10k in 18 months

coolcats

Been a bad few days for spending. Not so good as I had been, lots of wasting! But I will get back on track. I've done 2 shops at coop this week, nearly £20 spent there, not much but so little to show for the money. Just didn't feel like the slightly longer walk to Lidi. Also had shopping delivered from Adsa, oh why didn't I order a loaf of bread and save 1 coop shop! And did I really need the chocolate that found its way into the basket. Was lovely but I could of got better value at lidi. You get the idea of the wasted.
Asda was manly smart price, a few own brands and a few good offers of branded. Also been 7 weeks since the last shop so things were almost gone, smart price pasta was the big one. All stocked ready to go for another 7 weeks, I hope.
After debating on the credit card I have decided to give it a go, going for the Aqua cashback one. Seems the best for the spending level I'll do. And will be treated like any bill and paid off in full every month. Hopefully I'll get £100 over a year.
I've been moving money around trying to get the best interest on it, so hopefully will pay off, even a few pence makes a difference. May only stay in the account a few days but even 1p is more than I had.
I have a voucher for a free 2 liter caravendale milk, so will have to go to coop to get that, not going to say no to free milk. Had other voucher but won't spend them, but will pass then to a friend who may.

gothrockchic1

Well Done Coolcats your doing so well. I read on a daily basis. Your a true inspiration to us all xxx

coolcats

Been a busy week with hospital also means expensive week, but kept it as money saving as possible.
Got the cravadale milk, was on offer for 2 at £3 the voucher was worth £2 and I needed to pay 19p. So I used the voucher for the milk got the 2 lots and paid £1 extra. The milk will see us through for 2 weeks hopefully, we don't use loads and often a little gets wasted of fresh milk so hopefully there will be little waste. With normal milk I always freeze a pint or 2 but even with that there is often wastage. Hopefully the milk will now last till almost the end of the month. Then its back to whats in the freezer.
Stocked up in Lidi today, may go back tomorrow as cucumbers were 39p so will get another 2, we have it almost every night as the kids like it with tea. And another loaf always helps. Hoping that will keep us going till thursday. Prices are creeping up even in Lidi.
For feb so far I have had 8 no spending days, not as good as last month, but still not to bad. I've almost spent as much as I had in January for the whole month, so not so good there.
We need hair cuts so that will be £30. We last went the begining of December so they are due. Get them done ready for school after half term. As its half term next week we will try to fit in a cinema trip, bargin show of course at £2.99 each includes popcorn and a drink. Full price tickets are £4.50 and no popcorn or drink.

coolcats

Been a quiet week for spending, till now. The kids are off for half term and with all three it makes it hard to go out, even a trip to the local shops is hard becasue of the behaviour and needs of youngest. He can be so unpradictable that I have found its easier not to do things. On his own is fine as I can watch him 100% but add the others in and I can't watch him. And if I do the older one has to watch the middle, which is not fair. Even a simple trip to the park is out of the question unless there is a second adult. Still saves the money.

Youngest is now with his dad for a few days so that makes it fun time for us, also work and shopping that is hard to do without him. Although next weeks plans have to change. His dad can't have him next week, which is a shame for son not to see his dad, but also means all my plans (meetings) have to get cancelled or find childcare, which is not easy given his needs. Meetings include a planned meeting for months for middle one with teacher (plus a separate meeting beforehand) and others, also a 6 week course I'm doing with oldest which I already have to miss one week. Three meetings on one day is hard as it is. Has caused a few words as when I have asked for changes for my plans that I can't do anything about he always battles about and often says no.

But back to this week, today will be a shopping day, all the bread gone so need to stock up, and stock up for the week. Tomorrow I have a night out planned (last one was over a year ago) babysitter booked for older 2, she probably would do three but I feel the youngest needs are too much for her. Going to a friends for a takeaway and chat, so low key night, will be home for 10, but at least its something different. Thinking the cinema tomorrow or saturday for the girls, bargin show film of course. Also today catch up with job, washing and cleaning. The sun is shinning so I should get a couple of loads done and line dry as much as can.

RE dad and son from earlier moan. Dad has just text to say he will take son out for day that I have the meetings, but only for the day so looks like he comes to rainbows with us for the evening, better than having to cancel meetings. I expect his mum has suggested it.

