2023 Frugal Living Challenge

Primrose

willow_loulou said:

I watched a video yesterday about money - saying about the order you pay things. So the theory is you pay yourself first (savings) then budget with the rest. I’m giving it a go this month. 20% is going away and I’m budgeting with the rest. It doesn’t leave any ‘fun’ money this month but I have a free coffee on my costa card so that will do! 

It's hard not having  any "fun money" but slightly easier to manage when you have an income.  I think you just have to remind yourself how much valuable those savings will be in the future if times get hard and they're there for you then.  Unfortunately we can,t recapture the past  and sacrifices made today to protect the future almost always prove to reduce stress and strain as far as money or income is concerned. 

willow_loulou

@Primrose Thats exactly the attitude I’m employing. I looked at my finances and yes it’s pain in the immediate time, it literally gives me £95 a month for food. But I recognise I’m just going to yo-yo from debt free to debt if I don’t have a buffer. 

I know it sounds bonkers and I know it’s simply not possible for some (or me long term) but 20% for 3/4 months will not kill me. 

I may alternate 20/15/10 yet.
If we get extra funding we have applied format work my hours will double which will make a massive difference come May. 

Soontobeoap

2 of my tomatoe seedlings popped through today. I have also planted some pepper seeds and some cut and come again lettuce seeds left over from last year. I dont have a green house so any peppers will have to grow inside I think. Advice would be welcomed if I manage to get them going. Lettuce will happily grow in kitchen windowsill. I just wish that the weather would warm up a bit

No savings here yet as extensive dental treatment is costing me an arm and a leg. I am hoping to spread the treatment into next year though. What I cant afford will have to wait! 

SecondStar

I’ve been planning out my projected budget once I move into my new home, now that the figures are becoming more certain.

My monthly income after tax and deductions is £1,521.

After housing costs (mortgage, rates, insurance), utility bills (gas, electric, internet), basic bills (mobile, health insurance, life/critical illness insurance), pet costs (food, litter, medications, prescriptions), variable spending (food, petrol, bus fare, car insurance); I’m looking at 14% leftover for saving.

Housing - 27%
Utility bills - 11%
Basic bills - 8%
Pet costs - 22%
Variable spending - 18%
Savings - 14%

My pet costs are extortionate, but that’s a side effect of not taking out pet insurance, and having 2 seniors who are on lifelong medications. I will slash my own food and utility costs, before I take away the spending which keeps them comfortable and pain free in their twilight years. Realistically, they may only have a few years left with me, so this is a small price to pay for their comfort.

My utility costs are estimated, I’m hoping they will be lower - I’m using costs based on a larger house, with the hope that it will be lower for a smaller property, whilst also being aware that utilities are only going to get more expensive.

My grocery can come down a bit too - once I’ve moved in I can start saving by doing more cooking & baking than I can currently.

kayannie

SecondStar said:

I’ve been planning out my projected budget once I move into my new home, now that the figures are becoming more certain.

My monthly income after tax and deductions is £1,521.

After housing costs (mortgage, rates, insurance), utility bills (gas, electric, internet), basic bills (mobile, health insurance, life/critical illness insurance), pet costs (food, litter, medications, prescriptions), variable spending (food, petrol, bus fare, car insurance); I’m looking at 14% leftover for saving.

Housing - 27%
Utility bills - 11%
Basic bills - 8%
Pet costs - 22%
Variable spending - 18%
Savings - 14%

My pet costs are extortionate, but that’s a side effect of not taking out pet insurance, and having 2 seniors who are on lifelong medications. I will slash my own food and utility costs, before I take away the spending which keeps them comfortable and pain free in their twilight years. Realistically, they may only have a few years left with me, so this is a small price to pay for their comfort.

My utility costs are estimated, I’m hoping they will be lower - I’m using costs based on a larger house, with the hope that it will be lower for a smaller property, whilst also being aware that utilities are only going to get more expensive.

