2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

Frugaldom

LollopyBear wrote: »

The best part of today was that I received a cheque for my tax refund of £1308.74! I was not expecting it to be that big!! This has taken a big pressure off because that will combine with my savings to get the electrics done in our house ASAP, providing DH finds an electrician, and have enough left over to get bits such as a shower.

I'm a happy bear today

:T :beer: That is fantastic news about the tax rebate! Stow it away for some interest until it's time to pay the electricians and have fun budgeting over the coming months. It's always great to get some good news within the first couple of weeks of the year, even better when it's within the first 4 days

broke_mum_of_three

Hi Nkymedia
Sorry to torture you, but could you move my amount to £5200, I am already starting to get nervous about this but really want to try:T . Also £5200 is an easier amount to work out weekly, I think I have a bit of your OCD about me!

Burlesque_Babe

I have to confess.........

On New Years Eve I got £20 cashback to use for the takeaway that night. I paid by cheque in the end so I've still got the £20 intact in my purse. I keep looking at it and its calling me to spend it and not declare it as part of the challenge (I know, I'm very sinful)

Technically (ahem) it counts as 2007 money but £20 is a decent amount to have hanging around as part of this challenge......

I've got a sealed tin I put loose change in which won't be full for at least 6 months and then I'll bag and bank for my tax bill. What should I do - take a very deep breath and stick it in the tin???

Or, use it as a very very careful 'shop' as I'm skating on thin ice to try to get through 2008 on £3,800???

Protogenia

Keren...I would keep it at home as an emergency £20 "treat"...use it when you're feeling fed up or just in need of a little pick me up and spend it ALL on yourself.

Evening all, I have been debiting my total again today : £1.80 bus faye ( I would have walked but it's been pittling down) to collect my wages, had a small, yet pleasing tax rebate of £24.86. I then spent 60 pence on 30 reduced Christmas cards for next year...bargain! And finally £3.16 on two large pizzas, 20 black bin liners and choccy mousses for O/H lunch box from our local freezer centre.
So far I am feeling positive about spending wisely and watching the pennies.

I've just started to make a draught excluder snake for the lounge doors (old fabric made into a sausage stuffed with a tight leg filled with rice). I have seen on the news that gas & electric bills are predicted to go up around 10 - 15% this year and Npower have aleady announced a price rise...so down goes my thermostat another degree (to 16) and out comes more energy saving ideas.

Have a nice night ladies and gentlemen, my evening entails perusing MSE with a glass of mulled wine by my side to "keep out the cold"... honest X x

liuhut

Lexxi - Sounds like you had a good night!!!

NSD for me today, very rare normally. Really wanted to get some chocolate so this should help me lose a few pounds as well!
Did place me Tesco order on line and should be less than £75 for the fortnight but will update this once I know the true figure.

Have a good weekend all

LollopyBear

nykmedia wrote: »

:T :beer: That is fantastic news about the tax rebate! Stow it away for some interest until it's time to pay the electricians and have fun budgeting over the coming months. It's always great to get some good news within the first couple of weeks of the year, even better when it's within the first 4 days

Thanks! It's going into my savings account on Monday to accrue some interest. I've got a good feeling about 2008 now. I've been sitting here for a while going through all of our insurance documents and realised I can save £300 on our buildings insurance when it comes up for renewal. DH is very impressed! I'll have him eating chicken soup in no time.

KiKi

I spent £3.15 today because I have an addiction to crisps. *sigh* Still, I had a diet coke with them. So it balances out.

Weekend should be a no-spend, except for lunch with a friend on Sunday, but that won't be expensive as I only drink water in restaurants and don't eat starters or dessert unless it's fruit!

Also very pleased with myself - bought nearly ALL the birthdays presents I need to get for this year in the sales...really nice things that are usually too expensive during the year! Also bought about 1/3 of Christmas presents for this year, too!

Yay me!

lyndasharp

£43.54 so far today. At least I now have food and petrol for my car, should last a little while. It was much cheaper when I had a cold and didn't feel like moving off the sofa.

wornoutmumoftwo

My yearly total of £4000 a year plus Child benefit is actually £5720 (£110 p/w)
I am still working out what to include and what not to, and a lot of my weekly spend goes on cigarettes which obviously needs to stop, if I could stop that nonsense I think i'd easily be able to remain within £4000 a year.

One thing I have noticed though, if my OH is in the house my electric for the day seems higher???????

Very strange.

Buffythedebtslayer

I had to spend 1.24

Grrr.

Ok so its not much but I popped round to se a mate who in the end was out, I had to go and buy a notepad and pen!!!!! to leave her a note - re cat and rubbish collection.

will now be using it as a spending diary.

humph.

xx