2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

Buffythedebtslayer

FrankieM wrote: »

I'm a little jealous of those who have partners who are on the same page as them financially. My DH is a financial disaster.
We have just started top separate out our accounts because he just spends and I like being in control enough to have some savings.
Since we've done this, I've had savings from my personal each month and money accruing from the house account, with nothing being put onto a credit card.I've even been able to start overpaying the credit cards!
As far as I can tell, he has been in his overdraft every month....frustrated just does not begin to describe it....

I guess so long as he pays the bills and his share. Very hard tho especially when (I would think) you can't feel that pleased or relieved that the problem is being solved and you can do it.

xxx

quintwins

FrankieM wrote: »

Thanks Cherryjack but unfortunately I've tried the sitting down talking and the me being in control. Neither have worked.
Me being in control just meant that he spent and I had to figure out how to pay for it...

At least this way, his overdraft and his credit card are his problem...

could you try giving him a set amount of spending money in cash and restricting acess to his accounts? ofcourse making sure all his bills are paid first

see it might not be your problem now but what if you marry or want to buy a house, me and hubby have different views on money due to different upbringings, he does see the positives of saving like a house, but he's used to treats and takeaways and the best gadgets on the market, we acually had a fight because he wanted to buy me an ipad for xmas, a nice guesture but completely unneeded and far too expensive and he just wouldn't let up until i acually had to shout at him that i didn't want it, despite me being clear i didn't from teh start

icontinuetodream

FrankieM wrote: »

I'm a little jealous of those who have partners who are on the same page as them financially. My DH is a financial disaster.
We have just started top separate out our accounts because he just spends and I like being in control enough to have some savings.
Since we've done this, I've had savings from my personal each month and money accruing from the house account, with nothing being put onto a credit card.I've even been able to start overpaying the credit cards!
As far as I can tell, he has been in his overdraft every month....frustrated just does not begin to describe it....

I know how you feel!! This year, I have paid for a new bed, decorated my bedroom, paid well over half towards the major garden overhaul, paid for his car tax and paid for our attendance at his sisters wedding..... My dh managed to pay 1.6k into his overdraft in October (which was an insurance payout anyway) and now its back up to its limit!!:mad: I really don't know how he does it...he says that he is on board with the frugal living when I whinge about it...then goes to the shop for a couple of things and comes back with £20 worth of crisps and cr*p _pale_:mad: Honestly, it drives me entirely insane.... It's not that he is deliberately doing my head in, he is just genuinely rubbish with money.... we have seperate accounts now - we used to have all his cash paid into my bank and all was good then - but I know that if anything actually gets done, it will be down to me.... and I am not bailing him out again!!!:D I want to change my life and the way I see it, its going to be an uphill struggle all the way....

FrankieM

I'm glad I'm not the only one...
We are married and we do have a house. We've been together 18 years and he has always been the same. Though as he's earned more and more, I think he has almost lost the understanding of the value of money.

At the moment I'm studying so don't earn a wage so it's 'his' money that fully funds the house account and also pays some money into my personal account...the rest is his.

I'm tired of the arguing and I'm tired of pointing out that we have no money when he mentions buying something so as long as it's from his account or on his credit card, then it's up to him.
I think when I'm working I'm going to try to separate financially from him and then I won't be affected in anyway by his choices...

rictus123

Well i have a few investments put away now so i can try and maximise my surplus next year. Living at home should be so easy to be frugal. Yet its not?

_Tru_

Please add me to the list: _Tru_

Hi all,

I've been browsing lately & have just joined the forums & started my own diary & would love to join on this challenge too, please?

I had debt, but am now debt free. I am determined to stay that way, hence the diary. I would like to not set an actual budget amount but rather just post generally, as I've seen some other posters may be doing.

Thanks in advance & nice to meet you all.


Tru.

dizzy_lizzie

:hello: Hi Tru. Welcome aboardYou'll be hard pressed to find a more supportive band of people than those who sign up to the frugal threads...we're all in this together

Hi Cherryjack. My tree's still looking lovely :beer:
Frankie and icontinuetodream I hope things improve with your other halves and they eventually come round to your way of thinking.

x

rising_from_the_ashes

FrankieM wrote: »

I think when I'm working I'm going to try to separate financially from him and then I won't be affected in anyway by his choices...

Sorry Frankie but you won't be able to do that ...... you can't financially disassociate yourself from your DH if you're married and living at the same address.

Might therefore be worth another try at getting him to try to sort things out as if he does have bad credit, it will affect your chances of obtaining any in the future (if you are associated). Sorry .....

Cherryjack wrote: »

Ive only been doing MSE for the last month and the peace of mind i now have and the lovely sleep im getting is amazing! me and OH are getting on so so well as being in control with the money is really helping. We now have money left for after xmas (usually we are so skint, we have nothing until the end of jan).. i have full cuboards of food, petrol.. we are going to the cinema on sunday to see arthur with my son for the first time (using clubcard vouchers)... and life is feeling so much better .. my bank balance has a C after it instead of D's
We are off to OH mums this eve for a big family meal.. now usually i wouldnt think anything of this.. now im thinking im very gratefull for us all to be fed for nothing and will appreciate it so much more than we ever did.
Frugal all the way for 2012..

Cherry - what an inspiring post .... thanks, it's really cheered me up

rising_from_the_ashes

icontinuetodream wrote: »

realised that I have a lot of unidentified things in my freezer so intend to have the days between saturday 17th and solstice as 'who knows what we may be eating today???' days :rotfl:could end up either interesting or disasterous.....but I'm sure it will be fun....and frugal!! :T

Snap!

I've been trying to pluck up the courage for a while but must give it a go (problem is, I know I've got a load of sauces only left over from casseroles and they'd not be too great without something to go with them!).


So .... does anyone know of any labels that actually remain stuck onto plastic tubs in the freezer?

I have a lot of the wee round tubs that I*kea did ages ago (may still do them, I've not been for ages) and these are great for single portions but the labels just seem to peel straight off them in the freezer ......:(

findingmyfeet

morning all

frankiem- my dh is exactly the same with money. if theres money anywhere he will spend it and rarely uses what he has bought!!! sends me crazy. Now after much heated..and i mean HEATED debate(argument and me telling him im no longer putting up with it) we have come to an agreement :

1. all household bills to be met/put aside on pay day
2. all annual bills to be saved for and put away on pay day - have just set up an online saver in my name for this to go into every month.
3. cars fuelled up on pay day and extra money for later in the months petrol.
4. max 1 takeaway a month (will avoid that at all costs too unless he cries!!! lol)
5.grocery budget to be set and stuck to
6. savings account set up for hols, emergencies and christmas etc, paid into on pay day
7. packed hm lunches for work everyday
8. dh geting £15 per week for spending and £6 for his weekly sports session.

we will see how it goes! hopefully everything is covered, savings should grow and we will not get into debt or use cc at all. managed 2 weeks so far and he hasnt complained. Have saved money for christmas and factored in a couple of cheap nights out so we shouldnt feel deprived. I have hated living month to month and having no money for so many years that im more determined than ever to improve everything.

today i have more beetroot to pickle and chutney but i have seen a cake recipe or 2 with beetroot in so may do that if i have the ingredients in. Was given a dozen fresh eggs yesterday by my friend with chickens so will be giving her a jar of lemon curd in return. half way through another scarf and one left to do but they knit up quickly so another gift and one for myself.

very cold and thick with frost here today, have a nice day everyone