Diary of a "Frugal Saver"

Frugal_Saver

Happy New year!

I am having a great start to 2014, I am really enjoying my new job. The office environment is completely different to any other job I've had. I've been finishing at 4pm some days as I've been going in earlier, that's 2 hours earlier than what I've been used to. There is the opportunity to earn overtime which I am taking full advantage of. It's also such a great feeling not being stressed out all the time!

I've been very productive at home as well, after living in this house for 3 years I am finally making use of the third bedroom (besides being a dumping ground) and have turned it into a dressing room for me, last weekend I sorted out all my clothes and toiletries/make up so that I am now making the most of everything I own rather than constantly using/wearing the same things all the time.

Money is still going to be tight this month, OH also started a new job this week but he won't get paid until 7th February and he will paid four weekly which is causing me headaches at the moment trying to work out the best way to manage direct debits etc as my wages this month will not cover the bills let alone money for food. We'll be fine once OH is paid but I don't know how accommodating companies will be with us delaying payment.

Frugal_Saver

I need to get back on track. I've not built up any more debt but I've had to take payment holidays on both my Loan and CC since the beginning of the year and I can't remember the last time I made an overpayment.

We had to borrow money from a family member before OH got paid this month but we paid it back straightaway and we're now organised for next month so we shouldn't need to borrow money again. We're also better off with the car insurance which is £10 a month less due to both of us changing jobs.

I've started doing overtime at work, the best thing is I can do it at home in my own time, we have a laptop to do our work and we can take it home to work on.

I've been off work since yesterday with a cold (fortunately paid leave, tried to go into work yesterday but more or less got sent home as soon as I got in!). I couldn't take any more daytime TV today so I thought I would get organised with the finances before I start burying my head in the sand again.

Using the Balance Transfer Eligibility Checker in the MSE weekly newsletter I successfully applied for a 0% balance transfer. I'm so excited by this, I never thought I would be accepted. I should be able to start making overpayments on my loan.

I'm starting to feel more positive about things again, I will beat this debt!!!

Frugal_Saver

Wow, a lot has happened since my last post. It's time to get stuck back into my diary.

So the main update since my last post is that I've had a baby (unplanned but best thing that ever happened). We've also moved, again unplanned as landlord decided to sell the house just after we found out I was pregnant so that was a bit stressful. We coped really well financially while I was on maternity leave but a combination of ridiculous childcare costs and OH struggling with jobs mean that I'm struggling to find the money to pay the bills every month never mind food, petrol etc.

For reasons I'm not going into just now I'm practically living as a single mum. OH is living away and visits a couple of times a month but we're still together. This was only supposed to be a temporary arrangement (began in June) but I'm finding it really hard now. I have no family close by (closest is a 2 hour car journey) and I work full time so I have little time to do housework and spend time with DD. My family have been really supportive despite being so far away.

Fortunately I really enjoy my job right now (still at the same place but got a promotion after returning from maternity leave). When I'm at work I pretty much switch off from home life and vice versa.

I need to update my signature, I'm certainty not going to be debt free by 30 but I am nearly 1/2 way there which I'm quite pleased with considering I took 9 months off work and the general cost of looking after a small person.

I've already taken lots of steps to save/make money and will post a list tomorrow as I hope it will help to give me something to focus on.

Well this has been quite therapeutic, feel a lot better now.

Frugal_Saver

So I didn't get round to posting on Sunday as OH came down to stay for a few days which has been really nice. He's off again tonight so I can get back into my money saving ways. He has a completely different attitude to money which is the main cause of any arguments we have.

Managed a NSD yesterday, but as OH wasn't keen on my meal planning I had to pick up a few items on my way home Monday and Tuesday. I believe the heating is now off (first thing OH did when he got here on Sunday was to turn the heating on!). I should now have enough food to last a while so hoping for another 2 more NSD between now and the end of the weekend.

Frugal_Saver

In my head I always plan what I'm going to write in my diary but it's just so difficult to find the time to do it. DD is having a nap just now and I'm neglecting housework to have 5 mins to myself.

Had another NSD yesterday, was expecting to spend money on stamps this morning for a couple of cards but managed to find some in a draw so fingers crossed I should make it through the rest of the day without needing to pop to the shops.

