2015 Frugal Living Challenge

[Deleted User]

Thanks sistercas, yes I know exactly what you mean about managers changing the whole atmosphere in a place. Best of luck with saving and debt busting. I am sure you will get there sooner than you think.

sistercas

I've been looking back at the previous frugal living challenges to try and get myself ready for the 2016 challenge .

I think I understand it and look forward to starting ( I hope there will be a 2016 challenge )

I need to do a budget in preparation

LiveSimply

I've not seen this thread before, can I join in for 2016 if possible? I'm not actually in debt, does that make a difference? Is there a more appropriate thread I should join?

cw18

Welcome aboard

You don't need to be in debt in order to want to live frugally, in fact living frugally is one of the best ways to help yourself not fall into debt! Other than a mortgage (and a small amount on a credit card from the last few months while I've been bouncing between benefits and jobs - now hopefully in a position I can work on clearing it fairly swiftly) I've not been in debt whilst participating in this challenge since 2008.

Frugaldom

Welcom to the frugal living challenge on mse, sistercas and livesimply, no debts required, just a want to become less wastefull, more self sustainable and live life within a smaller budget. Have fun in frugaldom.

Wombatchops

I joined the thread at the start of this year for the first time, and I have tried, but failed miserably. But things have changed dramatically in the last few weeks.

We are a family of five, our kids are 6, 2, and under 1. Our income is our salaries, child benefit and child tax credits. I'm on mat leave but no longer getting paid. I don't officially finish mat leave until the middle of January. I could've gone back to work already, but as it is, childcare will cost almost twice what I bring in, which is why I've taken the whole year off, because we are better off me not getting paid, rather than me paying to go to work. Well, that was the case until my DH did his back in a few months ago. He was struggling through until the end of October, where the pain got too bad, and he has now been signed off until the end of the year at least. The first six weeks were on full pay, but the next six will be half pay from Monday, and then if he's still not well enough, it'll be nothing. When I go back to work, my hours, and therefore salary, will reduce by a further four hours, to 24 hours over three days, rather than 28 hours over four days, which at least helps with the childcare costs and petrol (it's about 20 miles one way to work).

Luckily we have some savings, something which I have insisted upon having, to the detriment of a life, and which I have been criticised for, but I'm glad I did it now. But they will last no more than 6 months. And I'm really scared. I had a freak out with my DM on the phone earlier this morning.

What in the world can I do? My first thoughts are reduce my shopping costs, but DH thinks a meal isn't a meal without meat. He's my biggest kid. He refuses to eat vegetarian. I've told him to grow up, but it gets me nowhere. And since he's been off sick, unless he goes out and gets exercise, he has the TV on all day.

I'm being unreasonable, aren't I? The panic is setting in. But any practical advice would be really appreciated. Even if all it is is to tell me to stop panicking. Cos I can't think straight right now.

Thanks for listening.

lynnejk

Wombatchops wrote: »

Luckily we have some savings, something which I have insisted upon having, to the detriment of a life, and which I have been criticised for, but I'm glad I did it now. But they will last no more than 6 months. And I'm really scared. I had a freak out with my DM on the phone earlier this morning.

What in the world can I do? My first thoughts are reduce my shopping costs, but DH thinks a meal isn't a meal without meat. He's my biggest kid. He refuses to eat vegetarian. I've told him to grow up, but it gets me nowhere. And since he's been off sick, unless he goes out and gets exercise, he has the TV on all day.

I'm being unreasonable, aren't I? The panic is setting in. But any practical advice would be really appreciated. Even if all it is is to tell me to stop panicking. Cos I can't think straight right now.

Thanks for listening.

Okay - first of all DON'T PANIC as you never see the wood for the trees.


I don't know what benefits you might be able to get now, as my sprogs all grown up etc. but don't start spending your savings yet unless you have to do so. I'm sure someone on here will be better to help with actual figures as you might be able to get ESA or Income support and help with housing and council bills.


Try the Turn2us site on internet as I'm sure they can give you some advice. You could also make an appointment with Citizen's Advice - but do it this week !!


If your DH is going to be off work for an extended time then maybe he can do the child-care stuff to help with finances as well.


Fingers xd things work out for you but meantime try to stay calm. Make a start by making sure you have all your finances in good order and able to present to any advisers you find. At least you have a little breathing gap and I'm sure you'll use it well.
Lx

cw18

I'm not sure how your maternity leave would impact benefits, but when my (late) hubby and I were both on what they then called Incapacity Benefit (he'd been made redundant just before cancer was diagnosed, and my sick pay had run out while off with back problems) we qualified for some (albeit minimal) income support which opened the door to council tax and mortgage interest help - plus free prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests. Normally mortage help isn't paid for the first 3 months, but we got immediately due to the level of DLA hubby was on. Had we been renting we'd have had help with that immediately even without the DLA. But you won't get help if your savings are above a certain level (I know it's £6k as a single person, and think it may now be the same for a couple?)

sistercas

wombachops I don't have any practical help in terms of finances , but there are some very clever people on here who may help, and indeed cw18 and lynnejk have already had some great ideas ,
Are you in charge of shopping? If so whether DH prefers meat or not if u can't afford much meat then don't buy it , he will have to put up with it , if you can provide 3 healthy meals a day for all the family by buying less meat then so be it . And you will be doing an amazing job
Have a look at the links on the first page of the thread , there's a link there to weezls cheap family recipes . Xx

Frugaldom

I will also back up what has already been said and can speak from experience, but that part of my challenge is not open for discussion on public forums. One thing I will say is that it isn't worth fighting over or attributing blame. If hubby is home watching TV all day he can also watch kids, help about the house and be there as part of the budget plan. At least you know where he is and that he is not out blowing what little budget you have remaining. Household Spending can be slashed to the bone, literally, by reducing meat spending to the cheapest cuts rather than deprive hubby of what he sees as essential. My own grocery budget is £ 1 per person per day normally, but I can shave that to £5 each per week if necessary and we eat meat. Prioritise your spending to keep your heads covered and bellies fed. Keep calm, no matter how infuriating the situation may be and carry on with life. We have this fabulous, in-built capacity to adapt but women seem to excel at it far more than men.