2013 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

April ended yesterday, but I've only just added my receipts from last Friday and yesterday to my spreadsheet

Figures currently stack up as



A few adjustments this month. Some of the category titles are in red which indicates a change during the month - but I just forgot to change them back to black after March

Council Tax will now be red for each month, but not for the 'spent to date' column. This is because of the non-payment months, but I divide the annual amount by 12.

Windows is red for this months expenditure, but only because I paid for May when I saw then last week. (DS paid for the first of April as they came while I was away. Instead of paying him back I've given him a few lifts to work without charging him petrol.)

Gym is always going to be red for the month as I didn't pay the first few months of the year but still divide the expected cost by 12. Shouldn't go red in the 'spent to date' column.

Groceries is red this month. Not too worried at the moment as I'm still in credit for the year to date by £85.20. The overspend is due in part to taking my GDs away for 5 days (and not allowing any extra for their food) and also for making 2 trips to Costc0 for offer stock-ups (first time this year I've had to deal with two lots of offers in one month).

For the first time this year my 'anything else' is under monthly budget (heaven only knows how though), but I'm still well over on my 'spent to date' figure and not sure I'll be able to claw it back this year (already know of a few expenses coming up).

LolaLemon

Wee quick update - currently doing my bedroom up on the cheap, dad pulled half my badly made fitted wardrobes out, so i now need to pull up the rest of the flooring and rest of the wardrobe out, thatsa job for the bf and me this weekend. need to strip the walls then dad is coming to put up something similar to lining paper that he is then going to paint all white, then rebuild me a wardrobe behind the door.. then i need to think about something on the floor, may just be a rug or two for a while.

I had a last min kids b/day party to go to (bf didnt tell me it was his neices birthday nor taht she was having a party til 2 days before!) so i made this

It was 3 pairs of socks from boots at £1.50, i then went an bought a few fake flowers, and twiddled around with it till i was almost happy lol
We did buy her a Disney Cinderella doll that the dress sparkled with led lights when u pressed a button, the flowers was a little something extra that my son could give her from him. (and you are never to young to recieve flowers )

I then had a Dedecation to go to -similar to a christening... we couldnt make it as had something else on but i made then this



Im really pleased with the 2nd one, she prefers bold colours on her children rather than the pale blues. she really liked them too! she is moving back home to Arkansas soon so i didnt want to get them something that they wouldnt be able to keep for long or have to leave behind.

miss_empty_piggy

Lola Lemon that is absolutely AWESOME. I am so impressed. x x

LolaLemon

miss_empty_piggy wrote: »

Lola Lemon that is absolutely AWESOME. I am so impressed. x x

Aww thank you!

Miss_Frugal_Wannabe

Hi Everyone,

I'm just waiting for my name to be added to the list by Frugaldom, if I'm not too late to join the challenge. I have joined MSE challenges before and started off really well... then let things slide a bit In saying that, I have just paid off ALL my debt!!!! I'm over the moon and obviously something has come from being involved in previous challenges and stuck with me!!

Now I'm looking forward to my money being my own (well, not going towards paying for something that I enjoyed 3 years ago at least!!).

I've had a wee look at my budget and I've estimated quite generously in some areas, as I think that cutting back gradually might be the way for me... although it makes for a not too frugal looking budget- but I suppose that's the way it goes-I've included rent, childcare etc as I think that I may as well lump everything into one budget.

So this is the way it looks at the minute

Absolute Essentials:
Rent £425.00
Childcare £400.00
Electric £45.00
Oil £75.00
Food £60.00

Car:
Petrol £100.00
Car Tax £15.00
Car Insurance £100.00

Telephone & TV:
Mobile £15.00
Phone & Broadband £30.00
TV Licence £15.00

Other:
Splurge £75.00 (clothes, entertainment etc)
Special Occasions £20.00 (birthdays, Christmas etc)
Charity donation £8.00
Transfer to other bank a/c £20.00 (school items eg milk money, raffles...)

Monthly total= £1403.00
Yearly total = £16836.00

Of course I want to reduce this as much as possible, but in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy one last Sunday of not worrying about the pennies and go at it guns blazing from tomorrow!!!

Looking forward to it!!

Becky_2

Miss Frugal Wannabe, welcome to this challenge and well done for paying off all your debts. Enjoy the feeling!

Kerry_Woman

Miss Frugal Wannabe - Welcome to the challenge.

[Deleted User]

Welcome Miss Frugal Wannabe. Best of luck with your challenge.

Kerry_Woman

Still plodding along.

Was really pleased that I used nearly everything up in my store cupboard and the freezer. Now keeping a closer eye on things now. Just stocked up at the weekend.

Have done some decluttering at the weekend.

Have managed to get some free tickets for some events up London. For one event I am bringing my own lunch. Am hoping to bring my own lunch for the other event, depends on my friend.

Still trying to be careful with my spending and managing quite a few nsd's per month.

Hope everyone else are managing and hugs to those in need.

natnat13

Hi all
Sorry I haven't posted for ages.
Been working lots but now my only regular job has now ended, it was always temporary but was at my boys school so was so handy and I'd been there nearly a year so had got used to it. Got two other jobs but they're not regular so just applied for something else. Its really hard fitting it around my kids though.
I haven't been spending really because I've been working. I am moving house soon though, newer house, rent is £50 a month more but bills will be a lot cheaper then the massive old house I'm in now so should save a bit hopefully.
Going to do a car boot and got some stuff on ebay at the moment, having a pre-move clear out.
Hope everyone else is ok, say hi and tell us what you're up to x