Saving to move out - my savings diary

mandatory

Thanks for the link! I'll have a good read, and speaking of Swagbucks I've been home all day (should be revising...) but I've had the site open in the background and during a break managed to complete all of the profiles for the surveys. I actually made the target today thanks to completing one survey and watching more videos. I think I could really get into this... I'll have to start 'earning' my books from now on!

mandatory

Today is payday and as I just had an exam (grr, it went so horribly!) I can sit down and organise things. A teensy bit annoyed that I managed to forget about a library book due to revision yesterday so I have a 15p fine. Only minor but I'll have to keep an eye on all of my books.

Savings total is now up to £4,591, allowing some room for Christmas presents. As much as I'm beginning to dislike Christmas commercialism I insist on getting my grandparents gifts since I live with them and they actually care about what goes on in my life, and likewise me with them. I asked my nan last night and she told me to look for fleeces for both of them, and they don't need to be pricey, just as long as they keep them warm. My nan suggested Primark and I'll be taking myself down to SportsDirect too. I also need to account for the £5 work Christmas Secret Santa, a £5 donation to my WW leader's husband for Movember, and I am also in need of some winter clothes.

But as far as my November spending goes I'm really impressed so far! October was expensive due to a holiday but comparing to September there have been very few pointless visits to Tesco or Sainsbury's for snacks, as well as no random trips to Boots and coming out with more than I expected. :T

mandatory

Well, my Christmas list has been sorted! I was unable to get my mom a present last year as I had just started working and I couldn't afford much (did pick her up something in the sales but I want to make up for other years where she has helped me out), and I have agreed to get her perfume this year. Unfortunately her favourite perfume is Jean-Paul Gaultier Classique but luckily Debenhams has it on a special price, plus I have a £5 voucher from O2 Priority Moments to use there. I will get it on Friday and it should amount to a little over £40. Little sister #2 has been sorted with a book, Mom's boyfriend will get a pastry brush (as suggested by Mom but it's what he wants!) and my dad will probably want something kitchen-related.

Also happy because I've been busy collecting Swagbucks points (why did I not discover this sooner?!), finally got a survey I could complete for an Amazon voucher on Valued Opinions, and I may convert my YourPoints into another Amazon voucher to get myself a Christmas treat. :beer: Something positive after exam stress perhaps! Now, time to give Swagbucks a break and start revising for Thursday.

mandatory

Exams are over until May, hooray! :beer:

Came back home, earned my first Swagbucks reward, and I've found out what I can get my dad for Christmas. Just hoping that sister #1 agrees to clubbing together to get him something that he wants and will make good use of rather than getting something that will sit around gathering dust.

It will be an expensive weekend though, tomorrow me, sister #2 (visiting) and my dad are going to the German market in the city, then me and sister #2 are going to Hyper Japan in London on Saturday (I love Japanese culture and the language, it's a passion of mine ). Will spend a lot but I think I thoroughly deserve a treat.

gothrockchic1

Well Done on your savings. I used Valued Opinions as well. Great for surveys that are quick and I have had some interesting ones too.

mandatory

gothrockchic1 wrote: »

Well Done on your savings. I used Valued Opinions as well. Great for surveys that are quick and I have had some interesting ones too.

Same, some of them are really good. I had one many years ago about a game, it spanned a couple of weeks but the reward was £50! :eek: It was such a nice reward, especially as I had played the game and enjoyed it too. At the moment I'm waiting for Valued Opinions to offer Amazon vouchers again, I don't really have any need for the others.

mandatory

London wasn't so bad, did have to pay for sister #2's travelcard and top up my Oyster visitor card, but I took out £50 in cash and only spent £25 of it. The remainder is going towards my dinner (friend's birthday), trombone lesson and a drink at a coffee shop with friends this week. Hopefully that is all I need to get, plus my Swagbucks and Valued Opinion points are going towards my share of my dad's Christmas present. I did splurge and get a new sports bra this weekend as mine is now too big, and tonight I need to go and buy lunch-y things for this week. Should be a good week since everything else has been 'paid' for already!

mandatory

Beginning of December! :j

Decided due to my persistent cold that I won't go out tonight, going to break out my exercise DVD and work on getting more Swagbucks points, and maybe some trombone practice. I've been quite lazy this week so I aim to get some other things done.

My savings and budget spreadsheet has been updated, and in November I saved £600! So pleased with that and hopefully Christmas won't make too much of a dent in my bank account. Going out next week to see Seal in concert (lifelong fan!) with my mom and sisters - paid for my tickets as soon as it was announced so no worries there. I did spend some money today getting snacks for my cupboard but that should last me at least a couple of weeks. So far so good!

mandatory

Didn't quite save money but I've now been elected as a full member of AAT (accounting technicians)! So chuffed and I now have a shiny new certificate to frame and letters to use after my name. For some that might mean a pay rise but I'm stuck in my job for a while and on the same pay... I'm finding it less of a challenge every day but it took me so long to get that I'm not suddenly about to disappear.

Today I looked at pensions as I don't have one, that will change when auto-enrolment affects us but I'm also hoping that in a couple of years I'll be in a better job with a pension scheme. I may put £50 a month into a SIPP (I am still learning these terms, argh!) when April arrives as I don't want to leave it too late.

I just spent £5 on my Secret Santa (well, £6 including a charity donation, I bought an Oxfam Unwrapped gift) so that's out of the way, just need to wait for it to arrive. I also got 10% cashback on it!

wannaberichbtch

Lots of good news then Mandatory, I've had a big spending month with Christmas and my annual toiletries spending, but it was planned and in budget. If your employer makes a contribution to their scheme it may be a better option than the SIPP, theres loads of good advice on the pensions board.