2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Woolsery

Bluegreen143 said:

On the flip side… I believe in the US they have the worst maternity outcomes in the developed world…)

Worst Covid outcomes, too. Isn't it amazing that those who spent the most ended up at the bottom? We weren't far behind, though, and look where we are now, with a 7.2m waiting list for elective surgery.

Not much good being frugal when you can't go anywhere or do simple things like going out for a walk, because your knee op is 2 years away.

Siebrie

US citizenship has tax consequences as well; they need to check at what age they need to confirm or reject US citizenship before they get slapped with an annual 10% income tax bill, regardless of where they live in the world, and where the money is earned.

cw18

Siebrie said:

US citizenship has tax consequences as well; they need to check at what age they need to confirm or reject US citizenship before they get slapped with an annual 10% income tax bill, regardless of where they live in the world, and where the money is earned.

Wow!   I didn't realise that was a thing  

I'd definitely be looking to come back to this country to have the baby with that otherwise hanging over her head !!!

Siebrie

@London_1 They are called 'accidental Americans' Google for more info.

RateTartExtraordinaire

Hi everyone,

It's been my first year taking part in the frugal living challenge. Although I've been privately budgeting for years - I've never done a public publish of figures. I've really enjoyed being part of this group and I will definitely be doing it again in 2023. Publishing my budget and then having to be honest with myself and you guys has made me more mindful of spending.

The end of the year has been a real challenge for my budget. I've had to get a leak in the bathroom fixed and it set me back £318 incl. VAT. I challenged the plumber on his invoice as he had charged double the price for the part which I found online at a well-known chain. He reduced his bill straight away. If you don't ask...

An accident has seen my car written off (economically) although it is still perfectly drivable because it was more than 10 years old.  I am currently with no car and considering my options. I saw it for sale on the salvage company bidding auction website....it sold for about £375 for parts  
 
What I have learned in the space of 10 days about the insurance claims, car salvage and second hand car market! 

Firstly, I haggled with the insurance company about what they would pay out. Initially, they paid just over £3000 (in their words -  for a quick settlement). They didn't even look at the car first! Anyway, I did my research on market value and sent evidence of my mileage and get it upped to just over £5000! This would enable me to buy a replacement car of the same age at least, although ideally I buy a younger model. My no-claims-discount is protected and my insurance actually was due for renewal at the end of this month, and my breakdown cover ran out this month too. So, if it was going to happen, this was the 'best' time for it to happen. 

But do I really need a car? I've looked at the money I earn from online work and money I earn from face to face work. I could survive on my online income. However, my partner made a good point that I should have some leeway in my income to outgoings to cover for increases, inflation and unexpected loss of income from online work contracts. So I will probably bite the bullet and buy another car next year, to give me the flexibility and maximum number of streams of income.

I've updated my signature with all spends so far and tallied up the forecast in January 2022 with the actual in December 2022. Surprisingly, my best category was bills! I came in under budget mainly due to the government scheme on energy and the council tax payment. On everything else, I was over budget. I have just realised I forgot to forecast for the dentist visits! I treated myself to a hygienist appointment this month. I managed to get my partner on the NHS dentist after 6 months on the waiting list. I think prevention is better than cure, and hopefully cheaper in the long run!  

Frugal Living Challenge 2022
Groceries (half) (£1130) £1000 
Bills (prediction including Energy price cap increase estimate +50% in April) (3394) £3800
Car (fuel, tax, insurance, breakdown, MOT and maintenance, parking permit) (£750) £670
Clothes (£127) £100
Personal Health (£229) £120
Property Maintenance (£568) £400
Holiday (£1720) £1500

Forecasted budget 2022 £7590
Actual spend 2022 £7918

I'm pausing for breath now as work starts winding down towards the holiday break. 
I hope to see you all in 2023 and thanks for all the tips!

Frugaldom

Positivity and reasons to be frugal

Just thought I'd add in a little bi about why I continue to followa frugal lifesyle many years after reaching my debt free day. Frugality comes naturally to me now as it's about not wasting anything, especially money. Things like making do, mending.charity shop shopping, swapping, bartering, recycling and keeping things simple at mealtimes all lend themselves to my way of life. I don't do this because there's any specific point to it,I do it because it's naural. If there is no reason to cut costs and save to pay something in particular then some seem to think that there's no incentive to follow frugality. But it makes you mindful of your surroundings, your circumstances and others around you. Mindfulness has become something that people now pay to discover.