Decided to put the heating on this morning just for a couple of hours, I've tried convincing myself it's for the sake of my daughter but actually I was feeling really cold so it needed to be done. Hopefully we can make it through the rest of the weekend without putting it back on.

Took DD to rhyme time this morning so that got us out of the house, it's a 15min walk if she goes in the pushchair, last week it took nearly an hour to get there as she was pushing her little dolls pushchair and was in no rush. I refuse to drive the short journey just out of principle plus I set myself a limit of using the car a maximum of one day at the weekend.

Probably won't even leave the house for the rest of the day now, this will help prevent me spending money unnecessarily.

Tomorrow I need to go clothes shopping for DD, she is growing at an alarming rate. MIL has been very generous and transferred some money so we can buy her clothes. I was going to do this Monday or Tuesday as I was going to take holiday as my childminder is very ill at the moment but my Dad has very kindly offered to look after DD so I don't use up my holiday. So I need to brave the shops on a Sunday which will be fun. Parking is free and I only plan on visiting Primark so if I make a list of what she needs I hope to be in and out as quickly as possible.

I need to sort out a meal plan for the next week this evening, with my dad coming to stay I need to be really organised.

Just waiting on OH transferring money so I can pay nursery fees, we were really late last month and I really don't want to be in the same position this month.

Need to get stuck into online surveys etc again, a few years ago I did quite well with them but I gradually lost interest. I'm really struggling to get back into SB but I think that may be because I'm limited to either my phone or kindle fire.

Frugal_Saver

Here's my motivational list of things I have done/will do to save/make money

- meal plan and stick to it (within reason); I have tried to do this many times with OH but he just won't contribute or stick to it. I don't plan for particular meals for everyday of the week but I make sure I have planned more meals than there are days in the week in case I change my mind or decide to have a lazy day. During the week LO has a main meal at nursery or childminder if she goes so when we get home I just give her toast or crumpets and fruit if she's hungry. I don't usually start preparing my dinner until she's in bed so this is later than I would like but is the only option right now.
- be more organised; this is quite a general statement, as a whole I'm not very organised and in the past this has caused me to nearly miss payment dates or even over pay because I panicked thinking I missed a payment when I hadn't!
- write shopping lists based on meal plan and items we definitely need; I have got much better with this recently I only allow myself one or two extra items otherwise I have to chose items to put back
- remember shopping list; sounds silly but I've forgotten many times, I've tried using my phone but battery life is very poor now
- do online surveys etc; as mentioned earlier today I am struggling with SB but I will keep at it, even if it equates to only a few pennies a day. On a more positive note I was able to cash out £40 on onepoll for the first time last week (I think I've been a member for about 4 years!)
- keep heating off as long as possible; there's no one in the house during the day for most of the week so shouldn't be too difficult at the moment
- always take packed lunch to work; I've been doing this for a long time now and I can't remember the last time I was tempted to be lazy and get something at work but it helps to have this listed so I don't fall off the wagon
- utilise working from home days; I get one WFH day a week, it's not actually that cost effective for me as nursery and childminder are much closer to work than home but I can use my lunch break to prepare dinner which helps me to be more organised
- unsubscribe from emails such as Next, Amazon etc; basically remove temptation
- use up toiletries before buying more; I have a ridiculous amount of moisturisers from gift sets that have not been opened
- have a clear out; decluttering has made me realise how much money I have wasted on things that either don't last or don't get used
- sell unused items; I've done 2 carboots in the last month and made about £40, would have liked to have done more but I need someone to watch DD. I don't have the time or patience for eBay just now and I don't think I have anything of any value to sell
-spend cash rather than card; I can't remember the last time I used my debit card, probably about a month ago which is a long time
- stop spending on CC; only petrol and food goes on this now, each month my outgoings are more than what I have coming in until OH gives me money so I currently have no choice about this. Hopefully our situation will change soon and he will have a steady income which we can rely on
- switch off any appliances which aren't being used; I don't know how much difference this really makes but it makes me feel better now although I should have warned OH!
- don't try and multitask by having the TV on while on my phone, this is a waste of electricity
- spend evenings doing housework not watching tv; this helps me to be organised as well as saving electricity. I don't really get any chance to do housework when LO is about, as I work full time I'm not going to begrudge her this
- make/bake as many meals as possible from scratch. I always try and cook more than I need so there is leftovers for lunch as I'm not a fan of sandwiches.
- only use the car a maximum of one day at the weekend. If I do this I think I can make a full tank of petrol last nearly a month

I will update this list as I think of more things but I don't think it's a bad start

Frugal_Saver

Only just realised my post last week was nearly 4 years to the day since I began this diary. I'm sure if I had kept at it a bit more I would be in a better position right now but never mind.

