Righty. I'm still a relative newbie to the site, but I'd like to follow example and start my own thread where I can keep myself accountable and document my new frugal skills. Grab a cuppa before reading on, it's long!
I have set myself challenges and budgets all of which I'll keep track of here.
A little history: I am a heavily depended on veterinary nurse for a large company, but in July I was hospitalized with a so far unexplained neurological condition which has caused me to lose most of the feeling in my arms, hands, legs and feet. Due to many other factors of this condition and the high level of responsibility my role carries, I have not been back to work since July, and it looks set to stay this way for quite a while.
Having gone from living on two decent salaries (future DH's and mine combined), we're now struggling a little on just his and my extremely low sick pay (about one quarter of my previous take home monthly pay). We had to give up our previous rental property and move into a smaller, cheaper place. Now we are properly settled there, I'm giving myself a boot up the bum and 'getting sorted'.
FDH pays the majority of our monthly expenses for rent, groceries, internet and landline (all other utilities are included in our rent), and I use some of my sick pay to slowly pay off my personal debt and into our savings.
Here goes:
GROCERIES
My budget for groceries, tp, toiletries, pet food, everything per month is £80. That's for the three of us, me, Craig and Martha the cat.
I have made a meal planner for November, starting today as we have been visiting family this weeekend. It's here http://h1.ripway.com/Francoise/menu planner november.xlsx if anyone wants to take a look. FDH and I have fairly complex food intolerances that don't follow normal patterns so while I understand that some of the stuff we eat doesn't neccessarily seem very healthy, I've spent 21 years tailoring my diet and we both have no problems with it as far as intolerance goes.
FINANCE
I've joined the $*** in 100 days challenge, and we will be saving £1000 in 100 days (from 10/30/2008-2/6/2009). Mainly I'll be doing this by putting spare change into a nominated savings account, also the £20 per month I shaved off my previous grocery budget of £100. £40 per month from my sick pay will also be going in there.
My debt will be steadily paid off in small amounts. Thankfully FDH and I have no joint debt, it's just mine that needs to go. I am aiming to pay off £55 from my overdraft and £25 from my ccard each month,coming from my sick pay. I have two monthly outgoings from those accounts - £42.50 from overdraft for my mobile (this contract is up and won't be renewed in Jan), and £8.99 from ccard for online game subscription (I'm not giving this up, this game is my little luxury so I don't go loony).
£40 from sick pay will also go into a high interest saver I have, which is where I plan to keep my inheritance and add to it periodically for our house and wedding fund.
Sig is up to date with current balances.
SO FAR FOR NOVEMBER:
I'll try and keep this thread updated as much as I can, might throw in the odd pic or two here and there to keep it interesting! For starters, here's us!
(please kindly ignore the belly on my darling husband-to-be!! )
Any tips gratefully received and pondered, wish me luck!
I have set myself challenges and budgets all of which I'll keep track of here.
A little history: I am a heavily depended on veterinary nurse for a large company, but in July I was hospitalized with a so far unexplained neurological condition which has caused me to lose most of the feeling in my arms, hands, legs and feet. Due to many other factors of this condition and the high level of responsibility my role carries, I have not been back to work since July, and it looks set to stay this way for quite a while.
Having gone from living on two decent salaries (future DH's and mine combined), we're now struggling a little on just his and my extremely low sick pay (about one quarter of my previous take home monthly pay). We had to give up our previous rental property and move into a smaller, cheaper place. Now we are properly settled there, I'm giving myself a boot up the bum and 'getting sorted'.
FDH pays the majority of our monthly expenses for rent, groceries, internet and landline (all other utilities are included in our rent), and I use some of my sick pay to slowly pay off my personal debt and into our savings.
Here goes:
GROCERIES
My budget for groceries, tp, toiletries, pet food, everything per month is £80. That's for the three of us, me, Craig and Martha the cat.
I have made a meal planner for November, starting today as we have been visiting family this weeekend. It's here http://h1.ripway.com/Francoise/menu planner november.xlsx if anyone wants to take a look. FDH and I have fairly complex food intolerances that don't follow normal patterns so while I understand that some of the stuff we eat doesn't neccessarily seem very healthy, I've spent 21 years tailoring my diet and we both have no problems with it as far as intolerance goes.
FINANCE
I've joined the $*** in 100 days challenge, and we will be saving £1000 in 100 days (from 10/30/2008-2/6/2009). Mainly I'll be doing this by putting spare change into a nominated savings account, also the £20 per month I shaved off my previous grocery budget of £100. £40 per month from my sick pay will also be going in there.
My debt will be steadily paid off in small amounts. Thankfully FDH and I have no joint debt, it's just mine that needs to go. I am aiming to pay off £55 from my overdraft and £25 from my ccard each month,coming from my sick pay. I have two monthly outgoings from those accounts - £42.50 from overdraft for my mobile (this contract is up and won't be renewed in Jan), and £8.99 from ccard for online game subscription (I'm not giving this up, this game is my little luxury so I don't go loony).
£40 from sick pay will also go into a high interest saver I have, which is where I plan to keep my inheritance and add to it periodically for our house and wedding fund.
Sig is up to date with current balances.
SO FAR FOR NOVEMBER:
- £50.25 spent on groceries, delivered a couple of days ago
- Meal planner started today, about to go and defrost beef for dinner
- Money allocated as described, but need to go and pay in spare change to savings account tomorrow
I'll try and keep this thread updated as much as I can, might throw in the odd pic or two here and there to keep it interesting! For starters, here's us!
(please kindly ignore the belly on my darling husband-to-be!! )
Any tips gratefully received and pondered, wish me luck!