The 'Save £12k in 2012' thread!

DorsetGirl_2

Have upped my weekly direct debit from £14 to £24 and my monthly one from £50 to £100

Also, Nationwide have finally found my missing money so £50 safely in my account.

LittlestFlower

Hi everyone. Thanks for all your kind words. There really is a lovely community feeling on this forum :T

This month I've decided to transfer money into my savings account at the beginning of the month so as to help with not being tempted to dip into it. So, £500 has been added to the pot (#129):j

I've decided to set myself a challenge for February. I'm getting my haircut and highlighted in a couple of weeks. I have v wild and crazy hair and discovered a fabulous hairdresser shortly before my 'would-have-been-wedding' who is able to tame it and make me feel like a million dollars. This is quite a big ask since I also have a long lasting (nearly 30-ish years) phobia of hairdressers. There is nothing MSE about this hairdresser but I only go about twice a year and there is so much money-can't-buy self-esteem boosting instead. Bearing in mind I've felt like walking around with a paper bag on my head for months, I need to do this. So, the challenge I have set myself is to try and make the cost of my haircut this month. It will be about......sssshhhhhh....£200. I've had a £5.80 Quidco payment already this month and a £5 Halifax reward so only £189.20 to go! ANyway, I'll see how I get on. It all focuses the mind and any extra money is good.

Off to check out an email I got from Ama*on about trade-ins with £5 extra credit this weekend (anyone know about this?) and also to hunt out some things for Eb*y. I'm new to all that too. ANy other ideas gratefully received :j

Love,

Littlest Flower
xx

DorsetGirl_2

Good luck with your challenge Littlest Flower

Wobblydeb

Oooooooo happy days! I have just realised why I ended up so short at Jan pay day. It was because I have £185 of work expenses due! Doh! *slaps forehead* :rotfl: [Honest, it wasn't the two cashmere cardigans bought in the sales]

Won't get this back until payday, so still got to live off not much until then. £15 in my purse and £12.15 in the bank account to be precise!

This week has gone well. I have walked every day except Thursday, and bought lunch twice. Target next week is walk every day except Thurs again, and make all lunches

I have got quite fond of rice for lunch. It is easy to make a batch at the weekend and re-heat at work. I put in a mix of brown and white rice, a stock cube and any bits of veg. Once it is finished cooking, put it somewhere cool, and stir in some frozen peas to help bring the temperature down quickly (which is important for food hygiene). Add some smoked salmon or ham when a portion is taken for lunch, a bit of creme fraiche and enjoy.

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

WOBBLYDEB that rice sounds lovely, I might do it for my packups at work..

LITTLEST FLOWER dont beat yourself up about spending money on feeling good, we all need a treat and a boost now and then otherwise life wouldnt be worth living! We all have an achilles heel (mine is buying wool as I am a mad knittter!) but I do try and find ways of getting my fix without breaking the bank... Funnily enough one of the girls at work brought me some wool in yesterday that she had left over from knitting a jumper so I got her a box of chocs today when i went shopping. Anyway, it sounds like you have had a lot on lately so you deserve it

We are just looking at our car insurance as its up for renewal shortly, cant believe how the prices have shot up! Quidco is rubbish, no help there, the dearest quote was over £1900! The cheapest one we can find is £335ish, still trying...

sweetpeas_2

Wobbly Deb, I might have a go at that rice aswell, sounds yum.


Littlest flower, as Desperate says, you shouldn't feel guilty for your little treat. I too have very low self esteem and after what you've been through recently I can't see how you need cheering up hun. You get your hair done, you'll feel great

Update - we sold our car this morning, £630 added to our savings account

xx

Wobblydeb

sweetpeas wrote: »

Update - we sold our car this morning, £630 added to our savings account

Brilliant news! :j

sweetpeas_2

Thanks Debs, I was panicking we weren't going to get that much for it, due to the fact my foot slipped off the brake last week and it *ahem* rolled backwards into a lamp post and as the passenger door was open it bent it back a bit in the corner lol. :rotfl: But very pleased with the amount, feel almost quite 'flush' now. Although being car less until we get our new one on 1st March is a bit rubbish lol x

zafiro1984

DorsetGirl wrote: »

I think the last one was a couple of weeks ago so I would expect one in the next fortnight - its usually once a month. They normally send an email out a few days before.

Dorset Girl:- Thanks for that I'll keep my eyes open and in the meantime do the photos and descriptions.

calypso_rhapsody

The rice sounds lovely but i am worried that you are reheating rice at the end of the week that was cooked five days before - you are risking food poisoning! If you go to the NHS website www.nhs.uk and search on reheating rice .... there are some tips there that include cooling rice within one hour of cooking, keeping in fridge and reheating within one day.