Yesterday was a very successful NSD, quite pleased with myself as we had time to kill while waiting for the library to open. I did think about popping into a charity shop to see if they had an bargains but then my sensible head kicked in and I told myself I didn't want to ruin a NSD just because we had time to kill.

Today was busy, for some frustrating reason I was awake before DD (5.10) which doesn't happen very often. Even more annoyed that it happened on the weekend. So by the time she was awake I was wide awake myself. Decided to make the most of it and stuck a chilli con carne in the slow cooker st 7am. Went to town before the shops I opened. Took cash out for anything besides clothes for LO. I'm really hopeful £20 will last the week for food. I stuck very well to my shopping list. The only mistake I made was thinking I would be able to stop at aldi on the way home DD was getting fed up by the time we finished in town so I didn't think it was worth risking s trip to the SM. Spent the afternoon playing with DD before my Dad arrived and I cooked dinner (chilli will be saved for later in the week when I CBA ). Realised we needed milk so took advantage of dad bring about and popped to Tesco express, I didn't stick to my shopping list but i did pick up some brilliant YS reductions at 10-20p each I can only freeze the 18p cod loin but the 20p pasta will do fir lunch tomorrow and I can freeze what I was going to have for later in the week.

OH transferred money so I have paid the nursery fees. The only thing left now is car insurance which I think will go tomorrow and I need to make payment on Next account (balance is £20). Feeling more organised and motivated this month, just need to keep it up. Not sure if tomorrow will be a NSD, hadn't realised we are out of black sacks do could do with getting some but will try and make do for now.

Frugal_Saver

Another NSD done. Heating went on this morning for a few hours this morning. Made dinner last night so I didn't have to worry about that.

I'm working from home tomorrow which will save petrol and give me a chance to get some washing hung out in the morning if the weather is good. First time I've worked at home with DD about for a while, I've set up a desk in my bedroom so I can shut myself away. Lunch will be something thrown together from the cupboard.

Doing well with budgeting this week so might treat us to a fish and chip takeaway tomorrow to say thanks to my dad for looking after DD. Should be able to make it through the rest of the week without spending after that.

Frugal_Saver

Very pleased with myself today, not only did I manage a NSD after yesterday's expensive spend of 15p I have also been very organised tonight with meal planning.

I had thought about stopping off at the shops on the way home as there are a couple of bits I need. However, I hadn't made a shopping list so I knew I would end buying more than what I needed and still forget things. I've just spent some time meal planning for the next few days so I only buy exactly what I need.

There were a couple of ripe bananas on the way out so I quickly put together a banana cake in between sorting my dinner out tonight. But in my rush to multitask and be ready to watch GBB I cooked way too much pasta to go with my LO meatballs. The old me would have thought nothing of throwing the extra pasta away. Not today! I recently found a really simple tomato and garlic pasta sauce which is very inexpensive and quick to make so after watching GBB I got back in the kitchen and made the sauce while doing the washing up.

I've also frozen the extra bread my dad picked up on Monday and in the morning I'm going to freeze some of the banana cake otherwise I will end up eating it all very quickly.

Verbatim

Hi there!
I've been reading through your diary from the beginning and am willing you every success.
I'm sorry that your relationship with your oh has been so difficult. It must be so difficult managing all that you do alone. But you are obviously well able to and more. I'm glad your family is so supportive.
Your oh seems to have an immature attitude to money. Once a child is involved I would have thought planning for the future becomes an obvious necessity. I'm sure you'll find a way through. You're clearly a resourceful, intelligent and thoughtful woman. Enjoy your lo while she's so young.
Vx