2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

rising_from_the_ashes

Quintwins wishing you all happiness in your new home (when the time comes!) .... sounds heavenly!:D

SF :j great to see you back ..... can't wait to hear all about it!


On a budget side .... loads of things overspent this month already - have done some jiggling as a few things moved to annual bills / paid in advance for my landline which has saved a lot (savings split between broadband & mobile - both new contracts).

The cost of fuel is crippling me but don't have much leeway in the other budgets to shuffle funds over to cover the extra (have moved £75 from Gas & Elec but still looking short) so it looks like an overspend is likely for the year ..... (unless I up my total spend which I really don't want to do). ETA and having my 1st haircut of the year next week!

Several things now paid for the year (which is good) and I have made some overall savings doing this - but it doesn't make the SOW look good!:)

rubytuesday

I have a wonky quiche and a wonky cake - realised to late that the baking tray I put them on was wonky!

Oh well will still taste good.

Lots more cooking to do but getting there!

Oh and having a party is far from frugal!

slowlyfading

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

SF :j great to see you back ..... can't wait to hear all about it!

Just wrote a mega post about it in my journal on here

rising_from_the_ashes

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

The cost of fuel is crippling me but don't have much leeway in the other budgets to shuffle funds over to cover the extra (have moved £75 from Gas & Elec but still looking short) so it looks like an overspend is likely for the year

Just been doing a bit of research .... price of unleaded / litre in March 09 was 90.7p. Price at pump today is 141.7p.

Difference = + 56%
Pay rise during that time = 0

mmmmmmmm, says it all really! Dreading the extra 3p (+ vat on top of that!) that's due!


SF will be having a read shortly:D

Kylieminoag

Hi everyone - please can I pick your brains?

Its my parents Golden wedding and my brother and I have offered to organise an event to celebrate.... We have agreed to share a budget of £500 and we thought we would take them to their favourite restaurant with all their brothers and sisters to celebrate ,,,,, so thats 17 people at £23.99 each (£407.83) plus wine at £19.95 a bottle. :eek:

Neither of us can afford to stretch the budget as we have both recently had a huge drop in income. I'm going to hand make the invitations and DB will bake a cake but I wondered if any of you have any good mse ideas for how else we can make the event special on such a tight budget? All ideas would be really welcome.

Thanks

rubytuesday

My cake.

slowlyfading

Kylie - I'll have a think and get back to you! Just one thought, could you not have a party at someone's house and then do the food etc., yourself? Not sure whether that'd be appropriate or not...

ruby - that looks amazing! :drool:

Kylieminoag

slowlyfading wrote: »

Kylie - I'll have a think and get back to you! Just one thought, could you not have a party at someone's house and then do the food etc., yourself? Not sure whether that'd be appropriate or not...

Thanks :beer:- sadly they wont travel and DB and I both live away - their house is midget size so thats out. I did wonder about a village hall or something but for just 17 of us we would rattle around and it would be difficult to build an atmosphere.

Igamogam

£27 to last til payday:eek: Just found £50 lurking in p*yp*l account so that will help. Will have to use CC for diesel next week but that is always paid in full as we only put fuel on it but can see me having to use it for a food shop at this rate - time to search the pockets and behind the sofa for loose change:rotfl:

rising_from_the_ashes

Kylieminoag wrote: »

We have agreed to share a budget of £500 and we thought we would take them to their favourite restaurant with all their brothers and sisters to celebrate ,,,,, so thats 17 people at £23.99 each (£407.83) plus wine at £19.95 a bottle. :eek:

Could the others attending - think around 10ish (excl your DF & DM / You & OH / DB & OH) chip in for the wine? That would help .... a lot - and leave a decent amount for other things....