2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

stitching_witch

Could you add me to the list too please?

This month I reduced my "proper job" to 4 days a week and this will reduce to 3 days on 1st May 2012. In theory this is to grow my own business from the "hobby business" it is at present to something bringing in a decent wage. The theory was good - until DH lost his job :eek:.

We've whittled everything down to bare bones; we just need to whittle the bones now! Next year will be all about just surviving, and getting rid of as much CC debt as possible with a very reduced income.

I'll have to work out a realistic budget next then I can add it to my signature

Erme

the_frugal_frog wrote: »

I have no job as of 1st dec, so for the first time ever I will be claiming jsa, I am quite upset that I havent managed to find another job, I am being so tight with money I agonised over spending 60p on a drink in town, its demoralising, however I will be job hunting like mad again so I hope to be back to work before too long. I take my hat off to those who have to juggle living on jsa. This has shown me just how much I waste tho! a few quid on a coffee, a few quid on a magazine and thats £9 of my jsa that would be gone. I haave also stopped eating meat, I am hoping my food bill to be around £10 a week. I am aiming to live on £67 a week, thats for gas elec, tv, food, mobile. water bills. I am going to hunt down every single free resource I can.
I did buy a lovely wollen scarf and a huge heavy cotton throw in a charity shop for £4 , pleased with those bargains. I am stuck on recipe ideas tho ten quid for everything food wise is proving difficult. So far I have beans and bread milk and tea bags lol.

My debts are a few hundred, I will throw any spare money at these to get rid of them asap.

You know hats off to you if you can live on £67 a week. Are you renting or do you own cos if you rent you might be entitled to housing benefit...

I joined the FL challenge a few years ago to see if I could live off £67 a week (which is way below the old target) and alas right now I couldn't.....

Alternatives to coffee out are making it at home - if you need your caffeine that bad. Or else buy a Mr. S pre payment card and like say put a budget of £5 a month on it (1 coffee a week approx - well two - if you have them both at once) and then register it online and you can get a filtered coffee (smallest size) with whipped cream and syrup (can't remember the other extras) and a refill for £1. Used to do this all the time before I had to go decaf @ Mr. S. If people wanted to meet me for coffee they had two choices. Mr S or pay for mine . Simple

Other options for coffee include buying a cafetiere (cheap enough) and making at home...Aerolatte is essential if you want a latte though but again you may be able to pick these up in charity shops/ebay/freecycle.

So yeah....I blew some monies on an espresso machine a year ago which I still use (it was a which best buy)...the day before the hoover (out of a bin but it worked) died on me :eek: and since then have had only a few coffees out...

If worst comes to worst you can always go into a cafe and ask for a mug of tap water (I have been known to do this ). Not quite coffee but you get all the rest of the cafe...

Hope that helps you or anyone else - wanting cheap coffees out. Sorry if I'm telling you how to suck eggs. Apologies...

E

Catslovelycats

Thanks for the SOW! I've just filled out the totals page. If I were to be truly frugal I'd save £16K from next year's salary. As I said at the start, I know I can't do that, but this is an eye opener and I'm certainly going to think about how I can make more cuts. Thanks to everyone who's posting such positive and encouraging comments!

HelenPie

I've posted this in the 2011 thread too but here goes:

I just found this article on the BBC website about budgeting/family incomes, which I found quite interesting:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15197860

icontinuetodream

can I join too please? :D:D

dizzybee

thanks Helenpie for the link to the BBC website just watching it now looks quite interesting.
this will be first attempt at fungal living i have always manged to pay the bare minim on debts and the rest has been wasted, but i want to be debt free in 2012 or a least have has little debt has possible.looking forward to when the challenge starts but at the moment i am trying to cut right back so it wont be so hard when i first start on my journey to fungal living.

SandraScarlett

I know with things being "up in the air" at the moment, I'm losing track of the days, but when I found this thread, up to page 9, I thought I'd really lost my marbles! I thought it must be the 1st January and not December, and I was sure I'd have remembered Christmas!

Please add me to the 2012 list - I don't know how I would have coped without the help, love and support from this thread. Thank you so much to everyone.

A word to newcomers. May I just endorse the fact that nobody has to keep to a particular budget. In my book, if you have saved something, no matter how small, you've achieved.

Being one of the more mature members (an ol' gel!), I am forever in awe of how Mummies cope in today's world. Especially this time of the year when they, together with Aunties, Grandmas, Sisters and friends sprinkle their fairy dust over the whole of December, in order to achieve the Magic!!

My DH and I have worked bl**dy hard to achieve our savings, and whilst I don't begrudge our treats, it's always good to make savings. Through the recipes and tips I've gleaned from this marvellous thread, plus the coupons from other threads, I reckon I've saved about £750 this year. :j:j:j

There are some very talented contributors here, who can recover suites, make their own detergent, knit, sew, crochet and grow their own veg, and make gourmet meals out of fresh air. I know I can't achieve their heady heights, but I pick and choose from the advice given - and it all works out fine. :)

A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year to everyone.

xx

mooomin

I think I'll be following the thread this year again but without a specific budget in mind to be honest. I live within my means but am trying to live a more frugal lifestyle in general and for the most part am getting there. Most of my monthly bills are fixed anyway, although my aim for this year is to get my already small gas/electricity bills down

I tend to use my frugal savings (from buying reduced, in sales, selling things I make) to cover larger treats for the year for example a small holiday or some craft stuff.

I will try and keep up with the SoW though just to keep an eye on things.

Catslovelycats

A freedman after my own heart....:money:

Catslovelycats

That should have said freesian but iPod changed it...!