2014 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

DawnW wrote: »

My Dyson cleaner is playing up. I have cleaned the filters, so hopefully, fingers crossed that will sort it out. It is 8 or 9 years old, but I would prefer not to have to buy another one :eek:

Have you looked around to see if you have a local firm who do services & repairs on them? I broke a catch on mine last year (think it was at least partly caused by moving it into/out of the car too often when I was helping DD with a house move) which meant I couldn't empty it. An electrical store in the next town is an approved service/repair point, and it cost me about £40 to have it serviced (that alone is just under £26) and sorted (including a reconditioned piece which also sorted out other damage covered up with duck tape to keep the suction going, and which would have cost me just over £36 for a brand new piece directly from Dys0n had I been able to remove the old one and replace it myself).

Ches

I have come to the conclusion that however hard I try I can only be frugal for a few months then wham a really expensive month follows. This month is it. :eek:Birthdays/other correspondance/shoes mended/hair cut/club fees/my turn to buy lunches and so its gone on and my signature shows it.

I would like to know how others budget for every little thing. I usually have a set amount every month in cash and that should cover everything from food to all that listed above. It works some month but not others.

cw18

Ches wrote: »

I would like to know how others budget for every little thing. I usually have a set amount every month in cash and that should cover everything from food to all that listed above. It works some month but not others.

With my income now being less than my outgoings (meaning I'm digging into savings every month), it doesn't really matter if I spend more on something in an early month than a later one - though I do need to try and balance out / stick to my planned budget over the year if I'm not going to exhaust savings sooner rather than a bit later.

In the past (when I was working) I used to move 1/12th of the estimated annual budgets into a bank account each month, and what was left in the other account was then 'spare' for wants rather than needs (or to cover large unexpected bills).

If/when I get back to having an income greater than outgoings I hope to get back to running the 2 bank account system, but will be a lot tougher on myself when it comes to not frittering the spare as I'd like to build up a new safety net of savings.

lynnejk

quidsy wrote: »

I have wanted to do a degree for about 8 years but have always been deterred by life events,
I just look back & think, day-um,.
So I've alot to think about, not least of all is how to work in the 20 hours a week I would need to "find" to complete said degree in 3 years.

It looks like you have the finance side well-thought through. I would say go for it - if you really want to do something you will find the time. I went to uni as a single parent with two sprogs and - yes - it is not at all easy, no staying out all night and trying to fit it all in. But then how do full-time working mums manage ? It was well worth the effort for the achievement for me. Good Luck

DawnW wrote: »

Hello :wave:
I must try to think of something to have with salad tomorrow as I have lots of salad leaves from the pots in the garden Any ideas? Not anything eggy (which is normally my default option) as we had omelettes yesterday.

Jacket pots, cheese and salad
Smoked mackerel, salad and new pots
Grilled chicken, salad and creamy mash
Beef burgers, salad and wedges
Any pasta dish
Curry, rice and salad
I eat a LOT of salad - if meal doesn't have gravy it will take some salad :rotfl: (if you're near I'll take some off your hands to help )

Ches wrote: »

I would like to know how others budget for every little thing. I usually have a set amount every month in cash and that should cover everything from food to all that listed above. It works some month but not others.

I used to keep records of all my spends and then a few years ago, when I had time, I sat down and added up all the different categories for the year - took ages. But now I just put away 1/12 of all yearly spends into an account paying interest and keep the tallies on separate envelopes. Eg 1. Car costs. 2. Birthdays. 3. Xmas. 4. Holidays. As I am a bit of a worrier I over-estimate a bit on everything and usually find at end of financial year we have a bit over, either to save or have a treat. HTH


Not done anything much today as been helping DH with the decorating and making loads of cuppas :rotfl:


Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday
Lx

Ches

cw18 wrote: »

With my income now being less than my outgoings (meaning I'm digging into savings every month), it doesn't really matter if I spend more on something in an early month than a later one - though I do need to try and balance out / stick to my planned budget over the year if I'm not going to exhaust savings sooner rather than a bit later.

In the past (when I was working) I used to move 1/12th of the estimated annual budgets into a bank account each month, and what was left in the other account was then 'spare' for wants rather than needs (or to cover large unexpected bills).

If/when I get back to having an income greater than outgoings I hope to get back to running the 2 bank account system, but will be a lot tougher on myself when it comes to not frittering the spare as I'd like to build up a new safety net of savings.

Thanks Cheryl. I have a fair amount of savings and a reasonable pension so its not that I have a huge problem its just annoying that I can't see the spends coming. Apart from my monthly cash which as I said covers (or should cover) all the odds and sods mentioned and a few others a well, the money left in the bank covers all d/d's and savings for holidays/rainy days etc. I just can't seem to hit on a reasonable figure to take out every month as some months the amount I cash is enough and other months it isn't. I suppose I should put money away in a seperate tin or somewhere on a good month so it helps out on a bad one but I don't and this is where I fall down. I guess I don't take frugal living seriously enough.

Ches

I have just had a bit of a tot up and its worse than I thought. GC birthdays and making a new Will have certainly added up since 1st Jan. I think I must do better for the rest of the year. TBH I don't think I actually waste money I just spend a lot and a great deal of it is on family. £100 for Dr M's for GS3 this month which went on the cc so that will have to be paid when the bill comes in in June.

sparrer

Was good yesterday, nsd/npd, no going out day, but spoiled it all today by going out for lunch and to a cs. But the pair of linen cut-offs are bn and only cost £1 .

DawnW

Thanks for the meal suggestions Lynne. It looks as though we are at opposite ends of the UK so only virtual sharing of salad leaves is possible :rotfl: Seriously though, you only need a pot or a window sill sized trough, some compost and seeds to grow them. I have a little garden, but always grow them in pots. There are lots of different kinds you can grow. I have lettuce type leaves, oak leaf lettuce and rocket atm You can even cheat to start off with if you like, and buy one of those living salads from the SM, split up and put the plants in a bigger container(s) and grow them on. They last for quite a while. After you have cut them, give them a feed with tomato liquid feed and they will come back. You can also sow some seeds in another pot for afterwards. It is fairly simple to have a supply all summer long with a bit of planning, and much cheaper than bagged salad, which I find goes slimy really quickly :mad:

Quidsy, if you can, I would go for it. I did my first degree when my youngest child started school, and haven't looked back. It made such a difference to the fortunes of my family. I was able to get a decent job, and my earnings enabled us to buy a house, which would have been impossible otherwise. I was lucky enough to not to have to pay fees at the time, and if I had, I would have been very daunted, as we were on a low income with 3 kids. Looking back it would still have been worth it though. I think that the introduction off such high fees for higher education is such a regressive step :mad: The government makes a lot of noise about social mobility, and this is probably the most significant factor mitigating against it, as the thought of all that debt unsurprisingly puts off many people from trying something which might well improve their lot, and will definitely change their outlook :mad: (rant over!)

Are you thinking of attending a local university or the OU route? Don't discount them, as the flexibility can make it easier to afford, and they are fab (I used to work for them some years back ).

Right, better get on and do something. I think we are off to an auction today, in our never ending quest to get reasonably priced stock for our business!

Shortie

Morning all

Yesterday I had to buy my lunch which I was miffed about but hey ho. I was in a 2 hr meeting over lunch and the organisers told us there woukd be food and asked us re food alergies. So, I didn't take lunch with me to find they had only pit out a small pmate of biscuits for us all next to the tea and coffee!

Today I have my food with me though

The car I'm buying is being re-MOT'd today so fingers crossed that goes fine so that I can take her for a test drive and hopefully buy her on Saturday

quidsy

Lynnejk & DawnW, thank you for your comments & supportive words.

I know I can find the time to do it but I think self motivation will be the hardest factor. We don't really go out as a couple or even on my own that much, maybe once every couple of months & that is fine for us, we are not sociable, we have a small core of friends who being a mixed nation family, tend to be scattered far & wide so that helps in terms of not neglecting our non blood family

I also spend most of my evenings watching the gogglebox or on the interwebs so I can def cut down in that area. I have worked out that with commuting & my mandatory 1hr lunch break at work 5 days a week I would only need to make up an additional 10hrs a week to meet 20hrs.

My son I think will be the biggest hurdle, like most 7yo's he isn't able to have me in the house without being "near" me. So a discussion with oh about "removing" themselves from the house on a sunday when I would be making much most of the study hours is essential. I also have alot of local places I could go, library, cafe but I would prefer to be at home.

Dawnw, I have to go via the online route as I still need to work full time. I'm the main breadwinner & also quite a high income earner, which is why I haven't been more active in pursuing this degree. It wont actually improve my current earning ability but will hopefully allow me to move into a different career once I complete it & the necessary 2 year MA after. The course is actually via University of Derby, the OU course was more expensive!

If I can't get a loan from my mum I will struggle with the financials as I'll have to go down the pay by module route but fingers crossed I can sort something out.

I'll keep you updated on how I get on,. I haven't even applied yet, they might not want me