Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

cw18

redglass wrote: »

Do people run emergency funds or safety nets as part of their budgets? I wish I'd started with one this year. I've had to add one, but I underestimated how much I would need, I think...

After continually having to juggle the budgets for all categories in 2009 after emergency bills crept up (including a large vets bill in the September, which meant I didn't have a lot of scope to pull back from elsewhere - I'm stil not sure how I managed to pull that one off!), I included a contingency fund in 2010 - which was a godsend when a power outage destroyed my combi oven.

This year I've continued with my contingency fund, but also have a savings pot for household appliciances.

Erme

flying_fresian wrote: »

Frugal things

Home-made soup for lunch (and really tasty it was too...om nom nom!)
Mr Fresian made dinner. Didn't save money but saved my sanity
No cash spent today
Opened savings account for next year's car tax/insurance (Not included in Frugal Budget for this year for various reasons)

Non-frugal things

Paid for this week's Graze box
Bought ticket for craft show next week

Now, although the craft show is technically non-frugal (as I will splort a silly amount of money up the wall!) I am not paying for it from my frugal budget. I've joined the VSP (Virtual Sealed Pot) challenge and have already saved £245 of money I haven't missed from elsewhere since the start of the year. This is my "me" money. I'm going to spend cash when I go to the craft show and replace it from the sealed pot, making it a "free" trip for me. I'm going with a friend and we're having late lunch/early tea in Pizza Express which is going to be paid for with Tesco vouchers, so part of the day will be MSE

I never thought of using virtual sealed pot for stuff ...well done you

Well the ratties are home. They did really well on the bus (fortunately it was a no.10 from Inverness though I was still a little paranoid) but I've spent about £20 on them this week what with food, water bottle (cos the one with the hamster cage was too small) etc. I actually got a gerbil carrier but the girl from freecycle had a carrier so they just came home in that. They are settling in well....alas we had a few first night probs (like the hall not being tidy and losing milo for 10 minutes....prayed and found him under the radiator - phew - at least he hadn't gone in the lounge :T and also I put their food - suparat - by the cage and they chewed a load of packaging. Gave them chip paper and a few wee scraps of chips last night along with some cabbage and carrot. Suparat is fine for budget - £2.50 for 750g and it should last about 15 days though now need to get a tub for it from the £shop. Also Milo (the smaller one) has a scab on his tale. Put salt water on it this am - fortunately I have cotton buds - and phoned PDSA - my local vet - and they said to register them (just need HB form and like signature) and they said do that for a few days and if it doesn't heal pop him in. I might actually pop them both in for a health check. Don't know. Also thinking of putting comfrey on the wound that I can get from Uni :J)

So yeah...sleep is okay - going to bed @ 9.30pm and gettiing up at 6 which is good. No middle of the night staying up...:) but I'm a bit hyper about the rats.

I also have details of a good rattie forum if anyone wants it and I got a good book from the library on them. Tomorrow they get the extra cage from charity shop that I'm going to wire on top so they have two levels. So deluxe cage for less than £20 (they wanted £75 @ P@H :eek:) and would recommend freecycle or shelters for pets cos they're really helpful..

Anyhow best go to YMCA now...also I have noticed this week my tobacco smoking is down by 1/3 (saving about £7 a week ...yay...

E

mooomin

redglass wrote: »

Do people run emergency funds or safety nets as part of their budgets? I wish I'd started with one this year. I've had to add one, but I underestimated how much I would need, I think...

Mu budget is the bare minimum spends I have to make to keep me happy I'm being frugal.

I have things like an entertainment fund which others might not use and an "other/general spending fund". I could pull money from there but I also have savings which I'm able to make at the moment as I'm working. If I was out of work it would be a totally different matter.

The savings I build up through doing the challenge this year will be my emergency fund in 2012 and beyond

silvasava

Hi All

Not been very frugal - but have been 'spaving' (dont you just love that word!) Bought a lovely Woodburner from Preloved - just the model I wanted & about half price. Need to put in to local council for a Building Notice (£250 ;( ) note to self - get it done before the end of March as a the charges are very likely to increase! Also need to source Twin Wall flue. Managed to sell some tools of DH on ebay (underestimated the postage though - but still made a profit) Had a day out yesterday with BF - she paid for lunch as we took my car. I had 2 small MS to do while she checked out the shops & my MS paid for my petrol on top of the fee - result! Also discovered a nice new shopping area for future reference (that's what I'm telling myself)

NualaBuala

HI everyone :wave:

Sandra, really hope your roof woes get sorted soon. I have had my share of hassles with workmen so I think if you have someone good, it's worth ever penny.

Erme, hooray for you on cutting back on the cigs! :j:T:j What a fab achievement! Your wee rats sound cute ... although rather you than me! I don't think I'd want them as pets even though I will be happy to admire yours from afar. Just a thought - but have you got someone who will care for them if you take a trip away or have to go to hospital? Hope YMCA goes well!

