How to fall in love with saving money

jimjames

cathybird wrote: »

I've got four bags of apples plus three other trees still groaning with fruit. I told fellow allotmenters that they could just take as many Bramleys as suited them but there's still going to be a lot of fruit left over, I think.

If you have too many for your own uses could you sell some rather than just giving away? Even if it's just a quid for a bag it might add up and help your savings. I've found that people are happy to pay to get home grown almost organic produce. Do you have an intranet or selling page where you could sell to anyone at work or on a local forum to where you live? I've sold surplus eggs and veg to people at work and I could easily sell far more than I actually have.

cathybird

jimjames wrote: »

If you have too many for your own uses could you sell some rather than just giving away? Even if it's just a quid for a bag it might add up and help your savings. I've found that people are happy to pay to get home grown almost organic produce. Do you have an intranet or selling page where you could sell to anyone at work or on a local forum to where you live? I've sold surplus eggs and veg to people at work and I could easily sell far more than I actually have.

It's a thought, JimJames ... certainly worth a try, I suspect. I might ask around at work tomorrow and see if people would go for it. There are others with allotments and they may well have gluts of their own right now but not everyone has got one.

Matt1977

Great thread! Well done Cathy. :T

cathybird

Thanks Matt1977!! I have a long way to go yet

cathybird

The thought that I had started this thread spurred me to spend almost nothing today - I did buy some bread for weekly supplies, but that was all. On a Sunday at work I'd normally get a couple of sandwiches and a coffee and fruit and something sweet from the Pret near the station and I reckon I would probably spend on average maybe £10, £12? So £0 is a welcome change, and I have MSE and the support I've had so far to thank.

cathybird

Spent £6 today on parking at the nearest tube station because the train was up the spout due to the storm. Didn't need to spend the money though - could have walked to the tube if I'd left enough time but I didn't. A good example of me being unprepared.

cathybird

It still helps that I'm keeping track of it here. And my plan to take food to work is going really well. I took some chilli con carne with potato today and it was yummy - at least as good as what I could have bought in the work canteen.

cathybird

Sticking to the "take your own lunch, no spend on food" routine. Another small amount added to savings pot.

I feel a little foolish as I have stuck the money into an Isa, not spotting that the advice on this thread is to go for savings accounts instead to get a better rate of interest. However, at least I've turned the ship round and am saving instead of spending.

tara747

Welcome to the world of saving, cathybird! It does get addictive, I promise

I have saved a decent amount of money (see my sig) by looking after the pennies, as others have said. You must justify every single spending decision. Prioritise so that you can still have the things you really enjoy, but leave out the things that you wouldn't really miss.

Always look for a good deal, and use cashback sites wherever you can.

Bulk buy non-perishables when they're on offer.

Cook from scratch, make batches of meals, eat less meat, watch out for reduced items in the supermarket, get to know your local butcher, greengrocer, market etc. I love agirlcalledjack.com - read her website and you'll be totally inspired. The OS board here has some amazing recipes and general tips. I'm like you, I like good food and I do spend a little more to eat better. But I don't eat meat every day, and that helps.

If you can sell stuff on eBay, you'll add to your savings really quickly *and* get rid of clutter.

Above all, have a goal in mind. This will motivate you when you feel tempted to fritter money away!

But don't forget to live and have fun as well. I could have more money saved if I didn't enjoy travelling so much. But I refuse to compromise on that. I don't spend money on magazines, takeaways, coffees, gym fees or any of that stuff - but I love holidays!

Good luck!

YoungBusinessman

Listen to someone who knows : Tara knows exactly what she's talking about! It's about questioning every purchase you make and sleeping on some of the decisions, you will change your mind about buying a lot of stuff if a few days later you see the money still sitting in account you won't miss what you didn't buy!! I'm all about getting by till winter is out the way then need back on savings big time. Account is at one months expenses with a pay due a week tomorrow. Not "skint" but pretty close to it! Putting a lot into savings maybe a little too much, if that's possible!

Find there's nothing more annoying and morale killing than putting money into a savings account just to have to take it back out to pay the bills. 2014 could be the year a lot of us get ourselves sorted financially and living frugal.