2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

Tracey04

JAMIEDODGER wrote: »

i would assume that car loan isnt counted but tax, petrol and mot are included i may be wrong though

so we have a list of whats in and whats not?

Prudent

Tracey04 wrote: »

just being nosey who is your internet with my costs £17.99 per month and how is BT phone so low - im just trying to cut corners of my figs. Ta T

My internet is with AOL. I got this price in a promotion they were running. They are usually up for negiotation, so it might be worth phoning and asking.

I only pay line rental with BT. I have free evening and weekend call with Primus and the day time calls/ calls to mobiles I use 18866 for and this works out at an average of £2 per month. Phone gets a lot of use as I have a teenager :rotfl: .

wherediditallgo

Please add me to the list of challengers for a £4000 budget - I'll be amazed if I manage it (I found doing the spending diary for a month hard enough ), but hopefully the potential embarrassment if I fail will keep me on the straight & narrow.

Anyway, it would certainly be useful to look at my spending & saving over the coming year, & I put money in my 'loose change' savings tins every week anyway (I'll empty my tins today to start afresh), so I'll use the budgeting spreadsheet for that as well & see what 30 December 2008 totals at.

Prudent

Tracey04 wrote: »

so we have a list of whats in and whats not?

There are guide lines on post one. I think it includes non- negiotable expenses like rent, council tax, essential work costs (I put commuting costs and union in this bracket as I can't change them and couldn't get any income without them).

chrissie55

Obviously easier for some, depending on circumstances - whether you've time, kids, shops nearby or not. If you're on State benefits, be sure you're getting your entitlement - it has been known for 'SS doctors' to cheat long-term disabled to save a few bob, which ended up getting repaid after a Tribunal! Yr goals need to be, not only to keep within yr 4k budget, but to keep healthy physically & mentally - eat well, ignore the consumer nonsense that says 'It's bad to look hard-up but OK to be in debt!'

Penny2myName

chrissie55 wrote: »

eat well, ignore the consumer nonsense that says 'It's bad to look hard-up but OK to be in debt!'

:T:T:T:T:T

Best Quote I have seen in a while

Protogenia

I am very eager for the fresh start of 2008 too!
I feel morally and spiritually on a bit of a high, the intentions of being resourceful, giving others more of my time rather than my money and paying off my debts rather than adding to them are valuable life lessons that I am about to embark on and lessons I hope my teenage son will take on board too.

Good luck everybody X x

Doom_and_Gloom

sallyrsm wrote: »

£76 a week. Got no mortgage any more.... won't count childcare costs as they are a given if I need to work..... we'll be eating more vegetarian.... bring it on!!!

Veggie eating is indeed less costly than omniverous eating. I still think the prices of eggs and dairy are sky high as well though like this happens to my face when I see the prices :eek: . Glad I don't buy any of it myself. Must be another trick to how I keep food down to such a low cost as I'm vegan but I do eat organic where and when I can . Makes me wonder what it could be if I went to basic instead (or back to the grocers) but I don't think my health could stand up to it only hehe.

Rafiki_2

I've just spent a good portion of my morning advising friends that I'm pulling back from my 'bar / restaurant / club' social circle and have instead made dates to spend a day together at the weekend etc.
It's been very ... positive, I think is the word.

So many people are in dire financial dificulty presently (and I can't currently call mine dire - just undesirable comparative to my own wishes) and I think me calling up and saying "Hey, I'm going to have to step back a while here because my budget just doesn't allow for it." almost seems to be giving one or two of them 'permission' to do the same.


Feeling good today! :beer:

Oh, I must go adjust my signature - what fun! :T

Penny2myName

Protogenia wrote: »

giving others more of my time rather than my money .

Good luck everybody X x

Such as making paper mache piggy banks with the kids, rather then just buying them one. Everyone getting hands stuck in together and urgggg faces when you get a particular slimy piece:rotfl: