Living on $12,000 a year

oldMcDonald

I belong to a frugal forum aimed at the UK which is good for discussing and shareing ideas

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FrugalGeniusUK/

ceridwen

Thanks Pandora123 - off for a quick look.

PS Crikey - looking at your "signature" - you are doing well at clearing that mortgage! Obviously going to make it on target - is this preparatory to downsizing?! (I got rid of mine early and am generally sorting out my finances - as who knows how things are going to go in this society? - but I am not that optimistic about it). Hence MSE - now off to an old-style take on breakfast of the skim milk has been replaced by full-fat milk watered down and bits of bread are kept to be made into breadcrumbs and then I'll hope the rain has stopped, so I can line-dry the washing for once - rather than tumbledrying it (I'm picking up all the tips grannie knew from here - as I couldnt do so from either of my grandmothers - they both died when I was tiny)

PS; Just had another thought - theres another potential book to be written here - any grannies out there that maybe might like to write a book on "Tips Granny Knows" (as in - not another budget book - but one specifically written from a Gran's viewpoint - with tales of implementing them in yr life as a child - and nice illustrations? - just a thought)

Queenie

ceridwen wrote: »

Thanks for comment re Tightwad book - perhaps being bit of a tightwad I am not v. keen on paying for my info!!
...
All other suggestions welcome.

Try the library? I do know a number of UK people ordered The Complete Tightwad a few years ago via their libraries and if you ask for it, your library can check with other libraries to see if they have it and order it in for you

I have The American Frugal Housewife book, fascinating read.

PS; Just had another thought - theres another potential book to be written here - any grannies out there that maybe might like to write a book on "Tips Granny Knows" (as in - not another budget book - but one specifically written from a Gran's viewpoint - with tales of implementing them in yr life as a child - and nice illustrations? - just a thought)

Martin wrote one - utilising all the tips from here. It's a tips book rather than a story book recounting experiences with nice illustrations: "Thrifty Ways For Modern Days"

Hardup_Hester

Hi Mics_chick

My car insurance is high, cos when I bought the car, 2nd hand, I still had 2 kids who didn't drive & so needed a bigish car to get them & stuff for their hobby's in. I could now do with a smalller car, but can't afford to change it. Also I had no, no claims as I'd always been on ex hubby's insurance.

I'm not really sure why hubby's disability is so low, he gets it for mobility as he's not allowed to drive, he lost some of his eyesight in an industrial accident 14 years ago.

He works about 6 to 8 weeks once or twice a year as a building labourer, for a friend. We've been to see about getting him more help, but they refused. They have no interest in helping, sent him to a temp job in a warehouse where he couldn't read the barcodes so that was no good. Then sent him for an interview for a dustbinman, but they only wanted people who could drive!!

So I do 2 jobs, one full time & one part time to cover the bills & take in lodgers to pay for food.

cupid_s

grahamliza4 wrote: »

Your lizard costs a fortune to feed! What does it eat?

They eat locusts and crickets - I think £8 a week is quite cheap actually

Pandora123_2

ceridwen wrote: »

Thanks Pandora123 - off for a quick look.

PS Crikey - looking at your "signature" - you are doing well at clearing that mortgage! Obviously going to make it on target - is this preparatory to downsizing?!

ceridwen... I've PM'd you.

:A

ceridwen

Hi Pandora123

Havent done the PM bit either way before - so hope I got it right! Got yr message thanks. Have sent one back - at least I think I have managed it okay! - hope so.

moanymoany

Aril wrote: »

Is anyone aware of any similar UK sites [apart from this] or thrifty blogs from this side of the pond please? I always enjoy the American ones but would think that perhaps I could glean more ones I could relate to more. I've been following Lauren's 365 frugal challenge over on the DFW board with interest.
Aril

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/frugalliving101/a/What_Is_Frugal.htm

This is a fascinating site. There is also a newslatter.

About.com has sites about everything. I get the newsletter on French, there are many languages, craft, cooking, sewing, finance, mechanics - just about everything.

Sorry, just realised this is also American!

Here's an English one http://www.frugal.org.uk/

moanymoany

cupid_s wrote: »

They eat locusts and crickets - I think £8 a week is quite cheap actually

Your SOAs says your lizard costs you £416 a month, so it was a teeny bit confusing. I imagined something the size of Godzilla! :eek: Glad to see it must be a touch smaller, the neighbours might object else!

cupid_s

Originally Posted by cupid_s
this is what we spend in a year:

mortgage 4920
gas/elec 720
train pass 720
groceries 1560
lizard food 416
water 290
mobile phones 180
tv 145
christmas 100
train to visit family 85
birthday presents 100
house insurance 375
going out 1300
clothes 500
holidays 1100
extras 900
broadband 240
contact lenses 120

totalling 13771

Everything was what we spend in a year! We'd be in serious trouble if we spent that much each month lol