2016 Frugal Living Challenge

Savvy_sewing

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

My first act of Frugalness.

I ordered my best friend a CD for Christmas but it didn't come in time.

So I was going to order it again via Amazon and get it sent to her.

But that would cost 10 pounds and leave me with a CD I don't especially want.

Instead I will post it to her along with a few bits and proper card - hopefully it won't cost ten pounds(!) and I will have saved some money.

I read through some of the previous threads - I have signed up so often and not stuck it out. I could tell particularly in one post it was a time when work was getting me down. I know once term starts work will suck me in. However I am hoping to change jobs so maybe that will mean I am more focused on my family and friends. Also I am no longer working two jobs. so do have a more reasonable hours now.

XX

Try postage via Hermes! Soo much cheaper then Royal Mail.
To post my thermal cooking bags Royal Mail wanted £7.65 last year and more this year. My Hermes it was £2.60

Frugaldom

Good morning and welcome to all our new challengers - hopefully you will find a life of frugaldom to be fun, productive and fullfilling. I won't be posting a list of participants, so the fact you have come here and posted to say you are in is your personal pledge to take part.

There are no set rules other than the aim being to get out of debt and live debt free in a sustainable way that you enjoy.

Good luck to everyone!

daydream_believer_2

Please count me in for 2016. I was doing quite well in 2015, then lost track sometime in October......this coming year I will try and update regularly!

My budget is for after household bills, car repair bills, vet bills etc, its purely for food, travel, and social life, and is £10 a day for 2 adults, so £3660 for the year.
Thanks!

peony40

Hello,

I'd like to join you all this year, especially as hubby has now given me full control of the budget, yay! The budget is £7200 a year, this covers everything except for mortgage, gas/electric/water and telephone bills.

I wish to get on top of a small amount of debt on a credit card, clear my Argos card and then get some savings in place.

Thank you for running this thread, and good luck to all for 2016.

nellis10

Hi, I would love to join this challenge!

I am going to set a monthly budget of £620 to include all Grocery/Petrol/School Dinners/Spends/Clothing

That's £7500 for the year. I am hoping I can get savings out of that of £50 to £100 a month, but this is my first time doing this challenge to giving myself some wriggle room!

cw18

I've been number crunching for a few hours today, and am struggling to get my out-goings budget at a figure that's less than my guaranteed in-coming :eek: (I think things will look a little better once my tax code gets sorted - the joys of changing jobs when you have an additional taxable income!)

One problem is that DS1 moves out on 12th Jan, and I've no way of knowing how much difference that'll make to my gas, electricity and water bills (have hopefully managed to calculate council tax though). When DS2 moved out (leaving me on my own until DS1 moved back in) I seem to recall they came down by 25%, but he was in the house more than DS1 is so they may not come down that much this time.

Oh well, off to bed as I'm back to work in the morning. Hopefully a fresh(er) eye tomorrow evening may see somewhere I can try and tweak things a bit more

lynnejk

cw18 wrote: »

..... (have hopefully managed to calculate council tax though). When DS2 moved out (leaving me on my own until DS1 moved back in) I seem to recall they came down by 25%, but he was in the house more than DS1 is so they may not come down that much this time.

It does vary a bit according to where you live, but generally you would get a 25% discount if you are a single occupier, as the rate is 50% property tax and 50% occupancy tax, assuming at least two people live in the property. You can get a quote online easily though if you want to make sure.
HTH
Lx

Intheattic

I'd love to join

cw18

lynnejk wrote: »

It does vary a bit according to where you live, but generally you would get a 25% discount if you are a single occupier, as the rate is 50% property tax and 50% occupancy tax, assuming at least two people live in the property. You can get a quote online easily though if you want to make sure.
HTH
Lx

Definitely 25% discount here, but I've had to try and calculate what I'll owe for the 11-12 days of January before he moves out. My last few payments for this year (I pay over 12 months) are a bit strange anyway, as I was entitled to help while out of work for a couple of months but it takes them time to do the calculations which means later payments include 'money owing' from when you lose the entitlement.

quidsy

I have been vaguely following a budge on last years thread but know I can do much much better.


I need to actually as the Mr & I are splitting up & he will move out in a couple of months so I will be about 500 a month down but probably save on energy costs & food.


I am the main earner & possibly will need to help him out financially till he can get some benefits coming in but I can barely afford it so hoping to make some serious budget changes in 2016.