Frugal Living 2011 - the preparation stage

lynzpower

Oh I dont think I have really been that caredful for ages. Had low living costs but squandered a lot on the good life along with saving quite a lot. However, what we saved, we then went on to spend. Hmmm. So now, although we have some savings from the sellling of the flat in 2006 is pretty much in tact ( we have lost a bit at the mo to stock market) that is hopefully going to remain untouched. However, I have closed an ISA recently and almost spent it all in a few months ( although some was uni fees)! So need to seriously SLAM those brakes on big time otherwise we will be down to nothing and that would be totally unbearable.

It is likely to not be as bad as I thought and my panicking was probably a little previous. However, it is free instertion weekend on ebay this weekend and I do have a few things to chuck on, so might do that and try to mitigate the problems even just slightly.

Am feeling very thriftily rejuvenated though since I saw this thread so thanks Cheryl and all. I have rinsed out yog pots today to use to raise seedlings in the summer. I have put in a claim for expenses that has been sitting about for ages ( its only 20 quid but still) Ive also had prob the 1st NSD for ages although I might browse for a stocking filler for OH in a bit. I have some paypal money that if I haven't spent yet as well. I also managed to do a toluna survey!

HelenPie

I've just done about 30 minutes of insurance comparisons and already found about £400 of potential savings :j The downside is that my existing policies only begin to expire in the Summer

Something to look forward to though!

H x

alec_eiffel

Hi everyone,

Nice to see the new thread. I don't know if I'll be a proper member of the challenge but I will be following it throughout the year. I said on another of these threads that reading this had made us have another look at what we're spending and make cuts where we could and it's been great. We need to keep an eye on things more than ever due to a paycut and increased work expenditure coming in in the new year. I'm going to have a look at the figures again and will nip in to give and receive encouragement if I can.

Look forward to following everyone's story.

mummyroysof3

i really want to try to cut our spending next year, need to look at figures i think

cw18

alec_eiffel wrote: »

..... and will nip in to give and receive encouragement if I can.

Please do - the more the merrier

(And the more ideas we can pool to help us all out)

londonirish_3

along with getting rid of sky and not going to hairdressers/salon, I am going to avoid the high street! I shop out of boredom!
I have just taken on 2 new children so may need to tweak my figures, but hopefully I will have about £100 a week to save and NOT waste. I buy cr*p anyways lol. I have orgonised myself and done meal planners ect ect. really looking forward to 2011

cw18

londonirish wrote: »

I have just taken on 2 new children....

child-minding or fostering?

londonirish_3

I am a childminder

cw18

In which case isn't their food (and the cost of any entertainment) deductable as expenses when declaring to the tax man? (Seem to recall a friend who's a child-minder telling me it was when I was looking into taking it up a couple of years ago)

If so, then I wouldn't include those in your budget - just deduct the money spent on those from your income instead, like you effectively would for your tax records

londonirish_3

yes it is, anything I buy relating to my business goes in the books and is deductable. you know, im sat here with not enough caffiene in me to think straight!

I buy loads for the children I look after, am always seeing things I know they will love, but 2011 I will cut back drastically, I know it would go down as an expense, but its all shopping , something which is very dangerous for me.
I will stil need to redo my food budget , but the extra I spend will get back to me.
Am going to start hoarding art materials , I dont encourage the children to watch tv so we do loads of sticking baking messy play and park walks Its really hard when i get the catalogues not to buy