My quest to be more of a "saver" and less "spendy"

brightnotes

So sorry to hear about your Dad, it must be very difficult to try and concentrate on anything, let alone money saving, with someone you love so unwell. Thoughts are with you!

I'm off to subscribe to your diary now, coffee is definitely one of my downfalls too.

Spendysaver

Thank you BN x

I phoned the hospital this morning, he's had a comfortable night, but no change. Little brother is with him this afternoon and mum and I will be there tonight.

I'm trying to put my MSE head back on this morning, so I've checked my online banking, everything is marked up in my spends notebook and I've just transferred £17.00 from my paypal account into my Bank Account. £10 was then moved to my emergency fund and £5 to my debt fund which leaves £2 in my current account to go towards postage. I know postage will be more than £2, but I can cover that from my current acc. I've also rounded my savings up to £1.005.00 because £1,002.20 looks like a messy number.

Sooo, the totals now stand as follows:-

Emergency Fund £200
Debt Fund £45
Savings still the same £1,005.00

If its the last thing I do, I'll get rid of these bills. Is not a huge amount compared to what some people have managed to shift, but its too much!

11 days till payday.

I hope everyone else has a good day x

Spendysaver

Ok............now its all changed! I just had a brainstorm. Instead of sitting here I decided to try and do the sensible thing and give myself the kick up the b*m I mentioned.

Here is the situation as it stood this morning.

Ne*t - £834.93
Deben*ams - £513.68
Halif*x CC1 - £592.75
Nationwi*e CC2 - £1958.77

This is what I did:-

I transferred all my savings into one pot and paid off Debenh*ms in full. I wasn't brave enough to completely empty my savings so I paid off Ne*t with my Halifax card. I then phoned up the Halif*x and asked if they had balance transfers available for existing customers and they transferred me to their "loyalty dept" where I transferred £1,612.00 off my NW balance onto a 9 month 0% deal with the Halif*x - phew!

So this is it now, the full picture

CC1 - £3,088.04
CC2 - £346.77

Savings account/emergency account £730.00........and that's it in black and white for the whole world to see!

Distraction tactics to keep me occupied, maybe, but at least its productive and at least I'm not online ordering that Kitchenaid food mixer I've been lusting after for weeks. If I want it I'll save up for it!

Spendysaver

My moneysaving hasn't been up to much this week.

I lost my father two days ago so moneysaving has been the last thing on my mind. I can't believe I'm not going to see my dad again, I thought he'd go forever!!

I've just mustered up the courage to check my online banking and transferred £30 from my savings to my bank account to keep me going till payday (which is in 7 days). We've been living on pasties and takeaways since last week.

I have to go out and face things today. I need to post two parcels that sold last week. I messaged the buyers to explain the delay. I hope they understand but if they don't, they don't, there's nothing I can do about it. Dad was diagnosed in February but in the end he got really ill really quickly.

I have nothing to wear to the funeral next week so I have to go shopping tomorrow, which means using my credit card or my Ne*t card because my bank account has just enough in it to cover the mortgage plus the £30 which will have to go on diesel. On top of everything else my car needs its second service this year because I've done so much mileage taking dad to doctors and chemo appointments etc. This really brings it home why you need an emergency fund!

I need to take control now or I'll be in a real mess, my dad never owed anyone any money his whole life. I need to sort this out!

Mara_uk7

**hugs** Spendysaver, Im so sorry for your loss. Dads really are special and we all expect them to be there forever. Ive been through it, lost my dad to cancer too, So I understand just how lost and sad you must be feeling. Big Hug, thats all ... x

DreamerHelen

I am so sorry to hear of your loss....Just please take good care of yourself as much as you can do....

And please do come on here and let us know if there is anything we can do....or if you just need us to listen to you...xXx

Spendysaver

Ive just written a huge post and lost it all! It was a bit rambly so its probably not a bad thing it disappeared.

Thank you both for your kind words. Ive always been a daddys girl so its hit me very hard. I cant believe he won't be around now.

My boys have been brilliant, my DS2 is a big lad and a hug from him makes everything feel better. He should be available on the NHS!

I've had another brainstorm (yes another one!) this morning, I was shopping for my mum and paid £10 for a Help for Heroes friendship bracelet, so my £30 is now down to £20! My dad was my hero so perhaps that was the logic behind it, I don't know!

I was helping my mum sort out some clothes for the funeral and found black jacket of mine in her wardrobe. I used to be a size 10 a long time ago and didn't expect it to fit, but it did! Sizes must have been bigger then or it was a very generous size 10!

Right, I'm off to check my online banking to see if my mortgage went out.

Spendysaver

Today has been a "spendy" day!

I've ordered flowers for the funeral but I'm not going to tell you how much they cost - I had no idea wreaths could be so expensive, but I think I've chosen a nice one without breaking the bank. I also bought a pair of black trousers, but these can also be worn to work.

People can surprise you sometimes, in a good way. My boss sent me a lovely card today with a really nice handwritten message. People DO notice the little things you do, even though you may think nobody notices, sometimes they do. When you're exhausted and upset one kind word makes all the difference

I'll have to update my credit card totals, but I'll do that tomorrow. It's too late for calculations tonight.