I don't need another skinny Latte

Skinnylatte

Hi Ali thanks for dropping by :hello:

Just a post to try and put a plan together for 1 off expenses next year

January DDs 18th £160
Cake £40
Gift £40
Party (Afternoon do) £80

February Paris (DDs birthday pressie) flights hotel already paid for £324
Rail tickets £30
Park tickets £94
Spending £200

March
Car Insurance £200

April
Festival tickets £200

May
Mums 70th £250

August
Festival £200

October
Girls weekend away £40


Well there's £1174, £98 per month and that's probably just scratched the surface!

I also want to redo the kitchen at my rented out house, the current one was out in 16 years ago, although it's still pretty solid. So my plan is to renew the cooker, sink and dishwasher which doesn't work any more. Replace the work tops and the tiles. I will get a quote for that in the new year so I can start saving.

I need to rename my savings pots and sort out how much per month needs to go in

Skinnylatte

Weekend to do list

• [STRIKE]Ring Sky and see how much I can get off[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Install all water saving devices[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Ring mortgage company re change of address and a few questions[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Ring british gas and make sure I'm on the best tariff[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Stock take of freezer and cupboards[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Meal plan[/STRIKE]

Skinnylatte

So far I've done a stock take on the freezer, I have 28 main meals :eek: Who would have thought it! So food shop in January should be very low.

I've done a price comparison on my electricity/gas and could save £19 per month by switching from br!t!sh gas to Xtra energy. I'm a bit nervous about that as I like my BG app that compares all my usage and I submit my meter readings on, but is it really worth £230 per year extra, probably not. I'll sleep on that one.

I installed the water saving thingy on the shower but haven't tried it yet. For some reason I could not a actually get the top off the toilet to install the bag device thing, it seems attached to something, I'll have to have another look later.
I do love a bath, but they do use a lot of water, I will try and cut down on this, and also make the showers shorter.

Rung Skye and told them I was thinking of moving to BT and could they do better, negotiated a a new deal for the next 12 months of £35.25 from £46.40 for the same package I was already on, saving £133 per year, and none of the hassle around moving providers :T

If I do the energy switch too that's £360 saved before lunch on a Sunday morning

House Insurance renewed for £42.94, which includes cash back of £25.50 so the net amount is £17.44 which is £1.16 cheaper than last year.

I've been through the rest of my fixed expenses, and there's nothing else I can reduce, unless I plead with my landlord for a rent reduction :rotfl:

I just need to reduce 'uneccessary' spends as much as possible. January will see the reintroduction of my spending diary with a running total for things like, alcohol, eating out, clothes, groceries, simply so I can shame myself into spending less

Right off to make some cookies out of 4 very overripe bananas, in fact ones gone mouldy. You do have to wonder if it would not be cheaper just chucking them in the bin than using up the butter/sugar/eggs/electricity and then eating the extra ensuing calories.

Enjoy Sunday xx

PS Also should have said that I'd signed up to the dating site again, the free one, and have a date later today. That's not very mse either, fuel to town £3, parking £4, then possibly part share in coffee of a meal, Well you gotta have a life haven't you???

in_need_of_direction

Here's hoping you get value for money!

pantherchick

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Here's hoping you get value for money!

good luck with the date...x

Ali-OK

Excellent savings with the negotiations and shopping around. I moved my energy last year from BG and set up a spreadsheet in lieu of their apps and website - saved myself about £300 a year too. I think it was well worth it.

Enjoy your date, hope it goes well.

Skinnylatte

The date was OK, it's so tiring talking to strangers, I'm bored of it again already!!

Today I'm heading away for a few days with some friends, we're going back to the Hebrides for New Year. A flipping long way, but shouldn't be too expensive, as travels costs will be split between the 3 of us, and were staying in a hostel and self catering. I'm going to set a budget for the whole lot of £100.

I have discovered the most brilliant APP... Mysupermarket...You can scan items with your phone and it will tell you where you can buy it the cheapest, It's very addictive I've been scanning everything in my kitchen!

I think this will be the last time on online until after the new year. So wishing you a happy and healthy time, and trust that 2015 brings you everything you wish for yourself.

Here's to being debt free in 2015 :beer:

in_need_of_direction

Take care while travelling and enjoy your break.

Ali-OK

Have a fab time and Happy New Year :beer:

Skinnylatte

Thanks Ali & INOD, we had a safe and hilarious hogmanay!

I didn't plan my budget very well, as I'd forgotten about the hostel fees. But managed the week, including transport, accommodation, food and enough drink for a proper scottish hogmanay for £132.

Did a bit of shopping today, lots of fruit and veg, as I fear I'm turning in to a fat lazy f@@ker, so the inevitable new years diet starts today.

Homemade bread and parsnip soup for tea. I have booked myself onto a bread making course, not very mse, as I don't think making bread is cheaper than buying it, but that's not the point. The course is £65.

So far this year I have spent £136.33, that includes the bread making course.

I have also begun to put all my spending on my credit card, with a direct debit to pay the full amount off. I tried this earlier last year, but wasn't very confident in not getting carried away. Having an ap on my phone has helped a lot as I can instantly see what my balances are. I will try this for 3 months and then evaluate after that. The main reason is I have a 1% cashback card, so I can make money on my purchases.

RBS payment has gone out so signature updated

Hoping for a NSD tomorrow.