A question about : Frugal Living Challenge 2011
Welcome to the Frugal Living Challenge 2011, Part 3. The following has been lifted from the first thread of the 2010 challenge - I felt that what Frugaldom (the originator of this challenge) had said covered everything I needed to cover as the current caretaker of the challenge 
The following links will take you to all the previous challenge threads
Part 1 - January to March 2011
Part 2 - April to June 2011
Introduction to 2010 Frugal Living Challenge
Part 1 - January to March 2010
Part 2 - April to June 2010
Part 1 - January to March 2009
Part 2 - April to June 2009
Part 3 - July to September 2009
Part 4 - October to December 2009
Part 1 - January to March 2008
Part 2 - April to June 2008
Part 3 - July to September 2008
Part 4 - October to December 2008
IMPORTANT
Please respect others' lifestyles and beliefs. We are not here to judge, we are here to support. Thank you
The challenge is about living a frugal lifestyle - establishing your true cost of living, sticking to your budget, clearing any debts and making savings wherever and however you can to enable you to live the life you really want.
Frugal living isn't for everyone, but everyone is welcome to join us. Methods employed by our merry band of frugalers include batch cooking, stockpiling, preserving, foraging, mending, shopping in charity shops, reducing, reusing, recycling, Local Exchange Trading Schemes (LETS), Vegetable & fruit growing, allotments, keeping hens, using cashback sites and earning whatever it takes to become self sufficient in managing the cost of living without incurring debt. For some it is initially about clearing debt, for others it's about increasing savings, buying property, becoming stay at home mums or paying off the mortgage early. Some choose the lifestyle on ethical grounds. Above all, this is a fun and supportive way to manage your budget so you have control of your own cost of living. It's about NEEDS and not WANTS.
Living on a budget = living within our means.
Frugal = thrifty, living without waste
Monitoring and revising the budget is part of frugal living plan. Gifts & cards could all to be homemade, livestock needs to pay its own keep, anything else needs to be cash neutral.
The bits we need to include to make this work
====================================
Please read the MSE forum rules and help us to keep this challenge on track, thank you.
If you have any questions about this challenge, feel free to PM me.
The following is taken from the official MSE forum rules section:
KEEPING THREADS ON-TOPIC
Please try not to take threads off-topic. This can be confusing for new users and makes it especially difficult for people ... Where requests from Board Guides for threads to be brought back on track have not been followed off-topic posts may be removed. We encourage community, but not thread derailment.
Please bear in mind the main purpose of the site is to save money. The forum team has therefore been instructed to prioritise its time on the MoneySaving forums.
KEEPING TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE BOARD
There are two boards provided for off-topic chat and discussion. The MoneySavers Arms has been set up for fun, more lighter-hearted chat (although do still remember this is a family forum - keep it clean please). Discussion Time is for discussion of current issues (read Martin's description).
If you post a topic that does not relate to the board it's posted on it will be moved to a more relevant MoneySaving board or to Discussion Time/The MoneySavers Arms.
===================================
This challenge is about paying for needs so we can afford to live debt free and save for wants. It runs from 1st January to 31st December 2011. The links will give you an idea of how previous challenges have gone.
Best answers:
-
List of those taking part - feel free to join at any time and I shall add your name to the list
23rdspiral
2wildthing2
alec eiffel
angelaf
Annie56
apple_mint
Aril
artichoke
Barros
Blairweech
BlinkyTheHorse
cake21
ceridwen
cha97michelle
Cheapskate
chika
Chipps
cloud_cuckoo_land
CRANKY40
cw18
Dawning
Decluttering
diddly74
dizzy lizzie
Doom_and_Gloom
Ellidee
elly68
enjoyfinancialchallenges
Erme
gelmc
Georgiegirl2012
gien
gillst
glendam
grandma247
Green_Queen
fingersxed
Fishcake_Random
fizz
Floxxie
flying_fresian
franby64
franticflyerSue56
freedom2011
frizz2
frugalbrunette
Frugaldom
frugaliciousness
Fruittea
goldrush1984
heather2409
HelenPie
inspirespirit
itsallinthemind
jade86123
jammydodgersandrhl
jayII
JayneC
jess444
jo70mo
JustKeepSwimming
kayharcombe
kazire
keenan1
Kerfuffle
Kerry Woman
kezlou
kittiej
Kiwisaver
knithappens
l.m.hart
Lady Lesley
landregistrylass
LauraM65
Laushappy
liloandstitch
lily288
Lily_The_Legend
lingojingo
LittleMissHappy
LJC79
loislane999
LolaLemon
LollopyBear
lowspend2011
lynzpower
maccanut
Marru
midwinter
minnie2
miss empty piggy
mogan6
mommyof4
mongmoney
Mooloo
mummroysof3
Nancy888
nannyboo1
natnat13
Nichelette
NualaBuala
OCD
oldestgnome
Optimisticpair
pagangirl
paidinchickens
patentgirl
Paulgonnabedebtfree
pink_numbers
pipersky
Puddleglum
rainbowcattail
redglass
rising from the ashes
roger ramjet
romylou
rozeepozee
rubytuesday
salski
SandraScarlett
saorsie
sarah0404
savingforarainyday
seriouslyfrugal
shebrett
silvasava
skint_chick
slowlyfading
slscarborough
Sorting it out
sparkle76
steerpiker
summertea
the_cat
thrifty
thriftylass
tumptyteapot
twiglet98
viv0147
xnatalie81x
youngmummy
weesmiler
Winchelsea
Winnie in Pooh
WonderfulLife
wornoutmumoftwo - A little message from me to say that I've taken over the thread from CW18 so GOOD LUCK for Part 3 of this year's challenge
- Thanks for taking over SF
I'll remain a lurker but my budget definitely isn't where it should be - wooo hoo, new thread, new start, new month..........
good luck everyone! happy frugalling! - Hey, a lovely new thread, yippee
- Thanks, SF!
