2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

oceandreamer

Can I join please?
Have been lurking on here for a while but have decided that I need to start posting to motivate myself. Haven't sorted budget out properly but know it's going to have to involve living more frugally! Have started by checking the freezer and cupboards and making a meal plan for the coming week. Hopefully a very frugal shop this week judging by the amoung of food there is left over from xmas!:eek:

cw18

Mooloo wrote: »

Not only that, but in the coming year my income is due to drop by a further massive amount. Exact not sure but to do with the change from Fostering allowances to Child benefits etc when the guardianship of DGD becomes legal. EEK.

As I understand the rules (having vaguely considered taking up fostering), while you're a foster parent you get paid by the state and can claim Working Tax Credit (obviously dependant on income). If you're a Guardian you don't get the payment from the state and can't claim WTC (unless you have another job which is low income), but do get Child Benefit and can claim Child Tax Credit. As a single parent guardian you also only have to work 16 hours a week to get WTC, rather than the 30 hours for a single person who doesn't have a dependant for whom they can claim CB.

rising_from_the_ashes

rae18 wrote: »

Please can someone tell me how to add the challenge to the bit under my post???? I know it's something to do with the Usercp, but I can't fathom it.....:o

Rae, if you go to the bit where it says "Quick Links" and choose "Edit Signature" you can play around with it there.

If you want a more in depth play around (eg Avatar etc) use the "User CP" option ... HTH

Mooloo (((hugs))) good suggestions about checking your benefits entitlement - hope you can manage to get the books balanced.

purpleorchid

afternoon all

well i have been holding off coming on here as the other thread is still going but it seems that everyone is now on here.
is nice to see so many people on here, im really looking forward to continuing and improving my frugal ways in 2012. thanks to everyone who has already helped me so far, i hope i may of some help to someone in 2012.

so far this wk i have receieved afree copy of the girl with the dragon tattoo, free douwe egberts coffee, enough for 6-8 cups in cafeteria and free10ml samples of pantenes new shampoo, condtioner and hair mask. not bad. oh just remembered i had my oral b sample last sat a well.

as for food etc, im still living off my bulk cooking and fresh veg that was all cooked, cut n frozen in one day, only spend this wk was £2.63 today, will probably have to get milk tomorrow so that be another £1, but i think that a good week all round.

Luv P
xx

Frugaldom

Few more names added, getting busy now with the final countdown to New Year!

The new challenge will begin as the bells finish ringing in the New Year tomorrow night. My updates will be sporadic, my household spending minimal, but I'll do my best to keep up to date on here, even if I fail to comment. Apologies in advance.

Cash back and points are my best friends, as I convert most of those into vouchers then save them for Christmas shopping each year.

My biggest expense is heat & light, as working from home means electricity needed all day every day. I normally do a fair bit of cooking and baking (electricity) and our only other heat source is by way of coal and logs. There are no buses, no shops within walking distance and no large stores nearby with discounted prices or 'whoopsies'. I don't live within a delivery radius of any supermarkets, so I bulk buy bargains whenever I get the chance and make the most of online discount food sites (listed in handy links).

I accept that my rural (not remote) lifestyle cannot be compared to urban living, but I believe urban living to be cheaper, in comparison. Trouble is, I also believe that the convenience of town living means being subjected to many, many more spending opportunities - the temptation of shops, entertainment, fast food, fast Internet, mobile phone signals and even proper drainage and mais gas! :eek: :rotfl:

My frugal lifestyle does not necessarily constitute others' frugal lifestyles, as my idea of 'living' can be very different to others'.

Where you stay, how you live, family make-up, marital status, children at home, how you perceive differences between needs and wants, attitudes, faith & belief systems and how your income is derived all make for some serious differences. What is frugal for one may appear extreme to another. What is thought to be money-saving by some, may be seen as money-wasting by others.

As a general rule, getting rid of debt should be top priority, with steering clear of future debt being the next most important aim. Enjoying doing that takes time, so don't feel down if, after only a few weeks, you want to call it a day on your new lifestyle. This happens to almost everyone - change takes time. Don't give up and then have to start all over again, just make smaller changes. :cool:

Living within your own means is completely adaptable - the less debt you have, the more of your income belongs to you to do with as you please - it really can be that simple. If things have gone wrong, it's the digging your way out of debt that is the most difficult part, especially in the early stages, when out-goings can appear to be more than income. That's where I hope that every single member of this challenge will remember to take the time to not only think about their own priorities, but also to consider and support those whose situations may be completely different.

Debt is debt - it is like a millstone around anyone's neck, none more so than when suddenly finding yourself in the situation of being unable to pay it. That can happen to absolutely anyone.

Apologies for the lengthy post - I may be frugal with my spending, but words come free, so I always, always, always make the most of that! :rotfl:Ask anyone who knows me! :rotfl:

rictus123

Frugaldom thanks very much for that post, will help alot of us!! Its true, eliminating debt must be top priority! Like your sig aswel, is a good point and someting worth thinking about over 2012 as we work towards different goals, the main ones being getting debt free or saving some emergency cash.


Edit to add -

Monthly Expense Details[/b]
Rent.................................... 100
Mobile phone............................ 43
Clothing................................ 20
Petrol/diesel........................... 130
Road tax................................ 20
Car Insurance........................... 46
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 20
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 25
Entertainment........................... 80
Total monthly expenses.................. 484


Yearly outgoings = £484 x 12 = £5,808(for this challenge, not including debts)

So im going for under £6,000 for absolute everything i spend. Only thing not included is holiday to America, is all paid for and family member who owes me £1600 is paying me back in March so thats my spending money sorted. Is it possible to be as frugal as i am while being 20 years old? I think its one of lifes greatest lessons.

I dont think i have missed anything in my expenses, did an SOA and deleted all the blank ones. Anyone notice anything missing? The £100 "rent" is my keep. Food, shelter etc all included. Cant believe only 1 more day left of 2012. Actually looking forward to getting by on such a strict budget:money:

mymamma

Please can you add me? Need to stretch reduced income as much as possible, determined to give it my best shot in 2012.

purpleorchid

I think i had better get my list of what to do n what not to do in 2012 sorted out lol. my sleep pattern has been all over the place this wk so im not even sure what day i have been on, my mood has been very low, but onwards n upwards. will post my list over wk end at some point.

who is doing what for new yrs eve?

Luv P
xx

cw18

purpleorchid wrote: »

who is doing what for new yrs eve?

My fella's coming over - so I'll be off-line from some time in the afternoon until heaven only knows when

SandraScarlett

Have a great NYE cw18.;) I shall be reading one of the many books I was given for Christmas, having a munch, thanks to my Green & Blacks Selection Box, and I might go mad and position myself against DH's back massage cushion!

A huge welcome to all Newbies, and good luck to all Old Friends on here. :beer: Happy New Year everyone. :beer:

xx