Diary of a "Frugal Saver"

Frugal_Saver

Ok, so it's been over a month since I started this diary and I've hardly used it at all

Currently at home with a really bad cold, this is not going to help with paying off debts as I don't get paid for it. Had two days off so far and really hoping to be back at work tomorrow

I'm really embracing the MSE way of life, was so smug last week when I used vouchers to get some items for free in Tesco (even more so when I noticed that I still got clubcard points!):D

Current plan is to do a credit check in the next week or so (via swagbucks) to double check my credit history and then I'm going to apply for 0% CC. I will then throw all spare money at clearing Next account which is currently approximately £100 and once that's cleared all spare money will go toward loan.

Until I fell ill this week I was finding that meal planning was working. Did a monthly shop on Sunday and hopefully should only need to top that up with fresh foods.

I've not taken up the NSD challenge this month but have managed the last two days as I haven't left the house (except to go to work for 1/2 hour before admitting defeat and heading home)

OH should be getting a payrise shortly and has offered to increase the amount he contributes to bills so I can put more money towards my debts.

TimeforTea_4

Hi good luck, you really sound like you are enjoying this...

Looking forward to hearing more.

:j

Frugal_Saver

Thanks Timefortea, it's really inspiring reading people's stories on this forum.

Still waiting to hear back about my PPI claims, it's been just over a month now so I should hear something this week or next. I'm not relying on it but my car's due an MOT this month and car tax at the end of next month

Frugal_Saver

I do love weekends, particularly weekends where I'm not working!

Things I'm going to do this weekend to stop spending money unneccesarily/earn extra cash:

• free credit check trial via SB - just been looking at my CC statement and realised in the last year I've spent nearly £160 on interest charges :eek: I have 0% on approximately half my current balance but that expires next month
• Complete online surveys for money/gift cards
• housework to keep me busy
• I'm planning on doing some baking tomorrow but knowing me I probably wont do it!
• Re-listed unsold items on ebay, going to try and find some more things about the house to put on there
• Dinner from stores, although I think OH has other ideas
• spend a bit of time on MSE forum, everyday I see something new and inspiring on this website
• need to get some plain paper for printer for printing vouchers
• Start writing Christmas lists

I'm sure as soon as I post this I'll think of more things

Frugal_Saver

Not a great start, tried to do a credit check but it came up with an error message and asked me to try again in a few minutes :mad:

Frugal_Saver

Got it to work in the end. Credit score is showing as fair which is what I expected.

It says there are negative factors because I've opened new accounts in the last 6 months (consolidation loan & joint account with OH). and it says "The usage of your available credit indicates a higher risk" - not sure if this is because my availabl credit is maxed out - I have reduced this because I don't like the temptation.

It also says there are positive factors because I've paid off debts (car finance and previous loan) and reduced available credit - doesn't that contradict above comment??!!

Think I'll leave it until the begining of December before applying for 0% CC. I will manage if I don't get it but it will take longer to clear the debt.

Frugal_Saver

OH saw my credit report and was intrigued to find out what his looks like. Tried to look at his but it says they're posting a letter out and he needs to verify it, probably a security thing because I'd only just done mine. OH did say that if his credit rating is better than mine (which it could be) that he would apply for a 0% for us to transfer my CC. Not sure if you can do this and it's not something I would do without thinking it through.

I don't think he realised how much debt I'm in depsite me telling him numerous times. It's always a lot realistic when you see the figures written down rather than just talking about it.

Just paid a random amount off my Next account to bring it to a round figure. Having read other diaries on here I'm going to follow their idea of having round figures. So Next account is now £90.00. Will pay random amount off CC tomorrow to make that a round figure although statment has just come through with interest so current signature isn't up todate. I will also think about having current account at a round number and will transfer odd pennies to current account which I don't have internet banking and is used as emergency funds should I come unstuck towards the end of the month.

Still not heard back about PPI claim, can't remember when I posted the claims but they acknowledged them on 3rd October so the latest I should hear back is the end of this week. Could really do with the money now, not only is car due service and MOT but having been to the opticians this week I now need new glasses. Can't just get new lenses as I've already had 2 new sets in these frames and they're so battered now I don't think they'll last much longer.

Frugal_Saver

Today has been a very productive MSE day.

• Checked credit rating - still waiting for SB which should have credited straight away
• 3rd NSD of the month- lunch and dinner from stores (and alcohol!!!)
• OH had suggested going to cinema and getting take away for dinner but managed to convince him otherwise without going on about it costing money
• 2nd day in a row with no heating on, OH has finally perfected keeping the fire alight in the living room!

• Got some ideas for books to look for in the library thanks to a post in DFW board

Now sat in bed watching iplayer on laptop and thinking about what MSE things I can do tomorrow.

Think I might play about with my spreadsheet with my debt trying out formulas for the quickest way to pay off debt

Frugal_Saver

Hopefully today will be another NSD, was going to get some swede to go with dinner but when I thought about it I realised we can make do with frozen veg to go with the roast potatoes and roast chicken.

As predicted haven't done any baking, however, I have rice pudding on the go in the slow cooker.

Got really frustrated trying to work out the formula for calculating loan repayments and interest. At the moment I'm not in a position to pay any extra money towards it so I'm going to leave it for now.

Made a payment towards CC to make it a round figure, not going to update my signature until it shows on the account. It's amazing how even little things like that can motivate you.

Not got many plans for the weekend ahead. Might think about doing a meal plan this afternoon although we have got into a bit of a routine with some days of the week which really helps. Wednesday is always slow cooker day, pizza on a Friday (£1.50 from Iceland, they're the best shop bought pizza I've ever tasted) and a roast/pie etc with vegs on a Sunday.

I need to stop myself window shopping on my lunchbreak, found a really nice dress in Dorothy Perkins on Friday, my only saving grace was that I didn't have time to try it on. Must go to library and read books.

Frugal_Saver

Managed a NSD, that makes 4 for the month. Also managed another day with no heating, log fire burning quite well since mid afternoon.

OH just informed me that he's working 12-10 this week. Bit annoyed he's left it until just this minute to tell me. It does mean a lie in for me but also I have to go and pick him up from work at 10pm which is when I'm usually ready to go to bed. This also messes with meal plan. Another advantage is I can go to the gym a couple of times this week, not been for a couple of weeks as I usually have to pick him up as soon as I finish work.


Back to MSE things. Been thinking about how as much as I need to pay back debt I also need to start putting money aside for emergencies or essentials that I currently put on CC and take forever to pay back e.g. car tax, MOT or anything related to my car. Currently have the following accounts:

• Lloyds TSB current account - for everyday use
• HSBC current account - hide away extra cash to pay off extra debt e.g. sales from ebay, extra commission from work
• Lloyds ISA - don't currently use but might use this for emergency fund, only problem is it shows on my online banking and I have really easy access to it so I could get tempted to transfer money back into current account
• Savings account with Britannia - not currently using, seems like a better option than ISA as I have to go into the branch to do any transactions.

If i go with the Britannia savings account the main disadvantage is that I don't have instant access to it, however if I have available money on credit card I could always use this and pay it off as soon as I can get into the branch so it doesn't cost me any extra.

Not sure how much to put aside in this account, still figuring out everything but think I will start by putting £5.00 in tomorrow from current account. This will leave me with approximately £175 until payday (last day of the month). Unsure how much money OH has left, he gets paid before me and usually has nothing left at the end of the month.