WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

WantToBeSE

Morning All

I have changed the way in which i budget, in the hopes that it'll mean i can save more money.

On the day i get paid, i withdraw everything i need for the food shopping, petrol costs and anything else i pay for in cash, in cash.
So i shouldnt have to touch the money in the account until the end of the month.

I withdraw £400 a month, which does my food shopping and the leftovers from that get put in my pot for Christmas.

The reason i have started this is because Natwest have written to tell me that they are closing my local branch. The closest branch after that is about a 20 minute drive away, which is an inconvenience to get to.
So by doing it this way, i will (hopefully) only have to actually go to the bank once a month.

Today i will be doing a meal plan. I am trying to get back into it, but its not going so well.

Eco_Miser

Well, taking a month's spending out at once in cash may help saving - or it may burn a hole in your pocket.
Can't you withdraw cash as needed from a different (nearer) bank's ATM?

WantToBeSE

Good point, EM, and one that i have considered.
I want to avoid going to a bank as much as possible, so i feel better having the cash at home.

JoJoC

Hi all, just wanted to pop in to sat that baby (boy) Sam arrived on 1st June, 11 days late. All is well and we're adjusting to our new family quite well.

I think it'll be a while before I'm organised enough to get back on tge savings bandwagon, but the freezer meals that I made have been a god send! We still have loads left, too.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying some nice weather?

Jo

WantToBeSE

Congratulations Jo! I hope you are all doing OK and that your older son is enjoying being a big brother

WantToBeSE

If anyone is interested in keeping up with my journey, i have started a blog. I felt it was more suitable than continuing to write here.

To find the link, just click on my name and then on 'go to WTBSEs homepage!'.

atush

JoJoC wrote: »

Hi all, just wanted to pop in to sat that baby (boy) Sam arrived on 1st June, 11 days late. All is well and we're adjusting to our new family quite well.

I think it'll be a while before I'm organised enough to get back on tge savings bandwagon, but the freezer meals that I made have been a god send! We still have loads left, too.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying some nice weather?

Jo

Congrats Jojo!

I was in france when you posted this so missed it lol

atush

WantToBeSE wrote: »

If anyone is interested in keeping up with my journey, i have started a blog. I felt it was more suitable than continuing to write here.

To find the link, just click on my name and then on 'go to WTBSEs homepage!'.

That sounds great! But for me, I probably wont be able to keep following it. AS i wont be reminded to when I click on the forums here. And if I try and add another favorite, it will just get swallowed up in the huge list lol.

I did think about you when you hadn't posted for so long!

atush

I've read it as it stands so far. Good going.

No mention of the business, have you closed it? Good luck ont he PAYG front, it would be nice to see you get something with some benefits like a pension.

WantToBeSE

atush wrote: »

That sounds great! But for me, I probably wont be able to keep following it. AS i wont be reminded to when I click on the forums here. And if I try and add another favorite, it will just get swallowed up in the huge list lol.

I did think about you when you hadn't posted for so long!

atush wrote: »

I've read it as it stands so far. Good going.

No mention of the business, have you closed it? Good luck on the PAYG front, it would be nice to see you get something with some benefits like a pension.

Thanks atush The business is still going, but i have had o let go of my employees and i am just running it as a sole trader at the moment.
This is due to my son having some quite severe mental health issues at the moment, so i need to be at home more with him.
I am hoping that we can move to the next town across, so that my son can go to all of his appointments himself, without me needing to drive him, which means i can work more.
At the moment he has 1-3 meetings a week, with therapy, psychiatrist, home ed workers etc, so it's very stressful.

I am still saving what money i can, although it's very limited due to the fact that my income has dropped my 50%