My savings journey

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello everyone,

Hmmmm this weekend has been half good, half bad. Depends on which way it is viewed! Let me make more sense!

Going on a team building "outward bounds" week with work very soon and we have been told we need some waterproofs. Went to TK Maxx and only managed to get a jacket. Not bad, it was nice and only cost £16.99. Then went to NEXT. Hubby had a gift card to spend, so he got his bits. I found a nice leather belt for £5 (should have been £12 for me), a wallet and socks suitable as a gift for sister christmas pressie (£10). Am only left with £40 until next month. oooops!!

fairtrade

clarissa62 wrote: »

this weekend has been half good, half bad.

Concentrate on the good:A

Okay - not much money available for the month.
I suppose this will focus you more on maximising your spending so you are able to get the best value for money. Sounds like packed lunches and home made food for the month.
TOP TIP - do not go to the supermarket when you are hungry, things will have a habit of getting into your trolley, make a list and stick to it.

EC12345

Hello everyone ... was on holiday last week so thought I would catch up with your posts. Well done on the saving everyone.

Fairtrade - I got your PM - HAHAHA.... the shower is installed and, fingers crossed, is working fine... didn't actually cost that much to have fitted (£200 for the shower and £120 to have fitted!!).... could have been worse I suppose ...

:j

shopgirl6035

MaryMurphy, I hope all went well with the party, and you werent too out of pocket, such a sweet thing to do for your brother, hopefully karma comes back to you 10 fold over, or you win the lotto! hehe. Let us know how it went and hopefully you werent too stressed and friends chipped in and helped out.

Fairtrade, you naughty girl hehehe Although sound so much like me, go to the shops and purchase a few things.

I opened my savings tins, I had 2x, and counted out the money in it, came to $598, and I have it at work today to deposit into my savings account. My aims are slowly becoming a reality with a seperate bank and account for my savings where I can not easily touch.

My plan for the week.... As I need as much help as I can.

Mon - Deposit Money Tins into Bank Account. $8 to play netty, brought my lunch
Tues - Stay home clean house.
Wed - Netty Training all night so can not be tempted into spending $$$
Thurs - Parents over for dinner
Fri - Partners Parents dinner
Sat - Wedding.

I think I may be able to have a No Spend Week, I actually need 2x of them.... Fingers crossed.

Also, I have applied for a new job and should hear back this week, with Flight Centre, so if that goes through I will need to re-work my budget as on a training wage will be much less than I currently am on.


I look forward to hearing back about how you went on the weekend.... Any splurges?
Any tips for me to help me get through the week? How long has it taken you all to get on the right track and curb that splurge spending? I need all the help I can get. Ways to keep busy without popping to the shop...

Ps. Iam aiming to put a few things, clothes and shoes that i havent worn in ages on Ebay and selling them. My aim is to make enough money to pay for spending on my Bali holiday.... a little help from tax cheque also hehehe.

Wish me luck for the week babes
EGC
x

MaryMurphy

Party went well, two friends of mine helped out and it was kind of a joint effort in getting the food out etc. Didn't actually spend that much in the end, so I'm happy about that.

Hi EC12345, welcome back hope you had a good time away (and that shower works well!)

@clarissa62, whilst I have around £130 left in my account I am trying to spend no more than £20 per week so we're kind of on the same boat!

I'm finding I am running of steam now that the party is over (it was really draining in terms of planning and organising over the last week) so I think it'll be harder for me now to stick to my budget. I'll definitely stick at it though, unless something drastic happens or there's an emergency.

Hi shopgirl6035, welcome to MSE, & good look with your non-spending week! Hope the dinners at the end of the week go well.

The good news now is that the party is over, so I have a holiday to look forward to. Stress levels will definitely not be as bad as they were for this party.

I must go into the bank tomorrow as our joint savings account isn't showing on my online banking yet, which presumeably means it's not active. We haven't received the card for it yet but surely the account itself will open a few days beforehand. I want to have a virtual pot challenge from the joint account into the joint savings account so I'm eager to get it activated.

MMx

Vaila

hi, not sure if this is the right place to post, but here goes. im 18, and recently banks been asking me to get a savings account with them , anyone got any advice

Reaper

Start my reading Martin's article. Hover over the "Banking/Savings" tab above and select "Top Savings Accounts"

MaryMurphy

Both yesterday and today have been NSP which is good. Tempted to get something from the vending machine in work though, hopefully I'll resist! Didn't bring anything sweet with me today so I'm the cravings are starting to kick in.

Two friends were talking about going out a weekend before I go away on my holiday as we haven't been out in ages. I'd really love to and thankfully they are both quite broke this month (they have both just graduated from uni and currently stuck in a part-time job as can't find anything at the moment) so we can all have a cheap and cheerful night in or out.

I tend to spend an average of £30 if we go out to a club, or a tenner if we're sitting in. Either way I can manage, though it'll mean my weekly budget is thrown out the window.

Whilst I am using the £20 thing to keep me on track, I'll definitely not use it to stop me from doing stuff that I want to do, such as going out with friends - I should point out I rarely go out/cinema/anything that involves paying into a place, or spending money on food or drink, so I see nothing wrong with going a bit overboard once in a while.

I am fortunate that I never got into any debt (apart from my student loan and current mortgage) so I can affort to relax once in a while. The strain of debt can really be soul-destroying, I've seen it with more than one friend.

Plus, I've already exceed this month's target, and to tell you truth I really didn't think I'd be able to do it, but thanks to this site and support here I was able to keep focused

Now with just under two weeks to go before payday I am both relieved and grateful I put all my savings money away at the beginning of the month, as I'll not feel guilty now if I do go out. I'll probably try to do this every month, rather than wait until the end of the month to see what's left (which was usually not much!)

OK I'll stop rambling now

MMx

EC12345

Hi MM

Hope your day is going well. I get paid at the end of the week so hopefully will be putting a big chunk of my salary away this month. I know exactly what you mean about having treats, going out etc whilst you are trying to save. I have some beauty treatments booked for this weekend as a treat to myself. It's only a back massage for 60 minutes and body scrub for 60 minutes but it will still be fab.

How much are you planning to save this month?

EC x

Vaila

EC12345 wrote: »

Hi MM

I get paid at the end of the week so It's only a back massage for 60 minutes and body scrub for 60 minutes but it will still be fab.



EC x

clarins at john lewis give you points every time you have a massage or treatment that can be put towards more, mum uses it regulary and ive had a few, soo relaxing

not sure how this thread works, ie do you put your savings target and how its going etc,