2015 Frugal Living Challenge

jess444_2

Hi, I know it's late in the year but would like to join in please. Haven't set a detailed budget but basically we are trying to live on £500 per month. This includes food, petrol and general living expenses such as presents, parking and a weekly (cheap) night out. Does not include any bills or loan repayments.

So far we have managed a month. Plan is to draw out £250 twice a month in cash and not use the debit card.

Money left in the bank at the end of the month is to pay off our last credit card and then save up for a new kitchen.

expressman33

Just me and the wife but we manage easily off £600 per month including all bills ( mortgage only £30 per month)
Elec & Gas £100, council tax £130 ,water £35 ,internet and phone £25, insurance £10 , Food £120
leaves £150 for anything else

sugar23

hi could i join you please.

my budget is £4800 for the rest of the year

it doesn't include rent, council tax or Christmas. im hoping to come below this and hope to set an overall lower aim for 2016

Thankyou

his_missus

Quuite impressed with my shop this week. Spent £44 (£24 at the butchers and £20 in Mr As) and have made enough evening meals from it for the next two weeks, enough soup for my lunches for 6 days and we have enough for breakfasts for 2 weeks too.
Just Hubby's lunches (he's going through a salad phase so need to keep buying fresh every few days) and 4 more for me to buy over the next two weeks, another £10 - £15 perhaps?


£60 for 2 weeks worth of food is really good going for me

Frugaldom

Hello and welcome to jess444, expressman33 and sugar23, it is never too late to join a moneysaving challenge and we're only just into the second half of the year, so plenty of practice time before 2016 gets here.


Summer still hasn't properly reached this corner of Scotland but we've had a few decent days now and again. Lettuce & spring onions are plentiful, herbs doing well, there are strawberries being picked regularly, last of the rhubarb ready to pick and the blackcurrant bushes are filling with berries. My veg-growing plans were held up by my move in April but I've made a start on veg beds at the Frugaldom project and have now got the edible hedge planted. Not sure how my heritage potatoes are doing in their bags, though.


Savings - still sticking with the £1 a day but suspect this will go on kitting out caravans.


Grocery budget challenge going OK but haven't managed to drive it down to £5 a week yet - it's hovering around the £6.75 mark at the moment but I will keep persevering. It's those little extras that mount up - crisps, juice, hot chocolate, marshmallows, sweets, chocolate, occasional bottle or jar of something if the glass container looks nice... you get the picture.


Hope everyone is doing OK, not sure how many follow the Frugaldom project or forum news but things are progressing well and we should be open for business in August, so things there are keeping me busy. Other than that, I can only apologise for my lack of time in keeping up with posts on here and thanking the regulars who keep things going. It's much appreciated.

frugalsmurf

Hi. Please can I join. Been on mse for years but fallen well and truly off the wagon the past year. Back on with a vengeance and planning for budgets etc to start in August. So it would be great to join your community

Can I add to the school teachers presents conversation. Ive worked in schools where teachers literally had bags full of chocolate and wine. It was silly as they didn't appreciate it . The best presents were hand made or notes/pictures.

Frugaldom

Hi Frugalsmurf, I think I remember your name from some years back either from here or one of the other challenges I ran - welcome back! (I was known as NYK Media at the start.)

Kerry_Woman

Still plodding along and trying to be mindful with the spending.


The only thing I have made some head way with is the decluttering. Have finally managed to let go some things I found hard to let go of. Have taken bags to the cs and the recycling centre. Somethings had to be binned.


Still managing to get Mr A price guarantee money off coupons. It varies, but every little bit helps.

parsniphead

I'm off on holiday on Saturday and its going to be a frugal one (apart from a couple of visits to Saltys fish and chip shop in mablethorpe - ahem ). When I return I want to get back into the money saving and paying off debt. I'm going to take the trusty notebook on holiday and see where I can cut a few more costs.

Who needs exotic holidays when you can have Lincolnshire, a caravan and a notebook.:j

Kerry_Woman

parsniphead - Hope you enjoy your holiday.