November '06 PMS Challenge

cashsaver

EagerLearner wrote:

Welcome cashsaver - I tend to transfer my PIN money into savings as soon as it happens - then I know it's done. Mostly I do it with our shopping - if I come in under budget per week, or if at the end of the month there is any money left (ha ha ha)...

Thanks for that Eagerlearner... I'm gonna go check out your free saving pot website you mention on your sig.:T

Claire

Queenie

cashsaver wrote:

... Do you save your PM in a jar??? ... Claire

:hello: Welcome Claire

It's down to what works for the individual - some are more inspired by seeing the actual amount build up in a jar, others physically transfer the money to a savings account, others will use an envelope system. It's all personal preference

Not all of my PMS savings are in "actual" cash, sometimes it's a case of making a "virtual" saving where, I've still saved in terms of a great deal, but haven't saved any hard cash by it. For example, last month I received a free phone which was *worth* £200 - however, I didn't have that amount of money to spend on it in the first place, but, it's still an item of that value and I "earned" it by discussing deals - which in the longer term netted me a cash saving I can't ignore it, can't put that money in a pot/savings account, but I still record it as a "virtual" saving.

mrsmortenharket - I know I answered you in another thread, but for those who don't read that one and do read this one ... the answer is 'yes' I have a budget for 'seasonal' items (well, by that I mean I have a seperate budget for clothing and a seperate budget for Christmas/gifts) so somewhere along the line, it is still a saving. :T

jaybee, scuzz, savingpennies, thunder_fairie, very well done :T :T

EagerLearner - no wrapped knuckles ( ) but a well done on the Grocery Challenge savings :T :T :T

I've falling off the tracking wagon so I really need to put EL's program to better use! It's all time, time, time and I seem to be running behind on certain things these days :rolleyes: I'm finding all your successes very motivating, so thank you

EagerLearner

My spreadsheet is feeling loved and used by all!

Since I started using it I have opened 4 savings accounts with First Direct, not for their cr*p rate, but for the practicality. I now have a 'Lunches & Dinners Out' fund, a 'Shoes & Clothes' Fund, a 'DVD CD & Entertainment' Fund and might open 1 more. Then each time I spend on a clothing item, I will transfer that amount out of the Clothes Fund into my bank account. It's been in practice 4 days!

Shopping in week 1 is going badly, must tighten belt for rest of month... hopefully there's PIN money to be had this month!

cha97michelle

so far a quiet month for me on the spending as i adapt to being at home on maternity leave.

PMS is at £10.20. This is from MILcoming to stay and her insisting on buying me nappies and baby wipes, and paying car parking while at the hospital. She also bought lots of other things, but i don't know what she spent so i can't count this.

Other than this, i'm trying to be really frugal and not spend, so we'll see how the rest of the month pans out.

Michelle

magni

I'm joining in again. I love this challenge:T

JAMIEDODGER

im gonna try and give this a go again this month....now where did i put that jar?

scuzz

Another tenner in my pot so far this month:T . Got lots of vouchers to use up too with Chrimbo coming. Got another Boots one - this will be virtual, as I wouldn't normally shop in Boots, unless I had a voucher, and the voucher comes courtesy of pigsback

kiwi88_2

Can I join Please? This is my first attempt so I'm not sure how it will work for me and I'm not good at spreadsheets even though I download them :rotfl:

I started doing the grocery challenge in Sept when I found this fantastic site :T We used to spend £510 a month :eek: So far I have saved us (I think) £346.05 in 2 months but we had to repair our fridge/freezer which cost £90 so actual savings £256.05 :beer: We have a one account so the savings stay in it. Also been using a lot of tesco codes to add extra points therefore earning more vouchers so they totaled £47 this month. Have also added soda crystals to my bio wash powder which extends it's life and also chopped my dishwasher tablets in half so I think I worked out that would save us £25 a year so £2 a month.

We do buy a lot of BOGOF's in fact we shop specifically for them so I'm not sure if I add those to my pin money or not? I have also got £40 in piggy vouchers as well since Sept so would those go on my total? I have started the £2 coin collecting and have £16 does that count as well? I have also redeemed lightspeed points for £15 voucher do I use that as well?

Sorry this is so long and for all the questions but it would be great to show dh what savings "we" have made and maybe get him properly on the bandwagon as well :rotfl:

jaybee

Hi kiwi88

Welcome to the joys of the PMS challengs!

I think that when you start to look at where you are saving money then that is the first pointer. In a previous non OS/PMS life I used to use vouchers etc but never really made a note of my 'savings' - virtual or otherwise, Somehow it is extremely gratifying to add it all up so that you can really see where the savings are - even if you don't actually have the cash in your pocket.

It's really working well for me - I'm sure it will for you as well. Good luck.

Queenie

kiwi88 wrote:

....
We do buy a lot of BOGOF's in fact we shop specifically for them so I'm not sure if I add those to my pin money or not? I have also got £40 in piggy vouchers as well since Sept so would those go on my total? I have started the £2 coin collecting and have £16 does that count as well? I have also redeemed lightspeed points for £15 voucher do I use that as well? ...

:hello: Welcome kiwi88

Piggy vouchers = yes
£2 coins = yes
Lightspeed vouchers = yes
BOGOF's = yes, but, depending on how you do your budget and your allowance for grocery spending you could count it as 'actual' savings or simply as a 'virtual' saving. Hopefully, a re-read of the outline post will help you make a final decision on that

Welcome back JD and magni

Michelle - :T Gotta lurve MIL

EagerLearner - don't forget FD are going to be charging from Feb 07, read Martin's article on it and make sure you're secure

WTG scuzz :T :T

Haven't totted up my sums yet for this month, but by far the biggest contribution to my PSM was a payment from Mr T's to compensate me for a computer mix up which resulted in order/delivery chaos. £100 in cash + tesco points to the value of £40 :j :j :j One happy camper here

Other bits and bobs too, but those I have yet to sort out. Change in computer means I'm redoing my spreadsheets/budgets and it's time consuming at a point where my time is already heavily consumed on other matters :laugh:

I'll be posting the December PMS in about a week's time (usually on or around the 25th month).

Keep up the good work :T :T :T