Diary of a "Frugal Saver"

Frugal_Saver

More adjustments to budget today. Realised I need an 'entertainment/gift' budget after putting money in a collection at work today. Have set this at £50 a month by reducing savings. Frustrated that I have to reduce monthly contributions to savings but it needs to be this way or I would end up back in debt. Have also decided that with any money left over at the end of the month will be split approximately 75% debt to 25% savings (depending on how much it is).

Have also set my self a target of reducing credit card debt to £5k before 0% deal ends at the end of Jan 19. This is achievable if I over pay £130 every month which is certainly a challenge but not impossible.

Frugal_Saver

Quiet day today. No spending and no bills going out. I've been thinking about whether or not to visit Ikea as I have a £5 off £40 voucher to spend. I do want to get somethings from there but not £40 worth so gave decided to leave it for now.

Hoping for a quiet weekend as well. Shopping arriving tomorrow and that should last the week. Just over £10 left of the weekly budget.

Had a letter to say that my credit limit will be increased on one of my cards. This would mean I could transfer all over to one card when 0% deal ends depending on what deals are available to me at the end of January.

MSE things I have done tonight
-Did housework when I got home instead of putting on tv/laptop to save electricity and get housework done
- keep tv off instead of having it on in the back ground
- checked food shopping delivery and removed items not needed
-checked and completed online surveys, really need to get back into this

Frugal_Saver

Biggest spend of the week today with the weekly shopping but still within budget and still enough left to make up for last weeks overspend.

Spent time sorting out paperwork this morning and realised the council tax bill is over 10 months so Feb and March I’ll have some extra money to throw at credit cards. Would rather keep it that way as if I split it over 12 months I would end up spending the small extra cash each month on everyday spends. This way the money will go straight on overpaying credit cards.

Made an overpayment on one of my credit cards today to take it to a round figure. Credit card debit is now at £5,950. If I can keep on track I should be able to over pay another £100 before payday.

Hoping for a NSD tomorrow. Have plenty of housework to keep me busy and nothing I can think of that I need to buy.

Frugal_Saver

Update on month targets

Frugal_Saver wrote: »

• 10 NSDs 4/10 - On target
• Increase savings by £200 On target
• Get credit card debit back below £6k Done - now at £5,950 and hoping to make another payment of £100 :j
• Take lunch to work everyday On target - done everyday so far. Only 3 days to worry about this week
• Keep heating off all month On target - unless weather turns really bad think I can do this

One very productive NSD here. Lots of housework and cooking done. Set myself a list of things to do for the day and I have done everything except studying. My first exam is on Thursday which I’m really nervous about but passed the mock exams I’ve done so far. Hopefully I can squeeze in another one before then.

Frugal_Saver

Last weeks spend came in under budget so I'm really pleased. Spent £2.99 on p&p for a free mug from photobox this morning which is for a xmas present. Have kept it in weekly budget as I fear I may go over budget for entertainment this month ( only at £5.00 spend so far but have another work night on Friday and birthday presents which I don't think I will keep under £45 in total but will try my best.

Hoping weekly spend will be low this week. We're going away for a few days next week so don't need to do a big shop. We're going self catering and I plan to do click and collect for food shopping so we're not spending holiday time shopping and still stick to budget.

Frugal_Saver

Trying to get back into surveys to earn extra cash.

Logged onto one of my survey accounts today and found a balance of £8.00 which I could cash out to PayPal so I've requested that. Not sure how long it will take to process but it will be going towards credit card overpayment.

Struggling to get back into swagbucks, doesn't seem as easy to get points anymore.

Have enough to cash out at valued opinions unless I wait to get to £15 for amazon vouchers. This is my least favourite site as you can only claim vouchers not cash and I don't think I would use any of the vouchers except amazon.

I also have £4.00 available to cash out from quidco but I'm holding out until the rest of the balance is available (£40) but I've found then to be really slow at paying out so might be waiting a while.

Frugal_Saver

In the last two days I’ve spent £53 on clothes for little one other gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Have decided that rather than add extra money to saving will put it towards things like that particularly with Xmas coming.

Still nothing else spent on weekly budget, hoping to make it to the end of the week and have some left over so I can buy a few luxuries for our week away next week.

Frugal_Saver

Expenses have been approved at work so should be getting the money for that soon. Only the second time I've claimed but last time the money arrived 3 days after it was approved so hopefully don't have to wait too long.

Will have to make another claim soon though as I passed my first exam today and now I need to book my next one. I'm so grateful my work are paying for this. Before my boss suggested this course I didn't know about it but now I'm really enjoying and had they not agreed to pay I think I would have done it myself anyway but at a slower pace to spread the cost.

Busy few days ahead and need to stay on track. No NSDs this week but spending has been minimal. Food shopping has been ordered ready for collection enroute to our holiday on Monday.

Meals are planned until we go away, just a few bits needed for this. Biggest potential spend is birthday party LO is attending on Saturday and play date with another kid on Sunday. Birthday gift us bought but it will be lunch time and while LO will be sorted for food I will not and won't have time to sort anything in the morning. I'm hoping I can last until we get home.

Not sure what plans are for Sunday yet but if it's raining no doubt we will end up at another softplay.

At some point in amongst that I need to pack for holiday. I cannot wait.

Frugal_Saver

Didn’t get time to post yesterday. Straight out for drinks after work. Spent £20 which I’m pleased with. Was starting to feel like I was slipping into old habits as I’ve been spending bits here and there this week but I have accounted for all spends on my excel spreadsheet so I think I’m doing ok. Weekly budget is still very low less than £5 spent. Will need to get a few bits this weekend for dinner tomorrow but besides that shouldn’t need anything else.

Need to get organised for holiday next week. I have a long list of things to pack just need to physically pack now

Frugal_Saver

NSD today. Went to a birthday with LO but they had ordered a platter of sandwiches for adults as well as kids so that was really thoughtful.

Tomorrow won't be so good as play date will be for lunch but that should be my only spend.

Finally received money I cashed out for a survey site earlier in the week. Other survey site I think I might cash out on Tesco rather than amazon vouchers as they can then be used towards food shopping and the money I would have spent will go towards additional debt repayment.

Getting closer to pay day but feel less motovated when I don't see the debt reducing for a long period of time. Think expenses won't come through until next Friday now by which time I will have probably spent more money which I'll need to claim on expenses.

Trying to think of more ways to earn more money. I have a Fitbit which I don't use as it's small and I really need a large now. It's a few years old now but still I'm reasonable condition. Haven't sold anything on eBay for ages so not sure if it's really worth the hassle. Also have a huge bag of clothes which I keep meaning to take to cash4clothes. Wouldn't get more than a few quid for it but better than nothing.

Will just have to push myself to do surveys for now. Close to cashing out £50 on two different survey sites so hopefully that will come through in the next month or so.