SF's keeping on the straight and narrow!

slowlyfading

I thought it was about time I started a diary for myself, as the upcoming months are going to be tight money wise, and I need to get more serious about savings at the same time.

A bit about me: I’m 23, currently at university doing a PGCE which finishes in June and I have a job lined up to start in September, which is really good much better than most of my course mates at this stage! My budget, for now, consists of myself during the week and my BF who comes up every weekend

I have a few aims/challenges for myself to complete within the next year or so, which I will outline in the next post

This is mainly so I can keep a daily track on my spending and general financial direction. Feel free to join me!

slowlyfading

AIMS/CHALLENGES.

These are things I wish to achieve by the summer of 2012 hopefully I’ll probably add more to this as time goes on!

BY JUNE – Moving out funds £542.33/£700
House Deposit savings: £8881.76/£15000
[Emergency savings: £3.50/£5000]
Wedding Savings: £2694.78/£5000
Lose 25lbs – 10/25lbs

slowlyfading

SOA:

Bursary - £1000
Other - £200

Total Income: £1200

Outgoings:
Rent & Fees - £708.00
Phone Bill - £25
Contact Lenses - £18
Savings SO - £50
Petrol - £120
Food - £100
Total Outgoings: £1021

A few notes on this – my phone bill is a contract, and is due to run out in September. This is paid every month by DD as are the contact lenses. The savings goes to my ISA (I know this isn’t that much, but better than nothing!) The petrol is an pretty accurate estimate I think – this is due to travelling to my placement school which is a 30 minute drive there and another 30 minute drive back and this isn’t negotiable The food is also about accurate, and I know with some better planning this could be reduced.

hypno06

Hurrah for having a job to go to in September - that is a huge thing not to have to worry about!

I am sure, with a bit of the old DFW focus, you can bump up your surplus quite nicely

slowlyfading

Thanks Hypno!

The main thing for me to focus on at the moment is getting my MOVING OUT budget moving - I've made a good start, but the more I can get, the better. I'm hopefully moving in with the BF and he's saving as well, because the HUGE snag is that I get the last of my bursary at the beginning of June and don't get paid then til the end of Sept :eek:

slowlyfading

Morning!

I'm up bright and early today not planning on doing much - I'm away at the moment so sunbathing on the balcony is how exciting its gonna get today Think I might go shopping later, but we'll see how I feel later on.

Things to do today:
- check banking
- eat lunch at apartment - left over pizza and salad - yum!
- Have a NSD?
- Look whats in the cupboards for tea.
- Sunbathe!
Will pop in later for an update I just saw the SATC 2 trailer - SO excited! It looks amazing!

skaps

Good luck with all your targets. Ive subscribed so will be checking in to see how you are doing.

slowlyfading

Thanks skaps! It's nice to have some support whilst plodding along

skaps

Im a teacher too - remember the days of placements which were the best but so much hard work. Well done on the job.

slowlyfading

skaps, didnt realise you were a teacher! primary or secondary?

Well, I've not done much today which was the plan, but still! Didn't include a nap on the sofa We're going out to a big shopping mall with lots of restaurants for tea - so my NSD may be out of the window - we shall see

maman

Good luck on your course and good luck with your diary.

I don't know about the quality at your school but any chance you could have a cheap school meal and then just a snack at home? It might help cut back on your food spends in the week. It's good your BF is saving, but does he contribute to the food bill? I feel a spending diary coming on and a meal plan. That's a way forward.