Rewarding Ourselves

moggins · 4 April 2005 at 10:23AM

For those of us whose partners and friends regard us as strange for our Old Style ways, wouldn't it be nice to have a thread to give ourselves a virtual pat on the back for saving money?

I managed to save £100 last month and it looks like I will save twice that amount this month. So I rewarded myself with a luxury I have always wanted but never have never had the spare cash to splash out on.

I spent £35 of my savings on a starter fish tank, it's also working as encouragement for me to clear and sort out my dining/relaxation room as I want to sit in my rocking chair and watch my fish.

I think I deserve it, I'm working much harder, growing all our own veg, cooking meals from scratch and not buying things to 'make life easier'.

What would you reward yourself with if you can/could?

needmoney · 4 April 2005 at 10:35AM

I'd buy myself a robotic man who'd be all the things I desire and can't find in a real one;)

I'd also like to have enough to buy myself a real snazzy convertible to drive this summer and some sunglasses for when the top is off and the wind is in my hair........yeah I know dream on:D

Mrs_Thrift · 4 April 2005 at 10:39AM

The fish tank is a lovely idea, moggins.

The short term rewards I'm trying to focus on at the moment include the benefits of better home cooked food and better time organisation, i.e. feeling healthier and having more time (when I manage to stick to all my plans anyway, lol!)

And in the long term we are using the money we save on over paying our mortgage, so our reward will hopefully be a huge feeling of smugness, hehe!

moggins · 4 April 2005 at 10:48AM

needmoney, I like your thinking

I didn't squander it all, £35 went as an overpayment on our car loan, and £30 to get our chimney swept. I just had a moment of rebellion as I seem to be the only person taking money saving seriously that I deserved a little reward for my efforts

My fish tank will hopefully bring me years of pleasure.

needmoney · 4 April 2005 at 10:56AM

Moggins I hope you enjoy your fish tank too.

I am in a silly mood today the sun is shining I am in reasonably good health so am sending smiles and good wishes to you all.

A few regrets in my life one is that I never really learned a skill I could still be earning lots of money with but hey Tesco took my £2 coupons last week so grateful for small mercies.;)

Have a great day everyone and do excuse me please. Need to have silly days sometimes anyone else??

Sarahsaver · 4 April 2005 at 11:23AM

I would get myself a squirrel trap - £18 from ebay, and a pair of chickens so I don't need to buy eggs anymore:)

Lillibet_2 · 4 April 2005 at 11:44AM

I'm working towards rewarding myself with ..........giving up work once Spud arrives. At the mo every penny really does count as we know my hubbys salary is £250 a month to low for us to live on so the more we can save now the longer I can stay off work, I'm aiming for 3 years but this is looking increasingley unlikely.

Sarahsaver · 4 April 2005 at 11:46AM

Good luck lillibet. Sometimes not having a job can save you money. I am sending you a pm.;)

moggins · 4 April 2005 at 11:53AM

Good luck from me too, apart from a short stint at Wilko's last christmas I have managed to stay at home with the kids since the little one was born nearly 4 years ago.

Perhaps this could be an option for you too? Just take on a seasonal job when you require extra money? To be honest I thought I was going to have to go back to work this year but we're saving so much money thanks to this site that it looks like I am worth more by staying at home?

Will the CTC not cover what you are losing or at least make up a good part of it? You do get a higher amount for a baby under 12 months.

Lillibet_2 · 4 April 2005 at 1:45PM

Thanks to Sarahsaver & Moggins for your words of encouragement, I am living in hope but don't want to be unrealistic. It is likely I will take seasonal work over Xmas if I can find it, Hubby works seasonal shifts so it won't be an option in the summer months but when he is on 9.30-4.30 in the winter quarter (lucky him!) I hope to capatilize on his hours! Can't do it this Xmas as I will still be on statutary maternity pay so can't work but next year I will be looking. I am also thinking of doing something like ironing from home if I can find a market for it, all a bit up in the air at the mo but just looking forward to being a mum in a few months time for now.

moggins · 4 April 2005 at 1:53PM

The trouble is you can't do any serious budgeting until the baby is here and you know exactly what you will be getting with regards to Child Tax credit and child benefit, once you are in possession of those figures then you will know exactly what the shortfall is.

From there you will be able to work out what cuts you could possibly make, how many hours you might need to work and all that stuff.

We worked out that with the cost of childcare we would only be about £60 a month better off if I went back to work, so I didn't bother. It was worth more than £60 to us for me to be home. Although after the kids being on holiday for two weeks sometimes I wish I was at work

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Rewarding Ourselves

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