The hilariously over-optimistic goals I am setting myself in 2010....

juicyjackieb

I've rejigged some pennies and have £10 in my savings pot... £590 to go ha ha. You have to start somewhere, right?

dalleDF

Ok, as promised, here are my goals for this year. Hopefully I will be able to revisit in 2016 and say I have made some real progress.

GOALS 2015

No booze
Debt free!
Emergency fund (3 months salary)
Save 15% of salary in to pension scheme
Start saving for house deposit
Strict paleo diet
Regular training
Regular running

If anyone's reading, would love to hear your goals for the year, financial or otherwise!

dalleDF

Today's action taken towards being debt free and/or Moneysaving:

Did Billmonitor to check what mobile tariff is best for me when my contract runs out. Feels like I've been paying for my iPhone forever, can't wait to switch to a SIM only deal which will save me £21 a month.

Increased my direct debit to my Lloyds card. Once my payments go out at the end of Jan I will only have £300 of 0% debt left to clear.

Relisted a couple of bits on eBay. No clutter remains untouched in this house for long!

Got cash bags from the bank so I can pay in all my coppers.

Am trying to eat out of the freezer instead of doing another food shop. Meals will soon be getting weird - green beans, chicken stock and grated cheese anyone?

dalleDF

Have been very good at taking breakfasts and lunches to work this week, and not buying wine on the way home is saving me a fortune. Tomorrow I will have been sober for three weeks yay!

Did a couple of iPoll surveys today, just have to make another couple of quid before I can cash out at £33.

Less than a week till payday. January feels mega long this year! At least I've got some treats to look forward to in Feb - lovely boyfriend has booked a couple of lunches at very nice restaurants, and theatre tickets which were my Xmas present.

Took a meter reading last week and now it seems I am £32 in credit for my gas bill, so that's good. The flat is freezing so we have had the heating on more than I would normally (the rule is, wear everything you own before the heating goes on!).

Had a think today about the longer term goal of saving for a deposit. Saw an article on the Guardian which said first time buyers now need to save for a decade to get enough to put down for a mortgage. *Sigh* Gonna keep playing those scratchies.

dalleDF

Some cash I had been waiting for for a little job landed in my account today, which is good, but another cheque for £100 I paid in from a reputable company has bounced! Now I have to email them to find out why the cheque has been stopped. How awkward!

I took breakfast and lunch in to work, the only money I spent was a couple of bits in the corner shop on the way back. The weird food / eat everything in the fridge and freezer challenge has become hilarious - boyfriend has made cauliflower and elk curry (don't ask!).

Today is 3 weeks of no drinking, v moneysaving. I might start posting on the giving up alcohol thread for continued inspiration.

Boring Friday night in tonight. Oh when oh when will it be payday?? I feel like this month will never end.

juicyjackieb

Mm mmmmm elk sounds good. Just pretend you're in a pretentious hipster restaurant and imagine you're paying £18 a plate for it.

My ex used to say I cooked wacky dinners, he just hadno concept of how poor we were; many tuna pasta bakes with sides of spinach or baked beans were "enjoyed".... Good times

dalleDF

Ooh Jackie your savings pot's getting bigger!!

juicyjackieb

Yesssss!!! I started a savings diary too! I decided to pour anything left over from my weekly wages into my savings pot on top of all my other plans to try and get my £600 target reached, maybe before the end date of the year which would be great!

You have very much inspired me, started having thoughts of being debt free by 40!

dalleDF

Debt free by 40 sounds like an excellent goal!

dalleDF

Had quite a spendy day today unfortunately. I needed a new pair of work trousers and a pair of smart shoes, and my trainers have got holes in, so I did a bit of online shopping. The good news is I managed to find the trainers I wanted in the sale, so they cost £30 instead of £50. I ordered the other stuff via Quidco for my cashback, and got a 15% off voucher by signing up to their newsletter. I might end up retuning the shoes if I decide it was too much spending after all. I got my winter boots reheeled a couple of months ago so at least they have lasted another season, saving me a few bob.

I will continue trying to stick to a one in, one out rule when it comes to clothes, shoes and toiletries in order to save both money and space.

Went for a lovely posh lunch today with boyfriend which was his Xmas present to me, so no spending on my part for that at least! Tomorrow might be a bit spendy as we are going to the cinema I think, must try to find a deal somewhere. Think he has an independent cinema in mind though so not sure how successful I will be.

Hope everyone is having a relaxing and peaceful weekend.