The October Awakening!

traveller

Hi, I don't actually spend money daily unless on a necessary item and hardly ever buy lunch for work, so that bit is ok. I have severely budgeted this month now and all those things that I may think, oh that's only a pound usually, is not getting a look in. I try to make special time for me and my youngest to do something each week on the weekend. This will switch from the cinema 1 quid showings to the free museums as I have my monthly pass and a healthy packed lunch rather than a treat meal-it all adds up Funnily enough, he will always say can't we just go to the park and play football :eek: I can't play, but at this rate, it looks like i'll be learning

Well done everyone

andrar

How quickly does this thread grow! I've only just got caught up, well done everyone and howdy to all the newbies.

So I moved house at the weekend, house share to my own rented flat and even though I didn't have gas or hot water till Monday afternoon it was still one of the best decisions I've ever made! No more crazy housemates, no more feeling like I'm just a boarder and can't make it my home. To prove my point ex housemate tried to hold back my whole deposit for a missing pan lid?! Mental. Luckily I was back in the area the day after I moved collecting free cycle stuff (I've moved 2 hours away) so took three pan lids and gave her a choice, should have seen her face haha don't mess with me, i'm a seasoned pro at the house sharing!

My mission to furnish my flat for little or no money has been amazing, got nearly everything for less than a tenner including things like bread bins, clothes airers, sofas, kettle and way more. Love it and I love that it doesn't match, suits me perfectly.

So I've sorted out all my bills and they've come in way cheaper than iI'd budgeted so iI'm keeping the extra aside until the end of the month in case I've forgotten any housey bills then it'll go towards debts (sorry NSK I know against the rules but as its my first month in flat and with all the chaos I'm scared I've forgotten something)

I'll update my signature tonight with budgets but I could kick myself as I forgot to get milk yesterday so I've no sfds yet I think the only thing that really irks me with seeing everyone's feedback on this challenge is that I don't get overtime so I may work more hours than I'm paid for but I don't get money for them, just the hours back on another day. This means no opportunity to put extra towards debt, very frustrating.

Anyway I'm late for work, so best get my bum in gear.

littleskintdragon

Happy new home andrar, r u kirsty allsop under a new name? All this reusing and upcycling, good for u, my favourite bits of furniture in my house are the things ive had for free or barely anything. My sideboard and book shelf were both free and i love them, then my dining table and chairs were £40. I wouldnt change them for anything. We're getting an american fridge freezer next week form dh's parents they no longer want it as its to big for their kitchen!!

Anyhow back to the challenge- today will be a sfd, unfortunately i forgot to get milk yesterday, but we will survive on the small bit weve got left! Weve got everything else, and more!

So updates are (25th to 25th month): sfd 1/20, groceries £51.96/200, £20/100 fuel, other £10.50/50.
Debt paid this month:tbc
Dfd:tbc
Extra money made:0/£100 must get on ebay later!

lilian1977

andrar wrote: »

I think the only thing that really irks me with seeing everyone's feedback on this challenge is that I don't get overtime so I may work more hours than I'm paid for but I don't get money for them, just the hours back on another day. This means no opportunity to put extra towards debt, very frustrating.

Could you use those days to do something else income generating - eg prepare a whole pile of Ebay-able items and sort them on that day off?

I don't earn overtime either but I do get money from my brother for helping with his work from home stuff when he's over committed himself.

Hoping for SFD #2 today but we will need milk and fruit - hoping OH will pick that up after collecting DS from nursery, but I'll report back later.

OK: My dilemma. I have to renew my train pass in December, at a cost of £870 for the year. This will go up in January 2014 (price TBC) so I definitely want to take advantage of the 2013 price while I can, but it depresses me to: A) spend that much money at once and; to think I will still be commuting in a year's time!

When I bought the pass last year I had been paying monthly, the saving worked out as £23 a month when I converted to annual. A massive saving, I think you'll agree. I started a regular savings account and put £25 a month away (I figured I wouldn't miss it as I had been paying it out anyway) so by December I will have £325 squirreled away towards the new cost, leaving just £545 to find. I had hoped to find an interest free purchases card to put this on but have only managed to get accepted for a 6.9% on purchases for life card.

So. I guess I just buy the pass and put it on the card? I can probably throw £75 a month at the card whilst still saving this £25 a month towards next year's ticket (please God don't let me need one next year!), and I think it will only cost about £10 in interest payments.

