WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

JoJoC

So where are you at with the business stuff? Are you just taking some time to think about things just now?

Sounds like you're doing well at the gym and swimming! At least you're getting use out of your membership.

We're having a quiet weekend this weekend. Got my dad some boxers for fathers day. Wouldn't normally buy my dad underwear but he needs some and was talking about them the other day.

If the weather is nice, we'll be going down to mum and dad's for a fathers day bbq.

We put £9 in the tin last night (or the night before?) and another £4 today and it's getting quite heavy! Maybe half full, although I'm rubbish at guessing stuff.

organic_wanabe

Hi WTBSE,

As far as I can make out the 'positives' of taking over the business far outweigh the 'negative' of you worrying about 'mucking up'. It is a business you know about and you have attended 'business start-up' workshops. I know that in both Edinburgh and London there are professional people, with plenty money but short of time, who are very keen to find good and reliable cleaners. However, I am sure you have researched your local market and you said you have ideas for advertising the business.

Obviously, you can't make a decision until you know the fine detail. However, you mustn't be afraid of exploring the opportunity further, with an open mind and confidence in your abilities. Also, go to the meeting well-prepared and with your 'business head' on and not with an employer/employee attitude prepared to accept whatever is said.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

WantToBeSE

Good morning everyone


I have decided to go for it. The worst that can happen is that it wont work out, and in that case I would just either open my own business from scratch, or just return to being a SE cleaner.


Savings wise, I haven't managed to add any more to my account. This is because I had a few days off last week due to illness (kids). So my pay was low last week.
However, I have been working extra hours this week to make up for it, so I should be able to save some money this week, approx. £200 hopefully, but we'll see. I'll also be able to save some of the CB that I get next week, after I pay for the boys to have new shoes and PE kits.

JoJoC

That's amazing that you're going for the business!! What's the next steps then? How soon will it all happen?

It's big work stuff all round this week by the looks of it. That's me done my first week in the boss' job now that she's on sabbatical. It all went smoothly, let's just hope the next 12 weeks will be as smooth

Are you back to the weekly savings WTBSE? I added £260 to the savings tonight by selling a tablet that we got for next to nothing with a phone contract. I haven't updated my signature yet though.

My husband and I have made big plans for the next year- save £10k by next June, then put our flat on the market and start trying for baby number two. Anything above the £10k that we save will go towards extra funds for the new house/ extra money for when Im on maternity leave again. Obviously this is depending on a lot of factors but it feels nice to have a rough plan in mind/ goal.

I've now got husband on board with the no spending thing after our chat. Tomorrow we're going for a walk with our wee boy and taking a picnic (normally we'd be planning where we should eat out). A new leaf must be turned!

WantToBeSE

Good afternoon!


Oh I am so tempted to open the lovely bottle of wine that currently chilling in the fridge. Is that too naughty for a Sunday?


I am not working tomorrow, so am starting on my 1st Self-assessment. EEk!! And tomorrow is my favourite day of the year, as its the 1st day of Wimbledon! Sod the footie, tennis is where all the excitement is


Jo, no I am back to the monthly savings now. I wait until the end of the month when I get paid by my clients, get my tax credits and also I get my petrol allowance for the agency. I have held on to £100 of it his month. Not good at all, but better than nothing I guess!


The car is in for a service on Saturday, plus we have to have haircuts booked for this week.


The good news is that once this week is over, I SHOULD be able to go back to saving £500ish a month (hopefully more).


I am not sure what is going to happen financially when I take over the agency. I will still be working the same hours as I do now, as some of my private clients will come over to the agency with me. But I don't know if i'll be able to claim tax credits still if I have people working for me. To start with it'll only be other person, until I can get more staff.
The first thing I will have to do is find staff. I can offer school hours (9-1 mainly) so I think it'd be good for parents.


Anyway, I will work it all out, I am sure!


Jo- your future plans sound very exciting, it must be great to have your husband on board I hope you have had a nice few days in the lovely sunshine? Its been soooooo hot here in Cornwall!
I have saved a fortune in electricity by being able to hand washing out on the line instead of using the TD.


The boys are off with their Dad this weekend, so it'll be a quiet one. I am not going to spend any money, so I will just go for a nice morning walk by the beach on Sunday morning before picking them up.
The gym is still going really well and I am enjoying it a lot. I am trying out a new class tomorrow morning, fitness pilates. I have NO core strength so I am a bit worried about making a prat of myself, but no harm in trying it.


How is everyone else doing?

JoJoC

Well, did you give in to wine temptation? I was seriously tempted last night when out for a management team dinner but drove instead and stuck to water. Very sensible.

£100 is definitely better than nothing! Have you worked out how much you should be able you save in your next round of savings? I'm getting my e-payslip tomorrow so should be able to work out how much I'll be able to save then. I'm off to London with my friend a week on Saturday so spending money for that will eat into my potential savings for the month.

The last couple of weeks have been glorious here- beautiful sunshine! In fact, I'm sure Glasgow was the hottest place in the UK two days running a couple of weeks ago. It's a bit drizzly this week but it's still warm.

How's the plans for the agency going? Well I hope.

Your quiet spend-free weekend sounds fab! Glad to hear that you're doing well at the gym too and the weight loss is going in the right direction. I walk to and from my parking space at work (usually briskly because I'm running late) which is only 10 mins each way and other than that, the only exercise I get is chasing about after my wee boy.

Is everyone having a good week? Savings doing well?

We're staying super motivated- hooray!

JoJoC

Well, just a quick update.

It's payday and i managed to squirrel away £200 for my trip to London next week plus £500 for my savings account. I'm sure I'll manage to put a bit more away as the month progresses too, as husband gets paid weekly.

Im just about to go and update my signature but I think I'm at about £2100 total now! C'mon!!!

Hope everyone is having a good day. Im delighted that it's the weekend

WantToBeSE

Well done JO, that's amazing!! Very inspiring, I need a kick up the bottom!
I just seem to have 1 thing after another to pay for at the moment. Car is having a service this morning (£120 if everything goes well), I am getting my hair done (£50, but it was planned and saved for), all of my direct debits and standing orders go out this week (£250)....its never ending!!


However, I am really getting my moneys worth out of the gym! Not only am I going 4x a week (and have started to get compliments about having lost weight and toned up!), therefore getting fitter, but I also haven't had a bath/shower at my own house for a month!
I use their shower every time I go to the gym.
We go swimming twice a week too (inc. in the membership price), and I use their showers again there. Very MSE


I shouldn't need to spend more than £50 on food shopping this week, as I want to make sure I eat what is already in the cupboard, freezer etc.

JoJoC

Consider this a gentle nudge with my foot to help you along the way!!

Sounds like you've had an expensive month! There's always going to be months that too much needs done and money needs to be spent.

Glad you're managing to get extra benefits out of the gym/ swimming membership! Hope your water bill is dramatically lower!

My little one needs new shoes but we couldn't get anything we liked that fitted properly which is annoying. We did buy him a minion as he loves Despicable Me. We had a voucher left over from Xmas so only spent £5.01!! We haven't bought him much for ages so it was nice to treat him and get a bargain!

JoJoC

Also, im going to do my meal plan tonight so I can go out tomorrow morning, do my shopping and get some cooking done when I get home. Want to do a but of batch cooking for the freezer, even though it's tiny.

Fajitas for dinner tonight! Yum!