Redglass, yes, I save a bit towards "household expenses" each month. It's to cover broken appliances or any repairs. I also save towards longer term bills like TV licence, insurance, bin charges, Christmas - in fact I have a virtual savings kitty for just about everything that comes up. And then I save what's leftover for a rainy day fund. It seems to work quite well.

I've been quite busy lately and have been feeling better than in a long time. I've been making the most of it by cooking and decluttering (feels like I will never get on top of it but making steady slow progress) and generally catching up on all that needs doing. Got rid of some more stuff today - isn't it great when freecylers turn up when they say they will!

I've hurt my wrist - seems to be an overuse injury from spending too much time on the laptop so you may not see me around as much for a while, am trying to cut back on laptop time to give it a chance to heal.

Another thing I've been doing while feeling "energetic" is a little bit of stretching and yoga - for free of course! I found a channel called Body in Balance that has lots of yoga programmes on it and some of them are basic enough for my level. I like that I can do it at my own pace in the comfort of home. I was unsure whether it was worth keeping the TV licence but now I'm sure it was and I don't have any other TV charges, I only have the free channels and there are more than enough of them!

Hope everyone is ok - sending big hugs to anyone who'd like one! For anyone who's fallen off the wagon - don't worry! Just keep on trying and do the best you can.

rubytuesday

Hello everyone had a lovely day today - dropped off the ebay chair with a friend as the buyer was near by, that saved them forty quid and they insisted we took a tenner for our troubles so we went and had a lovely Turkish breakfast on the proceeds.
I did and bit of tidying before we went. I was going to go for a swim at the Lido but am very tired so I think I'll have a lie down and I've made arrangements to go with sister in law tomorrow.
Not planning on spending any pennies today.

pennib

Thanks to the person who put the free book link on. Have bookmarked it. :T oops bought it!!! Love painting furniture. Will put some that I have done in the past on my homepage.

Went to New Look and the back end of their sale and they have ladies underpants for 25p each....mostly size 6 and 8 although there were a few 16's. The bras were 50p! Limited sizes but a big bargain if your in the size range. Came home with a bundle for my dd's :T (I expect every New Look will be different in what they have to offer) Also got some necklaces to take apart for future projects.

seriouslyfrugal

Hi everyone,

a spend day yesterday and NSD today I have finished my first week at Mottisfont so feeling a bit tired but happy as everyone seams really friendly & helpful


Healthwalk tomorrow morning so that will be good also need to go to the library !!


I hope everyone is ok & don't worry if things have slipped just start again tomorrow


I do have a small emergency fund in case for example I need to get the car fixed in an emergency


Have a good weekend everyone :j:j:j:j

Erme

Hospital is fine with ratties cos am allowed home every day pretty much from word go...so will feed them before I go (big feed) then come and feed them morning and evening...

Going away yet to double check but believe the local cat and dog home does cheap boarding...

here are the first piccies

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28908601@N03/sets/72157626128840012/with/5474431140/

and why be squeamish? They are just big gerbils

Tomorrow I pick up the extra cage to go on top (total cost of cage > £25 as opposed to £75 @ Pets ripoff)...Also managed to get bedding today from Home Bargains for 49p a shot ...yay.....will get more from there and some cat treats though they had tuna tonight and loved it

Currently they are out in the hall having their run..they have been play fighting today and like grooming each other...

Also I got home from Mr A to find them wrapped up in chip paper fast asleep listening to classic fm

Right off to watch my video from iplayer on the KJV but first I think I should put these ratties in (they've had 30 mins - they really need 1 hour play but it'll be their supper time soon and I don't want to forget. I need to get them into a routine cos they like that)..

E

23rdspiral

hi everyone, i hope you are all well and ok?i've had a brilliant and somewhat Frugal day trip, read on for the 'post card' if you want, or skip over as it's somewhat off topic!

i'm sorry but i'm too shattered to read back... i had work all day Tues, drive to folks, up at 3.00am to drive south for a £20/car Chunnel trip to France!!

it was brilliant! we went to a very traditional market (it even had rabbits & chickens!), noodled around the WWII coastal installations, had a car picknic by the sea, my parents watch birds so i cross stitched and took photos of waves. We went to the HUGE supermarket at Dunkirk and i spent around 30 Euros, which i was happy with - some brilliant bargains including cider, amazing cake, jars of capers, small 'kilner' type jars and a beautiful large plate for cake ect. Dad got 12 bottles of Bordeaux for 17E... at 1.15 E to the pound that's very cheap but very drinkable wine.

the most un-frugal bit was getting stuck in the departure place and finding WHSmiths had about 7 different French Cross Stitch Mags... but i was VERY good and only bought 1. at 6.50E i just couldn't justify another.... But it's the first mag of any kind i've bought this month, so that's a great improvement thanks to the SoW filling-out-fear-factor!!

on the way back to Calais we got a puncture, and as i dont remember my GCSE French ever covering 'help we're stuck in the middle of no-where and have a train to catch' it was quite fun getting help, even with Green Flag Assistance! We missed our slot on the Chunnel, and they were rammed due to problems so we didnt get home till nearly midnight. so i had to stay at my folks and go to work from there - i somehow made it through work today and am now off to bed! night night everyone!