey this thread moves fast! I may have to mostly lurk because I don't think I will be able to keep up.

don't worry about reading absolutely everything - I normally skim-read when posts are coming thick and fast (so apologies if I miss anything), but it'll probably slow down in a few months time (or it has done the last couple of years)

cw18

flying_fresian wrote: »

Quick question for Cheryl - will it matter if I've just saved a new version of the 2010 spreadsheet with my budget for next year?

That should be fine - just check the version you have doesn't have a year embedded in the formula in cell A1 of the totals page

BinkyTheHorse

itsallinthemind wrote: »

I get these wipes http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pampers-Sensitive-Baby-Wipes-Packs/dp/B003P2UU6Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293659564&sr=8-1 £5.98 when you subscribe(can cancel a delivery, have monthly, three monthly etc). So nine in a pack means 66p a pack, delivered buy a cute driver for free :rotfl:

Thank you so much for this link. We have a disabled 10yo and he goes through wipes like goodness only knows what! I've subscribed to get a monthly delivery - such a good price and a great help to have them delivered :T

itsallinthemind

BinkyTheHorse wrote: »

Thank you so much for this link. We have a disabled 10yo and he goes through wipes like goodness only knows what! I've subscribed to get a monthly delivery - such a good price and a great help to have them delivered :T

They can change the price, so keep an eye on the emails/pop a note in your dairy to check a few days before. Remember also you can alter the subscription My eldest is disabled so I go through a few, struggling/pinning him down/missing my target lol

I get 1 box per month and it seems to work out about right, my youngest uses but my wipes are more accurate!

I'm using tesco value/sainsburys basics for wiping hands currently. Not keen on Sainsburys ones really.

cw18

SPREADSHEET ERROR !

It appears that (for some reason I don't understand) when I deleted the contents of the Grocery pages in the 97-2003 version of the spreadsheet, it corrupted the forumlas in the Grocery line of the Totals page

I think I've now corrected those, and have re-uploaded the document

Blairweech

Frizz2 - The price book in TG is a fantastic idea. Let me know how you get on with it - when I tried to do mine, the prices were rising so fast it was frightening :eek: I gave up in the end, as it became impossble to gauge a good price/keep the book up to date due to the price rises.

nannyboo1

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

I'm really having a struggle with my laptop today the curser suddenly jumps back a few words/ lines/sentences and I just cant work out why. Friends have said I must be touching something accidently but I cant work out what, any suggestions. I did wonder if it might be because I use it on my dining room table which might be to high????? :mad:.

Silly question but does your mouse have batteries in it. Mine that has did this and it turned out the batteries needed changing - and yes it did take me taking it into a shop to find this out - how stupid did I feel

nannyboo1

Caseymoo wrote: »

Hi I am very new to this forum and certainly to the challenges, I am only 19 but very mature for my age and I moved out when I was 17. I currently live with my boyfriend of 2.5 years and we have no children and don't want any for about 10 years haha.

I am a nanny and adore children but know I am not ready for my own.

We live in a 3 bedroomed house as I am also registered for overnight care as a childminder so we need the room for when the kids stay and I do earn quite a bit. The problem being I am self employed so don't get paid holiday and work term time only and my boyfriend works for an agency so if there's no work he doesn't get paid, so we never have a steady income. My income is also being halved on the 28th of feb as my days and hours will be reduced.

Our rent and bills are about £850 a month and my boyfriend gets anything from £600-£800 and I get on average £1000+ any babysitting usually £150-£200 a month.

I AM REALLY BAD WITH MONEY AND GET TAXIS EVERYWHERE!! SO I KNOW WHAT I NEED TO CUT DOWN ON WHICH IS A START. I also spend more than I should on food. My new budget for groceries is £10 a week for 2 people, I did it today and only spent £6.50 so know I can do it. But my weaknesses are taxis and shopping for the house, I think I can cure the taxis, but I love my spends.

We really want to save for a deposit on a house and just have some savings at least as every week we have £0 left over and only have £10 savings. I have been very fortunate to grow up with everything I wanted and can't seem to get out of this rut.

Any tips or advice welcomed, all bills have been cut down as much as possible.

rent £550 pcm
bills £300 pcm

travel £60 pcm

food £50 pcm

driving lessons £200 pcm

sorry about the essay thanks

Have you thought about giving up nannying and doing the Childminding full time. Depends on where you live of course. I nannied for 20 years and have CM'd for about 8 now. Downside of the Childminding is that work can be fantastic one moment (and very hard work lol with the paperwork). At the beginning of the summer I was struggling with only one child in four days a week but am now full with under 5's and working 6 days a week and earning good money again. If you were a live in nanny I wouldn't advise it but as you have your own home and are already registered as a childminder it could be a viable option depending on space you have you could be registered for 6 children 3 under 5 and 3 over 5 which up here could bring you in quite a bit. I've not worked this week and have lost £400 worth it though for the rest. lol plus a lot of childminders now charge for their holidays as well - I can't do it as I feel its wrong if I am not available to work

Downside is house full of toys - no children of our own lol and parents who take you for granted although at moment I have some brilliant parents.

salski

Some great ideas out there guys.
We have been budgeting for a fair few months and each month (tomorrow) sit down and pay ALL bills, pay CCards and savings then leave ourselves with a budget for everyday things that we want to buy. This month I need to do things a little differently as we have a lot of car bits and bobs to modify the car for when baby comes (adding extra seats, seatbelts, new car doors etc.) Luckily we bought all these last year and now only have to pay out for the bolts and bits.
I also found out that I have been given a payrise this month with £260 back pay - so as this is last month of being a couple, Im thinking of treating us to a night away or a nice meal out with it.
I shall repost when we do our budgeting tomorrow evening! In fact - I might do it now as OH got paid 2 weeks early so its been hidden in another account - I could move it now to pay the bills.....Hmm....:)
Sal x