2017 Frugal Living Challenge

so_very_confused

WeeMidgie I am about to be in a similar position!
Surgery and ME have left me with two not very useful arms. Like yourself, holidays have been periods to rest in order to carry on working.
Well I have bitten the bullet and acknowledge as my pain levels rise working at present is no longer an option. I am 3 years of state pension......when I will consider myself rich!
I have a work pension which just about covers all my essentials.
I have managed to pay of most of my debt, very small amount remaining.
I have been practising frugal living for several years and now consider myself pretty good. However whilst ever I am working cannot do this as well as I would like due to lack of energy.
So....I am leaving work in 6 weeks, if I can last that long. Then it is full steam ahead with every which way I can save money but have I hope a better quality of life.
So having pared my budget down I am now looking to grow my own veg, batch cook more and generally pick up tips to make my limited funds go further.

Scary but exciting.:)

WeeMidgie

so_very_confused wrote: »

WeeMidgie I. am about to be in a similar position!
Surgery and ME have left me with two not very useful arms. Like yourself, holidays have been periods to rest in order to carry on working.
Well I have bitten the bullet and acknowledge as my pain levels rise working at present is no longer an option. I am 3 years of state pension......when I will consider myself rich!
I have a work pension which just about covers all my essentials.

So....I am leaving work in 6 weeks, if I can last that long. Then it is full steam ahead with every which way I can save money but have I hope a better quality of life.

Scary but exciting.:)

I so agree about scary but exciting! I do love a challenge, and let's keep posting on here as we enter this new chapter of our lives. Yes, too to feeling rich when the state pension kicks in!!

Kerry_Woman

Still trying to be frugal. Have compared my spending in the first three months from this year to last year and have spent slightly less. Probably not spending much on oyster card weekly fares, due to lack of temp work. Still looking for permanent work and going to register with another agency this week. Have been doing voluntary work just to fill in the gap and they offer training. Might help me to work in another field of work - have to wait and see. Have to change my budget in certain areas, but it will be still the same total amount for the year.

Penny_pauper

Hi everyone, feeling the need for a little bit of support. It has been a very spendy week on lots of little annoying necessary spends (e.g. a small child bursting her month old shoes grrr). I don't know. Is being frugal worth it? Feel like all I do is worry about money and currently I'm in the fortunate position of being able to afford my life, being frugal is an attempt at future proofing but I don't know. What if I make everyone miserable trying to penny pinch and something happens and I'm not here in ten years to reap the benefits. Guess it's the old 'live for today or live for tomorrow' question.

Jazee

Penny Pauper, I do know how you feel. At the moment we too can afford a non-frugal lifestyle, but know that our circumstances could change at any time. I think adopting the MSE origins of if you're going to get something/do something, make sure you do it for the lowest price possible.

[Deleted User]

Bless you - just keep penny pinching within reason. I am a pensioner so have always been careful and although I do not really need to make extra cuts, I try to buy whoopsie fruit & veg, make my own soup using scraps and make use of freezers big time, much to the discust of my children when they see stuff like "turkey mush" in there - turkey & mushrooms? turkey stewy thing? And I do not use the use by dates, I have eyes and a nose and then after making, Ia little taste test. Hang on in there it will benefit you in later life too.

Fireflyaway

Its easier if there is a goal insight. If you are frugal in order to save x amount for an emergency fund then you know you can go back to normal and the fund is there to protect you if something happens. Its good to live on less than you bring in but not to the extent it makes you miserable.

WeeMidgie

Well, I promised I would come back to the thread with my monthly budget. So here we go. I've just this evening negotiated reductions in my mobile bill and broadband, line rental so know what to expect for the next 12 months. I'm the quintessential single woman with cat! No mortgage as paid off.

Council Tax Inc Water 100
Gas & Electricity 30
Broadband, line,
Evening & weekend
Calls 23.49
Mobile 5
Window cleaner 6
Subscription 5
Factor fees 10
Dentist 5
Hair 10
Car maintenance 25
Car insurance 15
Petrol 50
House insurance 15
Food 90
Cat food & litter 12
Vet 10
Pocket money 20
Presents 20

Total £451.49 per month or £5418 per year.

I've no need to buy clothes or footwear for a good couple of years. I just negotiated 30% off my mobile & broadband etc bills, which I'm very happy about, and have both gas and electricity as low as I can. I'm with Ebico, no daily standing charges as a low user.

The food bill may come down a bit, time will tell.

Jazee

Hello everyone. Bearing in mind that my income could be drastically reduced soon I really need to get my living frugally head on. I have £185 to last 13 days, but will report back next Monday on how much I have overspent in April, and it will be a lot.

lessonlearned

May I join you.

I am 65 and a retired widow, currently living with my son whilst house hunting.

Weemidge...thanks for posting your budget. Very Interesting and helpful.

I had roughly worked out........

Bills - £300 (CT, WR Gas and Leccy, Insurance) - hopefully a generous estimate. Ideally I would like that to be less.

Housekeeping/general misc - £200 to include, food, gym, gifts, hair cuts etc.

Clothes, shoes etc......I could open a shop. I really don't need more. I tend to buy from charity shops anyway so that just comes out of the £200.

That just leaves the car......not sure about this.

I currently spend around £2k max a year but given that I only do around 3k miles a year it does beg the question do I really need a car.

I have a rail card and bus pass. Taxis into the heart of the city, railway station or hospital cost less than £5 - cheaper than parking sometimes - need to think about that one.

Even with the car I still have enough for holidays and fun stuff and hopefully can still carry on saving a bit more for my "old age".:rotfl:

If I start to struggle then the car goes.