WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

atush

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Morning All


Going to do all the invoices to clients today, and send them out this afternoon. Hoping that most will make payment quite quickly as usual, so that I can save some and work out a budget for this month.


Planning a NSD today. I have lots of baking and cooking that I can do, and I simply MUST get on with cleaning my kitchen in preparation for painting it.
I also am going to clean my oven, as it needs it!


January is going to be a TIGHT month, so I must make sure that I keep an eye on every single penny.
Trying to keep the heating off as much as possible, but don't want to freeze! Its been very cold here since I got home on Sunday.

I had the rest of the leftovers yesterday, incl steamed goose buns ala Jamie O, and the rest of the turkey and stuffing. Big no spend for me lol. Now gotta go out to buy more for the upcoming week/holiday but do have a few meals in the freezer.

Might be an extra spend day as considering taking the brood to see the last hobbit film. We saw all previous 5 tolkien films together so kind of a family tradition. and given twin2 is back to Uni next saturday, we are running out of time. If son 1 goes back to his flat that day, my shopping bill should plummit with only 3 of us in the house.

WantToBeSE

Afternoon All


Jo- There are quite a few Adult Ed classes on in my area. I quite fancy a Creative Writing course, as I do enjoy writing a lot. It depends on the cost though I suppose.
I would like to have a look at what art based ones they do. I am rubbish at art, but would like to give it a try.
I'll have a look online I think.


The boys are fine thanks, and had a nice Christmas. I think they were secretly a bit bored at my Mums, as there was no PS4 or Xbox there, and were glad to come home and play some games. Blimmin' computer consoles!


I know what you mean about the scary Pinterest bulk cooking! I have always been put off by people like that, and am also worried about cooking the meals and not liking them.


So I think I will start by cooking 1 at a time, freezing them and then eating it a few days later. I'll take note of what I like and what I don't, then I can batch freeze/bulk cook whichever ones I like.


I didn't end up cooking/baking anything in the end! Very lazy


Atush- Have all of your leftovers been eaten now, or is there still more to go? That's the only downside to not being at home for Christmas, I had no leftovers
Did you go and see The Hobbit film? Any good?

atush

Yes, we went and yes it was enjoyed.

All leftovers now eaten, but new ones will be made on New years day as I have a beef rib on the bone to roast lol. Was going to buy a suckling pig/porchetta but had problems with delivery cost. Have to research further in advance next time.

JoJoC

Atush, your new years dinner sounds delightful! Hope you enjoy it and the leftovers

We bought a new dining table, chairs and matching Sideboard today from Gumtree for £300 which I'm really chuffed about. It was originally £1500 and was only used once apparently. It's in great condition. The guy is bringing it round tomorrow so I'm excited to start eating our meals properly as a family. I've hated not having room for a table.

A creative writing class sounds fab WTBSE, I write a fair amount as part of my job, but not as creatively as I'd sometimes like. It's be nice to have a hobby.

Has anyone any nice plans for tonight? We're going round to my parents shortly for the evening to welcome in the new year quietly. Maybe some music and a fizzy lemonade for me

Happy new year to all when it comes!!

atush

Well, dinner is looking dodgy at the moment. My rayburn cooker side has gone out (central heating still working thank goodness). I have a small electric oven I will use to cook the beef, but had to scramble eggs for breakfast for 5 on the log burner in the living room. Spuds for roasting currently on the log stove boiling. Yikes lol.

One winter when we had no power I had to cook on it for 3 days and it is pretty small lol.

WantToBeSE

Good Morning All


Is everyone having a nice weekend? Its blowing a gale out there, and pouring with rain, so we are having yet another quiet day at home.


I am wrestling with the idea of going food shopping. We don't really need anymore food except for chicken, as I went on Monday. I think its just because Friday or Saturday has always been my food shopping day and now I have changed it to a Monday and it feels strange.

atush

Didnt do my reg big shop oin Friday, ahd to stay in for the rayburn guy (cooker mostly fixed, need a part) and to do all the laundry so twin one could go back to uni with all clean clothes.

Wanted something from the chippy for dinner, but both chippys are closed for their holidays. You'd think they would not go at the same time lol.

WantToBeSE

Good afternoon


I need to write my budget for this month, but haven't gotten around to doing it yet.
Also need to write this weeks meal plan, but haven't done that either and we are almost at the end of the week!


I have now renamed my savings accounts.


I have my normal 'everyday' account. This is where all of my clients pay into, plus my tax credits and child benefit.


Then I have my e-savings, which is now renamed as 'The £5K fund'. This is where I hope to do the bulk of my savings.
Then I have an ISA which is nor renamed as 'Christmas Fund'. This is where I'll be saving my £50 a month for Christmas.


Although...should the e-savings and ISA be the other way around, so I am saving more in the ISA and less in the e-savings?
I am not sure what the interest rates are on both, so I'll check that out I think, before choosing to switch if necessary.


Another thing I have decided on is, I have 1 client that pays fortnightly. I never include her payments in working out my monthly income, as she used to be a private client and I still charge for £10 p/h instead of £12 p/h. I have reasons for doing this, but for her privacy I wont disclose them here. She has 3 hours every 2 weeks, so an extra £60 on your average 4 week month. I normally just end up frittering this away. But I think I am going to save this in my pot at home, to pay for clothes, school uniform, school trips etc. So hopefully it means I wont have to take money out of savings/Christmas fund to pay for those small things that crop up during the year.


So, I am off to sort out my budget for this month, and write a meal plan for the next 7 days.

Eco_Miser

Well, its over a year since you started this thread. Any chance you could get a TSB Plus and 5% interest on your savings?

Incidentally, Cathybird is back reading the forum, though she's only made two posts recently.

JoJoC

Sounds like you've got good savings plan all worked out, definitely check out your interest rates on the accounts as it's worth getting any interest that you can from a decent account.

I think your 'pot' is a good idea for school type expenses. You'll feel much better if you don't need to dip into the main savings and I remember you telling me how expensive uniform time is!

I got all my food shopping and my meal plan done yesterday so feel better now that's done. We did spend £109 which is really high for us but we had quite a few things to get including a few packs of nappies and some bits for the house. Next week's should be half that.

Atush, I'm glad your cooker is almost fixed. What a pest!

I've got an ok day planned today. We're spending the morning getting the house organised, putting paperwork away and emptying a last few boxes. Then after lunch we're taking my wee boy to the park with his bike as this is the first dry day since he got his bike at Christmas!

Later on will be making a curry from leftover leg of lamb that we had last night. The leftovers will do two meals so half for curry and half for the freezer. After that will be getting organised for back to work tomorrow...