2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

wornoutmumoftwo

I've done my budget, using Martin's spreadsheet and the one on this challenge, so some of it may look a little high and some of it I deff won't spend as much as I've budgeted for so the excess will be put into repaying debts. (i.e I've budgeting for my two to have school meals every day, but they often have a packed lunch).

Here's the budget anyway:
Council Tax 1190.00
Windows 96.00
Gas/Electricity 1560.00
C/H Cover 60.00
Bldgs/Cont Ins 108.00
Phone & B/band 720.00
TV Licence 145.00
Mobile Phone 300.00
Household Maintenance 360.00
Garden Maintenance 520.00
Dog Expenses 630.40 - Insurance and food
Vets Bills 100.00
Presents 1500.00
Car Insurance 348.00
Breakdown Cover 40.00
Road Tax 35.00
Holiday 2000.00
Family Days out 240.00
Hobbies (Fishing) 160.00
Pocket Money 520.00
Magazines/Stationary 260.00
School Meals 75.78
Groceries 3000.00
Toiletries/Cleaning 120.00
Clothes 480.00

TOTALS 14568.18
Other: 431.82
2012 Total: 15,000
Rounding it up to £15000 because they'll be something I've forgotton.

**The boys will be getting £5 a week each pocket money - but they have to buy their sweets/comics/save out of that. They're older now and need to start learning money doesn't grow on trees.

Magazines/Stationary is for me. I like to buy magazines and have a thing about notebooks so going to nip that in the bud this year (Doing the OU doesn't help as it's an excuse to buy notebooks)

I've put £2000 into holiday as we want to take the boys to Disneyland Paris, but I have saved half of this already. We don't have exoctic holidays, usually camping so this will be a special one before the magic of disney wears off of them.

Pressies includes all birthdays and christmas so will do my best not to spend anywhere need the amount I have budgeted for.


Also, I'm starting my own business (hopefully), making cupcakes and biscuits and anything related to baking (so will sell physical products too, such as gift hampers). Need to go to college to redo my food hygiene and then get the council around so fingers crossed.

Got steak pie tonight as the OH is a scotsman (tradition and all that), it' bubbly away in the slowcooker, so just the potatoes and pastry to do and then we can all sit down for a lovely meal.

rubytuesday

Happy Belated Birthday to your son NatNat

The sound of that steak pie is making my mouth water Wornoutmum.

mooomin

natnat13 wrote: »

Sounds great flying, let me know how it goes.
I love all the ideas actually, thank you all.

It went really well - if you click my name you'll see a link to my blog. I posted some info, pictures and a link to the Youtube tutorial I used there. Hope it's useful

silvasava

More4Less wrote: »

r

Hi Silvasava - we are struggling to adjust to living on basic state pensions, used all our savings to clear debts and mortgage. So debit free, but very low income. Still want as much joie de vive as possible, so struggling to keep day to day living expenses as low as possible. Bit of a pension rise due in April so that's something to look forward to!

Hi More4 - its certainly a constant struggle - but so much support on this board and practical help. Yep - we've got a rise in April (rubs hands excitedly) probably work out to about £2.50 - I promise not to fritter it away on luxuries!!
I've cheered up somewhat now - dinner is in the oven & smelling delish. This is the Turkey's last stand - sliced & reheated in gravy it'll be Christmas all over again :rotfl:

LolaLemon

More4Less wrote: »

Have you got many photos of you and your friend - could you make up a montage set off by a special frame? Could look quite special and very personal!

Groupon has an offer for 2 different online photo companies for things like foto books etc....

silvasava wrote: »

So - suit up, helmet on and face the battle for another year!

Silvasava I love this!

Happy New Year everyone! Hope 2012 is full of happiness and prosperity

Just after having steak pie with totties and veg... I'm stuffed!
Done a bit of cleaning yesterday, got most of my washing done, Christmas tree and decorations all down and put in boxes (bought boxes for my boots from a supermarket at £1.50 instead of £3!) They are the perfect size for all my decorations. Will make the loft a bit better instead of all the black bags.

dizzybee

Happy new year everyone,
not done a lot today apart from list loads on e bay,i plan to use any money earned from selling stuff and doing surveys will go towards clearing the debt mountain.
nsd today not back at work till wed so hope fully will have a few more.

Savvy_sewing

Happy New year everyone.

I spent the day at home, so a NSD for a change.
Tomorrow I think my Delivery from abel & Cole is coming, but I cancelled the Fruit and Veg as I have a surplus of them at the moment. I also will really have to think about howmuch it is costing me, rather then going out etc, but the delivery is rather priceless to me, with my health, it means that we have milk, eggs, and meat, as well as the fruit and veg on the door step once a week, and I can live off of that with the odd top up from else where. Bread is really my only issue, and often my homehelp will get that for me.
Back to the drawing board tomorrow, to see where i can make the changes necessary in my budget. Its only in my diary at the moment, and not on the spreadsheet. Last year I got lost on the spreadsheet and gave up in the end!. This year I am determind to learn more about it, and see if I can get passed April/May!
We are having left overs for dinner today, bits and bobs of party style food, so I dont have to bother with cooking etc. I did all of that yesterday.

chika

Happy New Year Frugal Folk!

I've started 2012 as I mean to go on with a NSD. I had a quite NYE with my siblings. I haven't done my budget yet but I intend to spend as little as possible. No takeaways is the big one for me, no unnecessary clothes and cosmetics. I had a bit of a revelation the other day - I normally drive everywhere as fast as possible but due to average speed cameras on the motorway I use often I've had to slow right down to 50mph! It initially felt like I wasn't going anywhere but actually I didn't lose much time. The best part was checking my mileage - I ususally get about 300 miles for a full tank but my last tank full got my almost 400 miles with sensible driving. So that's it - I'm having a self imposed 60mph speed limit! The amount of money I've spent on fuel over the past couple of weeks is eyewatering and I really don't want it to continue throughout the year.

bramble1

Happy New Year all.

Had a No spend day today, good way to kick off the year. I am already panicking about money though. which is not so good. I have to pay council tax and can't find my reference number to do it online. Plus the council tax wipes out so much our of money at the moment! But. it must be paid. So will crack on and find the bill tomorrow and get that sorted. In theory all i should need to buy this week is petrol, I will put £15 in the motor on Tuesday and see how far that gets me. I need to do a new meal plan, I think we will have enough to see us through 2 weeks without needing to buy anything else, but will plan to check this.

amber03

Happy new year to everybody and hopefully a frugal one, think i remember saying that last year but was not as frugal as i had hoped to be,No 1. thing to begin this year is a money diary where i write down all that i spend.

When i drive on the motorway i always try and drive at 60mph, this is because i saw a programme saying that at this speed you use the least fuel. I have to laugh at all the drivers speeding past me and think of themoney they are wasting.

Opened a sealedtin yesterday that i had been saving loose change in since july and found that i has saved £94, which is going to pay off my M&S card. Started a new tin today and will open it on the 30/6/12.

Good luck to everybody who is dealing with their debt.xx