How to fall in love with saving money

WantToBeSE

Morning Cathy
It sounds like you r day got off to a wonderful start!
I am sat here writing my shopping list, with the intention of doing an online shop later.

I am doing OK, struggling with the motivation at the moment, but still managing to save about £500-£700 a month, depending on what kind of month I am having. This month is a very expensive one. I am awaiting a parcel today, it'll be my sons new laptop for his birthday next week.

Am off to work in a bit, but only until 1.15 so not too bad! Looking forward to the weekend already!

My Mum is poorly at the moment. I had a call a few days ago to say she is in hospital. Its unusual for her to be ill, she avoids the GP at all costs and is generally very healthy.
But they have found a cyst the size of a grapefruit attached to either her ovary or fallopian tube, so is waiting to have an op (today or tomorrow) to have it removed.
So am a bit worried about that.

Anyway, I need to get a move on and get ready for work. Have a wonderful day everyone!

cathybird

hi JoJoC and WantToBeSE!! This seems to be an expensive month for everyone! It is quite frustrating as it really undermines the satisfaction you get from seeing the savings figure constantly rising, doesn't it? And then it's hard to get that feeling back, even if you can find further spare money. If the necessary spending drags on it makes it even worse

WantToBeSE, hope your mum will be all right Cysts can get quite big (I believe) but are otherwise harmless? ... Anyway, sending good thoughts her way, I hope the op goes very smoothly.

JoJoC, the kiwi fruit loaf sounds yum - any chance of you sharing the recipe? ... I am working today, btw, but love waking up early knowing there are hours to go before I have to be anywhere!

cathybird

Have bought some DIY stuff today to fix up a few things around the house so I don't have to pay people to do it. We'll see how this goes. I'm not so bad at painting walls and furniture but my skills don't really extend much beyond that.

I hope everyone else has had a good day and some nice plans for the Easter weekend. I have tomorrow off (unexpectedly, thought I was working) so three days off in a row. Yay!

organic_wanabe

Just popped in to say 'Hi Cathy'. Hope you have enjoyed your unexpected day off - sounds like you are going to be busy over the weekend with your DIY and your allotment. I have had a very expensive month so far. My son and I both have birthdays in April and I have pushed the boat out on the pressie front. He just returned to London this afternoon and so whilst he has been at home we have eaten out at all our favourite restaurants. In some ways it will be good to get back to a normal spending pattern but I am sure we will miss him (though not the mess he creates). Another expense was booking the Castex Hotel in Paris for a few nights at the beginning of July (for my husband's birthday) so thank you for the recommendation.

I am another one who votes for you to join your employment 'Share Save Scheme'. My career was in Higher Education so I never had the opportunity. However, I have a number of family members and friends who have benefited from such schemes and would be first in the queue if I was given the opportunity.

I vow that as from tomorrow I will be back on the straight and narrow - both in terms of spending and eating. A few light days for me! Have a great weekend.

cathybird

hi organic wanabe! Good to hear from you. Sounds like you have had a lovely month actually. I hope you enjoy staying at the Castex in July. Do visit the boulangerie just round the corner - it was excellent. Thanks for the vote on the share scheme, by the sound of it I should definitely go for it.

WantToBeSE

cathybird wrote: »

Have bought some DIY stuff today to fix up a few things around the house so I don't have to pay people to do it. We'll see how this goes. I'm not so bad at painting walls and furniture but my skills don't really extend much beyond that.

I hope everyone else has had a good day and some nice plans for the Easter weekend. I have tomorrow off (unexpectedly, thought I was working) so three days off in a row. Yay!

I have today off as well I thought I was going to be working, but the client cancelled. Not back at work until Monday now Woo-Hoo!
And how am I spending this precious time off? I am washing my curtains :rotfl: Oh I am so rock n roll!

Have a lovely weekend off Cathy! And good luck with the DIY.

cathybird

hi WantToBeSE! Good to hear from you too. It is lovely to have time off. I managed to coax my lawnmower into working this morning, after a slow start - it had lain idle all winter in the shed and I suspect had a little old fuel left in it too, which was clogging it up. Anyway, it did start, so I have mowed the front and back lawns at my house and the allotment, which are all looking a lot tidier. Now I am feeling virtuous. Yay! Don't know if that's quite as rock and roll as washing curtains tho I might pop out to do a little food shopping later but apart from that have the rest of the day at home. I love just hanging round at home.

cathybird

Happy Easter Sunday, all. I've made a saving of £96 per year by the realisation that I can clean my windows myself (even the upstairs ones). I had been thinking I needed a window cleaner to do it (there is one who does the windows in this street and he charges £8 for each monthly visit). But I don't need him. So, that's more money for the pot.

I have to go to work today but am not expecting that it will be a terribly taxing day.

WantToBeSE

Morning Cathy Have a lovely day at work. I am back at work tomorrow, so am enjoying my last day of freedom. That said, I also have Tuesday off because my son has a dental appointment, so an easy week for me this week.
I'll be glad to get back to a normal week though, as the less hours I work, the less money I get at the end of the week. I am looking forward to getting a proper weekly amount again!

YoungBusinessman

Well iv fallen right off the wagon, spending money like iv got weeks left to live/as if money is going out of fashion. Back on it, not going to dwell on this past 4 months of slow saving at the start of the year. Things will pick up. Having a no spend day today to start me back off on savings bus. Got the motors cleaned this morning, a heap of washing, windows washed and grass cut. Just taking a 10 minute break before I go back out to strim the grass edges around the house. Don't like how the grass is right against property but minor issue. Would rather there was a little bit of chuckles or something separating.

Good news though, we bought place for £112k December 12, same property just down road was going at 115 late last year but 2 months ago one sold at £120k. Only difference being we have asbestos garage roof. Away to get it replaced though when I'm off in the summer. New bathroom and kitchen(cheap kitchen to be honest) getting put in over summer aswel and that will be the last of the woodchip off(hallelujah!!!) making progress on the house front.


Savings wise will be at £2k+ for the year at end April. Not doing well but had a few one off expenses and got a holiday booked and paid for. May, June July and August are my main months to save as on weather depending price work job so income can ride as much as £1,000 PCM. In July I get 3 weeks paid holiday for "trades", going to try and get a few of my own freelance jobs lined up and work most of it, hopefully bring in an extra 4 figure that can go straight to the savings!!

Going to stop rambling now, got a new budget to make up in my head as I strim the grass!!