Savings Log of a 26yr old on low pay

MoneyWaster2007

Hey

Sorry for not posting for a while - I've spent every evening this week painting my new room. I love it, it's much bigger, has a nice brick fireplace, big bay window, nice carpet and nice big curtains. Bought a lampshade today from Argos - £9.99 which I didn't think was too bad. Could possibly have got it cheaper had I shopped around, but I am pleased with it.

Working overtime tomorrow - 8 till 12, so that will be good when my December pay packet rolls in. Will get approximately £100 extra in my next wage on Thurday due to the overtime worked last month - will use that to buy Christmas presents...anyone got any good ideas of gifts to buy??

This weekend...hmmm....not got a great deal planned once again

I only have £176 to last me untill Thurday next week and need to save as much as possible to fund a few car repairs that need doing. Hence the quiet weekend. Will be listening to the Norwich vs Leeds game tomorrow afternoon - come on Leeds!!! Other than that it will be a probably be a mix of TV/internet/Xbox to pass the hours...might try to learn a bit of cooking aswell, hmm.....

This week when I was decorating my Mum came round a couple of days whilst I was at work to help speed things along which I was really chuffed about, so today I went to Morrissons to get her a few things as a thankyou. Got her 2 x Gin & Tonics in a can, a bottle of Radox bath soak and 2 x flake trifle things (only cost 99p). So she was pleased with the gifts, which I was chuffed about.

It's freezing tonight, brrrrrrr

ampersand

You're right - it's freezing and forecast is for 'much colder' country-wide for the coming week.
Why not hunt at carboots/Christmas Fairs/charity shops for lampshades etc, mw? Much more fun, less expense and more interesting, too. Carboots and Fairs are usually on Sundays, so check your local paper's listings online, to see what's on where.

I love the sound of your room and demand your bay window pour moi-même, de suite!

£176 to last you until next Thursday is still rather more than a week's pension for me - how about deciding here and now how much you'll save of that? What are the definite costs to come out of it?

re: presents - you need to give us a list/rundown. Mum? Sister? &&&?
You can keep it special, imaginative and economical. Perhaps buy a special glass for Mum to have her G&T's in, then pop in a miniature and t. La Senza do terrific sassy lingerie/nightwear bargains at this time of year[or gift voucher]- for sis?Mum?
Check out Lush, too - I see you have one in Leeds:
http://www.lush.co.uk/ - wonderful names for fabulous and fun products, lovely staff/girls. They really do seem to employ special people - or so I've found.

What about Hotel Chocolat?
http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/Chocolate-Store-Leeds-Astore_leeds/
Anything from these places will make recipient feel very special and I think you will like learning to go there too.

Is a [fruit/nut/specimen/oak] tree/shrub, growing thing a possibility for anyone? Think outside the box. mw - even if considering 'ordinary' things. That's how Lush and HC presents, even if token buys only, become special.

Look for something that incorporates receipient's name - that's where some plants/growing things can work well -especially rose names, for example.

Have you been to any auctions?

Be assured, the last thing anyone will want is you feeling pressured or going overdrawn in some needless gift frenzy[I know you won't, but want you to feel confident and comfortable in your debt-free state.] Remember you can always make up some Pledges or Promises on card with computer, for the recipients to cash in e.g. baby-sitting hours, gardening, builder's mate etc.etc. - you get the general idea. And do some sillies, too - lots of fun.

Delia's team's my near one and I do feel a proprietorial sort of not v.active interest, so I regret Leeds must be gentlemanly losers tomorrow. This is the one that really matters:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/nov/19/ireland-all-blacks-eoin-reddan

I've had my boys in secret haka training which'll have Ireland stunned before we start tomorrow.

Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!
Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!
Tenei te tangata puhuru huru
Nana nei i tiki mai, Whakawhiti te ra
A upane! ka upane!
A upane! ka upane!
Whiti te ra! Hi!

I die! I die! I live! I live!
I die! I die! I live! I live!
This is the hairy man
Who has caused the sun to shine again
The Sun shines!

Charity showroom all day tomorrow for me and early start, so nye-nyes time.
Thanks for the update - you're still doing remarkably well you know. Keep reminding yourself, 'cos it's true. Also take a peep at this young family in NZ - it may not be for everyone, but I like what they're doing:

http://farmlet.co.nz/
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Quick add-on:
Have you tried things like http://www.tickbox.net/ ?

Friend started this just on 2 years back [and several other survey fill-in sites] - 5 big wins[£500 John Lewis vouchers, laptop computer, £250 M&S vouchers, similar sum at a garden centre; can't remember the others...oh, £300 DIY vouchers]. Why not? It costs you your time, nothing else.

MoneyWaster2007

Hi

A little update for those following this thread...

As you may have noticed from my signature I have now managed to save £172.16 in my ISA and £51.00 in my Car Fund

So, it's not much, but it's going in the right direction again. I am aiming to save approximately £200 from this months wage - got £362.72 to last me until Dec' 24th.

Wont be able to do much this weekend as I have got Iritis! Been given drops for it that make my pupil dilate very big - looks scary. So...today was my first day back at work since I went home ill on Tues' afternoon. And I'm working tomorrow 8-12 (nice bit of overtime @ 1.5 time.)

The drops I have been prescribed cost 21 bloody quid! I blame Cameron the Idiot. Plus as the Doctor told me I couldn't drive, I had to get 2 taxis to the hospital and back - 16 bloody quid altogether, grrrrr!

Rant over.

ampersand - thankyou for yet another useful and kind post p.s. I tried the Tickbox website you suggested and although I haven't won a prize yet I am still trying

ampersand

:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T
:T:T:T:T:T:TI blame Cameron the Idiot.:T:T:T:T:T:T
:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T

mw2655

MoneyWaster2007 wrote: »

Hi


The drops I have been prescribed cost 21 bloody quid! I blame Cameron the Idiot. Plus as the Doctor told me I couldn't drive, I had to get 2 taxis to the hospital and back - 16 bloody quid altogether, grrrrr!

Rant over.

£21 quid, i assume for 3 different drops/prescriptions.....

Good value for iritis/uveitis treatment possibly preventing permanent loss of your vision..:eek:

snowqueen555

It's good you are doing lots of overtime, but don't learn to rely on it, because overtime won't always be there!

I learned my lesson

ampersand

Good monring mw - just sending you best wishes for weekend good times, without pressing the self-destruct button and triggering the low esteem cycle, along with wondering why so much money guzzled gave so little lasting uptime.

What you've got left>Christmas is a very healthy amount.

Don't know if you're worrying over Christmas things for family. but if you have an outlet of The Works, you'll find terrific things for well under £5. They're doing, in smart sealed packing, large pictorial Calendar+A5 hardback diary sets, 3 for £5 - wonderful wide range of choices, excellent quality - fairies, Ert!, art nouveau, flowers, dogs, kittens, Ireland, steam trains, chocolate lover, sweet lover, As We Used To Be, fantasy, dolphins, beautiful Britain, cottage garden, vintage cars - those are just the ones I remember. May sems ordinary, but I've found myself without before - - annoying.
There were loads of good dvd's too - I spotted sth I bought at great cost last year - Oz and James' great Wine Adventure, both series[pure joy] - for £4.99.

And this post caught my eye yesterday, for sth off field:

09-12-2010, 8:24 PM #1 Jodie+Matt

MoneySaving Convert

Join Date: Nov 2010

Post Count: 56

Thanked 116 Times in 23 Posts

IWOOT sale, code GLITCH!

The £8.50 off £10 code is working on items that were over £10, but now reduced to less, just added something for £6.99 (was over £10) to basket and entered the code and the new total was £0.00 still have to pay postage though which is £3.95

code here...

http://www.hotukdeals.com/vouchers/8...ofthose/811197

##############

Anyway, you'll be heading to work in a hour or so, so good luck and hope your eyes settle. Had same effect a couple of years back with laser surgery - the drops DO do scary things.
You can google for other survey sites too - even if you do one a day, it's cheaper than buying a lottery ticket - and would you really spend £7[or more] a week like that?
Enjoy the weekend, even the work bit, knowing that no-one would be paying you for being at home between 8 and 12.
###############
Seems a bit like puffing self up - but posted this as I thought it v.g. - price glitsches at Past Times if you have one near you:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2915756

MoneyWaster2007

mw2655 wrote: »

£21 quid, i assume for 3 different drops/prescriptions.....

