Frugal Living Challenge Year - 2008

I'm planning a frugal year for 2008 so it's to spend wisely and only on needs, planned purchases and emergency replacements, so if I can do without it I will.

So planning a very minimum frugal year by using what in the house or can be borrowed. This includes some food items, laundry & toilet paper, toiletries, linen, household goods, cookware, books, clothes & underwear etc, (buying only if I change sizes too much in clothing).

~ No Spending but for planned items. (If I have an item in the house or can borrow it, then I'm to use that first.)
~ Find ways to make my own grocery & cleaning items instead of buying them.
~ Repairing anything that can be fixed.
~ Have my credit card at Zero balance by end of the each month.
~ Come under budget each month and deposit into the online accounts any leftover amounts.
~ Pay All Due Bills on pension days or ahead of time. (As my budget is now in Excel, I can see a working model of these figures. When due and approx amount needed for each month.)
~ I have two gift vouchers from Christmas so that I can buy items on my need list or items for next Christmas gifts as one is a store voucher for January only. I do limit myself to extra $10.00 only if buying gifts for others.
~ Chiro visit (one every 4 weeks)
~ Known outings are budgeted for, as social events.
~ Making and setting up emergency survival kit & resources.
~ Saving as much cash I can for a new stove & oven later in the year. (Nothing fancy)

I have only two major projects other than new stove on the calendar next year, one is a must do (I have funding saved), and the other could go one more year. Both cost thousands of dollars and on a pension with limited funds I need to come up with little challenges to make them happen.

I will update here if I think of anything else.

Note - Savings $stretch is the different between original regular price and money handed over. Coming under $tretch category

Update on 2008

I have meet most of the challenges I set above I have still to do the major challenges but the money is still in the bank to do these two!

Stove was bought and a new hot water system installed this year. my credit cards as still being paid when due in full so no problems there. All bills are paid and up to date. Money banked this last week from my surplus in bill a/c and more added to the floats for 2009-10. I am still debt FREE at moment.

So I am looking forward to 2009 with all its challenges to come!