My grocery can come down a bit too - once I’ve moved in I can start saving by doing more cooking & baking than I can currently.

Just a thought - do you get medication for your pets from your vet? It can be a lot cheaper online as I discovered recently. 
KA

SecondStar

kayannie said:

SecondStar said:

I’ve been planning out my projected budget once I move into my new home, now that the figures are becoming more certain.

My monthly income after tax and deductions is £1,521.

After housing costs (mortgage, rates, insurance), utility bills (gas, electric, internet), basic bills (mobile, health insurance, life/critical illness insurance), pet costs (food, litter, medications, prescriptions), variable spending (food, petrol, bus fare, car insurance); I’m looking at 14% leftover for saving.

Housing - 27%
Utility bills - 11%
Basic bills - 8%
Pet costs - 22%
Variable spending - 18%
Savings - 14%

My pet costs are extortionate, but that’s a side effect of not taking out pet insurance, and having 2 seniors who are on lifelong medications. I will slash my own food and utility costs, before I take away the spending which keeps them comfortable and pain free in their twilight years. Realistically, they may only have a few years left with me, so this is a small price to pay for their comfort.

My utility costs are estimated, I’m hoping they will be lower - I’m using costs based on a larger house, with the hope that it will be lower for a smaller property, whilst also being aware that utilities are only going to get more expensive.

My grocery can come down a bit too - once I’ve moved in I can start saving by doing more cooking & baking than I can currently.

Just a thought - do you get medication for your pets from your vet? It can be a lot cheaper online as I discovered recently. 
KA

I do, and it was much cheaper than buying from the vet, but it’s still £66 for the meds, plus £20 to save up for the next lot of 6-month prescriptions. My dog & cat also have monthly arthritis injections at £152 - it could lower if I learnt how to do them at home, but I’m not sure I’d be able to! Plus it’s good to have them checked over each month by our vet.

It is expensive to keep them comfortable, but it’s an essential expense for the time they have left.

kayannie

SecondStar said:

kayannie said:

SecondStar said:

I’ve been planning out my projected budget once I move into my new home, now that the figures are becoming more certain.

My monthly income after tax and deductions is £1,521.

After housing costs (mortgage, rates, insurance), utility bills (gas, electric, internet), basic bills (mobile, health insurance, life/critical illness insurance), pet costs (food, litter, medications, prescriptions), variable spending (food, petrol, bus fare, car insurance); I’m looking at 14% leftover for saving.

Housing - 27%
Utility bills - 11%
Basic bills - 8%
Pet costs - 22%
Variable spending - 18%
Savings - 14%

My pet costs are extortionate, but that’s a side effect of not taking out pet insurance, and having 2 seniors who are on lifelong medications. I will slash my own food and utility costs, before I take away the spending which keeps them comfortable and pain free in their twilight years. Realistically, they may only have a few years left with me, so this is a small price to pay for their comfort.

My utility costs are estimated, I’m hoping they will be lower - I’m using costs based on a larger house, with the hope that it will be lower for a smaller property, whilst also being aware that utilities are only going to get more expensive.

My grocery can come down a bit too - once I’ve moved in I can start saving by doing more cooking & baking than I can currently.

Just a thought - do you get medication for your pets from your vet? It can be a lot cheaper online as I discovered recently. 
KA

I do, and it was much cheaper than buying from the vet, but it’s still £66 for the meds, plus £20 to save up for the next lot of 6-month prescriptions. My dog & cat also have monthly arthritis injections at £152 - it could lower if I learnt how to do them at home, but I’m not sure I’d be able to! Plus it’s good to have them checked over each month by our vet.

It is expensive to keep them comfortable, but it’s an essential expense for the time they have left.

Our pets are definitely worth every penny we spend on them! 
KA

cw18

SecondStar said:

I’ve been planning out my projected budget once I move into my new home, now that the figures are becoming more certain.

Wondering where you live, as I see 'rates' rather than Council Tax, and no mention of water.

