2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

fallen_angel_shelley

hi whitewing thanks for that advice. i have now posted my SOA on DFW.

whitewing

fallen_angel_shelley wrote: »

hi whitewing thanks for that advice. i have now posted my SOA on DFW.

Hi Shelley,

Looks like you're getting some good advice there. How're you managing with Xmas? Don't want to be putting more on the credit cards

I have finally got off my backside and downgraded my bank account to one without a monthly charge. It was really easy, just a quick phone call. I was sure they'd tell me to write in but no! all handled over the phone. So if anyone else hasn't got round to it yet, do it now! NOW! RIGHT THIS MINUTE!

OogaBooga

You've got to be kidding, my outgoings are that much every month!

Frugaldom

shell37 wrote: »

Hi NYK!!

I've followed your sig link from the Sealed Pot Challenge, I'm intrigued by this challenge:D .

Can you please include me? £4000 is my challenge too, I think I understand how it all works (I read the other posts) . Work out weekly budget from £4k, spend less than it and save the difference? I could put it in the sealed pot paper mache zoo.....:rotfl: :rotfl:

Thanks guys for thinking up these challenges and getting me motivated for 2008:T :T

I got my MSE signature struck off for having a link in it!! And the link was to THIS FORUM! Umm... now I can't remember what all the figures were that I had, so it'll need to be what's there now unless anyone can help me out I got a memory like a hen.

whitewing

Oh dear, I copied your link into my sig. Still se what they do. I've been clicking thro on links all afternoon.

Right. Normally I go to the sales in Jan to buy all the 'Happy Bday Mum/Sister/Dad etc cards that my family expect.

This weekend, I am going to make personalised cards for everyone with craft stuff that I already have. That should save a bob or two!

Frugaldom

azjh77 wrote: »

This is something I would love to try - for us it is not a case of trying to live on 4k - we actually don't have a lot more than that after debt payments/mortgage, so we wouldn't be saving the extra - I just want to borrow everyones money saving tips!
I would need to 'tweak' the rules slightly as I am paying 400 a month towards debts and couldn't reduce this.

So is this sort of thing alright:?-

Per Month:-


Electric 36.00
Gas 10.00
Housekeeping 85.00
TV licence 12.00
Insurance (House) 39.00
Phone/Internet 45.00
Car insurance 39.00
Car fund (tax/MOT) 77.50
Xmas/B'days 33.33
subs* 6.67

* this is for Brownies and the O/H's game which isn't essential but keeps them happy - they don't ask for much!


This comes to 354.50 a month or 88.63 a week which is actually 4608.76 per year

BUT:
a) there are 6 of us (including 2 in nappies!)
b) these are our actual outgoings (not including our 365 mortgage/400 debt repayments/150 council tax and water rates) and we HAVE to stick to this budget.

We don't normally include things like Xmas/B'days on a budget because we use any money we get for these occasions to buy things for the kids. I'm hoping being part of a group will motivate me and keep me on target (if you let me join as I am a bit over the 4000!)
And good luck to everyone trying this....

I'll make it £4650 to tidy it up - I have monetary OCD ye see :rotfl:
Well done for joining the challenge and good luck it :T

fallen_angel_shelley

whitewing wrote: »

Hi Shelley,

Looks like you're getting some good advice there. How're you managing with Xmas? Don't want to be putting more on the credit cards

I have finally got off my backside and downgraded my bank account to one without a monthly charge. It was really easy, just a quick phone call. I was sure they'd tell me to write in but no! all handled over the phone. So if anyone else hasn't got round to it yet, do it now! NOW! RIGHT THIS MINUTE!

hi whitewing, i had some savings for xmas and don't have to buy extra food for xmas as we are going to ex-DH:eek: sholud be fun!!!. you have just reminded me, im paying £7 a month on my account, it was some sort of upgrade, AA cover, mobile insurance etc,i have never used it about 4 years plus i don't have a car, so that can go. yes i have had some great advice and im of to see the doc about giving up them fags.

Frugaldom

hopeless_case wrote: »

Well yes maybe. £76 per week is this for a family of 2/3/4 or just a single person?

It would equate to £76.50 + Family Allowance per week per household for essentials. Rent/mortgage, council tax/water rates and essential work related expenses are not included because everyone lives a different lifestyle - some need a car for work, others are homebased.

Dithering_Dad

FunBrum wrote: »

Please don't rain on our parade. I have been living on less than this for years, with a growing teenager in tow. You would be surprised what you have to do just to stay afloat. Not everyone has the luxury to be on a fab wage.

Thanks for your in-put DD, but stay cool:cool:

I didn't realise I was being 'uncool' :huh: . My kids think I'm as cool as "The Fonz"! Well, OK, they don't actually know who 'The Fonz' is, but when I say "Am I as cool as The Fonz" and shake my fist at them in a menacing fashion, they both go "yes Dad!". QED, I am cool.

As far as the challenge is concerned, I simply expressed my incredulity at whether a healthy and nutritious diet can be maintained, especially for growing kids on a budget of much less than £19 per week per person.

Just to step on my soap box for a second... A child can be malnourished even with a full belly if its belly is primarily full of junk. I often see SOA's containing similar amounts of money spent on 'fags' and 'the OH's beer' as spent on 'food'. *DD shakes his head in dismay*

However, I am open minded so if someone does want to post that 30 day food plan I mentioned in an earlier post, I'll be most happy to eat my words...

fallen_angel_shelley

i would like to see a 30 day food plan as well, to give me some ideas, getting a bit board with what we have been having.