What amount do you think you could live on a day???

I've read that book (after it being recommended on here!) and thought it was quite an interesting read although I think I'd draw the line at hitchhiking to go away to France!

I read that book to inspire me when I feel tired of thrifty living. Makes you realise that I can do more to stop spending

I control my spending per week (rather than per day), I find this works best for me as a month is too long (spend all my money at start, no money by week 3), and a day is a bit too strict.

Having done both failed and successful challenges, I would say to keep the rules simple. You should be able to say your rule in one phrase, otherwise you will get bogged down on the detail.

So it's better to say "We will live on £10 a day for everything" than "We will live on £7 a day, but that's not counting a, b, c, d, e, f and g, with top up allowances".

My one thought would be it's a shame some of you have mentally excluded certain 'fixed' costs - virtually nothing can't be cut back on. Water and energy bills can fairly easily be reduced, do you need a TV license or could you use BBC iPlayer for a couple of months, could you cycle or walk instead of drive, are you getting any discounts you might be entitled to on public transport .... I know you have probably already done a lot of this, but it's well worth revisiting every so often with an open mind (children think HOW, adults think BUT!). A useful thread would be Weezl74's 'Eat Healthily on 50p per day'.

Fire_Fox wrote: »

My one thought would be it's a shame some of you have mentally excluded certain 'fixed' costs - virtually nothing can't be cut back on. Water and energy bills can fairly easily be reduced, do you need a TV license or could you use BBC iPlayer for a couple of months, could you cycle or walk instead of drive, are you getting any discounts you might be entitled to on public transport .... I know you have probably already done a lot of this, but it's well worth revisiting every so often with an open mind (children think HOW, adults think BUT!). A useful thread would be Weezl74's 'Eat Healthily on 50p per day'.

As far as I know you can only reduce your water bill if you are on a meter. And from what I have read you must have a tv license even if you watch online. Also rent and mortgage are fixed costs.
Energy bills can however be cut by winterizing your home and turning down the heat. Think about how you use electricity and gas.

Great thread by the way. Already doing the £4000 challenge. Managed to pay off a large loan and pay down the mortgage by several thousand. Dh has now agreed to keep living as we are next year so we can pay it off completely although we may leave a little on it as we were advised it may be beneficial to us If we need expensive repairs in a hurry.