Charlottechicken Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I'm a little late starting this thread, but thought if anyone else wanted to join in they hopefully won't have spent £4,000 in the first 12 days of the year The challenge is this: Excluding housing costs and council tax, I have just £4,000 to spend on all other bills, food, travel and treats. The only way to get through the year is to be frugal, very frugal My bills are more or less constant, most are direct debit. I know roughly how much I have left to put in my purse, for food, travel and treats, clothes etc, and that figure is £165 per month. The challenge will be reducing bills and finding ways around spending money, whilst maintaining the same sort of lifestyle. If you want to join and know that £4,000 is too low, work out how much you could live on, but remember to make it a little difficult for yourself, not too hard though, and go with a different amount I managed about seven months of buy nothing new last year (before I got the builders in and spent loads), but think this will suit me better. I don't have time to source second hand options for all my needs and sometimes you just need to spend But, if I spend too much I risk going over budget. This week I committed myself to not buying cotton wool and make up wipes so hacked three unused face cloths into 4 squares each, hemmed them, and will reuse them instead of throwaway products. Next week I plan to recycle my builder bags into potato grow sacks, and grow my own spuds in them So feel free to join me in a year of frugality and cutting those bills back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I wish you all the best for 2009 Claire! You have inspired me to buy nothing new this year- 12 days in and doing ok Hope it works out for you and keep us updated!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 wow , how exciting Ive set up a spreadsheet and I am logging everything that I spend (everything ) so I will be able to have an idea on what I spend after one month. how are you managing to keep track? good luck cathy x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 EEEk I thought this seemed OK until I realised you are including travel costs. I spend more than that on holidays - and 2 are already booked for this year. Are you including the running cost of a car in the 4000? HUGELY admiring if you are! Mind you I think I'm pretty admiring anyway. Definately keeping th costs down this year - I want to make this a saving year NOT a spending one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I like this idea, and it might work better for me than the 'buy nothing new'. I did a budget last year, afraid it was rather more than £4,000 but I see what you mean, I could work out a target for me. Travel costs (Tube) are £1700 alone, and I do need to run a car for work and for charity stuff that I do, so I'd have to leave those out of my target. I started taking my own lunch last year, and I need to raise my game and take breakfast as well, and grow a bit more of my own food; I am really hoping the combination of my Owl Monitor and the woodburning stove will have brought the fuel bills down, but it's a bit soon to tell. Hmm, must go and find my spreadsheet and see what I think might be a reasonable target! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 there is this website all about frugal living if you google 'down the lane', this chap has lived this way for a few years and has loads of tips, keeps chickens too of course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 That's a great site! thanks, will bookmark that one. Here if anyone else wants a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 how are you managing to keep track? A friend bought me a lovely notebook for my birthday, so I am also writing everything down, like you, Cathy! Thanks for your good wishes Christian, and good luck to you too Yes Pengy, it does include travel and the car Olly, I think this is much more do-able for me too, although as I am happy with second hand and free stuff, I will continue to source where practicable. This just means I can go out and buy new if I need to. Mind you the budget is so tight I may not be able to for much longer Get that target figure worked out and in your signature! Tiggy, what a great site, oh no, they have a forum too!!!!!!!! I have discovered a new shop where I walk to on a Saturday morning. It is called More4less and may be part of a chain. Anyway, they sell off goods and clothing from other retailers, they have weird Jane Norman clothing in at the moment, but in the past two weeks I have spent a fiver there and got two New Look vest tops (pound each), one long sleeved Tesco Cherokee top (a pound), and four packs of black Florence and Fred tights (50p a box of two pairs). Have a look around your local area, you may have one too! Oh, I almost forgot, the Boots 75% off sale starts tomorrow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 hmmm I just saw it in your signature and was intrigued. I love the sound of it but will have to work out what is reasonable. There are 5 of us though will be 6 for more than half the year. I don't think I'll be able to get dh to join in so I think Ill have to allow for him but be good where I am in control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 there is this website all about frugal living if you google 'down the lane', this chap has lived this way for a few years and has loads of tips, keeps chickens too of course What a great site , I've bookmarked it for later consumption....did grab this quote off it though which made me smile... In my day, we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Someone told us that the chicken had crossed the road, and that was good enough for us. How true! Sha x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I admire all of you who are budgeting this year. I often reuse things like cutting up towels to make flannels, cutting up flannels to make cotton pads etc but not because of money concerns, just because it makes sense. I never buy freezer bags as we keep all the plastic bags that some post comes in. If any get ripped, i cut them into strips then plait them to make plant ties. They are much gentler on the plant. Anyway, good luck to you all. I could never do it, i'd miss shopping too much but i think i'm pretty frugal in many ways already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 1, 2009 Author Share Posted February 1, 2009 Is anyone else attempting this challenge? This last fortnight I decided to make room to grow more veg, so my lovely bottom lawn has been dug up, to provide a larger veg patch approximately 20 feet in length, and a new run for the girls. I really loved the bottom of the garden so was sorry to see it go. Here is a before snap, from June so everything was in full bloom.... ...and this is now The white stuff on the ground is today's snow before the two hour flurry we had. The new run area for the girls is marked out by the canes just right of centre in the bottom pic. It will consist of a covered and secure area about 9 feet long, and a further outdoor run of approx 14 feet in length. I will build a brick wall about three courses above ground level for the wooden frame to sit on. I am well under my cash budget for January, which is good, as some large