2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

Frugaldom

Hi Jamiedodger, glad to have you onboard the good ship 'lollie' pop. I've joined the grocery challenge and sealed pot challenges too and my declutter is part of my 'recycling' programme to start a cottage industry and earn extra cash next year

Hopefully I haven't scared anyone off with my previous rant - OOPS! - and that everyone will see the point of this exercise and benefit from it in some small way. As the new year draws ever closer, I know how hard this challenge is but am still really looking forward to it because there are loads of others doing the same and posting here.

Wishing you and everyone else all the very best with this and please, someone point me in the direction of the 'grow your own' forum. I have a veggie patch and a couple of fruit trees in the garden for as long as the landlord lets us stay here

sweetpea03

hiya nyk try not to let it get you down & have a dodgy hug from me! :grouphug:
heres the link you're after i think http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=134
xx

Burlesque_Babe

Thanks for the number

Please could you alter my starting figure to £3,800? I'd love it to be £3,900 but sadly it can't be!!

I'm not really sure why people have got huffy and offended by this challenge. If someone is on benefits AND in debt, then this challenge could help them as it will keep them very focused on their goals and not slipping any further.

I have no debt now and I still can't afford to 'allow' myself £4,000 as I don't have that much left over after my mortgage, council tax and water rates now I'm not on as good a salary as this time last year.

What this challenge will do is make me focus on every penny I spend, what I spend it on and whether I should be spending it in the first place.

bails

I am also on benefits (due to a disability) and I cannot understand why people are upset either. This community is to support everyone, whatever their situation, and is intended as a positive framework to help people manage their finances better. There's really no need for bitterness and snide comments; we're all here trying to help each other. Thank you for starting this thread and even if I am unable to take part myself (I'm away at the mo so can't check my budget properly), I'll be watching with interest and rooting for all of you xx

csarina

We are are a couple who live on retirement pensions, HB and CT benefit, and just recently I have been given Attendance Allowence for my OH.

We are paying off 2 loans and also a car loan, I have totted up and infact we already live on less than £4000 a year.........so yes it can be done. Once our loans are paid we will have a bit more cash, but believe me it will be going into the bank for holidays........we do manage to get a holiday each year, usually out of season in a caravan, this year is quite expensive one, we are going to visit a friend in the South of France. I already have the money for that put away. We are now starting to save for a trip to Florida in Jan/Feb 2009 again to see friends, but we are hoping to spend 5 nights in New York on the way back, so will have to stay in an hotel.......... will be looking for an hotel through Quidco and hotel.com. Flights will have to be booked direct with the airline I think.

taplady

Jacks_xxx wrote: »

Blimey - size 12??!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Thats not ususual my 17 year old is size 12 and my 15 year old is size 11:eek: I get their shies from soccer sports/sportsworld too!

whitetigeress333

nykmedia wrote: »

All you need to do is work out your annual budget, set aside enough from that to cover rent/mortgage/council tax/water and then set a target figure for what your aim is. Len let me know what your target figure is and I'll get the details added to the challenger list. You can add it into your signature and many of us will be comparing notes here (and elsewhere, like the grocery challenge ) and updating to reflect HONESTLY what we are spending on.

Every penny saved goes towards paying off debts or saving for whatever it is you have chosen. This is my second year on this challenge and it's the ONLY way I could have paid off debts and started saving for real

Your number for the challenge is 51
Good luck, thank you for joining us and, above all, have fun doing this! :T

PS: the safest way to calculate your week is to divide annual amount by 366 and then multiply by 7, as 2008 is a leap year.

Right I am going to round the number off at £75 a week and anything thats left, fingers crossed, at the end of year will give the kids for the sales.
should encourage them to encourage me....hehehe
I understand my fares to work dont have to come out of this but my gas & electric does as does my food
Can anyone let me know what else comes out of it as i am getting goggle eyed trying to read all the posts and sus it out....lol

Also NYK you gave me number 51 but that has someone elses name at the side and I cant see my name on the list
cheers

mah_jong

nykmedia, Thank you for letting me join, as I have always had a tight budget and after so many generous gifts this Christmas, i feel as if I need or want anything!

Put me down for the least amount that is up !! I think its 3500, but it if its less I shall go for the challenge.

On the up side,
I dont need any clothing, including tights/socks/undies (shoes might be needed in a few months though...)
have a fair amount of food in the house
Lots of toiletries to give me a head start
Just got leccy bill in and they owe me 56!

A year is a long time, but as I said earlier I live quite frugally anyway!
My total spend in food/toiletries/paper (kitchen/loo/foil/clingfilm)/cleaners etc works out at an average of 108 a month over the year. I feed 2 for dinner. No pets though;)
It goes up a bit if I add on the booze!!:rotfl:That works out at a fiver a week, which is a huge amount in comparison, easy place to start the savings! BUT part of that was buying a cheap couple of boxes of wine recently so have got plenty to keep me going!!

sweetpea03

whitetigeress333 wrote: »

I understand my fares to work dont have to come out of this but my gas & electric does as does my food
Can anyone let me know what else comes out of it as i am getting goggle eyed trying to read all the posts and sus it out....lol

Items that should be counted

Groceries/toiletries/cleaning products
Heating
Lighting
Telephone
Internet
TV Licence
Home insurance
Gifts for others
House Pets (if you have any)
Basic travel
Essential home maintenance
Essential household goods/furnishings
Essential clothing/footwear
Cigarettes (if you smoke)
Alcohol (if you drink)

Items that should not be counted:

Rent or mortgage
Council Tax
Water Rates
Work related travel expenses/cars
Holidays
Outstanding debts
Luxury items
Entertainment/Socialising
Home Decorating/Interior Design
Hobbies/Sports/Club Memberships

hth

mumzyof2

We are on Jseekers, and we get child tax 81 a week and 120 a month Cbenifit. so what do i count as 4.000 plus 120 a month? what is counted in the 4k