WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

JoJoC

Wow- what's busy couple of days! Hope the wedding is lovely today and you all have a fab time!

I'm off to the softplay this morning for a playdate with a friend and her little boy who's four months younger than mine. Then this afternoon after nap time (my son's, not mine!) I'm meeting a friend for a coffee then need to get organised because husband and I are off to see Derren Brown tonight. Really looking forward to it. The tickets were a gift at Christmas.

Tomorrow will be quiet- just doing food shopping and some housework. Might pop to the park if it's nice.

JoJoC

Another quick update- husband just got paid so transferred £150 across, giving me just say of £2.5k! Really chuffed that it's another milestone hit. I'm going to try REALLY hard to hit £3k when I get paid on Friday.

Enjoying our time off so far- going for an early dinner with friends later on so just chilling out today.

Tomorrow we're going to gut the flat then go to parents for dinner then on Thursday we'll go swimming in the morning then a bbq in the afternoon.

Love being off work!

WantToBeSE

Hiya!


had a FAB (but busy!) time at the wedding It was a beautiful ceremony and am so proud to have been the best (wo)man


Today we are off to Warminster for the night, as we are off to Longleat again! We are staying in a Travelodge (same one as last time) tonight, then going to Longleat tomorrow and then driving home tomorrow too.


Total cost for the trip? £66 Got all 3 Longleat tickets 'free' through my clubcard points! So £66 is the cost of the Travelodge for the night (hence why we didn't stay for 2 nights!).


I am LOVING my week off work too Jo!


As you may be able to tell, frugal July isn't going very well. However, I don't feel TOO guilty (just a tad though!) as my kid deserve some nice time away. The wedding cost a bit more than anticipated, so had to take £100 out of savings. Will update the sig later. But the £66 for the next few days has come out of the money I have been saving from whats been left over from our weekly shopping budget.

JoJoC

Glad you had such a fab time at the wedding!

How is/ was Longleat? I've lost track of days here.

It's a shame about frugal July, but c'est la vie. You've got plenty of time for saving- your friends wedding is much more important!

No more savings for me until friday- I'm itching to see how much I'm getting paid to work out how much cheaper I can save. So hope I can squeeze out £500 to hit £3k. I think that'll really boost me! I still want some 'spending money' for the rest of our time off though so don't want to go super frugal just to hit £3k and not be able to go anywhere while we're off.

Today we need to wait in for a delivery so we're about to commence operation clear out in the flat! Joy!

WantToBeSE

OK, signature updated...I am embarrassed! Never mind, I just have to do better. So much for frugal July!


I am not going to spend a single penny until Saturday now (food shopping), and certainly nothing on 'leisure'.


I am going to write a meal plan before I do the food shopping on Saturday, and stick to it.


I am worried that I am losing the enthusiasm to save money. I need to be able to find cheap things to do with the kids. I find everything so much more expensive now they are older too.


*sigh* I REALLY NEED A KICK UP THE BUM...any takers?

JoJoC

I'm sorry that you're so down in enthusiasm for saving mrs. I don't know what the answer is!

We all go through peaks and troughs with it- I had a pretty major setback a fewomths back and I should easily be £1.5k above what we have now. But we need to live too!

What about a short term, achievable goal? Like cutting down your food bill by £20 per week? Setting aside a small weekly budget for 'fun' might help?

What about keeping a tighter rein on your finances and look at them twice weekly?

I'm sorry, I'm not the best person for advice! I slip up more than most!

You're doing well, you've got money in the bank, food in the cupboards and a house with two lovely boys in it. Everything else csn be a work in progress.

WantToBeSE

Thanks Jo.


The summer holidays really isn't a good time to try and reduce my shopping bill, a starving teen and an active 10 yr old both demolish LOTS of food. However, I AM going to limit the junk food this summer holiday.


Meal plan written and I WILL stick to it!


I am so determined to make sure that I at least have a frugal week, from now until next Friday.

JoJoC

Good good, glad to see some positivity! Keep it up!

Just FYI, and hopefully it doesn't scupper your plans, but todsy there's a £5 off £45 spend at Aldi in the daily record and mirror.

We've got a low spend day today- need to get a daily record, disposable bbq and some Burgers from the butchers so total £10.

We're going to visit my Mil this morning then bbq with the neighbours later.

WantToBeSE

Thanks Jo


Food shopping done. Spent £60 in Aldi, didn't see your message before I went, could have saved myself £5. Darn it! Never mind. Didn't buy any junk food, and the kids are already saying "there isn't any food in the house" even though there is plenty really!


Had a nice workout at the gym this morning too. The weather is beautiful here, so am hoping to either go to the beach this evening, or possibly go swimming instead. I quite fancy an evening at the beach. We'll see how cooperative the children are

JoJoC

Typical that you didn't see the voucher! I'll try to remember with more notice next month

£60 food shoppings fab! I'm sure you've got plenty of food, just that your boys don't want to make it! The easier the better, eh? I remember being the same myself as a teenager.

Sounds like you have a nice day planned. We went swimming with my little boy today which was lovely. Just getting organised as.we have a few friends round tonight.

In good news, I managed to transfer £501 today, taking the total to £3,000.74!! I'm so chuffed long may it continue!