2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

[Deleted User]

Congratulations on getting the job Lola, that is fantastic news:T:T:j.

Went to SM last night for a few bits and bobs and started using my 'budgeting kit' ie my wee notebook where I write everything in as it goes in my trolley and I add up the total cost as I go. Spent £13.15 in MR T, although £5 of that was a card and some beers as part of a birthday pressie for my BIL. Will defo be using my 'budgeting kit' (OH did laugh at that description) every time I shop from now on.

slowlyfading

Well done Lola! :j :j fantastic news

Savvy_sewing

I seem to be failing completely at my budgeting. The only thing I can say is that I just dont seem to be able to keep records!
I am useless at it. But there is still money in the bank, its just very very low at the moment.
My funding for DGD has finally been sorted out, after the summer of not having the money, so I have managed to sort out what I borrowed from my Dad and will continue to keep plugging away at saving, and the only thing I can say is that I will just have to start again with the records!
Oh well, did have an MSE part to the weekend when BF blagged 2 free tickets to the London eye and then we had a 30% discount on a meal at Jamie Olivers courtesy of his son who works there.

rising_from_the_ashes

*sticks head sheepishly around door*

sorry folks, not managing to keep up and not really had much interesting to post plodding away (as so many are just now) and trying to make ends meet.

Sept proved very expensive:

Car had to change the car (to an automatic as couldn't use the clutch anymore) so that was a totally unexpected & nasty cost (had planned to keep my last one 5 years and was only 2.5 years in:eek:)

Car insurance so that meant I paid my new car insurance (in a oner! :j:j - first time ever, have been saving up & paying by dd all year so glad that's over) but there was a shortfall as the insurance wasn't due on old car until Dec (£60) as well as a cancellation charge on the old policy (£40) so that was £100 I had to find from somewhere:eek: (old insurance charged £30 to amend the policy or £40 to cancel :mad: & got a much better price elsewhere so worth paying the extra £10).

House had to get the windows painted, really should've been done last year but put it off & just couldn't wait any longer as there were bare bits on the windows :eek: - neighbours have left theirs too long & now have a huge hole right through the frame so that would've been an even more expensive option! Another £350 gone there!:eek:

So ..... every little bit of money I had stashed away (I had £100 stashed in a couple of accounts for an absolute emergency) is gone which is a bit worrying. :eek:

Good news is the windows should last around 5 years and the new (to me) car won't need an MOT next year (like old one would've done) so hopefully a bit saved there (but tax / fuel costs are more so will prob balance out).

Trying to start my prep for winter - stocking up on pet essentials etc - hope all well & will have a proper read through when I can xx

dizzy_lizzie

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

*sticks head sheepishly around door*
xx

Hey good to see you Rising. Everything seems to happen at once doesn't it! Hopefully with that out of the way for a while you can start to build up your savings again. At least for a while before Christmas.

Lola congratulations on the job. You must be feeling great!

I soooo need to get back on track myself. At the moment money is slipping through my fingers like water.
Hope everyone has a good evening
x

[Deleted User]

Morning All. OH is on the phone at the mo haggling for his new mobile phone contract. Hoping he can get it for £10 or less!

I am now hoping to move house within the next few years to a dream house and need to start saving for that so more frugalling needed to save as much as I can.

dizzy_lizzie

[Deleted User] wrote:

I am now hoping to move house within the next few years to a dream house and need to start saving for that so more frugalling needed to save as much as I can.

Oooooh Allie that sounds lovely and what a great incentive. I have a 'dream home' savings account. At the moment I could probably buy curtains for one window
x

LolaLemon

Oh My, working full time and travelling 4 hours a day is shattering.. im falling asleep as soon as im home. only one more week of this then just full time hours woohoo.

hope everyone is good

[Deleted User]

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Oooooh Allie that sounds lovely and what a great incentive. I have a 'dream home' savings account. At the moment I could probably buy curtains for one window
x

This made me laugh out loud. I am in the same situation too but we can dream for free thankfully!

Lots of books been listed on Amazon and I have advertised my bike for sale so hopefully some extra cash there.

dizzy_lizzie

[Deleted User] wrote:

This made me laugh out loud. I am in the same situation too but we can dream for free thankfully!
Lots of books been listed on Amazon and I have advertised my bike for sale so hopefully some extra cash there.

You're right allie at the moment we can dream for free till the government find a way to charge us
Hope you make some good sales, fingers crossed.
x