Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

youngmummy

Many thanks bitsy beans will have a look. OH spent some money today will ask him how much later when i get chance xxx

minnie2

flying_fresian wrote: »

It's a cunning ruse

I started this challenge last year, but had probably bowed out by this time as I had vastly overspent. I'm now another year of budgeteering down the line and think I'm ready for the challenge! I'm doing well as I have a relatively high budget for the year, but think that I need to start at this level and work my way down.

I work in an unsettled industry (banking. And no, I'm not a fatcat banker with a bonus in the tens of thousands ) and feel that this year I really have to improve my budgeting skills in case of redundancy. If I do all I can in my personal life to prepare my budgeting skills and all I can at work to improve my CV then it might be ok....:o

This morning I received my 3 Reward payments (£15 total) and have put them into my ISA along with a small amount of the rent money I get every month from our lodger. I've put £280 of that rent money aside for the car insurance which is due in a couple of weeks. I think it will be closer to £400 but I will pay for the shortfall from my wages at the end of March - I'll be putting the insurance on my credit card anyway to benefit from Tesco points :money:

Right, better get ready for work. Overtime only counts if you're in early

i am aiming to be much more like you by the end of the year!!!

well i need to get very frugal - as my initial plan is not working!! the idea was that my 2nd job money was going to go towards paying off debts - however this was the point of realisation - it has actually been going on covering all the bills!!!

So its save save save!! dont spend and pay off debts all the way!!

being slightly nosey - your rewards (i have the same accounts) to get three lots do you move your money? I only get one reward at min but got three accounts

redglass_2

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

redglass I use AGV which is free and I havn't had any trouble with it

Thanks, EFC. Is that on a netbook?

cw18 wrote: »

All I can say is that my laptop is now 3.5 years old, and wasn't top spec when I got it - only has an 80Gb hard disk (which my lads find hysterically funny) and 1Gb of memory.

Thanks, CW, Avast is another of the ones I was looking at. I'll check my specifications to see how they compare with your laptop...

mooomin

minnie2 wrote: »

being slightly nosey - your rewards (i have the same accounts) to get three lots do you move your money? I only get one reward at min but got three accounts

Yup

My salary goes into one account, I then transfer from there to the bills account and transfer money in then out of my spending account to hit the minimum payment threshold.

23rdspiral

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

Today I went around bribing people with a small jar of marmalade and asking them to keep jars in the future for me, it worked immediately in many cases.
.... I jokingly told the guy he could have them back if he brought me some jam jars and tonight he bought a bag containing about 20 jars with lids and a great big bunch of roses, wasn't that wonderful and completely unexpected. Well the roses were I thought he would bring a jar or two but 20, well my eyes nearly came out if their sockets. There are some very good kind people in this world.

:T the bribes are a great idea! and how lovely is that chap for bringing so many jars AND flowers!! gosh! :j

redglass wrote: »

The lad heard this, offered to take the burger and handed me the bacon roll. Really nice of him, and he can't have had ulterior motives because I'm old enough to be his gran. It was humbling.

:T that's so nice! it's so good to be reminded that there are good and nice people out there in the world.

apple_mint wrote: »

Somehow I'll convince myself that the recipes are saving me money

maybe if you find something good you can share the recipie with us, thus increasing the use per recipie and making it better, and at least Karmicly (sp?) better value!

redglass - do you bank with Barclays? if so you can get Kaspersky for free! other banks do similar - you have to sign up to online banking - it's their way of helping ensure you are safe by an EU ruling. i used it last year, it was good. though i dont know how 'hungry' it is, but my desktop is quite old and clunky and it coped.

Sandra - hope everything is going ok.

23rdspiral

i was all for a NSD today but wandered into 99pStores at lunch and found the loveliest and most appropriate Mothers Day card... i couldnt make one as nice for that price so had to buy it.
and then i saw they had huge panetone's - the kind sainsburys would charge 7 -9 quid for!!

hope to have one tomorow though.

and got a cheque through for my new watch that work had damaged so that'll re-balance my books

~~~
does anyone else find Thursday nights really drag? it's the longest night of the week for me, i guess because the wknd is just round the corner, but also coz my OH is out. ho hum.

redglass_2

23rdspiral, thanks for that info - am about to pm you.

Chipps

Hi
I haven't been on here for absolutely ages - combination of work and DH decorating/refurbishing dining room & hall & house is looking like a demolition site.

But I have just noticed the search for jam jars. I have quite a few (mainly Tiptree jam jars) as we are quite close to Tiptree. If anyone wants some they are welcome to them, our house is certainly not the place to be jam or marmalade making in at the moment!

minnie2

flying_fresian wrote: »

Yup

My salary goes into one account, I then transfer from there to the bills account and transfer money in then out of my spending account to hit the minimum payment threshold.

ah i will give that a go!! we have enough coming in! got 3 accounts, 2 are already reward but the 3rd has a massive overdraft so not sure they would allow me to change/upgrade to a reward.

enjoyfinancialchallenges

redglass wrote: »

Thanks, EFC. Is that on a netbook?

Thanks, CW, Avast is another of the ones I was looking at. I'll check my specifications to see how they compare with your laptop...

Oh dear redglass I don't even understand the question.:o Sorry, I cant help you. I do know that AVG will try and sell before they admit they also do it for free, so keep trying. XX E