March '06 - Pin Money Savings Challenge

Queenie · 25 February 2006 at 8:27AM

Here we go, the final month of our 2005/06 PMS Challenge before the new 2006/07 financial year begins.

Anyone jumping in can read the full instructions by clicking on the following link:-

PMS Challenge - full instructions

ladywood - :T very well done on your February totals! That is awesome!! :T Sorry to read about the gas and water pipe expenses, that's a real challenge; hopefully, the PMS challenge will help make a dent in the cost. Wishing you all the very best.

For those who pay their Poll Tax via direct debit over 10 monthly payments, have you considered adding the February and March payment to your pin money savings (if you haven't allocated it elsewhere, of course

)? It could give it a healthy boost

and if you've been saving your PMS in a mini ISA, it would perk up your interest payment too.

Good luck for March everyone

:wave:

savingpennies · 25 February 2006 at 4:27PM

Great idea about the council tax. I save all my PMS money in an ISA and although I have nowhere near the maximum £3000 my other challenge is to save 10% more in my ISA next financial year. Did really well this month £76.74. Used loads of money off vouchers in Asda tried to make sure I had 10% of my shop paid for in vouchers. Got lots of Bodyform for nought - should last me 'til the menopause. And Boots £5 off skincare products meant I made my Mum a nice pampering basket for her birthday. Not sure I can maintain that kind of saving though so I'll try for £30 again.

bluemoon_3 · 25 February 2006 at 5:17PM

I think I may join in with you lot this month, if that's alright.

I've been stealing ideas from the PIN money threads for months, but never posted.

I'll count:
- whatever is left out of my grocery budget each month (this will go into my car saving fund!).

- whatever is left out of the £10 a week I'm going to draw in cash (this will go into a jar to save much-needed spending change for the summer '06 car boot sales!). I may not tally this until the end of the month to give me some flexibility, because I've never kept track of my cash spending before, and I have a feeling I usually fritter away more than £40 a month on silly things!

- payouts from cashback sites (only once they've cleared).

- any unaccounted for savings that I haven't thought of yet.

Queenie · 26 February 2006 at 10:16AM

savingpennies - do you also pay your water bills by monthly dd? They are spread over 10mths too, so that could be another boost to your ISA

Wow, you're doing great by using your coupons at Asda, well done! Good luck with your target of £30

bluemoon - welcome :hello: - dive right in, the more the merrier

Yes, all those ways are brilliant to building up pin money savings. Also, if you buy things reduced when you expected to pay full price, add the difference

Yesterday got off to a flying start for me. Popped into Sainsbury's and noticed some Bacofoil Roasting Bags @ 99p (2 bags!) :eek: reduced down to .... 10p These are large bags.
Decided that, even if I don't use them as roasting bags (I'm still trying to get my head around that concept

) they would be idea at that price for freezer bags (can also be used in the microwave too).
Counted how many pks were left on the shelf (31) and bought the lot

31 pks (62 bags) @ 99p = £30.69
Queenie's bargain: 31pk @ 10p = £3.10
Saving: £27.59 :j :j :j

This will be calculated as a "virtual" saving because no way did I have (or budget for!) £30.69 on roasting or even freezer bags! And I don't have the cash left to show for it or put in the savings account. But either way, I'm a happy camper

ladywood · 26 February 2006 at 10:52AM

Month starts today for me. February total boosted by a friend yesterday - I helped out at a dog training day for her and she gave me £40! So after petrol expenses that adds £25 to leave February on £240! :j I managed to top that up with some extras my partner had got (expenses etc) and moved £300 to savings. So pleased.

Then had a couple of nice surprises this morning - a book I had listed on Amazon on Friday just sold netting £27.87 and I had had an eBay payment from something from last weekend for £35.50! So with that kick start I am aiming this month for £150.

Thanks Queenie and everyone for the encouragement. :A

Queenie · 26 February 2006 at 6:05PM

ladywood wrote:

Month starts today for me. February total boosted by a friend yesterday - I helped out at a dog training day for her and she gave me £40! So after petrol expenses that adds £25 to leave February on £240! :j I managed to top that up with some extras my partner had got (expenses etc) and moved £300 to savings. So pleased.

Then had a couple of nice surprises this morning - a book I had listed on Amazon on Friday just sold netting £27.87 and I had had an eBay payment from something from last weekend for £35.50! So with that kick start I am aiming this month for £150.

Thanks Queenie and everyone for the encouragement. :A

Wooohoooo!! :T :T :T That's a brilliant total for the month! Hopefully you'll be able to help out at dog training another day

I love the sound of your morning "surprises" :rotfl: a few more of those and you'll soon have your target for this month.

Keep up the good work, it truly is amazing how the pot can fill when you focus your efforts.

scuzz · 27 February 2006 at 8:48AM

Well my on going pot has now topped the £200 mark, and I've even spent a little bit on a night out!

No target for the month ahead, just see what happens

Queenie · 27 February 2006 at 9:14AM

Hey, scuzz for the 2nd time today ... :T :T :T ... WTG!

:shhh: I don't set targets for my PMS either

:silenced:

I'm glad you spent a bit on a night out though, hope it was a good one

aliyah · 27 February 2006 at 11:33AM

hi all,
this is my first month counting the extra pennies!

i am hoping to have some ebay profits to add. have had a good weekend on ebay making 51.15, including selling a peter rabbit plate brought for 50p for 30.00!! :j (but i have to be strict with myself...these cant count as my month is 1st - 3st march!)

have joined the grocery challenge too so really going for it this month!

with 2 adults, 3 teenagers and a 9 and 10 year old, things will be tight - but when i am determined.....

i am sure i will be posting on here for advice from you experienced pin money savers...hope that's ok?!

good luck all!
aliyah

Queenie · 27 February 2006 at 3:05PM

Welcome aliyah :hello: nice to have you join us

Determination and a positive focus are all you need

Having 5 kids to cater for is quite a challenge (been there myself!) so I know how tight the pennies (and belts at times) can be.

Very well done on your PR sale on Ebay! :T That is quite a tidy profit and one to be proud of.

Of course it's ok to ask questions; although we all follow the basic principles, some have their own unique ways of garnering and interpreting pin money depending on personal preferences/needs/commitments. Someone is sure to have the answer or a suggestion for any queries you may have.

Good luck, aliyah and wishing you may happy pms times ahead

Yorkielass · 27 February 2006 at 8:40PM

Very quiet month on amazon and haven't had the chance to sell much through work but have had a few things on ebay recently so not been brilliant with my selling stuff fund/pin money.

However March is going to be a really try on ebay month. Have got some stuff lined up here to list already, have some bits on the university website and have been swapping some bits on another site for things I can really use/sell so I'm hoping I can have a good month in March.

Not sure what my target is this month I'd love to achieve £50.

Think we should go and look for wedding rings and see how much what we want will cost then I can see how I'm doing with my selling stuff - looking forward to the car boot sale season starting as now have a carboot sale box in the spare room which is full

Good luck to others doing the pin money challenges. I think it really does help to keep track of money you don't realise you're saving - like using coupons, or bogofs, or selling on ebay etc. whatever you want to keep track of

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

March '06 - Pin Money Savings Challenge

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