I'm aware that in Scotland they pay for water in with their Council Tax, but it's a separate bill in England and Wales.
Tried looking at Ireland, and got myself confuddled by the answers.   Some search results said 'no', whilst others mentioned meters!!

And nothing for a TV Licence or a streaming service.   I'm sure I'm not the only one on here that doesn't need a licence for what they watch, but I'd hate you to suddenly realise you need to find a further £159/year.    And yes, there's plenty you can watch (if you so want) without requiring either a license or a subscription to a streaming service.

Also, you list petrol and car insurance, but nothing for MOT (is your car under 3 years old or a classic?), Road Tax (I thought they'd pretty much removed the 'zero' rate), servicing (optional, but I always get this done if I can afford it) - not putting anything aside for general repairs (new tyres, wiperblades, lightbulbs, exhaust, brakes etc.)

I tend to work on 30p/mile as the non-fixed running costs for my car (based on 5,000 miles per year) half of which is petrol, the other half for wear and tear as mine is an elderly lady.   The other bills are then on top of that !!   5,000 x 15p is £750, and it cost me not much under £600 for the repairs to get her through the MOT.   She'd already had some other work done during the year (including a tyre), so that calculation from 6 years ago is probably still the best guess for mine.   The other £750 would just about cover the petrol if it was only me driving her.  Unfortunately my son doesn't drive as economically as I do, so it won't cover his mileage - which is why I now let him fill the fuel tank, and then just top it up occasionally with what I'd expect to use based on my records from before she became a shared vehicle.

SecondStar

cw18 said:

SecondStar said:

I’ve been planning out my projected budget once I move into my new home, now that the figures are becoming more certain.

Wondering where you live, as I see 'rates' rather than Council Tax, and no mention of water.

I'm aware that in Scotland they pay for water in with their Council Tax, but it's a separate bill in England and Wales.
Tried looking at Ireland, and got myself confuddled by the answers.   Some search results said 'no', whilst others mentioned meters!!

And nothing for a TV Licence or a streaming service.   I'm sure I'm not the only one on here that doesn't need a licence for what they watch, but I'd hate you to suddenly realise you need to find a further £159/year.    And yes, there's plenty you can watch (if you so want) without requiring either a license or a subscription to a streaming service.

Also, you list petrol and car insurance, but nothing for MOT (is your car under 3 years old or a classic?), Road Tax (I thought they'd pretty much removed the 'zero' rate), servicing (optional, but I always get this done if I can afford it) - not putting anything aside for general repairs (new tyres, wiperblades, lightbulbs, exhaust, brakes etc.)

I tend to work on 30p/mile as the non-fixed running costs for my car (based on 5,000 miles per year) half of which is petrol, the other half for wear and tear as mine is an elderly lady.   The other bills are then on top of that !!   5,000 x 15p is £750, and it cost me not much under £600 for the repairs to get her through the MOT.   She'd already had some other work done during the year (including a tyre), so that calculation from 6 years ago is probably still the best guess for mine.   The other £750 would just about cover the petrol if it was only me driving her.  Unfortunately my son doesn't drive as economically as I do, so it won't cover his mileage - which is why I now let him fill the fuel tank, and then just top it up occasionally with what I'd expect to use based on my records from before she became a shared vehicle.

I’m in Northern Ireland, so it’s ‘rates’ here! No water bill either.

No TV in the new home, and no TV license needed. A friend has kindly added me to her streaming services for free until the end of her annual subscription, and after that we’ll split the cost.

No road tax - car is 2015, but tax is still £0. I do put a little by each month towards maintenance & MOT costs.

The 14% of savings will get split into emergency fund, vet bills fund, and then any annual costs which need saving for (Christmas etc.).

KajiKita

I’ve done a thing and recovered a turnip 😊

It was all wrinkly and sad and now it’s plump and tasty looking! This will now be usable in the coleslaw I want to make today 😊

KK