Saving up for BIG holiday. Your tips please on steady saving ideas

kr15snw

Ill be interested in this as me and OH are about to start saving for our honeymoon (think it will be early 2011) and we have about 8k to save!!!

rocketdog_2

You're going to have a fab time!

When we need to save a lot in a fix amount of time we work out how much we need each month and set up a direct debit to a regular saving account (better interest) to take out the amount on the day one of us is paid. Then we know how much we have left to spend. If we have any extra cash - like overtime etc, then that goes in at the point of being paid too. That way you don't miss it. You'd be suprised how much you can save in a short space of time!

mountainlioness

Hi there - we saved for a safari before starting a family so I know where you are (we also like nice stuff!)

I personally find targeted saving easier with a separate pot of money that I can watch grow - so maybe set up a separate e-savings type account that you can easily transfer money into and check progress.

We had a weekly budget for food - anything under that got transfered either into the piggy bank (if you pay cash) or the e-savings (if you pay by card) You can still eat well on a budget if you meal plan. We're dedicated Waitrose shoppers but with meal planning we don't end up spending any more than we did in Sainsburys. Going on a Friday evening when they are pretty generous with the discounts means you can definitely get in under your budget regularly (meat and fish are where the main savings are) You can still use budget cookery books while using quality ingredients for a good compromise.

Anything you make on amazon, ebay etc goes straight in too.

We also had a standing order on payday into the account - an obvious one but definitely worth doing - think of it as an expense rather than a saving i.e. essential outlay. Working backwards from the total amount needed will give you a rough monthly amount you need to aim for.

HTH will add anything more if it occurs to me

meeps

enter competitions? eg the itv ones - winning 3k would be a big chunk!

gabyjane

Hi how exciting sounds fab!! We have just booked to go on a cruise in jan 2010 and i cannot wait, that was about £3.5k after bits and bobs and spending money will be about £5k in total i reckon... our most expensive holiday yet but a long one for a while as dd at secondary soon..
We worked out how much we needed each month and put that into a savings account and then any spare goes into another.
It will be fab and will come round quicker than you think..ours seems to get nearer and nearer very quickly!

gabyjane

Meant to say we also have a copper jar which has 1,2,5,p's in mainly but i have started adding all loose change..when we are about 2 weeks before leaving i put it into one of those money machines that counts it all for you..last tme we had a lot so it all adds up..paid for the petrol etc if nothing else!

Lois_and_CK

Fabulous; lucky you I'm not jealous either, honest.

My tips:

Meal plan and bulk cook.

Drop a brand in the supermarket.

Save gas and electric by 'going romantic' :smileyhea This is what CK and I call being mean with the utilities : watch telly in the dark with just candles for lighting, and cuddle up on the sofa under a pile of blankets and hot water bottles.

Dry washing outside instead of tumble drying.

Keep a spending diary and cut back on non-essentials.

Read newspapers online instead of buying them.

Borrow books from the library instead of buying them.

Use the internet for free at the library instead of paying an internet service provider.

Create 'takeaway nights' at home instead of paying for them. For example, we have Italian night and buy supermarket garlic bread, pizza, home-made cacciatore, etc. Or we have 'carpet picnics' instead of meals out.

Use Tesco clubcard points for restaurant vouchers instead of paying full price for a meal out.

Use Orange Wednesday for cinema trips.

Sell anything you can get your hands on around the house on ebay or at car boot sales.

Give up the gym (if you go to one) and exercise by running, walking, rollerblading etc instead.

Maybe post up your SOA in this thread so we can help you cut back on other areas?

lostinrates

As well as £2 try saving 20pence pieces. I've been round the world on mine.

robbiecaratiger

Good on you "Easy" - I can easily remember all my best holidays.

Bahamas

New York Honeymoon- Stayed at "The Plaza" - absolutely worth every penny.

Looking to save extra pennies? How about looking at the weekly/monthly shopping bill? We've made huge savings in this area recently (and I'm not talking about buying "Basics" range etc either.

belfastgirl23

Could I suggest you join the grocery challenge - you'll find it at the top of the old style board. You set yourself a monthly target spending for groceries. I brought our bill down by about half (we also like the finer things in life!) but by going down a few brands and thinking before buying luxuries we saved a lot without it costing us.