WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

WantToBeSE

Thank You Tiger Eyes It feels great!

WantToBeSE

I have so much I want to write again this evening, but no energy to do it. I will give you a quick recap...

-Why am I running out of food on a Tuesday, I only went shopping on Friday!

-I have a £15 off a £60 online shop with Tesco. Get in! Totally using that, along with my Double points and money off vouchers.

-Why am I so darn tired this week?

-Haven't even written next weeks budget, I normally do this the week before.

-Did I mention I am tired?

-My car is still working and able to get me from A-B without breaking down.

-Dry January was ruined last weekend

- Clean Eating may be the way forward

-Hmm, Peppermint tea is nice, but its no replacement for the real thing!

OK, I am off to bed now

cathybird

Morning WantToBeSE. I have to say something I absolutely never do is run out of food Always well stocked. In fact I'm quite inefficient in the way I use my supplies, probably - I go out and buy more food when I don't need to. Hmmm, something to do with my high food bill perhaps? ...

I actually love mint tea and much prefer it to ordinary. So, there you go.

Hope you slept well and awoke well rested.

financialbliss

Hi WantToBeSE,

Being a quiet follower of your diary, you're clearly working very hard on building up your savings. But are your savings accounts working as hard for you?

We did a top to bottom review of our accounts in the latter months of last year, first changing our credit cards to cash back credit cards and then reviewed our bank and savings accounts.

I've started on the hunt for savings accounts and I'm attempting to get the best rates I can, starting high and working towards the lower rate accounts. Not a plug for my own diary, but in my diary:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4832503

see the top of post two, which shows a spreadsheet listing the accounts held, the rate and balance for each and a product rate which is calculated for all accounts.

Have you got any good savings accounts?

The plus point about current accounts, is that they are instant access and with faster payments, you can withdraw pretty much instantly, eg if you had a car emergency. We also got cash back (QuidCo) for switching current accounts. Food for thought perhaps?

FB.

WantToBeSE

Hi everyone

I thought I would write on here before dinner time, as I am shattered by 7pm these days! I really do not know why I am feeling so tired recently. I have decided to incorporate some extra iron rich foods into my diet for a while and hopefully that'll help.

Food-I haven't run out of things to make meals with really, just snack stuff, fruit and veg, milk, bread, eggs and stuff like that. I really don't know why. I don't think we have eaten any more than usual since Friday. I am going to have to do an online shop this evening, but will use the money off vouchers I mentioned in my previous post. Hopefully that'll make sure I have enough for 2 weeks, or at least 10 days!

I am craving chocolate and wine today. I think I just want it to be the weekend I might buy myself some fruit salad pots from Tesco, as I am trying to eat less rubbish food. No alcohol for me tonight though, I am struggling to get up in the mornings as it is!

Had to spend £50 this morning on various bills (Booooo!) but it was planned. So savings took a £50 hit. Never mind, I will make up for it at the end of this week. I should be able to save about £100 this week, but need to sit down and write the budget out.

FinancialBliss- I need to improve my credit rating before I can open any other accounts. I would like to change to Barclays when I am able.

cathybird

WantToBeSE wrote: »

I am craving chocolate and wine today.

This is me pretty well every day

Hope you have a restful evening, WantToBeSE.

WantToBeSE

Hi All

I have FINALLY done the online shop! I hate food shopping so much, but it's done now! I often wonder if it'd be easier to do the food shopping monthly instead of weekly..that's something for me to ponder on.
I bought a total of £99.28, and used coupons to bring it down to £80.03 That's what I'd call savvy!

I have also written out the budget for next week ( my weekly budgets go from Fri-Thurs). So whatever I get paid by the agency tomorrow (approx. £100) will go straight into savings.

I dug out my old 'foodie folders' which are basically lists of 31 main meals, 12 lunches and 12 breakfasts. The idea being that within those lists will be all the inspiration to plan a months worth of food for us. Then my 2nd folder contains any recipes I need for those meals, plus any new recipes that I would like to try.

So meal plans, LTW plans and budgets all done for the week

cathybird

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Hi All

I have FINALLY done the online shop! I hate food shopping so much, but it's done now! I often wonder if it'd be easier to do the food shopping monthly instead of weekly..that's something for me to ponder on.
I bought a total of £99.28, and used coupons to bring it down to £80.03 That's what I'd call savvy!

I have also written out the budget for next week ( my weekly budgets go from Fri-Thurs). So whatever I get paid by the agency tomorrow (approx. £100) will go straight into savings.

I dug out my old 'foodie folders' which are basically lists of 31 main meals, 12 lunches and 12 breakfasts. The idea being that within those lists will be all the inspiration to plan a months worth of food for us. Then my 2nd folder contains any recipes I need for those meals, plus any new recipes that I would like to try.

So meal plans, LTW plans and budgets all done for the week

I love food shopping. It's better to do it online though because in the supermarket itself it's hard to walk out without something you didn't plan to buy (well, I find it hard, anyway).

atush

" I often wonder if it'd be easier to do the food shopping monthly instead of weekly..that's something for me to ponder on."


Well you can't do this if you use fresh foods like fruit, veg meat- even ready meals. I can't go 7 days w/o shopping s nothing fresh lasts that long esp meat. Tonight we had cheese and salad left over from last Friday's shop. The salad part would not have made it til tomorrow even.


You can do this IF you use canned and dry goods ie ambient temp foods, and have an empty freezer (for meats and any pre-prepared foods) and do top up shops every 4/5 days.


In fact, tonite there was a fresh baguette ( we buy one at least 4 times per week( not to mention fresh sliced bread at least every 4 days.

longleggedhair

Hi Wanttobese

Long time lurker here and have loved reading your inspirational posts.

I started saving about ten years ago. I suffer from a health problem and I am aware that I wont be able to work as I am now until normal retirement age, and was determined not to be left at the mercy of state benefits.

I suppose that is my focus and really helps to focus your mind, and im such an addict now! I still enjoy myself but do it in a savvy way if that makes sense!

Anyway onto my reason for posting, I noticed you said you were saving for a deposit on a new place to rent. Have you thought about buying somewhere, especially given the governments help to buy scheme which I think you can buy with a deposit of as little as 5%.

This is another way of saving. Every mortgage payment you are saving a bit toward your own house, not paying someones mortgage for them! Just a thought and I know buying is not for everyone, but I think it would make good sense for you and give your lovely self and your children some long term security.