The 'Save 12k in 2013' Thread!

girlatplay

Paddles wrote: »

I'd like to join. I've been a member of MSE for a while, but am abandoning the old me as saving is now a massive priority and none of my friends know I save - does anyone else find it awkward?

A friend came round earlier and gave me some of her (very nice) old clothes saying she'd much rather give them to me than same "tight-wad" who goes to charity shops despite having hundreds in the bank... I felt really embarrassed but we go without a lot to save money and some of my friends really wouldn't understand that. Husband says just to be grateful and not say anything - I did suggest she sell them but she didn't want to.

Anyway enough of that, I'm in for £12,000

I've been debt free for a year now and I have some savings in the bank. Apart from my mum and sister, no one knows I have them. I still plead poverty (I'm sorry, I can't go out, I can't afford it) and if someone offers me a bag of clothes I take them gratefully. My friends earn a lot more than I do and are used to me being skint (I struggled for years as a single parent in debt) and don't pressure me about money stuff. They would never dream of telling me how much (or how little) they have in the bank and there is no reason to tell them about my savings. I just get scared because I have been at rockbottom and I don't ever want to go there again. In order to help towards preventing that I am building up a small nest egg in case anything happens. I wouldn't take money from anyone but a bag of clothes between friends is just sensible. I do stuff for them too like babysit, or pick them up from the airport when they come back holidays. It's what our friendships are all about, helping each other. Be delighted that your friend thought of you

slowlyfading

Front page updated!

nicolula87

Can I be in for £5000 please!

Mine will be being split into different pots: Aiming £3000 to pay off my new kitchen, £600 for next Christmas, and £1400 in my personal savings.

Standing orders set up for the £50 a month for next Christmas, and £100 a month in my personal, leaving £3200 of just trying to be careful with money and saving as much as possible.

As well as joining this thread I am keeping a savings log to keep me motivated so hopefully I will get there. I've started this month, but will keep a separate counter for 2013 savings only!

Paddles

girlatplay wrote: »

... I wouldn't take money from anyone but a bag of clothes between friends is just sensible. I do stuff for them too like babysit, or pick them up from the airport when they come back holidays. It's what our friendships are all about, helping each other. Be delighted that your friend thought of you

Thanks girlatplay, and I hadn't thought of the helping each other angle, but I always offer to baby sit etc if any of my friends are stuck, and just try and be generally helpful... will try and think of it a bit like that... am also trying to remember to say "I haven't got the budget for that", when asked to go out, rather than "I'm too poor", it feels truthful

I wouldn't take money either, although my nan occasionally gives us some but she is one of the few who knows how much we have saved, and how hard we've worked to do it. She just likes to give all her grandchildren money - in fact, it's odd but she didn't used to give me anything (although she did my brother) because I think where I spent more she assumed I would either just spend it all or I had too much already

girlatplay

Paddles wrote: »

Thanks girlatplay, and I hadn't thought of the helping each other angle, but I always offer to baby sit etc if any of my friends are stuck, and just try and be generally helpful... will try and think of it a bit like that... am also trying to remember to say "I haven't got the budget for that", when asked to go out, rather than "I'm too poor", it feels truthful

I wouldn't take money either, although my nan occasionally gives us some but she is one of the few who knows how much we have saved, and how hard we've worked to do it. She just likes to give all her grandchildren money - in fact, it's odd but she didn't used to give me anything (although she did my brother) because I think where I spent more she assumed I would either just spend it all or I had too much already

Yes, I didn't think about the "I haven't got the budget for that" angle. Nice one. Will be using that in future. As I said, my mum knows I have savings but she still insists on paying for coffees etc when we are out. Sometimes she "treats" me to my shopping too (if we are both picking up bits at the supermarket she sometimes sweeps it altogether and pays for it even although I'm trying to grab all my stuff back! Reading that back I can see how ridiculous that must look in the shop!) My grandad used to give us money too, bless his soul.

nicedream_2

Hello

I've been waiting to start this since August this year, when I first started saving! My target is based on filling this years cash ISA and next year's cash ISA by December 2013, so taking off the money I have already saved for this year, please can you put me down for £7,300!

I will have to learn 'I haven't got a budget for that' too! I have got a friend who often complains she's poor, yet brags about her savings; it is frustrating

Excited to join though, and I promise I will still be posting this time next year.

Thank you SlowlyFading for setting it up.

LolaLemon

ive been using the 'i've not budgeted for that this month' for a good few months now, more so to my boyfriend, most of my friends are all in the same boat so we share fancy clothes when going to weddings/christenings etc, we meet during the day, get the kids together, and let them play while we drink tea/juice and have a good chin-wag.

I'm absolutely excited for this challenge, i just hope i have the same enthusiasm in the summer!

Elmly

please sign me up! Think 12k is a bit ambitious for me so i am going to set my target at 6k. Cant wait to get started!

LunaLady

Anyone else wishing Christmas away so they can start?

I have opened up a new savings account (separate from my emergency fund) and it looks so empty and alone).

raindudu

Please sign me up for 30k. Thank you.