2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

poorbutrich

natlie wrote: »

Hi have you looked into using cloth nappies and wipes? they are really good have a look at www.babykind.co.uk and www.cheekywipes.com I am using them now with DS the wipes especially save me loads.

Hi Natlie!
Many thanks for the links!
I am going to try the cloth nappies (although when I mention this to women who've recently had babies they have all hinted that it's easier said than done!).

I hadn't heard of the cloth wipes though and will definitely check them out. Many thanks for the tip - I think I'm well on the way to frugality already!

Looking forward for another year of frugal living - I haven't posted in the last year on this thread, but have found it very interesting and useful from the sidelines!

natnat13

Can I be added again please? I have done well this year but am going to be a bit more strict budget wise next year. I think things are set to get worse i.e fuel, food prices so let's be prepared!
Re cloth nappies www.thenappysite.co.uk is a good place to buy 2nd hand ones (I have nothing to do with this site just used it!)

mooomin

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

Is there a budget limit? or do you all just try and save as much as you can and sort of do things as cheaply as possible?

xx

I set a budget last year, but fell off the wagon in spectacular fashion when I spent more than 50% of it on a car :rotfl: :rotfl:

I've mainly lurked this year, but made it past month three so feel quite proud of that I'm going to be joining and setting a budget, but I also add money I make to that budget so that Ebay/craft sales help to improve our quality of life.

We've got £300 per month less for 2012 as our lodger moved out, but not having someone else in the house is priceless :T I try and do things as cheaply as I can, but do budget for things that some would consider to be luxury items (lovely fast broadband, fancy phone) We all live our "frugal" lifestyles differently which is what makes the thread so enjoyable.

karismatik

Hello, can you add me to please? Will be my 1st challange, i managed to get out of debt thanks to an underpayment in my tax credits and they gave me £1700 YAY! but now i'm trying tio save for a house deposit, i have £500 so much farther to go and need some inspiration, think being here may help. Thanks :T

Buffythedebtslayer

Thanks FF xx I thought my question had been lost in the thread already

I am essentially putting myself in debt to fix my teeth and finish my Masters, I really need a focus to make sure I don't go over my budget and stay in debt longer then I have to. And then longer term to save the elusive deposit....

Does that fit in with the Challenge?

xxx

mooomin

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

Does that fit in with the Challenge?

Don't see why not, as long as you're trying to live as frugally as possible

I'm in awe of some of the folk on here and how they can stretch a budget (and a chicken!) but I soak all the knowledge up like a sponge and I know it's been really useful for me even though I wouldn't say I'm a frugalista - YET!

FrankieM

Hi,
Can I join in for next year please...thanks

rising_from_the_ashes

Count me in too please:)

The 2011 Challenge has kept me on track (and is the only challenge I've faithfully stuck to all year:o).

My Spreadsheet of Wonder was dutifully completed until mid-September when I managed to booger it up:mad: (and stupidly hadn't backed it up for months - lesson learnt!) and I'm really missing it!

I have got my spends since in a new spreadsheet but it's no-where near as good as Cheryl's one - will need to try to work all the totals out at the end of the year (job for a rainy day I think).

Goals for 2012 ..... oh my... first thoughts:

• I became DF in 2011 and am determined to stay that way (finding it hard as budgets are so squeezed with everything going up & 2nd year of a pay freeze)
• Cut the budgets down on this years expenditure (hard for the reasons above)
• Learn to budget properly:o
• Learn to save:o
• (may be more to add after more thought!)

Buffy for this years budget (my first year), I put in known figures (such as council tax, mortgage etc) and made an educated guess along the lines of what I thought I spent for other things.

Next year I'm hoping to reduce these further as I've now got "solid proof" of what I have spent over the past year. HTH:)

fairyclicks

I would like to join in too please, been doing a few challenges on here and they are really helping me so planning to keep it up for 2012

slowlyfading

A big WELCOME to all of the new and old members signing up again!

FF - I'm glad you're signing up again