2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

determined_new_ms

hello frugalistas & a very happy New Year to you all had a very good start to the year I think. Didn't manage a NSD as I bought a sewing machine on Ebay for £31 :T so that will be the only "thing" I buy in Jan - expect for food & petrol

Made a big batch of chilli, using reduced beef from the other day & using up beans, kidney beans, mushrooms (and froze some), last of the sour cream from Tuesday & leftover pototoes from yesterday :T

Very pleased with myself. Looking through the fridge I need to use up the sliced ham (prepacked) tomorrow. Can I freeze it? Might make ham & pea soup & freeze

Looks like a good start to me

Rainbow-Brite_2

Hi all,
I have been lurking with great interest. Can I join this challenge
I will have to look at my in/out goings and then input a yearly
figure.

TIA

purpleorchid

well i have finally decided what im going to do for my mothers 60th, due to the fact that i have the free douwe egberts here i thought about a mug warmer, and found an easy pattern online, also remembered that i have a bag of potpourri in the kitchen cupboard that i forgot about, have some odd bits of material here and sequinces and ribbon so while make some pouches for her wardrobe. also need to come up with a nice design for her card, (novice at cards will be 1st attempt). so i have plenty to keep me going for the next 20 days lol. any idea how many pouches i should make?

Luv P
xx

Penny2myName

Please put me down for it, but I wont be including any univercity costs, as need to use £1800 for fabric alone, So my 4k will be to cover house hold costs, and daily living.

letsdothis

Just got a quick question: I have debts to pay that the £ has been allocated out of weekly money, but we still have about £40 p/wk spare - do I use this to pay off more of the debts? or do I save it 'just in case' ? - TBH - I would love to pay it all of debts but because we are in debt im paranoid to use it to pay it off incase I need it later and either leave myself short or get further in debt if this makes sense ????

wornoutmumoftwo

I usually keep a acertain amount in a savings account for emergency and put the rest to debt.

Emmala

letsdothis wrote: »

Just got a quick question: I have debts to pay that the £ has been allocated out of weekly money, but we still have about £40 p/wk spare - do I use this to pay off more of the debts? or do I save it 'just in case' ? - TBH - I would love to pay it all of debts but because we are in debt im paranoid to use it to pay it off incase I need it later and either leave myself short or get further in debt if this makes sense ????

You could split it so some goes to the debt and some into savings. OR save it all and as soon as it equals the balance of the debt, pat it off. Actually, now I'm typing, I think that's the best bet (though might depend how much the debt is). Save it all, so yes, you have funds if something comes up, but with the aim being matching the debt to clear it asap. So say you have debt of £3000 and you start saving, it might be that the savings match the debt as it hits say £1800, at which point pay it off. (numbers off the top of my head, but hopefully you get the idea!) HTH

Rachel021967

I'm hoping to set a budget on Friday when the kids are back at school and I have guilt-free time to myself. Need to sort out some figures with my hubby also.
My frugal bit today was reviving some dried up spring onions and some parsnips that are about to pass over. Made a nice stir fry and roasted the parsnips. So that saved some veg from landfill.
I also bought my tickets from Thetrainline today and saved myself, after expenses, £10. So I was well pleased. I will see if I can get my daughter's seaon ticket cheaper.

scrappie_2

Hi - can I join you for the year please?

Earnings will be reduced by £500/month in April and I need to 'get a grip' well in advance.

Will look at the SOW and report back - but prob not untill Wed, unless I get engrossed tonight and stay up untill the early hrs!

letsdothis

wornoutmumoftwo and rae18 - thank you, I think thats what Ill do - so tempted to just throw it all at the debt to get it paid off sooner but understand that things happen in real life, think im just impatient we have been in debt and struggling for the past few years but this year it SHOULD be the last year of paying all but one debt off - I can see the finish line and cant get there !! lol -

1st day of NSD - middle daught b'day on 3rd paid for a groupon voucher for 2 games of bowling for 4 last year so thats her day out, so as long as we take our own snacks should be another NSD