2015 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

Good luck to everyone seeking new jobs in 2016 and to those who are juggling finances on ever tightening budgets.

My 2016 budget is done and, once again, I am capping living costs at £4,000 for the year. This will be year 9 of recording my £4k challenge but I am on budget for this year and confident I can manage on that next year.

New thread will be posted on.here soon.

cw18

Wombatchops wrote: »

That's unfortunate, cw18. I'm sorry I couldn't help.

I'm very grateful that you took the time to offer up ideas/suggestions. Sometimes I find I just can't see a solution right under my nose, until someone else makes a chance comment or related suggestion.

his_missus

Hi all,


I really need to get back into a savings mind-set next year and I really need to get Hubby on board so I did a budget forecast for the whole of 2016 just to see how much we could actually put away in our savings pot. I'm hoping it will encourage Hubby a bit more as he's prone to saying "go on, we can afford it" which is not the mind-set I want him to have.


So if we stick to £80 a week spends on food, clothes, pets and entertainment (Which I'm sure most of you will agree is very generous for 2 adults and 4 cats especially as it doesn't include the mortgage, gas, leccy, water, council tax etc.) we can save £1,000 a month between us! Hubby was flabbergasted.


No pay rise for us here either.

parsniphead

Right confession time.

I have been fussing around with my budget for next year for a few months now and have to say I'm struggling. Not counting mortgage, council tax and water rates I'm about £1750 over the £4000 limit. Now I know its an individual target but I would like to stick to the challenge from the original thread. I obviously need to look at every part of my budget.

I have cut car cost this year with a more efficient car and £30 annual road tax but could do better. I'm lucky to work term time so only need to travel to work 37 weeks per year. I think I have become a bit too reliant on the car lately and need to do a bit more walking and combining jobs when using the car. I will get rid of some of the excess fat too .

Food top ups are dreadful, they have to stop. Again organisation.

I need to pay off debts this year and start saving for house improvements. Double glazing is needed. Thank goodness for the warmer weather at the moment, its saving a chunk of money with less heating costs. I also need a new kitchen. Mine is a hideous white melamine one from the early 60's. It's quickly falling apart and I think it's getting to the point where I will be unable to keep repairing it.

It seems frivolous but we have no plans for moving on so want somewhere livable until our final days. A shower would be good too to save money but the bathroom would need completely moving around as putting a shower over the bath is impossible due to ceiling height.

I've definitely got to get my allotment part of the garden productive again to do this. It's been neglected since a difficult pregnancy and bad few years at work. If anything 2026 has to be time for me again.

Right back to the figures.

Frugaldom and others whom achieve this year after year, I tip my hat to you. :T

[Deleted User]

Well you certainly seem to have the right frame of mind so best of luck. I hope you find that you can find you again in 2016 and not have to wait another 10 years. Seasons greetings to you x (santa)

parsniphead

I obviously will not be looking for any job which needs accurate typing skills. I did mean 2016. :rotfl:

Kerry_Woman

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. :xmastree:


Hugs to those who find this time of the year difficult.

lynnejk

Hiya folks


Just to say HAPPY 25TH


however and whatever you are celebrating
Lx

[Deleted User]

Thanks Kerry and Lynne for the Christmas wishes.

Merry Christmas to all on the thread here. I hope you are all having a lovely Christmas day. :santa2:

sistercas

Merry Xmas to all
I am stuffed full of turkey