2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Florenceem

Three of my six children are teachers. One DD has been teaching for 17 years - Primary School and is applying to be a Deputy Head. Another DD is Head of Music - Senior School and has taught for 14 years. My DS teaches at Senior School and has been a teacher for 11 years. None of them are considering a career change.

Leah-Ray

Hi, just wanted to say hello and that I'll be taking part in this challenge. We're down to one income (just above min wage) so with trying to escape the rent trap (£600 pm for very small two bedroom bungalow) we're needing to do all we can to cut back and save up. Looking forward to getting to know you all

skintygerlinky

Hi Leah! xx

apple_muncher

Florenceem wrote: »

Three of my six children are teachers. One DD has been teaching for 17 years - Primary School and is applying to be a Deputy Head. Another DD is Head of Music - Senior School and has taught for 14 years. My DS teaches at Senior School and has been a teacher for 11 years. None of them are considering a career change.

Me neither! I love teaching - secondary languages for 22 years - and am fortunate to be in a great school with great management. I know I'm not cut out for the tougher schools, but I've found my niche. And that's surely what anybody wants in a job?

mrsinvisible

Also coming in out of lurkdom, have read and digested every day, and feel I could just slip in unnoticed and post odd times. Recognise a few of you from other site I post on, so I feel 'comfy'.
So sad that work causes such anguish. Before I retired I was an occupational health adviser, so please feel free to ask. (also feel free to ignore!). We are all different, thank goodness, but we all want happy fulfilled lives.
On the frugal side, must try harder. Yesterday I made cauliflower and broccoli soup, but I put onion and potato in to bulk it a bit, and then I added an ice cube of frozen Elmle* to my portion. it was v. nice, but 2 would have been nicer. (greedy mrs I). If I hadn't bought a great big cauli and the biggest bit of broccoli I wouldn't have needed to use the remains up.

mummy2threeboys

Morning all sorry cant chat, hope you are all well, will catch up later, but wooh just broke 4k on my debt repayments, and had to consolidate my debts lol but in a good way..all the jumping people on my signature whouldnt fit so i changed to to debts..various very pleased, and can put another half possibly of my argos one next week..have a great day chat later xx

MallyGirl

abby1234519 wrote: »

Npower forecast that I will use:

2949 kwh in elec
10086 kwh in gas in 2014

I do take regular meter readings so I'd have assumed this was accurate but then again I am relying on them!

I would assume nothing after what I have seen!
I am a homeworker and heat my office with electric UFH plus have several PCs etc on all day so I do use a lot of elec but for some reason they think I will be using nearly 4 times as much electricity this July as I did last - crazy.

his_missus

Hi all,

I must be the only one who's had their energy DD reduced recently (December) from £52 to £48 for dual fuel. I put it down to my frugality though I think I may have used more during January as I've had the heating on a lot to dry washing.

abby1234519

MallyGirl wrote: »

I would assume nothing after what I have seen!
I am a homeworker and heat my office with electric UFH plus have several PCs etc on all day so I do use a lot of elec but for some reason they think I will be using nearly 4 times as much electricity this July as I did last - crazy.

Its difficult because I've been back over my meter readings and I found a lovely blip where they had done a meter reading and added an extra digit on. I emailed and they removed it but it still leaves last years usage chart rather skewed. I think my energy usage probably is accurate as we both work all day, have central heating downstairs but on a timer, we try to be good with the lights and I prefer to heat the living room with masses of candles. We could do better as there isn't a curtain or blind on the living room, if you stand close you can feel the cold so I do need to sort that but I refuse to unless I sell something to make the money for a blind from argos!

kb_soma

Hi All!

A quick recap from January for me:
NSDs - 15
Lunch taken to work: 20/20

Food budget came in approx £30 under, this cf for Feb.

I saved around £200 extra from not buying lunch/carrying my cards around with me.

Well done everyone for all your efforts, you truly are an inspirational lot!