household bills start rolling in from the end of this month, and I will have to see if I can reduce some of them. I must also get organised to put some bits and pieces on eBay. I often reuse things like cutting up towels to make flannels, cutting up flannels to make cotton pads etc but not because of money concerns, just because it makes sense. I never buy freezer bags as we keep all the plastic bags that some post comes in. If any get ripped, i cut them into strips then plait them to make plant ties. They are much gentler on the plant. Thanks for your ideas Helly Welly, I like your style! If you think of any more, please share so we can all use them! I am in the fortunate position of never having worn a towel out, even though some are almost as old as me, and all are 2nd hand! Mind you, when the builders were here I dreaded them asking for a cloth, that's what I keep all my old t shirts for! I signed up to the mail preference service, so I don't get much in the way of junk post, but I know the plastic bags you mean, I have a small stash and use them to wrap ebay stuff, and to keep things (like recipes and instructions) wipe clean in the kitchen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I'll be joining this challenge when the kids start private school in September!!! Dreading it., budgeting and all but needs must. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 I'll be joining this challenge when the kids start private school in September!!! Dreading it., budgeting and all but needs must. Start now, why wait! You can ease yourself into it gradually and get used to the idea. Just think of all the saving you can do between now and September I've had good news, my first big bill of the year, the buildings and contents insurance, has come in below what I paid last year (about £7 less and even with the extension ) because I have made no claims. I received a further letter from them saying if I renew in the next fortnight I can have a £20 Homebase voucher or three bottles of wine too I'm plumping for the voucher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Start now, now there's a thought . . . . will sort out finances later and give serious consideration starting now!! Thanks, sometimes it needs someone to kick start me!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 Thanks, sometimes it needs someone to kick start me!! Then I'm kicking Welcome to the thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 ...and a second gentle kick from me, more of a nudge really Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 25, 2009 Author Share Posted February 25, 2009 Well, I've been really frugal this month, and a good job too The car went in for it's second MOT, and was found to need a bit of work, suggestions mind, not a fail. As one of the things was to do with the brakes and the other to do with suspension (thanks speed humps ) I thought it best to be done now. I had a full service too so I'm now £300 poorer. Next year I'll be doing the service myself I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Ouch! Colleges often run courses for women - we did Car Maintenance for Women and it was really helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 3, 2009 Author Share Posted March 3, 2009 Thanks Lesley! I never thought of that The funny thing is I can do a lot of college courses for free because I am on Tax credits, although all the useful ones in Birmingham seem to be during the working day I will get a Haynes, I managed to do basic maintenance on the Metro (battery changing etc). Next year I will do it myself Well, the credit card bill for February was a stonker, it nearly matched my payslip, and March will not be much better (road tax and council tax). Good thing I am accumulating vouchers from various places then I have had some lovely things from the charity shops recently (an Alexon suit for £2 and M&S top for £1) and got some M&S grey opaque tights for a pound from a cheap shop. Last of the big spenders How is everyone else getting on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 umm. Actually not bad - I did splurge on some clothes, but I'd budgeted and saved for a big shop, I hate buying clothes and usually only go twice a year. Apart from that I've been quite good about not buying extras or unnecessary things, and taking my own lunch to work etc - had a few blips. I'm saving/planning the walk-in run next, and again I have saved for this/built it into my plans. I sympathise about the car Charlottechicken, my car expenses are all at the other end of the year, as it were - but I'm not looking forward to finding out what the Council Tax is going to be! I pay mine monthly so it won't be a huge bill all at once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 Well done with the budgeting Olly, it's nice to spoil yourself once in a while My council tax is paid over 10 months, it's still a sizeable chunk though, and at least it has hardly gone up this year, so I should be thankful for small mercies I am also building a new walk in run, but have been able to borrow bits from the old one with temporary repairs to stop the girls getting out. I hope to buy just three sheets of clear UV stable corrugated plastic to weather proof the covered bit and that should be it as far as spending goes, maximum of £20 I am building brick walls to sit the run on, using more leftover bricks out of the garden, five courses in total, two underground. I indulged in some fertilised eggs off ebay last month, they hatched yesterday, see 'chickens' board for info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 15, 2009 Author Share Posted April 15, 2009 Well I am having success reducing all the major bills, which is something I thought wouldn't be possible Following on from last month's cheaper than before buildings and contents insurance (with free £20 Homebase voucher thrown in) I have managed to claw back the outstanding balance from Eon for my gas/electric of £90, and reduce my direct debits by £13 per month and that only took one email Woohoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 well done! It's the sort of thing I put off doing for ages - I really should look at all my direct debits and consider switching utility suppliers, but I can't face the hassle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 I switched in 2005 from British Gas and whatever the MEB became, to Powergen, now EON. It was completely hassle free and easy, I just gave final readings to Powergen and they contacted my previous suppliers. I really don't think I've saved any money though as they all put their prices up and down at the same time anyway You do get a dual fuel saving if you have both gas and electric with the same supplier though, and with EON I get Tesco points too. I read somewhere that if you are in credit by more than a month's payments on the anniversary of your account, you can ask for, and expect to get, the money back. I was spurred on by an article in the papers that said the energy companies were raking in interest on the money in customer's direct debit accounts, so asked for mine back or a reduction in monthly direct debit payments. I sent them an email and they replied within 24 hours. I never thought they would agree to both Try it, they can only say no Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
