How to fall in love with saving money

cathybird

Well the computer just chewed up my long comment for this morning, no idea how. :mad::mad::mad: It was all about washing machines and the weather (it's raining, and will do for the next two weeks - typical British summer then). Instead of all that, I read this quite interesting column by Oliver Burkeman in the Guardian this weekend. It is all about "course correction", ie how much success at long-term goals - saving, losing weight, whatever - depends on what you do when you "slip up" in small ways. I found it really useful to think about and hoped others might find the same.

atush

My old one replaced at 20 years (still working with a repair) was a hoover. Did well.

I'll let you know when the matching TD breaks lol

JoJoC

I've just bookmarked that article to read when I'm not half asleep Cathy. Hope you're having a good week

cathybird

Morning all. I hope everyone is well. Hi JoJoC! The article is well worth reading and made me think about my money habits, always a good thing in my book. Meanwhile, I have friends coming for lunch tomorrow (again) so have had my mind on that, and I also have my dad coming to stay pretty shortly, which I have also been preoccupied by, so have been pretty quiet this week on MSE.

I had a slight shock this week with my salary - I had asked work to start putting it into my new TSB account, but payroll reckoned the sort code wasn't legitimate, so I gave them the details of my Santander account instead, all this after the cutoff point for this month anyway, so I assumed my pay would go into my Smile account as usual. But when I checked yesterday my Smile account was overdrawn because my salary hadn't gone into it! No salary in my Santander account either. It was in my TSB account. No harm done on Smile as I quickly moved money into it. This is the sort of thing that makes me wonder if I'm quite on top of my money really.

JoJoC

What a pain Cathy! What if you hadn't been on online banking and able to rectify the situation? That's really not good of your payroll team at least it's sorted I suppose.

I still haven't done anything with my 123 account because the thought of having to call every single company and change my direct debits over seems like too huge a task! And I'm lazy.

I'm sure if I write a list, I'll manage it.

Added £200 to my savings last night so it's starting to pick up again. Trying to get back on track! A

As of next month my salary will be going up slightly because my secondment starts, so that'll be some extra funds too

White_Rose_Tight_ThaKnows

Something suddenly just dawned on me (so much so I immediately signed in here to post!), I think at some point I'm going to need a thread to advise me "how to fall in love with spending money"!!

I've always thought of myself as frugal - even when I have been a bit slapdash with spending; books, meals out, binge food, etc. - but since January I've really looked at my money and embraced the MSE in me and the attitude is (literally) paying off.

However, everything is now just a number. I've shied away from joining my local tag-rugby initiative - which would help with my weight and non-existent social life - because it's £3 per week and could be for 20 weeks. :mad:

Being a Billy-no-mates has saved me hundreds already this year, but it seems at the moment I prefer for it to sit in a bank collecting interest than use it to have a life.

JoJoC

White rose- good on you for changing your ways. Are you happy having no social life?

Personally, I find that a little balance and little treats make the saving a lot easier! However, I've got a cheek to say that as I've recent 'fallen off the wagon' so trying to get back to a nice balance.

Eco_Miser

White_Rose_Tight_ThaKnows wrote: »

Something suddenly just dawned on me (so much so I immediately signed in here to post!), I think at some point I'm going to need a thread to advise me "how to fall in love with spending money"!!

I had need of such a thread five years ago, when I retired. After a lifetime (so far) of frugality, and no more going out to work, I could have turned into a real miser. Instead I made a vow to go out and spend on a little luxury at least once a week. (Ice-cream in Helmsley after a walk over the North Yorks Moors was a favourite, meeting ex-neighbours at a coffee morning is another). These are just small regular amounts, and well within my budget, but they mean I do have a social life.

I'm still actually saving money BTW.

JoJoC

I'm glad you enjoy a treat or two Eco Miser!

Eco_Miser

Yes, just little treats, I've reached where I was saving for, so I should be spending some of it - nearly a fiver on fish & chips in Settle last week! (Hiding from the rain)