2019 Frugal Living Challenge

Dave_Saver

Just done 4 no spend days in a row, need to buy some petrol and a few bits today but spending the minimum.

Have saved my first £100 in my Emergency fund and £500 towards a deposit for a home.

Lifeisforliving19

Dave_Saver wrote: »

Just done 4 no spend days in a row, need to buy some petrol and a few bits today but spending the minimum.

Have saved my first £100 in my Emergency fund and £500 towards a deposit for a home.

Well done, sounds like a really good start. Once you get started it becomes a way of life and you actually enjoy saving and not spending so much.

frugalfreedom

Morning everybody - hope you are all ok ?


Bit of background to us


we had a bit of debt years ago - literally pennied myself out of it with minimal help off husband, just got clear and then Husband had a bit of MH problems a few years ago and did some stupid stuff and because of all the arguing in the house I ended up taking the kids out more and more, more eating out just to try and give them a bit of normality, and a break from the atmosphere at home, nearly lost the house due to reposition result back in £20k worth of debt - that was from 2013-2018 over that time looking after house/job/husband/3 kids (1 doing a levels/1 doing 11+ exam) its been stressful to say the least !!!


Ive managed to pay off all but £6k of the debt and still plodding along


my long term goal is to get this paid off, and to have the mortgage paid off in 8 years, now husband is better he is so remorseful over the thing he has done, but more importantly he has realised how hard I worked to get us out of debt in the first place, and now he is fully on board.


Main reason for working to get mortgage paid off is I only work part time, with only me and boss who is 72 so I know I am on borrowed time until he retires (although he isn't showing any signs of slowing down !) and also husband is a postie and has been off for last 6 weeks injured I need the security that if anything happens the house is secure, failing that the mortgage will be paid off by the time he is 62 anything after that will be savings for retirement.


Sorry for long post x

tighteningthebelt

frugalfreedom wrote: »

Bit of background to us

Thanks for sharing, it really sounds like you've been through the wringer these last few years. Huge congratulations in getting through everything the best way you could, and turning things around. Seems you have amazing strength and capability.
I love the way you've made penny a verb... To penny your way out of debt... Super!
Well done on everything you've done so far, and just keep on pennying!!

Hettyhound

Frugalfreedom you are very strong and truly an inspiration! Wow, going through all you have been twice and holding the family together, you deserve some good fortune from now on. I’m also on the trying to pay off the mortgage journey also for security. I’m a single parent to a small boy so as the sole bread winner I’m uber conscious of where every spend goes. Although I have a fairly smallish mortgage I do look at the monthly payment and think how much less pressure I would feel if it weren’t payable every month. As my son is so young he doesn’t know about peer pressure and commercialism and although I try to maintain that I know I won’t be able to forever.

I want to get my ccard to £0 which should be by end April then get £1k in emergency and £5k in savings account then the mortgage gets it!!!!:T

bustiblondilocks

Babs 103
if it saves you money and you have room what's the harm? But beware the subscribe and save scheme, I set it up for posh shampoo and conditioner last year. I had 2 1l bottles of each set up. First month it was a good bargin, next month he price went up a couple pound per item, the 3rd month it cost double the first month! I wrongly assumed that it would be the same price every month but it changes depending on demand so beware as a good bargin one month may not be the next. I now use cheapest shampoo I can find! Life lesson learned he hard way!

Its so reassuring to read how I'm not the only one struggling with life putting obstacles in the way. I'm resising spending and I'm quite proud of myself that I've not used the debt cards for 3 months!

I had hoped i will have this debt gone in 3 years, even with the rent increase but the ex decided to quit his job and now can't pay me any maintenance as he's not earning so that's £200 a month I'm short.
I'm also expecting a tax credits decrease, due to the ppi refunds interest from last summer. I declared it at the time but it won't affect things until the end of year declaration goes through.

I always find this time of year so stressful because I can't plan past April as I never know how tax credits will change or how it will affect things. I go into blind panic mode and my anxiety and depression peaks as I'm so stressed out by it! I panic it won't be enough to cover the bills and Im a single mother working full time, I cant do anymore short of abandoning the children so I can work more.

I'm so greatful for the tax credit system and I'm not moaning but does anyone else get affected like that? Or just me?

chocolatelover93

Spudsmum - Sorry to hear things arn't good at the moment! I hope it all gets sorted out soon xx

Thank you everyone for the well wishes

Haven't been the most frugal the past few weeks! But I have made another spreadsheet of my incoming/outgoings and going to try my hardest to stick to that!

Yesterday got some shopping for the first time in 3 weeks (I didnt want to move a load of food when moving haha)
Need to write a meal plan tonight, I have a much nicer, much bigger kitchen now so prepping meals should be a lot easier and also have a dish washer so that saves on the sides looking messy and washing up!

C xx

chocolatelover93

bustiblondilocks wrote: »

I always find this time of year so stressful because I can't plan past April as I never know how tax credits will change or how it will affect things. I go into blind panic mode and my anxiety and depression peaks as I'm so stressed out by it! I panic it won't be enough to cover the bills and Im a single mother working full time, I cant do anymore short of abandoning the children so I can work more.

I'm so greatful for the tax credit system and I'm not moaning but does anyone else get affected like that? Or just me?

I am the same! I'm a single mum and get HB and TC but always worry. I got a 20p pay rise and the HB took £10 a week off me! (I only work 16 hrs a week) and worked a bit of OT one month and they peanilised (sp) me for that too!

C x

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

I don't know how all you single Mums manage out there. My sister is a single Mum and I see how difficult it can be to manage your finances when you don't really know one month to the next what money you will be receiving. You are all superstars that's for sure.


I had a bit of a bonus today. My sister got a supermarket delivery on Friday and they gave her a bag of stuff that wasn't meant for her. She told them about it and they gave her a refund for the missing stuff but when she asked what she should do with the stuff she didn't order (its not things she would use) she was told to make use of the perishables and return the other stuff when she orders again. Therefore, I am now the owner of a butternut squash, a bag of sweet potatoes and some garlic. That will save me a bit of money when I do a shop this weekend.


By the way I was trying to find an app where you can put an ingredient in and it comes up with possible recipes that you can make. I have forgotten what it is and searching for it I can't find anything (that is free). Can anyone point me in the right direction?

chocolatelover93

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire wrote: »

I don't know how all you single Mums manage out there. My sister is a single Mum and I see how difficult it can be to manage your finances when you don't really know one month to the next what money you will be receiving. You are all superstars that's for sure.

Aww thats lovely thank you! It's nice to be praised rather than hearing negative comments about being a single parent. I am quite lucky that my son does still see his dad every other weekend and a little bit in the week but I am still the one that has to keep a roof over our heads and I'm the one drying the tears when he wakes at night etc. The way I see it is if I don't do it no one else will! I split with my ex when my son was 3 weeks old so I think we've both got used to it and now have an amazing bond

The recipe app I am not sure tbh I used to use something similar but think I just googled it lol I think it was this site:
http://www.foodwise.com.au/recipe-room/our-recipe-finder/

C xx