So how many of you out there are currently struggling with the 'January Blues'?
Long, dark, dreary days.
Diets.
Budgets.
Christmas 2011 sent you along the road to hell and you're still on the track to recovery.
(Only 330 days until the next one - Sorry, couldn't resist!)
Well, the details aren't important, but Hubby and I have decided that some obligatory belt tightening is required over the coming months. Now, whilst I am talking theoretical belt tightening in the financial sense, a little bit of actual belt tightening in the diet sense would also not go amiss, so here's hoping one leads to another. Don't you just love 'happy coincidences'?!
Obviously I'm a bit late for a new year start, but then where's the fun in starting something like this when you still have a cupboard full of foodie goodies to get through; bought in the usual overindulgent - and let's face it, pleasantly obnoxious - way that seems so necessary at Christmas?
So a February start it is.
And so to the budget...
I won't be including mortgage payments or household utility bills, though I have just switched utility supplier and saved a small fortune, so that doesn't mean I have my head in the sand. Also, we have 2 cars to run and the price of diesel is extortionate at the moment, so I'm afraid I have to discount that expense as the cars are necessities of getting to work from a rural location such as ours. However, it does mean that the budget allocated sounds ridiculously small and therefore like more of a challenge.
So get to the important bit I hear you cry! Tell us the actual weekly amount you shout! (Patience is a virtue you know guys...)
How does £25 per week for the entire month of February sound to you? We're talking food, drink, leisure activities etc. For info, now that I've typed it I am thinking it sounds ridiculous and I am way out of my depth here, but hey ho, a challenge wouldn't be a challenge if it was easy now would it?!
Added to that challenge, will be an additional target to see if there are ways to actually make money, rather than to just not spend it. I'm not talking another full time paid job, just a little bit of pocket money to supplement the meagre £25.
If only this was 'Mission Impossible' then the above mission would self destruct in 30 seconds and I could forget all about it...but it isn't, so as of Wednesday 1st February, the austerity begins. Though please be aware that austerity does not have to mean a lack of fun!
Bring it on!
mwah x
12 comments:
£25 a week?! That's, what, $17 American, I think. I don't know what food costs are in Britain (and gas/petrol is a crime here, too!!), but that wouldn't get us much here in the US, LOL. Milk is running $3.50 a gallon, let's just say that. But hats off to you for trying - I'm curious to see what happens! Good luck! :)
I'm really curious to see how you do it! I would love to try it but think it's only possible if we don't buy bread or meat and buy all own brand goods. Even then...with a four year old son...... and the cats.... I was at the local shop this morning and just bought orange juice, bananas,cheese, milk, bread, peppers, butter, ham and cat food and it came to 23 euro! Dying to see how you get on!
Oh ladies..so little faith...
*Gulp* I'm actually beginning to think it'll be tough - Game on!
OK, here is a little try: you could babysit for friends to make some extra £. Or tutor their kids (tutoring is BIG business in London). And what you need is time. You will bake your bread (you only need yeast, flour and some salt for this, and a big pack of flour (as in, 2kg) will set you back by £1.5 only.
Maybe you could grow your veggies? Or get some chicken before the austerity measures start to get eggs? How about planning every meal of the week and using price comparison websites to get the best deal out there?
Oh, and in my local market, you can get a fantastic falafel sandwich for £3. Come and visit!
Keep us posted! xx
I wish you both every success, must admit I don't spend much on food or luxuries myself but only cause I'm skint. Try charity shopping and google anything you might feel is a bargain, rare books old computer games have a go!
So many ideas - thanks guys! I'll keep you posted for sure.
Nice challenge: let's see, 25£ = $ 40.00, or 3.57 £ per day, quite some belt tightening! Does that include dog food?
Were it summer you could sneak out at night and visit some vegetable garden, no, this is highly unethical.
How about taking up all those open invites from friends and family?
When I lived in London an eternity ago and starving, I survived on minced meat, carrots and mungo bean sprouts with rice. Not bad, actually.
You definitely need more funds, write a book on how to survive on 3.60£ per day!
Good news: by summer you will fit into size 0 and will have to buy new cloths!
Hello,
This 25 Euro thing is tough1 But 25 Euro is like 120 Dirhams (our currency) and that is huge for a week. We can actually do a lot for 120 here! So this might be a little easy for me!
But yes, keep us tuned on how it works for you! I like Muriel's suggestion too! You could give it a try :)Good Luck!
Minced meat, carrots and mungo bean sprouts with rice...Hubby not keen on that idea!
Thanks for the support. At the end of day 1 we're feeling quite positive..though we do have a stock cupboard still full of herbs, spices etc. Once they are gone, who knows...
You could write on Helium http://www.helium.com for extra pocket money. I made 70 cents the first year.
Initially I thought everyone who claimed to be partially living off their Helium earnings had lost their minds or else had taken their own vow of austerity. However, I have since discovered it is possible to bring in a little extra money; although, I still don't know how anyone lives off it.
All the best in your endeavour! :-)
Wow!! Quite the challenge. Best of luck, I'm looking forward to hearing more.
Lucy, I can relate to this post on so many levels. I've been wanting to get our finances in order as well. SOmehow it all got messed up since we moved 5mos ago. I have not been keeping records and all that. I want to save and want to earn a little. Still don't know how to do the latter (other than do online surveys...maybe you could find one like that there in the UK?). It pays $3 per survey...not much but at least it pays for my domain name per year, lol! I also need to go back to exercising to lose more weight. I've just been too lazy. Well, good luck to us! I'm pretty sure lessening the eating out will surely save money.
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