Ruby's "Stop Spending, Start Saving" Diary

ruby_eskimo

Well it's almost been a month into the year and things are going pretty well! Over half of the month has been a NSD and the using up toiletries front has yielded £56 (£2 for each item used up)! And there is plenty more where that came from! The car fund is looking very healthy but I just can't seem to find anything I like at the moment! Almost ready to take my driving test so better hurry up and find something!

I decided with Le fianc! that we wouldn't go on holiday this year because we need to save for a house and wedding but I really think I'll need at least a weekend away to cope with all the stress of finishing my masters among other things! Been looking around and found a really good deal for 3 nights in Berlin for £300 for both of us! It would mean flying out the day after I hand in my dissertation. With the bits I have collected from the VSP and the money from using up my toiletries I'm almost there really to pay for it. But I'm not sure? I thought I might book it and then tell Le Fianc! that it's his birthday present (he's always wanted to go to Berlin) but again not sure what he would say? I just think I'd really need a holiday.

InaPickle

That sounds like a really good idea, Ruby: it's the break you need, will give you one hell of an incentive to get that dissertation done and dusted, and will be LF's hirthday present to boot. I know you feel that the money needs to go elsewhere, but it's cheaper and shorter than a 'proper' holiday, and if it lets you come back with a new perspective on things and gives you a mental fresh start to your post-Masters life and moneysaving, I think it could be just what the [STRIKE]doctor[/STRIKE] lady working in PSYCHOLOGY ordered!

ruby_eskimo

Thank you Miss Pickle! I have broached the idea with himself and he is up for going away for the weekend. Haven't told him where but he said he wouldn't mind the treat hehe. Going to see if he can get the annual leave sorted tomorrow and see what happens.

Have decided what car I want now, a Fiat Panda! Small, cheap to run and economical! Insurance isn't too bad either £1200 compared to the £1800 i was looking at for a VW Polo! Found one online for £2500 and I'm itching to go buy it! Will have to wait till I've actually taken my test. Not long to go now!

InaPickle

Wow - your plans are really coming together! :T

ruby_eskimo

Well hello there! Today is my birthday (not that I'm showing off or anything!)! What have I been up to then? Nothing much!

I've actually spent the whole weekend looking at cars. Basically I need a bit more practice and it's really important that I pass my test as soon as possible (I'm now relying on my dad to take me to work!) So I found a Panda online that looked pretty good but when I actually went to see it, well I wasn't impressed. Took a trip to my local Carcraft to have a look at as many cars as possible (would never buy a car from them though!). Turns out I really still like the VW Polo. And I'm going to look at one on Friday in London...

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

InaPickle

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

Well hello there! Today is my birthday (not that I'm showing off or anything!)! What have I been up to then? Nothing much!

I've actually spent the whole weekend looking at cars. Basically I need a bit more practice and it's really important that I pass my test as soon as possible (I'm now relying on my dad to take me to work!) So I found a Panda online that looked pretty good but when I actually went to see it, well I wasn't impressed. Took a trip to my local Carcraft to have a look at as many cars as possible (would never buy a car from them though!). Turns out I really still like the VW Polo. And I'm going to look at one on Friday in London...

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

:bdaycake: Happy birthday, Ruby! :bdaycake:

Your savings totals are coming along splendidly - well done. :T

I hope you get a car you really like, and one that is in good working order (most importantly).

Have a lovely rest-of-birthday and take care. xxx

ruby_eskimo

Thank you Miss Pickle!

Have just returned from a very drunken night out with friends to celebrate the engagement, it's only taken 4 months to organise! Feeling quite good, apart from my tummy is flipping a bit but that is probably due to the 3 coffees and mcdonalds breakfast swimming around in there!

On the money front you may notice I no longer have a car fund. That's because on Friday I bought a car! It's a gorgeous VW Polo, 1.2 E and I couldn't be happier. Get to pick it up next Friday and I've already been out getting little bits a pieces like emergency kit, L plates (because I have yet to pass my test) and a cute Yankee Candles Air Freshener! I had budgeted £4,000 for the car and then £1,000 for insurance and tax but things kind of went out the window with this one! I ended up paying £4,810 for the car and a 1 year extensive warranty, but it's worth it because the car is in such good condition and for a 5 1/2 year old car, it's only done 17,000 miles around London. Checked it out with AA HPI check and it's all ok. The dealer is small but really nice and couldn't do enough to answer any questions for me or my dad and even gave us a lift to the nearest tube station on the 2 occasions we visited last week! I'm so excited about it and really think it will help me pass my test quicker. As for the insurance thing, my dad's is due for renewel so we are getting the Admiral multi car discount policy between us. He is paying my share for me and when I get paid next wednesday I can pay him back rather than save anything next month. It's taxed till October and MOT'd till December so I don't have to worry about those till later in the year!

Sorry I'm just so excited!

So now the focus is on House and Wedding fund! £20,000 is doable, right?

InaPickle

Well done, Ruby! :T

I'm delighted for you. Your car sounds great!

I think that £20,000 if totally doable for you as you are really good - and let's face it, you've got some really great goals to save for!

Now go and drink some water before you develop a hangover.

ruby_eskimo

Well hi everyone! So I have fallen off the waggon a little bit recently! It's amazing what happens when you don't have the forum to motivate you! When I say fallen off the waggon, I haven't racked up debt or anything, I've just spent a lot of my money the past couple of months rather than saving. But now I am on it! It's all about saving with me now. I even bought a savings diary from paperchase because there are so many things I want to save for but i was losing track with my spreadsheet!

InaPickle

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

I even bought a savings diary from paperchase because there are so many things I want to save for but i was losing track with my spreadsheet!

Well, if it helps you save in the long term. :rotfl:

To be fair, you've been really disciplined for a logn time now, so perhaps having a bit of a spend will encourage you to be frugal again.

*Nosies* Did you get anything nice? *Subtracts nose from Ruby's business*