2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

saving_jo

Hi, could I please join this thread for 2012 it looks great. I cant promise to post much but I will lurk and try and keep up with it. Our definite outgoings are at least £18,000 a year, havent worked out all the bills yet- far to frightening!! Will do it in the next few days and then look at how to reduce outgoings.

Ayeshalush

Sorry to be a nuisance, but I am going to have to drop out of the challenge.

Still hope to read the thread regularly and see how you are all doing, and maybe pick up some tips too.

Good luck everyone.

A
xx

SandraScarlett

Oooooo, just had a look on the first page, and there are about 150 members!:j And so much help, advice and links from Frugaldom - thank you. Just in case anyone is nervously lurking, and peeping from behind the curtains, this isn't a competition, and there are no losers, only winners.

A few years ago, a mate and I decided we had to have Tea at the Ritz once in our lives, so every Friday, I gave her £1, and she gave me £1, and we put each others money in a mug. Now I know this sounds daft, but psychologically, we wouldn't take money out of the mug, except to get change, and then we'd put a note in, cos it wasn't ours! So one lovely September day, we had our wonderful Afternoon Tea, and though it was about £35, it sort of seemed free!

I used to throw away rotten fruit and veg, thinking "it's only a couple of strawberries", but with food so expensive, it's like throwing pound coins in the bin. So now, I wrap the offending article in cling film, stick the label onto a piece of paper, attach the relevant bill, and go to Customer Services.

I've never had any problems, and have always been refunded for the whole packet, or punnet. I only have home deliveries when there's a special offer - if you don't use a supermarket for a while, they send incentive codes, giving you online vouchers - and then I stock up on heavy and bulky items, like dog food and loo rolls. And if I order fresh produce and that's not up to scratch, I email them and get a refund.

There's loads of people on here who save far more than me, but I try to be as resourceful as I can. If you only manage to save a little, it's still an achievement. :T

xx

seriouslyfrugal

sandra : that poem was great - thank you

things i'm going to do in 2012 :

plan meals
use coupons
use the library
grow veggies
save change
cut down on heating
have no spend days ( NSD)
keep a spend diary
use a spreadsheet to keep money records
take packed lunch ( when I get back into work)
take advantage of freebies
keep to my monthly budget
make days / trips out as cheap as possible
use cashback websites
check for best price on purchases
only buy things I need not want

Welcome to all the new challengers joining us for 2012 - good luck not long now :j:j

ASG_2

Hi, please may I join? My budget for the year is 15300 at the moment - I'm trying to shave some off that!! I've tried to do this several times before, but tend to lose the plot around the middle of March, so I'm hoping you can help me stay on track. I'm very good at setting budgets, just not very good at sticking to them lol

natnat13

Went to Mr M's earlier, lots of whoopsies got 2 bags apples, 2 packs stewing steak, 2 pasties and 2 pies (now tomorrows tea)
Waited around in the fresh aisle as the staff were putting a lot of stuff into crates and I thought they'd reduce it but they didn't. Bet it was all getting thrown away, what a waste, maybe I should have gone round the back and had a rummage! The whole freegan thing does interest me but also scares me!!!
I had printed a 50p voucher for McCain chips (bought for DS birthday party on Sat) and they wouldn't take it. I asked why and they said due to fraud, people can just photocopy them, I said well limit the number accepted, she was going to call the Manager but I had started feeling my cheeks burning red by then so said not to worry, drove home thinking I should have stood my ground (they accepted the same voucher 2 weeks ago) bet it's because of the voucher woman on TV, everyone's probably doing it now!

Swans1912

natnat13 wrote: »

Went to Mr M's earlier, lots of whoopsies got 2 bags apples, 2 packs stewing steak, 2 pasties and 2 pies (now tomorrows tea)
Waited around in the fresh aisle as the staff were putting a lot of stuff into crates and I thought they'd reduce it but they didn't. Bet it was all getting thrown away, what a waste, maybe I should have gone round the back and had a rummage! The whole freegan thing does interest me but also scares me!!!
I had printed a 50p voucher for McCain chips (bought for DS birthday party on Sat) and they wouldn't take it. I asked why and they said due to fraud, people can just photocopy them, I said well limit the number accepted, she was going to call the Manager but I had started feeling my cheeks burning red by then so said not to worry, drove home thinking I should have stood my ground (they accepted the same voucher 2 weeks ago) bet it's because of the voucher woman on TV, everyone's probably doing it now!

Contact the supermarket via their care line and ask for the policy. We got refused a voucher from Tesco and even got the manager out. The women point blank refused quoting similar BS. I phone the customer services team and they explained she want wrong etc. Got £10 for the embarrassment lol!

natnat13

Ooo, thanks will do

LolaLemon

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 416
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 832
Other income............................ 200
Total monthly income.................... 1448

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 423
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 97
Electricity............................. 40
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 15
Mobile phone............................ 17.5
TV Licence.............................. 13
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 10
Internet Services....................... 10
Groceries etc. ......................... 120
Clothing................................ 20
Petrol/diesel........................... 40
Road tax................................ 14
Car Insurance........................... 26
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 25
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 400
Other child related expenses............ 25
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 20
Contents insurance...................... 20
Life assurance ......................... 30
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 50
Haircuts................................ 6.25
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1421.75



Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,448
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,421.75
Available for debt repayments........... 26.25
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 26.25


Created using the SOA calculator at https://www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.

I went via a link from the dfw area, I have guestimated some figures higher than they are as I don't have a bank statement to hand. This is showing me that I really need to continue my spending diary, as it says I'm in credit yet I never have 'spare cash, and I rely on my tips to pay snack money, magazines etc, and even tho I have budgeted for haircuts (3 for son @ £5,& 2 for me at £20) reality is I've had mine done once in at least 18 months. Also put down for clothes, that's to cover son for growing!
Birthdays etc is high, I'm looking at £600 for the year, as I have loads of 'big birthdays this year, sis is 21 in Jan, n most of my friends turn 30, going to have a few chrstenings, a wedding and Christmas
I'm also unsure of wtc/ctc amount, I think that may have bn a one off amount

Mojoworking

Please can I join - I got my redundancy notice for christmas just in case the council doesn't fund us again in March as we are a voluntary organisation - so I might have a job after March ... but I might not. So I don't know ... best start thinking carefully now - please can you add Mojo Working (for now eh!)