The 'Save 12k in 2013' Thread!

Wentthedaywell?

lbnblbnb wrote: »

My emergency fund will be finished in a few months and I am aiming to open a stocks and shares ISA. Trying to read up on it but finding it as clear as mud. Any recommendations of books/ blogs?

I will look forward to any answers too lbnblbnb, I'm confused by it. I just want something with a good mix and not too risky that don't have to actively manage and with small fees. I start reading about them and give up.

I put a thousand this month as I got some expenses back. Did a spot of overtime this weekend (it's very rarely offered) and there will be another day next month. I'm still awaiting my ISA interest. However, I think I may be blowing it all on a new oven and hob, as part of my updating my kitchen piecemeal and by stealth!

InsertWittyName

Passive investing's a good start.

I'd recommend Tim Hale's 'Smarter Investing' book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smarter-Investing-Simpler-Decisions-Results/dp/0273722077

Wentthedaywell?

It looks such hard work though. I just want the equivalent of shoving it in the building society and letting someone make the decisions . I suppose I'm not that interested in making money, I just want to have it miraculously there!

InsertWittyName

Then you'd probably be interested in the Vanguard LifeStrategy funds.

There's a decent thread on them going here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4392271

lbnblbnb

InsertWittyName wrote: »

Passive investing's a good start.

I'd recommend Tim Hale's 'Smarter Investing' book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smarter-Investing-Simpler-Decisions-Results/dp/0273722077

Thank you insertwittyname, I'll look into that book. I like Dave Ramsey's recommendations about investing too. I need to find the equivalent of league tables for mutual funds so that I can see their performance. I can't help thinking it is made deliberately unclear...

youngsaver1995

£30 so far for April, taking me to £496.84 out of £2000 for the year . My next pay cheque at the end of the month, when my pay rise comes into effect, should allow me to save the most of any month so far this year, hopefully taking me to £800 savings for the year so far :j.

Buster20

Joining a little late... Inspired by those saving the full 12k (mibi next year!)

Looking to save £4722.89 to fill up an existing Cash ISA.

Monthly savings can be quite erratic for me, comforted by those on here who see ANY save as a win. Monthly savings allowance should increase shortly, following completion of a finance agreement -looking forward to that!

In the meantime April's total for me is £117.00/4722.89. (have submitted form on page 1)

Keep up the good work everyone

SusanneCape

Hi everyone,

Just had £95.09 interest added to my Cash ISA. Every little helps. Roll on payday, it's been quite a month. Everyone is having babies and I have shopped for the next generation like nobody's business. I suspect too many people have been reading the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy :D:D:D:D!

Happy saving all,

cydney65

Been in a thoughtful mood today and had to get some of my thoughts down...

All of my life (that's 48 years) I have been carp with money. My parents were poor and they scrimped and scraped to make a better life for us. I married at 20 to, who I thought to be, a lovely man. He was my first, and only, boyfriend. We soon had two children and it was then that things started to go wrong. We were constantly overdrawn to the tune of £1000 a month. I barely had any money to feed us, so I would go without food so the kids could eat.

I finally got a good job, yet all my money was disappearing. It took me four years to realise that my husband was using the money in the joint account to buy himself expensive presents, really really expensive presents. I felt stupid that I hadn't checked the bank statements and was really angry that I was struggling to work F/T and feed the family, while he maintained his expensive hobbies. I left him.

I bought a house and got my first credit card-WRONG. I started spending like there was no tomorrow, mostly on food and things for the kids. Then I met and fell in love with my OH, who just happens to be a woman. She is really really clued up on money and together we tackled my huge debts, using lots of advice from MSE.

Now I'm debt free and starting to save. I'm very interested in how finances work and in the last three months have acquired 8 savings accounts and 4 current accounts, all doing different things. I have saved over a £1000, a sum I have never saved before and I have all you lovely people to thank for that :T

Last week, when gold prices fell, I bought two gold coins for our daughters' birthdays. I know that gold isn't a great investment, but I just thought that a pretty little something which can be sold at a later date in an emergency, would be a nice thing to give them. And you know what?..I had the money put by to buy these coins. That is the first time in my life I have been able to buy them something decent and not go into further debt.

My next aim is to start to understand investments, so that at a later date I may be able to put money in a S&S ISA. All this saving is for our girls. I want them to be secure and financially aware and not to make the same mistakes as their mother.

I just wanted to share my story and tell people that if I can get to grips with, and save money, then anyone can. Keep saving everyone and thank you for wading through this.

lbnblbnb

cydney65, good for you about the gold coins - it is good to know you can do that sort of thing without going into debt and that you are building for your daughters future. I think there are a few of us moving towards the point of getting socks and shares ISAs, scary but the way to go for me once my emergency fund is finished I think.

I love not being prey to the same old rubbish - I got an email today about a loan at the "great rate of 5%" - so pleased I could think that I just don't need it!