Saving to move out - my savings diary

Hi everyone! I've read a lot of savings diaries over the last week or so and it's really made me want to write my own... so here I am! :j

I'm 25 and I live with my grandparents but I've been here for five years and I'd really like to live on my own now. They are lovely people and played a big part in my upbringing but they're smokers and I'm asthmatic so when I'm in the house I'm confined to my room, plus I love to cook and would appreciate my own space to do it in.

I've been working for almost a year now, and I would've been working after I graduated in 2008 but a long spell of weight-related ill health, depression and then training to work as an accounting technician (which I LOVED) have set me back considerably. I'm on an entry-level salary at the moment and have yet to make any student loan repayments as I'm right on the threshold level for repayments (£15k), but this is expected to change in April when my manager leaves and I get promoted. It's a nice feeling to actually have some money for a change rather than constantly worry about where my future is heading and I can actually start living!

Monthly income is around £1,050 and I don't have many outgoings;

Rent - £200
Bus - £48
Internet - £20
Mobile - £15
Magazines - some are quarterly but average at £10 p/m
Weight Watchers pass - £21 (this will stop when I get to goal)
Clothes - variable due to constant weight loss
Food - variable, I cook my own meals and it's a combination of my nan shopping or me shopping. I cook from scratch and favour batch cooking when I cook for myself but I pay for my own snacks and take my own lunch to work
Music lessons - variable but average at £25 p/m, will go up once I prepare for my first exam
Etc - Books I usually buy secondhand or borrow from the library, I don't go out much (I have a very quiet social life due to shyness and studying to become chartered), but I do buy the odd treat (using vouchers where possible)

I also have a standing order to send £50 to my Post Office eSaver on payday every month, and I have just transferred my M&S ISA to the Post Office ahead of the rate drop in December.

Finally I have a Natwest 0% credit card which I use for course related fees (which are then repaid by the company) and any other big expenses. There is currently £950 on it and I have £750 in another savings account (Virgin Money) that I use just for the CC. It would usually match but I just paid for theatre tickets (the Lion King) for next year. Whenever I spend on the CC I put the amount I've 'spent' into the savings account. I'll account for the tickets over the next two paydays but I'm not too worried at the moment (my sisters will eventually pay me back!).

I've been looking at flat/apartment prices in Birmingham and I've seen a few I like at around the £100-120k mark just to give me a guide. I'd like to aim for a 10-15% deposit initially and then an amount for related fees, so I'm putting money into my ISA when I can (around £400 to £500 depending on what's going out that month). I currently have £3,700-ish in there and £340 in my Post Office eSaver (trying not to touch it as I plan on having a cheapy Christmas, already made my intentions clear to family!).

So that's a bit about my situation! Hopefully this will keep me on track for my dream of moving out and finally becoming an independent lady. (It helps that I love budgeting, I study it!)


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