2014 Frugal Living Challenge

skintygerlinky

[Deleted User] wrote:

Afternoon folks. Just logged on to see more comments relating to my situation. The support on here has been truly fantastic, thank you so much. I have done a bit of searching and found that there is a local Stress Control course running locally which starts in the next couple of weeks so I have signed up for that. I will explore the counselling option too. Thanks again for all your support.

No worries allie - keep us posted on how you're doing.

skintygerlinky

Afternoon Frugalites xx

Put new plan into action today! Lunch with old friends I've not seen in yonks, which was lovely.

Had taken £15 out of bank for lunch (er..why?!) and ended up spending £4.55 on jacket potato & cuppa.
Sooooooo.. change out of fiver straight into loose change jar and remaining £10 stashed away for next week's uni travel costs. Already have this week's sorted (ie on Thurs) and want a NSD tomorrow.

All seems a bit convoluted but let's see how it goes!

Cantfindafreeuserid

I think I will be doing a huge stock pot of veg soup tomorrow! I have lots of veg in the fridge on the turn not sure how it will taste as it is going to consist of Leek, Savoy cabbage, Sprouts, Cauliflour, Brocolli, Parsnip and onion :rotfl: shame I don't have and potatoes or I would have done a leek and potato soup seperate

My method will be throw it in with some veg stock until its all cooked :rotfl: Here's hoping its nice or I may end up with about 20 portions of rank soup :rotfl:

tatabubbly

Frugal fair today - 1 impulse buy of a Soap and glory facial for €4.. I did buy new gym gear under budget that I needed though so thats a plus!

I resisted the temptation of a bun as well while out drinking my tea, the two ladies in front of me where saying how bad they were for you, thats a silver lining for my waist line!

Been asked out on a girlie dinner tomorrow night and I've checked and *should* have enough money. Gotta get some fresh fruit and veggies as well to see me through to next week!

OverRated

NSD today

Submitted gas/electric and turns out I owe them £30 extra for both - at least I know in advance and plan to make a regular habit of submitting readings.

Meals planned for rest of the week and next week - plus shopping list for Saturday.

InClover

Hello everyone!


I was wondering if anyone could recommend some free software for keeping track of my spending. Both my bank account and cash. I've been trying to do it on a spreadsheet but getting in a right knot so it needs to be something simple but effective.


Still inspired daily by your posts and always read them though don't always have time to reply. I had a frugal January and was really pleased with my results bar the unexpected car bill! Still at least this time I had the money and was able to sort it out. That wouldn't have happened last year, it would have gone straight onto my credit card. Hence my massive debt. Ah well, at least I'm trying and hopefully will be able to shave a bit more off in February when the bills come in.


Clover

Mint1955

I use account tracker the free version is good but I upgraded and it only cost a few pounds and so worth it.

You can set up all your accounts plus a purse.

Set up standing orders and bills, transfer from say grocery pot to purse then in the purse you can do all transactions etc.

If you are on a PC then get a copy of windows money it does the same.

OverRated

InClover wrote: »

Hello everyone!


I was wondering if anyone could recommend some free software for keeping track of my spending. Both my bank account and cash. I've been trying to do it on a spreadsheet but getting in a right knot so it needs to be something simple but effective.

I use a FREE online tool to track my account transactions. You can split out cash withdraws.

It is UK based also...

http://www.moneydashboard.com

TM6

chirpycheap wrote: »

A big cyber hug, hope you are soon feeling brighter. My sister is a teacher and I have been an ear for her worries many a time. I don't think people realise how unrelenting the pressure in schools can be. My sister says she dreams that one day someone will actually say to her 'well done you are doing a great job!' I read somewhere that 50% of newly qualified teachers leave the profession within 5 years-it's madness!

Today I have been Make-Doing-and-Mending. Yesterday I was telling my Mum that I was looking for a new Duvet cover as mine had developed a big hole along the seams. Mum pointed out that I could repair it and a reel of thread was cheaper than a new duvet cover. Well I huffed and puffed and said it was too much bother but I was sent home with a reel of cotton and today I repaired the duvet cover. It didn't take the 'hours' I thought it would and unless you looked closely you wouldn't be able to see I had repaired it.

A lot of money saving is to do with changing attitudes and habits. I am trying to get out of some of the lazy habits that we have gotten into. When we were first married we were extremely frugal by necessity. However as we have got older we have picked up some bad spending habits and whilst we are not in lots of debt we should be saving more towards our retirement.

We are both nearly sixty but find it hard to imagine a time when we will stop working. We would both love to retire tomorrow but the though of a salary free future is pretty scary and we know that our pensions aren't magnificent and will mean a huge drop in salary.

Hope everybody else is having a good start to their Frugal February!

So very, very true Hard habits are difficult to break but very rewarding when 'the penny finally drops' :rotfl:

afoolwithmoney

Sooo pleased we have paid £759 off the cc this month, that rounds it off to £5,000. Its our last bill to clear & not sure we will be able to pay that much every month but hey for us what a fab start. Of course it helps that OH is back in work, Ive got a much clearer head as Im not drinking & OH has cut down his drinking drastically. But to top it all has been the hints & tips Im collecting from you folk thank you