Here's hoping I do better for the second half of the year! - Thanks SF
I'm definitely doing better than I was when I first joined MSE, but I have to admit that since becoming debt-free I've loosened the spending reins a little I've joined MFW this month though and that's helping me to focus on upping my income as well as minimising my spending, so hopefully I'll have some more contributions to make!
One frugal thing I have done is sort out my mum's Christmas present. She loves Doulton but they're expensive. A kind MSE-er saved tokens from the paper for me and I sent a cheque off and today received a lovely full-sized figurine. It cost me Ј30 and would normally be over Ј100 Mama Fresian will be thrilled
This weekend I'm going to be sorting some things out for Ebay too, so maybe I will rediscover my frugal ways yet... - Oh no - i wrote a whole post then lost it!!
I've been lurking here for a while, anyone mind if OH and i join in? We're trying to save the deposit for a house (i have previously had a mfw diary but found it hard to keep up!)
we're about to undergo a massive change in circumstances (currently live in england but moving in with my folks in NI! I have a job there but OH hasnt found work yet) and i want to use it as a positive opportunity to take control of our cashflow and finally join in with the challenge if thats ok?
Kola xx - It sounds as if you're doing fine to me
- Ohhhhh, lovely new thread, thanks SF!
I'm so glad I found this at the start of the year - and amazed that I've stuck at it!! - I've learned loads (but still a long way to go) ....... - KolaKube and welcome to the thread - of course you can join!
- Hi everyone, thanks Slowly fading for taking over.
Had a bad day at work, new boss/job not going too great... I'm not confident or "shiney" enough. Sheesh, I'll never get confident in the role with comments like that.
Returned a jacket to Blacks, it didn't have a bottom zip so wouldn't do... And in their sale found a metal bottle for Ј1, (not Ј12), a blanket that tucks into a cushion and a document wallet both for Ј3, so that was pleasing. - Hello SF and thanks for taking over. I'm still hanging around, trying not to spend too much and trying to sort out the house.
Take care all of you - Yae, new thread
Still only on the mobile for net access, really need to hunt out my paperwork to get my money from saas.
Finally updated working tax credits after starting work in Jan!
I met a guy a while back but he moved back to America (as planned n booked b4 we even met) he was due to come home in Oct for a wedding, and he had decided that if he hadn't gotten the job he wanted by then, then he was moving home.
Well, he's bn calling every week, and today he got a flight home, sold all his stuff in past few weeks so he didn't have anything left their.
Now, this is big for me. I don't really do commitment, as I I go running at the 1st sign ha ha.(I've bn single for past 4/5 years.... but since meeting him, I've bn thinking of us long term, even began planning my imaginary wedding haha.
If him n my son get on, I'm thinking if asking him to move in (they do get on, but have only met a few times) I'm not thinking of rushing it, giving it a few months to see how they get on etc...
Whole point of this us... money/rent. What do I charge?
I have never had a guy living with me, infact, I've not had anyone to stay... I'm too set in my ways haha - Lovely new thread, and another hardworking leader! I can't believe we are now into our third quarter, and our merry band is growing and growing.
I am so used to using every scrap of food, that I felt really guilty today when I had to throw away half a packet of bean sprouts, as they were way past their use-by date, and resembled slimey worms.
I had another clear-out of stuff today, and gave the Cancer Charity Shop a bin liner, full of clothes, and over a dozen books, and they were so pleased.
Welcome to any recent newbies - this is a lovely thread and people are so supportive, and swap delicious but frugal recipes, hints and ideas.
It looks like being a sunny weekend, and I do hope everyone has an enjoyable one.
xx - Totally off topic, but we had a by-election today, a bit shocked that approx 2800 voted Tory. Now a little worried we are royally screwed, as only 9000 voted SNP and labour won with 16000. So we now have a council with no one in power! (Lib dems got 650 votes, but it was expected for them to lose a lot of their voters, having nick clegg as the leader is not doing them any favours.
It really was a 2 horse race between SNP n Labour, n both had their leaders out canvassing for votes (no sign of David Cameron or his lapdog hehe)
Think this is a sign of polls to come? The masses voting labour, as the cuts wouldn't have bn as hard n heavy with them? The thing with politics is always its a bunch of 'what ifs...' - Thanks slowlyfading for the new thread. I've been nothing but a lurker just lately, but actually posted a few minutes or so ago - on the old thread, and then read on to find we have a new one!
Lurker or not, this challenge does help me keep pretty much on the straight and narrow in terms of spending - so thanks again!
- 333 reads