2014 Frugal Living Challenge

tatabubbly

Well me and OH have fallen way way off the wagon since he got his new job.. I'm gonna have to be a lot more fiscal the next couple of months due to Xmas coming up, my mum visiting etc...

Hoping to have all the money we need saved for our wedding by December but it may be January 2015 now! I was hoping to make some serious savings on the wedding front so I wouldn't have as much to save, here's hoping!!

Other than that our food bill needs some serious talking to. We live abroad and therefore food costs a bloody fortune.. No lids or Aldiss here!!

Nicki_Sue

icontinuetodream wrote: »

Hurrah!!! :j:j:j:j That's excellent news!!:T:T:T Wishing him all the luck in the world in his new job

Thank you

I'm as pleased for him as I am for our budget lol! He really deserves the position which is a cracking one. I have more butterflies about him starting tomorrow than I did when my eldest started school! I'm sooo hoping it pans out x

[Deleted User]

Plans for frugal and handmade gifts started this weekend. Bought 2 chairs which will be painted and personalised for my 2 nieces for Christmas. The chairs only cost £5 each an although the pain was fairly expensive there is plenty left over that can be used for other projects. Plan on doing a craft box for my soon to be 6yo niece's birthday in November - need to start sourcing stuff for it within budget, going to try poundshops/home bargains etc

Food plans back on track this week and weekly shop done on Friday night for £26.90.

Frugalsod

tatabubbly wrote: »

Other than that our food bill needs some serious talking to. We live abroad and therefore food costs a bloody fortune.. No lids or Aldiss here!!

What you could do is try and price check at what ever stores you have available and try and get the cheapest item at which ever store is cheapest.That is what many people are doing nowadays and it also means that the overall budget can be lowered but without sacrificing quality.

There are also many ways to cut the grocery bills lower such as but own brand value items especially for simple vegetables. Will a can of chopped tomatoes really taste that different depending on brand?

mrsinvisible

Still trying to be frugal, and although l achieve few nsds l do manage a lot of vlsds (under£2) milk, paper, fruit. I have begun the Christmas hamper value item shopping, and it comes out of the general spend budget, and so is not missed.
Congratulations on new jobs and permanent contracts, and house sales.

mummy2threeboys

Aww very best of luck Nicki..congratualtions hope all goes well today!

1 more day to pay day yay..Ive decided to have a no spend month yikes and just pay for things that need paying for. But i do have a plan to buy the family a food dyhydrator, but have some bits to sell on ebay hope that it covers that..so hopefully free!

Things i need ?? to pay for besides normal bills (sons are home ed so we do clubs and group learning we have to pay for)
karate £16
Beevers/cubs £8 (as it doesnt start back to sep 11)
youthclub £2 (2 weeks off)
netfix £7 (we got freeview and netflix in the end saved us £35 a month!)
mobile £13 ish?
£12 towards a group purchase of baby swing for a friend.
£6 on drop in home ed club (going down to once a fortnight instead of every week)
£33 dd to credit card..will pay more next month when ive managed to stay in my over draft
£8 for a gas canister
£3 for charcoal for bbq

And heres our treat money
£15 Take away
£15 gifts for hubbys 40th
£20 extra towards bbq food
£6 bowling trip
Total £164 plus

whatever my unauthorised od bill is £100

So increadibly sickened by my over spending..
Anyway im off to do some money earning surveys..crochet and baking see you all soon have a fab week xx

Frugalsod

I have a dry wipe notice board on which I mark all my spending and so I can see if I have spent more than I budgeted for.

mummy2threeboys

Thats a fab idea frugal..im planning on getting one for sons lesson plans want to be more organised after summer. Where can i get a cheap one please? Poundand only has chalk ones and they set my teeth on edge!

[Deleted User]

Back to work today. Packed lunches organised for the week and lovely HM Tuna crunch made by OH today which will do us tomorrow as well.

One of my colleagues resigned today. He says he feels burned out and every time he looks at his timetable he just feels like he can't cope with it. I am gutted that he's going but its given me food for thought. I have been feeling very apprehensive about going back this year after being off with stress last year. I quite fancy the idea of leaving full time teaching and just doing supply work. Going to see how I get on this year but keeping this option there in case I need it.

patentgirl

Haven't been in here for months ! Fallen off OS band wagon hopefully will get back straight soon. Hope everyone is doing better than me up to March I was fine but two holidays later need to start saving big time.
Will start putting some vegetables in tomorrow when I have sorted out raised borders that DH started. We have water meter installed but at moment still paying standing order for old amount, need to sort that out
Promise to return regularlyx