I have set out some 'rules' that I will be following below. Here we go!1. Set a food budget - and stick to it.
This is going to involve meal planning and very judicious shopping. It includes all consumable household items - food, cleaning products, dogfood etc.
My food budget for the month is £100 (each - there are two of us in my household).
2. Set a 'pocket money' budget, and stick to it.
This pocket money is for unforeseeable incidentals that cannot be avoided, such as having to buy stamps to send something important, transport costs if you are a bus user, money for parking, carrier bags, library fines, prescriptions, that kind of thing. We are talking loose change here, not anything significant.
My 'pocket money' budget for the month will be £20.
3. Declare my exceptions and reduce them as much as possible.
For example:
- I have to get my hair cut some time in November. I have to look smart for meeting clients and have a long fringe, so if it gets too long, I can't see! But where I would once have been in the salon for two hours having a full colour, cut and blow dry, this time I will be queuing up outside Supercuts for a dry trim!
- Vets Bills. Aside from emergencies obviously, my dog has to have her vaccinations this month.
- My one indulgence is under £5 - Country Living Christmas edition. I have been looking forward to this all year! And I savour every page over the month's weekend breakfasts.
- Petrol - unavoidable if you commute. You've got to get to work, or this frugality thing kind of backfires!
- Treats - if you are lucky enough to have generous people in your life, make the most of it! For example, my LB loves Bond, so has offered to take me to see it at the cinema. Who am I to argue?
4. Write it down!
Each week I will be making a record of my spending down to every last penny - and sharing it! Hopefully the shame of public humiliation will be the motivation I need to stick with it.
I will keep you posted as to how I get on every week.
Here goes!
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