Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

cw18

slowlyfading wrote: »

A little message from me to say that I've taken over the thread from CW18 so GOOD LUCK for Part 3 of this year's challenge

and many thanks for doing so :beer:

means I can concentrate on things at home for a while - mainly my daughter's wedding at the end of September, but also means I can spend time with my new chap (especially when he gives decides to give me a hour notice that he's coming over like he did on Tuesday!) without feeling guilty that I won't have time to read the thread

cw18

LolaLemon wrote: »

I met a guy a while back but he moved back to America......

Well, he's bn calling every week, and today he got a flight home sold all his stuff in past few weeks so he didn't have anything left their.

Now, this is big for me. I don't really do commitment, as I I go running at the 1st sign ha ha.(I've bn single for past 4/5 years.... but since meeting him, I've bn thinking of us long term, even began planning my imaginary wedding haha.

If him n my son get on, I'm thinking if asking him to move in (they do get on, but have only met a few times) I'm not thinking of rushing it, giving it a few months to see how they get on etc...

oooooooo..... thrilling stuff

Whole point of this us... money/rent. What do I charge?
I have never had a guy living with me, infact, I've not had anyone to stay... I'm too set in my ways haha

Well, unless he's moving into his own room I certainly wouldn't refer to it as 'rent' when talking to him :eek: As for his 'contribution', I'd start by looking at what you think it will cost to have an extra person in the property (extra water - if on a meter - and extra gas/electricity, extra food, loss of single person discount on Council Tax and such), but also take into account anything you'll lose by him doing so (any Tax Credits you get will change if there are two adults in the family unit).

I don't think it's an easy thing to discuss with someone (seem to remember a few sticky moments when my late hubby first moved in with me, which was about 2 years before we got married), but definitely best got out of the way before he does so. The one thing I didn't ever expect mine to help with was my mortgage - partly 'cos he was still paying his own for the first 8 months or so, but also 'cos the amount didn't change when he moved in and the property was in my name only (which wasn't going to change on that one). Once we bought a place together (about a year after he moved in), then the mortgage became part of the household costs that got split.

tumptyteapot

Not a frugal start to this half year but a needed one - I'm going to the Beauty college for a facial :-) And the have a training restaurant there so I might have lunch, it's difficult to say no to a 3 course meal for £6 :-)
The car is still at the garage undergoing exploratories, worst case scenario is under £300 which is at least less than a new car. I'd saved for its repair anyway. It cost me nothing to get throught it's MOT last year so it averages out pretty well.

paidinchickens

LolaLemon wrote: »

Yae, new thread
Still only on the mobile for net access, really need to hunt out my paperwork to get my money from saas.
Finally updated working tax credits after starting work in Jan!

I met a guy a while back but he moved back to America (as planned n booked b4 we even met) he was due to come home in Oct for a wedding, and he had decided that if he hadn't gotten the job he wanted by then, then he was moving home.
Well, he's bn calling every week, and today he got a flight home, sold all his stuff in past few weeks so he didn't have anything left their.
Now, this is big for me. I don't really do commitment, as I I go running at the 1st sign ha ha.(I've bn single for past 4/5 years.... but since meeting him, I've bn thinking of us long term, even began planning my imaginary wedding haha.
If him n my son get on, I'm thinking if asking him to move in (they do get on, but have only met a few times) I'm not thinking of rushing it, giving it a few months to see how they get on etc...
Whole point of this us... money/rent. What do I charge?
I have never had a guy living with me, infact, I've not had anyone to stay... I'm too set in my ways haha

blinking hard moving in with someone. I rented my house out and moved in with DH. In the early days I just gave him the money for the bills and he paid the mortgage (bills added up to the same as mortgage payment) Don't let them pay for the food as mens idea of food and womens are completely different!!! they will say there is food when all you have in the cupboard is a box of cerial:rotfl: I don't envy you as the first few weeks are great but then the niggles start:eek: lids off toothpaste.....toilet seat up......etc Just remember if you go through this EVERYONE does and it is not because you made the wrong decision. Oh and if he annoys you don't wait til you have had a glass of wine before you tell him:p goodluck

Savvy_sewing

Hi, well I lost the plot on the last quarter of the year. So much so that I havent dared look at my spending, and have sort of buried my head in the sand.
I keep listing Budget at the top of the list of "to do's" and still it is not faced!.
I must try a lot harder and try to get things in to line. I still have money, just, and no debts bar the Fuel bills, but I really do need to rein in my spending. Of late I have been buying up material and clothes at a rate of knots. All for my sewing habit. Except they are now taking over every room in the house and I still seem to buy more. ordered stuff on the internet yesterday as I realised that i needed some tape for the aprons and didnt have any. But I also then ordered other bits that I didnt really need, just liked the look of and before I know it, my order is £27!!
So its got to stop!!!

paidinchickens

DH due home for the weekend:T Must run round and clean up so he does not think I have done nothing all week:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl

Had a phone call this morning from DGD who rang to tell me her first tooth had fallen out!!! "and its not from kissing too many boys nanny":rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: DD said she spent an hour on her hands and knees trying to find the blessed thing without waking her last night..........oh I remember it well:rotfl: I must ask her what the going rate is from the tooth fairy;)

23rdspiral

Phew! I've finally caught up!

There's loads Id like to have said to people but have forgotten who! There was definitely something to paid in chickens, something good... But I can't think what!

Sorry to hear about sick pets, overspends, falling outs (dont get why religion keeps being an issue, really we are all adults and noone is out to hurt anyone, there are no conspiracies im sure), job worries and MOTS...

Glad to hear about bargains, kittens, and new romances...

I still haven't sorted out my SOW, shame on me. But I do know I'm spending less still, so have to doing something right. We need to find the house from under a mountain of moving and camping stuff. Oh and after Glastonbury I tatted a working tent, a broken tent to make weather proof bunting, a nice cloth carrier and some paper flowers!! Me, shame? Never!

My new job isn't going too well, ive had my trial period extended. I'm not shiney enough, don't show enough confidence... Well, I am intimidated by my new boss so I told them so in my review! Don't know if that helps, but I can't be too lacking in confidence if I can do that! Can I?

rubytuesday

Some tooth fairies seem to work for the Billionaire's club these days paidin!

Off to take Marmalade back to the vet in a minute and collect Wedgie's prescription - it is hyperthyroidism.

The girlie's tonsils are swollen again but the doctor thinks she may have glandular fever!

We both had our hair coloured for free yesterday but I did leave a generous tip, she has been asked to do more long hair modelling so that means she can have a free cut whenever she wants.

I haven't updated my spending diary for ages so will try and do this soon.

Kiwisaver_2

Thanks Slowlyfading for picking up the mantle, we appreciate it. Pleased to see so many people still sticking with it. I have slacked off a bit in terms of keeping up to date with the thread but still 'walking the talk' as it were and pleased to be well within my budget for the first half of the year.

However, just today I got the first of the winter power bills and whilst it wasn't exactly :eek: it will inevitably be worse next month. :eek: It's been so cold these past few nights and we have to have the dehumidifier on almost permanently because of bad condensation around the windows.

scorpio_biker

Just thought I'd pop in and say Hi, I'm a recent lurker and I'm keeping an eye on all the tips.

I recently divorced after a long marriage and I'm still working out the costs of living on my own, so whilst I haven't actually signed up to the frugal challenge I am trying to implement a frugal lifestyle where possible. My ultimate aim is to save up enough to go on holiday to the Galapagos Islands, not a cheap option but one of those once in a lifetime things.

Once I've got all my expenses sorted I'll be able to sign up and really start saving.