Diary of a "Frugal Saver"

Frugal_Saver

Not set targets yet but starting the month with a NSD. Some cashback is showing on TCB, cant decide whether to cash it in just yet as I'm waiting for some more to show. It's less than £5 but better than nothing and a start of my extra credit card payments this month.

Frugal_Saver

NSD no 2. Still not set my targets for the month but I have at least studied tonight and paid some bills which aren't set up for direct debit. Once the payments clear I will update my signature

Frugal_Saver

Just realised today is the 6th anniversary of starting this diary. Happy anniversary diary!

May not have cleared my debts in that time but I think I'm doing a better job now to reduce it.

Frugal_Saver

Haven’t been posting as regularly as there’s not much to say.

Still sticking to budgets and managing a NSD here and there.

Had a result with the food shopping at the weekend. Realised after the driver left that there were a few things there that I hadn’t ordered (driver helped me unpack so didn’t spot them before). I phoned to say they had delivered these items I hadn’t ordered and they said it’s my choice to dispose or use the items. Ended up with 2 extra loaves of bread, peppers, leeks, potato and bagels all free. I certainly wasn’t going to dispose of them.

Frugal_Saver

Doing well with food shopping this week. My midweek food delivery was less than £30 as I bought some DVDs for DD for Christmas to make it up to the £40 for delivery so that comes out of a different budget. Still have plenty of food in the fridge, freezer and cupboards so shouldn’t need to spend any more money until I get the next delivery on Wednesday.

As my delivery pass has expired with Asda I’m hoping to try other supermarkets to see how they compare. Iceland have the lowest minimum spend and free delivery but they have limited sellection so may struggle to find everything I need. Noticed that Tesco now allow you to pay for delivery pass with clubcard points so might try a free month and see how I get on before doing that. I miss Aldi greatly as I found it so much cheaper but I dont miss traipsing around supermarkets with DD in tow and not sticking to shopping lists or not being as organised with meal planning.

Best week ever for NSDs this last week, managed 4 during the week and only spent 50p yesterday. Today will probably involve spending money but I will try and keep that to a minimum.

Frugal_Saver

Think I might be taking this MSE approach to spending too far.

I started a spreadsheet to record my budget vs spending at the end of August. To start with I was just recording the value of my spending but now I’ve found myself recording the exact details of spending.

Now I’ll be able to see exactly how much I’m spending on who at Christmas as well as how much I’m spending on food etc. I can see myself adding presents I stockpiled since the beginning of the year, bet I’ve spent more on LO already than I think I spend altogether for her on Christmas presents.

If I told friends or family I was doing this they would think I was mad!

Working_Mum

I don't think that's taking things too far at all!!!

I keep all of my spends in my "Spends Book" and have done for almost 10 years!! My kids see me updating it etc and it has been an invaluable aide to me. I spend mindfully and can effectively plan and budget now as a result.

Ten out of ten from me!!

Frugal_Saver

Thanks working mum, very reassuring to know I’m not the only one doing this. I’ve noticed how much my spending has reduced in the last month by recording every transaction. I’m on 10 NSDs this month already, I was only hoping for 11

Frugal_Saver

Just one more day until pay day and things are looking good money wise. I have stuck within budgets all month. I have an appointment with TSB to open an account on Saturday so I can be even more organised and earn a small bit of interest at the same time.

Frugal_Saver

Haven’t been posting as not much to report. I’ve not been able to stick to specific budgets but where I’ve overspent in one area I’ve cut back elsewhere.

I have a tsb account now which will generate small interest every month. In order to meet the £500 minimum pay in I’ve set up my rent to come out of the account as it’s just over £500 a month. This will be done by SO from main account and DD to pay for rent. The only manual movement I will do will be moving the interest out on a monthly basis as it will take it over the threshold for earning interest so I will put it somewhere else or use to over pay credit cards.

I haven’t been able to make significant overpayments on my CCs like I thought I would, with Christmas so close I think it makes more sense to hold on to the money for presents etc rather than spending on CCs again.

I got a bit frustrated at the weekend as some Quidco payments were declined. I’ve raised a claim for these. I would have bought the items regardless but it’s still the principle. I’ve never had a problem with topcashback so may just stick with them now.