Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

cw18

lilylass wrote: »

Sorry guys, think it may be me - is it very, very clever and knows it's Feb! (even though I don't have any Feb totals in!)

Yep, I coded it so that it updates 'desired maximum spend by end of month' on the 1st of each month

There is some info on that on the very first page of the spreadsheet - should tell you how to over-ride it and re-instate it at a later date (just in case you're still balancing figures in the first few days of the next month)

minnie2

hi wow i kcant keep up at the minute!! we are having a busy/ hard week!! hubbys car has died - and although we were planinng to go to one car - it has come too soon and we are not ready! so busy busy and stressful! wil try and get updated soon!

natnat13

silvasava wrote: »

Natnat13 - what a super idea! I have quite a few friends who are avid readers & we swap books (none of us are hoarders unlike DH!) You've given me an idea for raising funds for our local hospice & the chance of some new reads!!

I'll let you know how it goes. I think the rules are that if you want more books than you bought you can pay an additional 50p a book and I think she's doing it with DVDs as well. I must read the invite again!! You could do a raffle and maybe have a donation box for refreshments or a cake stall as well?

rising_from_the_ashes

cw18 wrote: »

Yep, I coded it so that it updates 'desired maximum spend by end of month' on the 1st of each month

There is some info on that on the very first page of the spreadsheet - should tell you how to over-ride it and re-instate it at a later date (just in case you're still balancing figures in the first few days of the next month)

Thanks Cheryl, I really take my hat off to you being able to create a fantastic spreadsheet like this - autosum's about the limit of my expertise!:T

All in all, not too bad - most of the car budget (service, tax and breakdown cover) all fully spent but all due in Jan so now done for the year!

Everything else on/under budget apart from the groceries:( but can be part explained by the following....

Having a dilema re pet costs - I've got things like insurance in the "reg" payments but would really like to try to cut down on the rest of the costs and not sure the best way to show these..

Some food comes from the supermarket (ie pouches for cats, veg for dog) but some bits (ie litter for cats, big bags of food for dog) come from the pet shop etc.

Any ideas?

I was thinking of "converting" the "T&C" page to a "pets" page (tend to get T&C at supermarket/somewhere else so could add amount to the "groceries" &/or "others" budget).

Advice appreciated!

landregistrylass

Evening all. Chicken curry from whoopsied large chicken (Thanks Mr T) but bought some mango chutney.............which sort of negates the savings. Oh dear. Anyone got any recipes? Weekend is posting ebay sales and buying some padded envelopes for next wave. My life is so glamorous.

23rdspiral

Hi everyone, well the meeting with HR was sort of what i expected... i've been given 2 weeks to present ideas of how to save my job! um...
then i'll get my official Big R Letter still, on the plus side, thats 2 weeks more pay.

Mooloo - i dont keep a recond either (well i supose i do now with the SofWonder), and am not sure if car boot fabric to repurpose would count anyway!

Thanks NualaBuala - my camear is playing up at the mo, but if i can get it to work soon i'll post a piccy of my bag, though it's really noting special. my flickr account is growing cobwebs for lack of use!

Midwinter - congrats on putting the whoopsie cake down! that's one of my biggest weaknesses, and i really dont think i've have been able to leave it there!

natnat13 wrote: »

I have started reading a great book about dieting and the author has written one called The Thrift Book, it's By India Knight, has anyone read it? She's a very funny writer so I might have to indulge!

um, i have it. it was a kind present and is funny in places, but sometimes for the wrong reasons! like suggesting saving on clothing expenses by only buying good quality desiger in the first place!!! dont get me wrong, it is a good read, but not quite my idea of real thrift! (so maybe a visit to the lib? redglass - loved your rant btw! :T)

cw18

lilylass wrote: »

I was thinking of "converting" the "T&C" page to a "pets" page (tend to get T&C at supermarket/somewhere else so could add amount to the "groceries" &/or "others" budget).

Advice appreciated!

Alternatively, email me your spreadsheet (so that you don't lose everything you've put in it so far), and I can generate an additional page for each month for recording your pet spends

rising_from_the_ashes

cw18 wrote: »

Alternatively, email me your spreadsheet (so that you don't lose everything you've put in it so far), and I can generate an additional page for each month for recording your pet spends

Awww, thanks & that would be wonderful! (I did think of trying that but knew I'd just b****r the whole thing up!).

Now, just to prove that I'm pc illiterate - how do I add a file to a PM?:o

23rdspiral

Hi CW, since you're thinking about the SpreadsheetOW i thought i'd ask... i spent 70quid on groceries in Jan, i'd given myself a 25pw / 100p/m budget.... but the Jan total square is in Red. i'm confused. my car insurance is also in red, which is fine (well its not, but it was more than budgeted), Any Ideas?

edit - more info
- toiletries spent 7.00 budgeted 10, so the 7 is in black.
- petrol budgeted 100, spent 92 but the 92 is not black it's red.
- Others (mostly craft supplies) is red with a minus sign, as i didnt fill a budget in for that yet! (am monitoring for first time ever though). Sorry.

cw18

lilylass wrote: »

Awww, thanks & that would be wonderful! (I did think of trying that but knew I'd just b****r the whole thing up!).

Now, just to prove that I'm pc illiterate - how do I add a file to a PM?:o

you don't - I'll PM you my email address, and you send it that way