2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

System

justme111 wrote: »

OK people you are living counting every penny, refusing to spend for indulgence ( paying for a swimming pool for and a child would not be in your budget, would it?), eating not organic, spending hours in finding a product £2 cheaper, not making any presents.
I bet you are all in your early twenties. At that time I made an experiment of living for a £30 a month ( not including rent). I was very good in spending little. So from the point of view of someone who's been on both sides of a lifestile view I will say - you are wrong very wrong.
First half of our lives we spend health to get money, second half we spend money hoping to get some health, neither is very successful. And if you think it is nicer to spend money to get health than otherwise - you are wrong. but you will not believe

I AM in my early twenties, but I am definately in the minority in this thread. I eat homemade, vegetarian, some organic food but not all. I am eating better and drinking less since i started this challenge. I buy tons of presents, but I get most things from jumble sales etc, which everyone actually prefers cos they get more stuff and its more original. I don't deny myself anything I want, but what I want is bargains which are tend to have originality and imagination, rather than wasting money on things i dont need.

My motivation for spending less is because I am a full time volunteer, which is very worthwhile, but I have a ridiculously low income. I also want to pay off my mortgage at as young an age as possible, because I know that the money you invest when you are young has a greater value (in terms of interest repayments/personal interest accumulation etc).

I feel very lucky to be developing such a good mindset at this age, I feel very happy, healthy and wise.

Frugalism isnt about sitting miserably in the dark eating cheap frozen ready meals!

justme111

nykmedia wrote: »

Finally, I wish I had done this when I was in my twenties and actively encourage my family to live within their means and save to pay for what they really want in life, hence, hopefully, avoiding the debt trap. :cool:

I see. I've never been in dept up to now and I wish I had not done that in my early twenties. Honest. Homemade vegiies - does count, that's the best! For someone retired having time to lok after home veggies the £4000 may be very reasonable, I was speaking from the working person budget point of view.

mama67

Have noticed whilkst fiddling on www.mysupermarket.co.uk today that Asda still have these listed as available; so for those who wanted them and couldn't find them, might be worth checking.

justme111

nykmedia wrote: »

PPS: Do dentists accept credit cards?

Dentists do accept credit cards, otherwise they'd lost most of their business

Frugaldom

justme111 wrote: »

When people were trying to find out whether the water charges were essential or not.:D

Perhaps you are unaware of the current differences from country to country within the UK? There are NO seperate water rates bills in Scotland - paying water charges cannot be essential if they don't exist. :cool:

justme111

Jumble-Bee wrote: »

. I also want to pay off my mortgage at as young an age as possible, because I know that the money you invest when you are young has a greater value (in terms of interest repayments/personal interest accumulation etc).

I feel very lucky to be developing such a good mindset at this age, I feel very happy, healthy and wise.

Frugalism isnt about sitting miserably in the dark eating cheap frozen ready meals!

Nice to read you. Probably we were starting our economies from different backgrounds, I did not eat unhealthy pies or drink before so starting being frugal did not meen cutting unhealthy food for me.
anyway the math just don't add unless you classify most of your expenses as essentials.

Frugaldom

Justme111, what is the problem you are having with the maths? I'm sorry to see you have now, at whatever age, accrued debt, but we are all in the same boat here - we are living within budgets to either get out of debt, stay out of debt or to save for something specific. You are very welcome to join but it would be easier to understand where you're coming from if you could provide a little bit more information about why you seem to disagree with what we are doing here.

Mollymop5

Justme111 do you live to a budget? If you did choose to read the thread you would see that we each have our own individual challenges.Some are strictly the £4000 others are plus child benefit.Some have even larger budgets.
This challenge just makes me personally look at my spending which in turn helps me to save.This then means I can choose whether to indulge myself or pay off a debt.I have no strict rule on this.
Last year I seemed to rob Peter to pay Paul.So far this year, and yes i know we've just started but I actually feel I have more money than I ever had(and I haven't) I don't feel guilty about my spending as I am counting it.Please read the thread.You never know you might actually like to join us

funkyfunkymonkey

justme111 wrote: »

OK people you are living counting every penny - yes, refusing to spend for indulgence nope ( paying for a swimming pool ??? for and a child got 2 would not be in your budget, would it?), eating not organic some do some don't - it's a personal choice, spending hours in finding a product £2 cheaper not as far as I've noticed , not making any presents some make some buy.
I bet you are all in your early twenties seems that most of us, including me, have seen 20 at least twice. At that time I made an experiment of living for a £30 a month ( not including rent) well done. I was very good in spending little well done. So from the point of view of someone who's been on both sides of a lifestile view I will say - you are wrong very wrong not sure why perhaps you could be a bit more specific.
First half of our lives we spend health to get money I didn't, second half we spend money hoping to get some health not sure what you mean, neither is very successful. And if you think it is nicer to spend money to get health than otherwise - you are wrong still not sure what you mean. but you will not believe in what?

I'm not meaning to be negative about your comments, I just don't see where you are coming from or what you mean - it seems to be that you are just 'spamming' for fun - if that is not the case I apologise sincerely.

Perhaps if you spent time reading through the posts you would get to know us a little better and see the various reasons we are doing this for.

We come from many varied backgrounds, some of us are in debt, some of us have never been in debt.

Some of us are just having fun in seeing where we can make savings - ie not wasting our money and spending our time rather than our money in making good quality homecooked food. I've got some homemade cheese and bacon loaf in the bread maker right now ready for brunch tomorrow - would not have done this before the challenge - it's not mean, or anything else negative - but it will be tasty.

FFM

Mollymop5

funkyfunkymonkey wrote: »

I've got some homemade cheese and bacon loaf in the bread maker right now ready for brunch tomorrow - would not have done this before the challenge - it's not mean, or anything else negative - but it will be tasty.

FFM

I would love this recipe FFM please