The 'Save 12k in 2013' Thread!

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

Just updated my sig as I have managed to save £1096.42 this month. I got a letter from equitable life saying they are going to pay me £63 not sure why! I seem to remember ages ago writing to them about some pension I had just on the off chance so will pay this in when I get it.

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

sd-apples wrote: »

I would love to join this challenge, can anyone point me to some tips of how to save such a large amount of money? I don't know where to start?

thanks

Hi sd-apples and welcome to the forums and challenge.

- Do a budget including yearly expenses and on off things. I include everything, haircuts, holidays, professional fees, car expenses etc and look at where you can cut back.

- Project your shopping needs, for example will you need a new coat in Winter? If so start looking in charity shops now or jumble sales and car boots, it gives you time to find a nice one, also people will not be looking to buy winter clothes in summer, buy out of season.

- start xmas saving now! I save £25 per month in a separate pot and it is lovely at xmas to have that money for extra bits.

-plan ahead for birthdays, buy wrapping paper in the sales and put it away, also cards when cheap, I got my 2 daughters a Pandora charm in the after xmas sale and put them away for this xmas.

- look at what you spend your money on, do you really need it all? Can you cut back anywhere? For example I can save a lot on food by meal planning and shopping at ald!

- look at your storage space, if you see tins of beans (eg) cheap you can fill your boots and store them under the bed! It will save you money over the year.

- do a price book and keep it on you when you go shopping, write down the bottom price per kg/litre/ each and if you see what you think is a bargain you can check your book to see.

- remember its a marathon, not a sprint and doesn't happen overnight, its taken me years to get to a stage where I have no debts and money saved up (see sig) it requires a change in thought processes and lifestyle and is not for the faint hearted! I suffered the butts of many jokes in my family and friends when I told them about my money saving manoeuvres but ignored them and carried on. The upshot is that we are ok and our kids are thrifty and frugal and they still owe on mortgages having blown it all away. Their choice.

Good luck and keep coming on here for support

YoungBusinessman

Sd-apples one of the best tips is to keep following this thread, it keeps you motivated and everyone sticks together! I check it everyday!

twix521

Just wanted to say how much this thread has inspired me!:T

I come and see progress on this thread every day even tho I am not a member, as it really spurs me on and reminds me why I am saving.

It is so hard to stay motivated at times with crap savings rates as well as people around you buying everything on credit, but this thread really keeps me focused and reminds me that in the long-run OH and I are doing the most sensible and rewarding thing...even if now it means we can't have lavish holidays, new clothes all the time etc.

I had to dip into our existing savings (to the tune of £800 for car repairs & insurance) :eek: a couple of weeks ago and felt really gutted to make a dent in one of our saving groups even tho it was meant as a cushion for car repairs etc.

After a couple of hours I realised that actually, a year ago I would have relied on borrowing money and paying it back monthly for this exact senario, so actually, I became proud and quite grown up that I had an emergency fund and am not in debt to anyone!!

Anyway... next year I will def be joining the challenge properly... In the meantime thanks for all the insperation and keep up the good work!!:T x

samblake

I hope to buy a computer this month .. I just hope it does not rise in price.

Peonie

Desperate_Housewife wrote: »

- do a price book and keep it on you when you go shopping, write down the bottom price per kg/litre/ each and if you see what you think is a bargain you can check your book to see.

This is a great idea. I'm rubbish at remembering prices and what's a bargain. Right, now to work out how I can do it on my phone.

lippy1923

Hi guys,

Loving your savings updates I might have to re-think my savings target. I have just found out I am pregnant!! :eek:

If all goes well it should be a Christmas baby so not sure what I will have left at the end of December.
This will be my first so I have no idea what expenses will occur between now and then, so we will just see how it goes. I'm so freaked about not having enough money, it might inspire me to be extra frugal. How much is enough? I want to google how much kids cost, but I'm too freaked out at the moment.

Really glad this thread is here to keep me motivated. Thanks all x

Canucksfan

Ooh congrats Lippy! I think yours will be the third baby to be born on this thread! I had a son at the end of last Dec and Floella80 had a boy recently. Do not google about the cost of kids...stay away from the internet as it will look scarier than it actually is. The only things I have ever bought new are a car seat, a cot mattress and nappies...everything else comes from friends or Freecycle - bags of clothes, toys, you name it.
Take care of yourself. Now do you think you are Team Pink or Team Blue ?!? :dance:

nat21luv

Congratulations lippy! Don't worry about the cost, you will get given soooo much all you need is a new car seat, Moses basket/cot and bottles if you don't plan/can't breastfeed. They really aren't that expensive at all, especially in the first few months. You don't even need a pushchair! With my first I went all out and now wish I hadn't. With my second people were giving me stuff left, right and centre! I bought a sling for £15 on eBay and used that in place of a pram, my DD loved it and slept for hours, especially as a newborn I can't recommend a sling enough

dramarama

Ooh massive congratulations Lippy, that is so exciting : ). :j
I read a really interesting article in the Money wise magazine about costs for a baby in the first year...Car seat and mattress were top of the list to buy new but lots of people buy second hand for everything else as babies grow so fast! I'm pretty sure if you've got supportive friends and family they won't mind chipping in.

Well done to everyone on the saving. Still nothing much to report from me but I'm getting more work so I can hopefully get off the starting blocks in the next few weeks.