2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

paidinchickens

slowlyfading wrote: »

I know... :eek: :j it's getting there, thank you!

Didn't twig sorry, it seemed miles away and now it's crept up and nearly here :eek: getting excited for you :beer:

flying_fresian wrote: »

I hope you smacked them about the face :eek: :eek: :eek:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

twiglet98 wrote: »

https://www.tesco.com/pricecheck

Thanks for that I will give it a try but rarely go to the big Ts as we have an express who are quite liberal with their yellow labels Do you know if they price match with express receipts ??


http://www.worksmart.org.uk/cutscalculator/calc-ws.php#.T0_LiKhOgZ8.facebook

Hopefully this is the link to check WTC changes coming April. Surprised many people are still unaware until the letter comes through the letter box so HTH

I am losing £40 a month so any ideas on clawing that back?? Our only luxuries left are, not having cheap coffee,cerial or loo roll :rotfl:



Don't want to see the heating bill as I was quite good before Crimbo but since I have boogered my back up I have had the heating on a lot as when I get cold it hurts more. I put loads of layers on and even slept in my clothes sometimes but still needed the heating.

PIC x

stitching_witch

Morning all! I finalised my February accounts last night and wasn't a happy bunny - £123.71 overspent :eek: And that's on a short month!!!

I still read the thread everyday, but don't feel motivated enough to post at the moment. All I can see are massive RED numbers and it's getting me down.

There are always swings and roundabouts though. BT have reduced by direct debit by £16.50pm but the water rates have gone up to £54.20 a month. I've now applied for a water meter as there are only two of us in a three bedroomed house, and we don't use a great deal of water at the best of times.

I also had a chat with my boss as I wanted a payment holiday on my pension, but he's offered to pay it, then deduct it from any bonus payable in December. If there is no bonus I don't need to pay it back. It's a win win situation there

Kylieminoag

stitching_witch wrote: »

Morning all! I finalised my February accounts last night and wasn't a happy bunny - £123.71 overspent :eek: And that's on a short month!!!

I still read the thread everyday, but don't feel motivated enough to post at the moment. All I can see are massive RED numbers and it's getting me down.

There are always swings and roundabouts though. BT have reduced by direct debit by £16.50pm but the water rates have gone up to £54.20 a month. I've now applied for a water meter as there are only two of us in a three bedroomed house, and we don't use a great deal of water at the best of times.

I also had a chat with my boss as I wanted a payment holiday on my pension, but he's offered to pay it, then deduct it from any bonus payable in December. If there is no bonus I don't need to pay it back. It's a win win situation there

Good morning stitching! Sounds like you are really working hard to keep things under control. Well done you!:D

Your boss sounds fab - like a real human being. He must really appreciate and value you to make an offer like that when he didnt have to :T

and remember - red is the colour of passion! You can be passionate about changing it to black again.

Big hugs and a virtual glass of champagne from me to you for you if you want them.:beer:
Have a great day

Savvy_sewing

I hadnt really knows about the changes in the tax credits. So I just had a quick look. However my situation is about to change dramatically anyway. on the 13th March I hopefully get Guardianship of my Granddaughter, (who is currently placed with me under a fostering arrangement.). This means that I will no longer be classed as working, and that i will however be able to claim child tax credits and Child benefit.
I am not sure how I will stand as of yet. But it will be a change. I shall put the new details into the other website and see what I am supposed to be getting.
On the link just supplied above, I would be getting around £5,200 a year. So with my ESA £4,900 we will have £10,100 to live on. Which is roughly half of what we have had coming in over the last 12 months.
All I can do is think- Panic.
Got to be done though. So I will have to find massive massive savings and I thought we were living fairly frugally anyway.
Such is life.
Maybe my maths is wrong? Lets hope so. But if its not then at least I will probably get more housing or council tax benefits which may help ease the burden a little bit.
I am off to see the other website while dinner cooks.

[Deleted User]

Hi folks. Have fallen off the frugal wagon. Need to get myself back on track. I haven't been updating my spreadsheet - mainly because I am paying very little attention to my finances. Into my OD already this month. Not good. Heading off to read some old posts and try to remotivate myself.

SAVVYJADE

Only got 35p left to last me to pay day (next Friday) so living and eating from cupboards etc!

Hope all a bit better with everyone else!

On the plus side I have a weekend off and I'm planning on spring cleaning and cooking!

Have a good weekend all

Igamogam

Kylieminoag wrote: »

Now thats just not funny! I've a good mind to report you to the boss.... ;)I havent finished eating this years turkey yet.....:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

This years turkey:eek:......heck you have started early

Igamogam

Got E0n to refund me £84.01 as we are in credit and reduced the monthly DD by £20 and we are now generating our own with solar panels I fully expect to be calling them again in a few months to reduce the DD

Not so much luck on the T*sco price check - 2 receipts and got a reply within 24 hrs both claiming cheaper shop in T*sco - over half receipt marked N/A - now I know why when I have shopped in Asd* in past they never seem to have what I want Anyway will keep trying.......maybe a wombled one will do it;)

Ches

Although I don't post very often I do read the thread everyday and have kept up with the frugal challenge. February was funnily enough an expensive month for us as although the month was short my expenditure on clothes and household stuff was higher than average. I am still on course for the year though as long as I reign in the spending from now on. I haven't bought anything unnecessary its just it all came in the first quarter of the year rather than spread over the 12 months. Should all sort itself out by the end of the year as long as I keep my eye on the ball.

rubytuesday

natnat13 wrote: »

Got a funeral on Saturday for a friend's dad, they are making him a recycled coffin and we all get to write messages on the top and they are asknig everyone to bring a single flower and a cake for afterwards. Although it's a funeral I think it will be of a celebration of his life.

Sorry natnat I missed you post yesterday for some reason.

That really does sound like the most wonderful celebration of your friend's Dad's life!