The Budget
Right, it’s done. Assuming I can curb my spending just a tiny bit (although not that much to be honest) I can last until August 2009 if I keep my loan and February 2009 if I pay it off. Cutting my expenditure quite drastically will only buy me another month or so so it really seems a little pointless and I’d be missing out on things like cleaners 
I’ve already reduced my mobile phone tariff, got a cheaper package with Sky (and lost a load of channels I don’t watch), stopped paying idiot tax and canceled my season ticket. There’s quite a lot of leeway with the spending money as I don’t really want to have to alter my lifestyle and hopefully I’ll save money each month. We’ll see. I suffer involuntary separation from payroll in a couple of months and by then I need to decide what I want to do about the loan. I’ll probably pay it off.
I think you should seriously consider a career in politics. I doubt No. 11 even does a spreadsheet. Well, you could always apply for a job in the tax office.
If you can be self sufficient for that long, then you should look at working for yourself in some form. All IMHO of course!
@Nanook - the problem with politics is that people are wary of my policy to shoot most of them which means I’ll be kept out of the places where I could make a difference
@Perp - Question is: doing what? It’s a faff. I’m going to do a load of photography but more as a full time hobby than anything else. Will also try day trading and see how that works out, but basically I’m a programmer by trade and that’s what I like doing. If I was going to do it as a job I’d get someone else to employ me
inspired by this, I too checked my budget should I be suddenly unemployed.
Luckily, I’ll last indefinitely on current spend rate, so long as wife doesn’t lose her job too.
Feels good to cancel DDs and save money by doing nothing doesn’t it?
Have you heard of quidco? If you do get the urge to spend go through them first.
Last year I had enough savings to account for 3 months salary then I went and bought a stupid house and car
The quidco thing looks interesting, although at the moment it’s more just my day to day spending that I need to look at. I need to be less generous down the pub I think
I concur on Quidco - it’s rare, these days, that we spend full price for anything, largely due to Quido, Xexec, 5% cashback on Amex platinum credit card, etc.