Feeling quite hopeful for this months spending not being as being as bad expected. The month saving is better than expected, although the current account is not so good. It didn't look so great at the being of the month.

coolcats

Almost there again, and it looks good. I opened the first Direct and have just been paid the bonus £125 so that was a nice surprise to get in the bank. Will help things along.
Its been an expensive month with 3 hair cuts, family birthdays and unexpected meals out and takeaways, but not as bad as past years, so I'm getting better. The birthdays aren't till March, but has to be brought in feb ready to post in March.
I'm expecting March to be expensive as preparing for Easter and kids off school.
My gas bill is just about in credit, but I can see that it soon won't be, so need to keep a check on that. The meter readings get done weekly so its easy to see when It will become a problem. I thought it would be ok, but then its gone cold again.
I have also applied for the santander, as I like the sound of getting monbey back on the bills, even with the £2 a month fee I should get a like back and will aim to get the account up as high as I can with the current account use.
We got given a bag of easter eggs yesturday from a friend, they are some offer at tesco so she's brought early and given them out, worth a look if you need any. Not sure what the offer is as I don't go there. But must be good they have given them to all there friends kids.
Never thought I could look forward to the end of the month as I do now.

coolcats

Febuary has ended much better than expected. And March starts off very well. I have the flexdirect and have found out the interest changes to 5% from 2%. Which is great, although it means now I need to keep it to the £2500 as much as possible, been the one that has gone low. This could be interesting! I have just moved a little from Lloyds TSB to get a little higher interest.
March savings have started well, with £500 saved and all being well a further £300 will be saved later in the month. Althought I am expecting the curent account not to be so well. Spending has been a bit more than last month, but so much better than in the past, all spending much needed, a lot on hospital appiontment.
Still waiting on the interest to be added to accounts that get it monthly, but looks like it will be about £11 to £12, so not too bad.
I do believe my target needs to either increase or the time limit reduced. I like the idea to increase the target. So my aim now is to do £15k in 18 months, which is April 14. Could be short, but best to aim high, and with the increased interest rates, the regular savers all a good chance. It spurs me on to want to pay the maxium I can in the monthly saver, but also keep the current accounts to the maxium to get the highest interest.

cocalls

£15k in 18mths wow that would be great-keep up the good work!

coolcats

Have had the expensive part of the month, had to go to the main childrens hospital for a few days with daughter for tests, second time we have done the trip. Cost last time was huge, this time not so bad, just over £200 but it included travel, a hotel stay and build a bear workshop clothes as well as normal food etc. I watched the hotel for offers and got a good deal, was slightly cheaper after I booked but not enough to change.

Also all the family birthdays are coming up, so thats extra for March needed. Presents brought. We have another hospital appiontment due, but thats the local hospital. And a much needed church weekend away, that was paid for last year and the weekend spending cost will be hardly anything as all inclusive. Activites are planned into it so we only have a few hours to use and spend in.

I have looked at what I spent last year and I what I spent in Febuary last year has been as for January and febuary this year. So if I can keep up like this its going to be half of last years spending, which a lot was wasted spending. March was real expensive last year so this year should be about the same as last year including the hospital trip. Had expected it to come out much higher.

Scary when you realise how much money spending does get wasted when there are cheaper options. Such things as meals out and takeaways, that become regular not a treat. Its only £20 here and there, just happens to be a few times a week.

coolcats

Been busy again these last few days, at least it means very little spending time, also means very little food in the house. So have booked an asda shop for next week, not sure how long it will last, but 2 weeks I hope. Also need to get to Lidi as I like some of their things and those are nearly gone. Problem is the little one keeps having lots of little fits, last time he was like this we ended up rushed to hospital, so wary to do too much of fresh food or ordering.

Been looking at clothes for older one, so hard as they get so fussy on what to get, really need to have a cloths shopping day, easter holidays I think. Trousers are the hardest to fit.

Can see Easter will be expensive, but hopefully saving will continue, even a little as it all helps.

coolcats

An expensive day today, paid for speech therapy assessment, £120. Worth it as she will work with her after easter so plenty of time to set sorted for it. And next costing won't be so bad. Really pleased with how the session went. Just hope that the weekly sessions will pay off in the long run.

More hospital visits this week, luckily local hospital at out patient. So much easier, cheaper and less time.

Looks like youngest will be going to special school, which although I'm glad its still with mixed feelings. But it will be the best for him as he won't cope with mainstream and the work level. Its a bus ride away, but they sort transport so not so bad, still costly in the long run though. Had second hand school jumper from older ones saved from him. Will also cost to travel to the school for parents evenings etc, and extra childcare for older two.

I think we may need a cinema trip soon, bargin show of course as we haven't done much fun lately. Less than £10 including popcorn and a drink for 3 of us. And to start planning fun days out as the easter hols approach.