2019 Frugal Living Challenge

sinkorswim2018

Hello everyone. I've not been on for a few weeks now. Started the month overspend on groceries for the first time ever, I seem to be back on budget there now. I am picking up quite a few over time shifts currently, in top of my full time hours. Just trying to get the balance between making some extra and not overdoing it.
I've put some books on eBay this month which was fairly painless. I also hope to spend less eating out. I 'do lunch' woth a friend once a month. Now we are meeting up twice a month for a walk instead and take turns making the picnic.
Trying to use up stuff - food, toiletries, cleaning stuff, etc. I need to learn the new mentality of I have enough money to buy it rather than having to purchase stuff ahead and be able to see it in front of me. I think that maybe comes form when I've really.struggled with money and being able to see stuff in the cupboard gave me comfort.

cw18

Frugaldom wrote: »

Talking of mini budgets, which is something we have done a lot in the oast, as well as all the mini challenges, has anyone else signed up to do the Ration Challenge?

Hadn't heard of it before, but it's not something I'd be able to do. My job means I need a serious calorie intake, and I'd be likely to pass out on that little amount for a week



However, I may be about to embark on a serious challenge of my own. I have the opportunity to transfer to an office closer to home (depends on who else applies, but as of yesterday morning I was the only contender - still 3 days for others to apply though), but it means dropping 3.5hours a week (advert said 2.5, but I had a call from recruitment to say the hours have been changed so I need to confirm by tomorrow morning if I'm still interested) which makes things very, very tight financially. Even a 2.5 hour drop loses me more money that I save in petrol, and the extra hour loses me another £8.50 a week (take home!).


The 'new' office is close enough to cycle every day (I'm not sure I'd want to through the winter, but hopefully I'd be used to doing it by then as the successful applicant has to be in postion with 28 days) which saves me about £13/week in petrol, but I'd have to use the car for some trips otherwise the engine and brakes will seize and the battery will give out (potentially costing me more than I save). I have debated whether I could give up the car (saving me just over £10/week plus petrol and repairs), but my parents are both having health problems at the moment that could mean I need to do the 40 miles to their place at a moments notice so I feel I need to hang on to it until I can no long afford repairs to keep it roadworthy :think:


Alternatively I stay where I am, but if nothing more suitable comes up before I lose my car I'm looking at either having to cycle 7 miles each way (new office is only 3.4) or getting buses that take 1.5 hours each way (if I time it right and connections run to time) and cost me more than I currently spend on petrol (though until the end of next May they'd only cost me the same as a single bus to the new office - one for my current place has been subjected to a company take-over with tickets from the old company being honoured for 12 months meaning I can use single operator tickets for now, but after that is anyone's guess).


If I take the transfer now I can't apply for another until I've been there for 26 weeks, and having crunched figures my budget is saying I rely on the overtime I get at the moment. But some offices don't have as much, and there's no way I can find that out about the office I'm looking at as it's not one I've been lent out to, so I know nothing about it and don't know anyone who works there.






I had already figured I was relying on the o/t, so was planning on setting myself a personal challenge for July thru December where I need to survive on what I'd get if I were signing on for benefits (with extra allowed only for work related costs such as commuting and to cover slightly dearer presents for my grand-children than I'd be able to afford on benefits - though what they get now is a lot less than the older 2 got when I worked in IT). Taking this transfer would mean I had no choice about doing that personal challenge - it's the only way I'd balance the books, and I'd definitely be relying on my personal food mountain to eke it out (but even that will only last me so long!)

Aaarrrrrrrghhhhhh !!






EDIT :



I've just withdrawn my application for the transfer. Whichever way I juggle my figures I can't afford to cut that many hours and keep my car on the road. But my Mum has just been diagnosed with cancer (will shortly be in hospital for 8 days, then no lifting or driving allowed for a minimum of 8 weeks) and she's currently my Dad's carer (he had what seems to have been a major stroke in January that saw him in a rehab hospital for 6 weeks, and then collapsed again just 2 weeks after going home - they think that may have been a BP issue), so the car is an essential I need to keep on the road for as long as it's financially viable and mechanically possible to do so. Unless I come into some money from somewhere there's no way I can afford to replace it, and it's almost 17 years old (having recently tipped 80k miles).

PipneyJane

Siebrie wrote: »

Thank you, Pip.