Good value for iritis/uveitis treatment possibly preventing permanent loss of your vision..:eek:

Good point mw2655, I thought they might have lumped the 3 different drops into 1 cost ie. £7.00 as it was all on the same prescription (wishful thinking.)

snowqueen555 wrote: »

It's good you are doing lots of overtime, but don't learn to rely on it, because overtime won't always be there!

I learned my lesson

Very true snowqueen555. There has been a lot of overtime on offer since I have worked where I do, but I guess you never know when it will dry up. At the moment we are behind plan - and have been for months- hence the overtime to catch up. Every little helps

ampersand wrote: »

What you've got left>Christmas is a very healthy amount.

Don't know if you're worrying over Christmas things for family. but if you have an outlet of The Works, you'll find terrific things for well under £5. They're doing, in smart sealed packing, large pictorial Calendar+A5 hardback diary sets, 3 for £5 - wonderful wide range of choices, excellent quality - fairies, Ert!, art nouveau, flowers, dogs, kittens, Ireland, steam trains, chocolate lover, sweet lover, As We Used To Be, fantasy, dolphins, beautiful Britain, cottage garden, vintage cars - those are just the ones I remember. May sems ordinary, but I've found myself without before - - annoying.
There were loads of good dvd's too - I spotted sth I bought at great cost last year - Oz and James' great Wine Adventure, both series[pure joy] - for £4.99.

And this post caught my eye yesterday, for sth off field:

09-12-2010, 8:24 PM #1 Jodie+Matt

MoneySaving Convert

Join Date: Nov 2010

Post Count: 56

Thanked 116 Times in 23 Posts

IWOOT sale, code GLITCH!

The £8.50 off £10 code is working on items that were over £10, but now reduced to less, just added something for £6.99 (was over £10) to basket and entered the code and the new total was £0.00 still have to pay postage though which is £3.95

code here...

http://www.hotukdeals.com/vouchers/8...ofthose/811197

##############

Anyway, you'll be heading to work in a hour or so, so good luck and hope your eyes settle. Had same effect a couple of years back with laser surgery - the drops DO do scary things.
You can google for other survey sites too - even if you do one a day, it's cheaper than buying a lottery ticket - and would you really spend £7[or more] a week like that?
Enjoy the weekend, even the work bit, knowing that no-one would be paying you for being at home between 8 and 12.
###############
Seems a bit like puffing self up - but posted this as I thought it v.g. - price glitsches at Past Times if you have one near you:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2915756

Ampersand - got all my xmas presents bought and wrapped up under the tree, thanks for the ideas though

The eye is starting to look white again (as opposed to red) which is good, although my vision is still blurred.

Going to do a few more surveys on Tickbox and will also have a look at the thread you pointed me towards.

Got my Dad round at the moment, waiting for the Leeds game to start at 3pm - come on Leeds!!!

Then I need to get something for tea, but not liking the idea of going to asda without my car (can't drive with the bad eye) and need to get something for tea

wifefaefife

Hi Moneywaster

I just read all of the post last night and I would just like to say well done and keep trying hard to save.

I was just thinking that you could maybe take up some voluntary work. I would be a way of meeting new people (maybe female ones) and something good to put on your cv. Maybe something at your local hospital?

Hope your eye is better soon

ampersand

Good morning mw - good to see others are finding your thread and being impressed by your attitude and actions.
I looked up your eye problem, having never heard the words before and yes, your prescription is money well-spent. Is there not a 'pay forward' discount scheme in your surgery? Might be worth enquiring.

You and your Dad had cause to celebrate - 3-2? - so that's good.

I'm surprised you don't keep a back-up cache in your food stores, to save you going out. Even without a freezer, you can keep a few slices of bread in the icebox space[frozen bread makes the best toast] and an egg or two/beans/cheese/jacket potato to microwave/tin of tuna/sweetcorn - various combinations of some of these will always give you a lovely warm, tasty meal.

Take real care - no shortcuts - with this eye treatment.

Volunteering is a v.g. idea -well said, wff. You will be a most welcome male and - if serving in a Charity Shop - wil meet female-y peeps all the time.

Hmmm - foggy out this morning and black ice[as i found on my walk to gym].