Writing every day about your frugal lifestyle needn't be a chore. Even if you think there is nothing to say, there is always something someone may enjoy reading..Case in point: I switched off the heater for an hour and wrapped myself in a fleece while reading through posts on MSE and updating Frugaldom pages with photos and videos of the goats and ponies. People pay money to learn what's now become known as 'journaling' so think of what you are saving. Plus, based on electricity kwh rates of 30p per unit, this saved me at least 30p. A single kw hour saved per day could equate to almost £110 per year and that, for me, is enough for a year's supply of pasta and porridge oats, or all my toiletries & toilet rolls, or some new wellies, socks, gloves and thermals.  What would a spare £110 buy you?

Another reason for frugal living is that there are certain health benefits - walking more than driving, getting outdoors in the fresh air every day, not eating processed readymeals, knowing what is in your home baked goods, no addiives in homemade meals, learning to love gardening (even if it is just herbs on a windowsill), sharing tips with friends or,if you have no frugal friends, it costs nothing to make new ones - just come on here and find some.

Christmas - we haven't put up a tree this year but we have hung some baubles on a cherry tree outside. I don't buy/send cards or calendars, we feed the wildlife instead and share as many photographs and videos as possible online. Holidays... a change is as good as a rest so find something fun and free to do, or save to come visit Frugaldom and see what frugal living has helped us achieve here. 

Every day is a new start so if things don't go to plan, move on,learn from whatever happened and try to make things better with each new day.Kill off your debts in whatever (legitimate) way you can and start living the frugal life you deserve. It's not about self-imposed poverty and misery, it's about affording freedom and your right to choose how you spend your time, energy and savings.

London_1

I think they will decide after Easter if 'Mum' will come home to give birth .My grandson spends a great deal of time flying around the globe with his work, and can work just as easily in the UK via his laptop as he can in New York, but if he needs to go to Africa,India or South America as he often does at least his wife will be nearer to the family in the last month or so.

My niece is married to a Mexican chap and has lived in Mexico City since 1974, but both times when she was pregnant with her sons in the 1980s she came home to the UK to give birth.
The tax problem probably wouldn't bother my grandson too much as his job is a very good one, and his accountant sorts all his tax stuff out for him.

They have lived in New York since 2016 and both like it there, but I think maybe Danny would perhaps like to move out of the city once the little girl is born and is thinking of perhaps New England to settle.

The world has become so much smaller today since the advent of the 'net and keeping in touch is a lot easier.

Today was Dobbie's coffee morning and we all had a great natter and chat alnog with lots of coffee and a few mince pies.

I have no more shopping to buy this side of New Year as I will only be home for a few more days then it will be too-ing and fro-ing between my two daughters for about a week.

Hope everone has a great Christmas and a very Happy and Peaceful New Year

Take care all 

JackieO xx

Sweetlittledaydreams

On track for this year's savings target. Next year I want to travel a bit more so will make sure I am frugal in other areas of my life and pick up extra work so that I can pay for it. Aim to continue the target of saving 50% of each months pay next year too. Olio seems to be getting a bit more popular round here so that's good, I definitely like to look at the total money I've saved by using Olio and thinking of it in 'hours worked', so far I'm up to £143 saved which I'm really pleased about. 
Having had covid and it being a really cold snap last week, my energy usage more than doubled, its annoying but at least I am starting to get better and it is warmer this week so the energy usage has gone back to normal. 
I changed jobs at the end of November and my old job should have paid me some overtime payments today but haven't so I will have to chase that up tomorrow, I'd rather it in my pocket than theirs. There wasn't many extra shifts in November at my other job either so no little extra pay before Christmas unfortunately. I think I'm going to have to venture further afield next year to get the extra money which is annoying because I'm a specialist so would prefer to work in a certain area rather than general but if that's where the hours are then that's where I'll have to go. I can't wait to get to a point where I can justify going part time!

Frugaldom

Just another quick heads up on prices... Managed to book a £1.00 delivery slot for an A$da home delivery between Christmas and New Year... EEK!
The price of sugar!!! It has almost doubled so I've missed the boat on stocking up on that. Now cheaper to buy cheap jam and add extra fruit than it is to make your own.

Comments, please, on sugar prices elsewhere.

London_1

Last 1 kilo bag I bought was in Savers about a month ago, as I only whizz it up in my blender to make Caster sugar/icing sugar as I don't use it on anything else and then it was 62p a kilo I have no idea how much it is now  
JackieO xx