Frugal Living 2011 - the preparation stage

itsallinthemind

So OH approved then salski
Definately treat yourself, I did an overnight theatre trip when I was three weeks off expecting my first. Ok, so I could not drink, but I hung on to the memory of that freedom till I managed to get out again!

enjoyfinancialchallenges

nannyboo1 thanks for your suggestion re my jumping laptop curser but no it can't be that because I just have a touch pad no mouse. At the moment I have the laptop beside me on the settee and its behaving itself.....b****r I shouldnt have said that, here we go again, it takes me ages to write anything because I can't touch type so have to keep my eyes on the keys then find out I've written rubbish......unintentionaly that is, rubbish I usually do anyway.

Talking about rubbish leads me on to my next idea, I've just looked around my home with different eyes, IYKWIM and can see all the extras, doubles of things plus my stocking up with bits and bobs and all the stuff I hang on to, the 3 for 2 and special offers etc that I have collected and my home is bursting at the seams. SOOOOOOO, this is my plan for 2011 which fits in marvellously with being frugal. I will buy nothing at all unless I'm desperate. I want to empty my THREE freezers by eating up its contents and as long as I dont deprive myself of fresh fruit and veg I should do OK. I'm a vegetarian and have so many bits frozen that I should be able to last quite a few weeks/months, I'll see and let you know how long I can go without buying food. I figured that if I don't buy it must help my budget considerably. I've just paid off my DDs overdrafts CCs etc so she should be alright now and to be honest I think having 'stuff' or money in savings does not make me any happier and I shall just love making do and reducing 'stuff' in my house. I live alone so can do all this decluttering etc at my own speed a not be concerned how it will affect others. I'm feeling really excited as I'm writing this, I think going public will help me to achieve this plan.

Just think how it will feel to be able to put clothes in my wardrobe without crushing other clothes, Ohooooo I must get started soooon this is all so exciting. I can freecycle, donate bits to a charity shops and put some away for a car boot in the summer.

So lets get on with it, bring on 2011 and lets see how much bigger my house will be at the end of the year compared with now. I will also have a go at reading all my books, ha, ha I wonder how that will go but just imagine having a few piles/bookcases less of books at the end of the year. Its either going to help my finances or the charity shops hopefully both.

So lets think..... no more buying until neccessary in fact I only intend going into a supermarket when I want milk, fresh vegs, fruit and cats food. Oh and I suppose I might need other stuff when my stored stuff has been reduced to nothing. Reduce, reuse and recycle clothes etc. Continue cooking from basics and grow more vegs in the summer which is normal for me. In the summer I shall get back to cooking scones and biscuits for car boots which will up my income. Well I must check what I've written I hope its doesnt scare me. As my name says I love financial challenges and this will be my biggest to date. Wish me luck.

itsallinthemind

EFC...What brand is it? If it is a Dell I may have the answer, if it is not, I know someone who will have the answer x

NualaBuala

EFC, I had something similar. I can't remember exactly what I did but have a look in the Mouse settings (Go to Start>Control Panel >Mouse). There was an advanced Touch Pad setting that enabled tapping and I disabled it - I thiiiiink that was how I fixed it. I like your plan for next year - will be trying some of that myself.

enjoyfinancialchallenges

itallinthemind my laptop is an Advent, any suggestions welcomed thank you for your interest.

The size of the task I have just set myself is now becoming clearer and I have decided to start now whilst I'm in full flow and not wait untill 2011, I won't work it out weekly or monthly but just do it, it will be interesting to see how it all goes. Please everyone encourage me to help me keep my eyes on the ball. It will probably only be my food, cleaning materials, shampoo, conditioner etc that will go down initially, oh! and of course everything else I have an excess of, everything else such as my direct debits and other bills will still have to be dealt with as before. I'm now off to make a meal from the fridge first before I start on the freezers.

salski

Hello again all - And yeah OH agreed! LOL
CCards - £425
Tv licence - £12
Leccy - £51
Gas - £52
Insurance - £43
Pension - £45
CouncilTax - £88
Rent - £200
Virgin - £36
Food - £280
Fuel - £200
House insurance - £40
Savings - £300 + another £200 from my pay rise
Phones - £50
Milkman - £30
Nursery carpet - £130
Spends - £200 for DH
Spends - £150
Total £2582!
Spends includes everything else- meals out, coffee out, clothes, shoes, baby bits and bobs, car parts, dinners etc
Think thats it now (I knew I had got it wrong yesterday! I paid extra £100 off ccards! lol)
Thanks again all!
Sal x

itsallinthemind

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

itallinthemind my laptop is an Advent

Try NualaBuala's tip first as that is the normal fix. If not I'll ask my super techy mate They Fix the things etc

NualaBuala wrote: »

EFC, I had something similar. I can't remember exactly what I did but have a look in the Mouse settings (Go to Start>Control Panel >Mouse). There was an advanced Touch Pad setting that enabled tapping and I disabled it - I thiiiiink that was how I fixed it.

pagangirl

Really looking forward to my 2nd year of this challenge - can't believe how much I saved last year

2009 (when working £13500
2010 (not working £4452)

Main things I need to do are batch cooking/menu plans/and stick to me shopping list - although this often falls apart when I check the whoopsie shelf

Have to keep telling myself that a bargain is only a bargain if I am going to use it, had a freezer/storecupboard sort, and it was like errrm ok, what did I buy that for :o:o

Definitely won't need any toiletries this year except maybe shampoo/deodorant. Have decided not to buy anything until stocks run down except for fruit/veg and bread/milk. Should be a good start to 2011.

Treated myself in winter sales to goose feather n down KS duvet 13.5 tog in Ald* £25.99, also in Ald* waterproof snow boots £14.99 and thermal waterproof ski mittens £4.99. Thats me done. Already have enough Xmas cards/wrapping paper to last for next couple of years so didn't need to get any. (Well stocked)

Nice to see lots of newcomers to this thread :wave:

Hugs to all
xx

cw18

salski wrote: »

I wonder if I have forgotten something! LOL

At a very quick skim, I don't see water on your list?

fingersxed

hi all

slowly pullin my head out of the sand. been tryin to get more of an idea wot we spend our money on and its amazing/frightening!!! I will def be trying to cut some off the budget! We finishin paying 1 of our two loads in November and i thought that we would be much beta off. How wrong was i!!!! The £250 just disappeared in Dec. I really want to try saving some but chuck the rest at outstanding debt. Heres wot i sorted so far

cc n argos card £250
next £30
Elec £55
Gas £31
Insurances£144
pensions £165
c tax £115
Morgage 278
Loan 271
Sky £21
Phones £50
Food £400 Thats a massive £1810!!! :eek: