2014 Frugal Living Challenge

MUM40

[QUOT

I've run this spreadsheet for a good few years now, and am always happy to make blank copies available to anyone who wants. It's best run from the start of a year, but can be adapted to work from any time (and I'll even help with that too )[/QUOTE]

Could you send me a copy of your spreadsheet. Thanks x

cw18

MUM40 wrote: »

Could you send me a copy of your spreadsheet. Thanks x

if you send me a Private Message with your email address I'll get it over to you ASAP.

student-mum-2

hi all student mum here ...had to sign up in another name as I couldn't get on using my last user name and password


anyway I have tried to be mse as possible, I have paid some off debts but our holiday isn't very far away and I need to save for this too so therefore my weekly budget is nearly the same as before


im hoping to do this for as long as possible




on top of everything after 7 years of being together my DP has finally popped the question and I am determined to achieve my dream wedding but at a lot lower cost than what it would normally cost.
we hope to get wed in 2017 our 10th year so I have plenty of time to save but its just another thing to have to think about regarding finances

so I need to pay off debts .... save save save and well be MSE as possible


one step at a time so
1. pay off debts and save for holiday
2. declutter and ebay as much as possible

quidsy

I have 2 weeks off from next week & have been trying to find frugal things to do with ds (7). We have some cheapo days out planned, one is to go into london (20mins away) and have a "adventure & discovery" day, so I am trying to find a decent route that includes lots of free interesting things for us to do. I'm scouring groupon et al for a lunch deal somewhere fancy as my boy loves to do "grown up" lunches & dinenrs just him & mummy I've already bought a half price churro & choc dip deal from a burrito place in covent garden to pick up en route for a sugar boost, I'll be taking lots of snacks & whatnot so want a nice lunch venue for our date.

Apart from that am not happy about missing 2 weeks wages (self employed) but as I have to by law take 10 consecutive days off for FCA rules & as the school breaks up early & no holiday clubs start yet figured it was good to have some mum & son bonding time.

Frugalsod

I have been making pizza alternatives. Pitta bread possibly YS, smear some ketchup instead of tomato paste. Any cheese that you like. I was using some cheddar as I have lots and a few slices of pepperoni. Add Tabasco if you like it spicy, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes at 200 C.

hollieinbloom

student-mum-2 wrote: »

on top of everything after 7 years of being together my DP has finally popped the question and I am determined to achieve my dream wedding but at a lot lower cost than what it would normally cost.
we hope to get wed in 2017 our 10th year so I have plenty of time to save but its just another thing to have to think about regarding finances

Congratulations!! Hope you get the wedding you want

....

Morning all, haven't posted in a while!! As OH has a new job and it's less pay than the previous job, we are having to eat differently and spend less on everything!. As well as it paying less, he has to get the bus there for £100 a month. Ouch!. A job is a job so we're not complaining, we are dealing with what we have and surviving well!

Two lots of good news for the month, Water bill has dropped from £50 a month to £34 and James's WTC has risen from £7 to £15 a week so we are £50 a month better off thankfully.

Been trying to build up a decent stock cupboard but as we don't have a car, it's so hard to carry it all home but we have a rucksack so carrying some on our backs is helping!. Just need to stock up on some more bread flour and then I'll be happy! xx

quidsy

It might be beneficial to do a one time only, money off coupon hom delivery & just order all the bulky tinned & dried goods to give you a good bulk base for cooking.

Tesco for example are doing cash back + 15 off a first time £50 shop or someone other kind of similar money off deal. For one time & to get £65 worth or bulk items it may actually save you time & money in the long term.

lhead123

Not posted for a while, been very busy with baby S and getting J integrated into her new school for September.

Have just listed a ton of baby clothes on eBay so i'm hoping it will all sell and that money will pay for school uniform!

Oh has started working for his new company so soon we will be able to get back to normal life and start paying down our debts again

L x

DawnW

Hello all, sorry I haven't posted on here for ages
Nicki-Sue, so sorry to hear about your OH's job problems. Hope all is sorted soon. And Sparrer, please take care, you should be eating properly Hope your Mum is out of hospital soon. I was feeling a bit meh today, but reading about the issues both of you are up against at the moment made me feel guilty and get my act together

I have been preoccupied with my not very lucrative (actually a bit of an understatement ) small business, and am in the process of downsizing it a bit. This is taking a bit of time due to various issues, and the need to move and store stock etc. Also inundated with grandchildren over the last week or so.... they do wear me out, bless them I can't imagine how I ever had the energy to cope with my 3 kids when they were young :eek: Oh to be young again!

On the frugal front, I am still keeping on track, basing meals on what I have in the freezer / ready in the garden. I made a big pot of bolognese today, which we had for tea with pasta, and there is enough left over to have tomorrow with a jacket potato and salad to use up some of the lettuce mountain

I have had to buy a new mobile phone though, as my (very) old one had finally given up the ghost. I also upgraded from PAYG to a sim only contract, which should actually save money if I remember to use it for calls instead of the landline.

Task for the next few days is to get together enough stuff to do a car boot at the weekend. I have amassed a fair sized pile already, including junk from my business stock (won't get much for it but better than nothing) and junk from the house.

cw18

My annual budget is about to undergo a big revision...

Came up to the Lakes on Sunday for 13 days walking with full backpack training for my Camino in September. But on Monday I lost my footing, and managed to break my right hand/wrist quite badly. 2 hospital visits so far (80 mile round trip from where I'm staying, but fortunately stayed overnight locally between them as a friend from school days lives in that area ) and another today. But I'm likely to be in plaster right up to my intended departure date, and there's still a chance they may need to operate to put a pin in

So most of my Camino budget will have to be moved to next year

And I'm going to have to revisit meal plans as I can't open tins, handle heavy pans, lift things out of the oven or wash pots