When we applied for this mortgage 8 years ago, I made sure we could pay it on one income, and we have managed to get a lower interest rate since then. It's not so much me who has to change spending, but my husband. He loooooves clothes and shoes, and will buy whatever he fancies to cook and eat, regardless of the price.

He is also from Africa, from one of the poorest countries; we send his Mum money every month for her diabetes medication. There have been months, when the harvests were bad and prices high, that 34 people were fed off our money. Together with my husband I have changed their mindset of 'now that you are in Europe you can just send us money' to a more practical approach. We have helped every single brother or sister to set up a business (just once; if it fails, too bad), and we are helping the oldest child in each family through school.

You are both lovely, kind people, doing that for your family.

Anyway, all this to say that we manage our money well, usually. Husband bought a car to export, which was a bit of a lemon, but is fixed now. It is ready to be shipped, which will cost about €2,000. Until that is sold, we will have hardly any savings.

Furthermore, our house started leaking, the old and weird extension is either no longer waterproof or coming away from the house, and the horrific rain bursts of the last three days drove that point really home with leaks in the garage/pantry, home office and possibly living room (I heard the water, but cannot see any damage).

Hugs to you, Siebre, re the leaking extension.

Your words have brought back some very vivid memories. Our kitchen was like that, for the first seven years that we lived in this house. Every time it rained, I'd walk into it expecting a new damp patch. Occasionally, there'd be water dripping from the ceiling and we'd rush around putting down buckets. After 7 years, we started rebuilding work and the kitchen was almost a shell with a temporary roof for the next 3 years, until we finally had the money to re-roof and fit it out properly. (Even its temporary state was better than when we purchased the house.)

Frugaldom wrote: »

Talking of mini budgets, which is something we have done a lot in the oast, as well as all the mini challenges, has anyone else signed up to do the Ration Challenge? It's a fundraiser that any diehard frugaler should be proud to attempt, in support of those living in extreme poverty. You purchase the ingredients that should last you a full week and look for sponsors to support you. Each person has a grocery supply comprising the following (I have posted cost per person based on supermarket's cheapest brands)

PRICES:
Sardines 34p,
Rice 85p,
Flour 15p
Lentils 35p,
Veg oil 37p,
Dried chick peas 23p,
Tin of kidney beans 30p.
TOTAL £2.59 PER PERSON PER WEEK

I usually aim for £1 per person per day so I have kickstarted my own fundraiser with £5, which is almost what I'll save by doing this challenge for the week 16-23 June 2019 By starting off the donations, I can select one spice to use as eadded flavouring so I need to decide what that should be as salt is not a spice. Earning extra towards your fundraiser allows you to have extra ingredients so it probably helps to do this as a group.

Is anyone else on here attempting this?

I've never heard of this challenge. I won't be signing up - it won't work with my work schedule for June - but where can I find the challenge to read along? Thanks.

- Pip

Frugaldom

PipneyJane wrote: »

I've never heard of this challenge. I won't be signing up - it won't work with my work schedule for June - but where can I find the challenge to read along? Thanks.

- Pip

I'm posting my progress on the facebook group page but I'll also do an update on the actual page they allocated me, which is at https://my.rationchallenge.org.uk/frugaldom (Hopefully nobody will object to me including this link, as it's self-generated by the charity running the challenge.) If you scroll down the page and look bottom left, you'll see where we can add updates.

Frugaldom

CW, sorry to hear about your job decisions, parents' health and car situation.

Dave_Saver

2 months until I'm debt free, just £850 left on the credit card. hope I can keep spending at this low level so I can build some savings. As the debt comes down the temptation to spend increases.

Resisting buying a laptop to apply for new jobs, Will just buy a new charger to last me until I can pay cash for the laptop.

sistercas

CW so sorry to hear about your mum , dad and job , I hope it all goes well for your mum

Frugaldom

Dave_Saver wrote: »

2 months until I'm debt free, just £850 left on the credit card. hope I can keep spending at this low level so I can build some savings. As the debt comes down the temptation to spend increases.

Resisting buying a laptop to apply for new jobs, Will just buy a new charger to last me until I can pay cash for the laptop.

:T:T:T Good luck with the final 2 months and with the job search. Onwards & upwards.

mumof3.12kindebt

Hi everyone , hope everyone is well. Hugs , positivity and prayers to those that need them.

We picked up the keys today to our new home. We are officially home owners :j :j

I'm knackered and have an early shift at work tomorrow so an early night for me tonight.

Have a great evening all :beer:

FrankieM

Congratulations mumof3

How exciting