Don't really know what the alternative is but I'd love to hear suggestions!

mrso2b

• You will aim for 20 SFD: Today will be 1/20 - promise!
• Pay off debt first: I can only commit to paying off the minimums on the debt this month. My husband gets paid quarterly and gets paid again at the beginning of November so money is tight this month.
• You will create a spreadsheet and budget EVERYTHING. Already do this
• Get a small spend diary: done – I lost last month’s spending diary somehow?!
• Set your food budget now then reduce it by £20: Last month I blitzed shopping budget from £00 to £200 so will go for £180 this month.
• Clear out your cupboards of food before buying more: Have already warned hubby about this!
• Out of your allowance £3 of food will be donated to the local food bank: I donate to charity through work so will do this
• Budget for outings: OK – eeek!
• No eating out: Ok – eeek again!
• Bring your lunch to work everyday: Mostly do this but will step up and do it every day
• Choose a DFD - a Debt Free Date! Currently next October 2014
• Use up all your beauty products BEFORE getting any more: Fine, I have plenty to see me through
• And just for the “regulars” who might be a bit too comfortable in these challenges.. Argh why didn’t you do this last month, as I made £100 on ebay! Will get selling again!

his_missus

A quick check in:

SFDs: 1/20
Food budget: £58/£240
Donation: £0/£3
Planned outings: 0/3 - carvery meal with bessie, night out at other bessie's, prepaid meal with Hubby (voucher deal)
Take lunch to work: 2/20
Beauty spends £0/£10
Make £100: £0/£100

Asda delivery was a disaster and have put in a complaint so hoping to receive some compensation. In future I'll shop instore, grrr! Didn't save me any time at all either.

No plans to spend today at the moment so have claimed my first SFD of October.

cottage_retreatist

quick drop in - aiming for second SFD today - another helping of beef stew - this time with rice and then we deffo have no food left - photos to go on facebook page to prove it!!!!

eeek - where is my letter? I can't eat til my letters turn up! Will need to do a shop tomorrow for something as now have no fruit or veg but will try and keep it focused.

hope everyone is having a great Wednesday?
(where has the week gone?!)

x

KittyBoo_2

Today is one of my NSD. Also using meals from freezer for tonight. Started my notebook of what I've spent and also my version of a spreadsheet is a notebook, that I sit in bed at night and update.
Paid off £6 I was going to use on a carvery, off my energy bill.
I have an agreement to pay £3 per month to 5 different creditors for overdraft/bank/credit cards that I ran up when I was working.
My DFD will be 2113. OMG:eek::eek::eek:
I don't believe it. I am on disability benefit and have ongoing health problems but I am going to try and suss my camera out and get some stuff on ebay to make additional payments.
Hanging my head in shame at this but it will be the motivator to get something done about it.

Everhopeful09

Hi All,

No 22 checking in for the first time this month! Yesterday was a spends day with food, petrol, birthday cards, hopefully I can squeeze a couple SFD's in this week. Also just started dating so will have to think of some free/cheap date ideas! unless of course he is paying! Also recently I've just started a new role and gone from weekly pay to monthly so have had to rejig my budget and DD's.
Back to the day job! Eh xx

You will aim for 20 SFD Will try my best
Pay off debt first. I get paid on the 21st and gone from weekly pay to monthly, I will be making a payment of at least £200 on 21st.
You will create a spreadsheet and budget EVERYTHING - in progress
Get a small spend diary - Started
Set your food budget now then reduce it by £20 - £100 (includes cleaning & washing powder etc)
Clear out your cupboards of food before buying more. This is something I already do, but with careful meal planning could do more!
Out of your allowance £3 of food will be donated to the local food bank. Donation box in work so will be adding to it.
Budget for outings, - few friends having babies, a couple birthdays, 2 nights outs and a spa weekend. Will need to look at estimated costs.
No eating out - ate out for lunch yesterday (mate paid though)
Bring your lunch to work everyday. Will be bulk cooking soups etc at the weekend to prevent me having an excuse and stockpiling my snack draw
Choose a DFD - a Debt Free Date! I aim to clear my credit card balance of £1,500 by end of 2013.
Use up all your beauty products BEFORE getting any more. Already doing this and cutting open tubes to scrap more out"

karmachilovething

Checking in for today: spends day with a few errands to run, so I have also done my £3 donation to the food bank.

It's lovely to have so many people on here, but keeping up with the tread takes some doing!