2018 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

The only thing I can see when I open it that may be causing you problems is a message bar across the top saying it's been opened in Protected View. You'd need to click on the 'Enable Editing' box at the end of the message to be able to update details. I have a full copy of Excel - not sure what would happen if your're using something a cut down free version.

Frugaldom

Good morning to all and welcome to our newest challengers. I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas & Boxing day and that you now all have a hearty supply of leftovers potted up for future meals.

Latest names added to the list and numbercrunching continues here, as we're in the midst of setting up our frugal holiday 'business' as part of a social enterprise - I'll ask the MSE 'high heid yins' if I'm allowed to offer special discount codes to frugalers taking part in frugal living challenge or if it has to be made available to ALL site members - and I also have family wedding coming up soon, so my challenge budget is purely for the cost of living / household costs. I'll still be doing my savings challenges and extra earnings challenges but can't remember who was all part of those. Yell if you see this message and you were taking part in previous years.

Turkey sandwich, anyone?

FrankieM

Afternoon Everyone

Sadly I don't have leftovers because I went to my daughter's for Christmas dinner and though she has mentioned sending some turkey my way...I don't hold out much hope!
I've put my budget together on CW's spreadsheet and I've done first monthly shop at Tesco. Due for delivery late tomorrow night to get the cheaper delivery charge.
Yesterday I used up a swede and a bag of carrots, making mash and portioning it for the freezer and some butternut squash soup, that I'll work my way through and freeze any leftovers.
We still have our planned 'Christmas break' meals to cook and eat so anything else I cook will be frozen for later in the month. I don't like cooking either! but I do like saving money so I do what needs to be done.
I'm also doing a 'paying off debt' challenge and will be using extra made income for that so I'd be interested in any savings or extra earnings challenges Frugaldom to do that.

Fizzyisbusy

Okay I’ve sorted out my spreadsheet! Did it on my Mac which worked fine! I find I have a budget shortfall of course. I am on a limited income so now away to work out how to have more income! Thank you for the spreadsheet it’s worked well despite not magically producing more money from somewhere! �� ah well, back to it!

elly68

please add me to list will work out budget

PlaysNicely

:wave:

Hope everyone's OK and has been having a lovely festive time!

Santa bought well-received frugal gifts, but visitors bought bugs :eek: so as OH is now poorly in bed/bathroom & we've had to cancel other visitors, I've spent this morning with the spreadsheet and online banking.

Final budget for 2018 has been set at £11,500 - which includes absolutely everything, except clothes / shoes. I have another idea for sorting those and it won't be from the frugal budget! :

[Background info edited out as issue has arisen as a result of this ]

So, frugal finances ... goals within the budget are:
1) Reduce grocery budget each week where possible by growing our own or foraging free produce from the local area. Use money saved towards EF & savings challenges (as signature).
2) Focus on recycling, repurposing and reusing as much as possible - all of which is frugal-finance-friendly and is also our own little way of trying to save the planet's resources too.
3) Every month focus on an area of the budget with an aim to reducing it in the short or longer-term.
4) Use spending diary to log all spends and saves.
5) Actively achieve 3 Frugal Things every day.

So that's where we're at as we head into 2018. I'm really hoping this lovely thread will help to keep me accountable and on track across all of the above - the spreadsheet has already been amazing for helping me budget for the bigger picture rather than juggling pots every month, thank you so much for sharing it. PN x

debtaghh

I am setting my budget at £8000 which is to include food for five people, all presents, entertainment, hair cuts and clothing/ shoes.

nannygladys

Hi everyone number 31 calling in. I still have relatives staying with me so not finished the budgets yet, but I have been frugal.
1. I haven't been out anywhere to spend lol!!
2. I've been freezing leftovers and there are quite a few but some will get eaten by relatives staying here.
So signing off for now
Nannyg

mumof3.12kindebt

I need to talk to partner tomorrow get him to look at his accounts to see how much he can transfer to savings each month.
I have a list of jobs to do during. My day off tomorrow non of which incure any spending. We have managed to save 2250 so far towards a house deposit. Which is the main reason for me doing this challenge in 2018 . I started in October ish time.
I would like to have 20k saved by this time next year. Which will be Extreamly tough so my first goal is 10k if we. Reach that we Will aim for 15k and if we reach that we will aim for 20k .

First goal reach 5k by April
Second goal reach 10k by August
Third goal reach 15k by December

If we can smash those targets and get somewhere between 15-20k by December that would be incredible !

We are a family of 5 and a cat.
2 adults
1 8yo
1 4yo
1 9.5 month old.

I'd love to be able to start looking at moving this time next year instead of in 5 years time (how long we thought we would originally have to save for)

I'm going to try and make time to go through my pantry and freezer tomorrow to see how many meals we have in and use as much up as possible in January

I'm also going to do a weekly meal plan and list that will come in under budget each week.

Tonight I gutted our bedroom and clothes and got rid of 4 bin bags full.

My whole journey the last few months saving as much as possible spending as little as possible and getting rid of everything we no longer use or need or love is really helping me. I feel so much better. I feel free and a lot less stressed for the first time in a long time. Here is too a brilliant frugal year Im so excited

mumof3.12kindebt

anyone else here write the dates on stuff when they start using it too know how long it lasts we are going to start doing this. Mainly with household / toiletries so we know how often we need to buy them. Also anyone use soap nuts or reuseaBle products