WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

atush

Sticker shock- I still haven't gotten over the bill for when the twins started big school. All that PE kit plus 2x everything else- it was a nightmare.

As for Cathy, if you are lurking here, do post. Dont be embarrassed if you fell off the wagon, we are non judgmental here lol

JoJoC

Yes, Cathy if you're reading it would be lovely to hear from you.

I don't envy you, atush, having two of everything to pay for at once. Ooft.

Went out for a lovely walk this evening in our new neighbourhood and it's nice to see what's around. You miss out on so many things when just driving in and out, missing the details. It was freezing but we just wrapped up and it was really good to get the fresh air.

WantToBeSE

Good Morning All


EcoMiser, I am sticking with the bank accounts that I have at the moment. I know it doesn't make too much sense, but I am settled with what accounts are for what now, and don't want to change. Plus, where I live we don't have a TSB within 20 miles, so not easy access to cash.


I am off food shopping at Aldi in a minute. I am hoping not to spend more than £60. I don't really need much, so fingers crossed. I have written a shopping list, but will also grab a few things that aren't on there, like chicken.


Dinner tonight is going to be bacon chops, mashed potatoes and some beans and peas. yummy winter food, no wonder I find it hard to lose this last 10lbs!


I am going to take the car for a pre-MOT next week. I am dreading it, as I know the car needs a few things doing to it. Never mind, we'll see how it goes.
Who knows, if I manage to exceed my savings target then I might be able to afford a new (for me) car by the summer. We'll see.

atush

I left tesco today having spent 55, incl 6 bottles of wine for the next week. And a 3.47 off next weeks shopping. Dont think i've ever spent that little there lol.

AS for the twins, I think the worst thing is when they were born, i already had one of everything hoping to use it again- only to have to have to buy another of everything from cot to car seats etc. Had to buy a new expensive twin pram too.

And I had a boy and they were boys, but i didn't have enough clothing for 2 so had to buy more of that too. Then I had to sell my spare dble bed, and buy a sofa bed cuz I couldn't fit 2 cots into that bedroom with the bed in it. And I needed a place for my mum and mil to stay when they came to visit.

The one place I managed to save was buying nappies in advance before they were born either bogof, or buy 2 get 3 in different sizes to keep year one nappy bill down (was still huge). They were piled to the ceiling the week before they were born lol.

WantToBeSE

Gosh atush, that sounds like fun! I like it when they get older though. Mine and now 15 (well, he'll be 15 on Monday next week) and 10 (almost 11). I love it. I love the freedom I have now that they are a bit older too


Spent £41.10 in Aldi, although I'll need to get a few other bits during the week I think.


So I've been making savings plans today.


- Money earned from 'old' client (approx. £60 a month, based on a 4 week month) to be saved in a pot at home.. As mentioned above, this will be for school uniform, school trips etc.


-£100 a month to be put into a pot at home to cover car repairs, MOT etc.


-One of my clients has gone back to work full time, so wants me to clean more often. So that will mean I have an extra £45 a month. I am going to put this in a pot at home too, and will be used as our clothing, birthday and entertainment fund. I just have to make sure that I don't spend it all on books


-Food shopping should be a max of £60 a week. I don't think I'll have any problem with this, so long as I continue to shop at Aldi. There are a few bits that I cant get there, so I'll pop into Morrisons to get a few things.


-Any leftover money (change from school dinners, leftovers from grocery budget etc) will be put in my sealed pot at home (I have joined the SPC- Sealed Pot Challenge- on here).


-£50 a month to be saved towards Christmas.


-Minimum of £200 a month to go into savings.


It may seem a bit pointless to some people, but by splitting up my savings into these pots, I am making sure that what goes into my '£5K fund' stays there and isn't touched at all.


However, if I can start saving this month is rather dependant on if the car passes the MOT.


So I should be saving £455 a month.

MrCrimeFiction

Hello and merry Xmas / happy new year!! :rotfl:

You sound very organised which is such a big advantage when it comes to looking after the pennies. Well done on getting those extra hours at the clients house, more money is always welcome.

Take care

MrCF

WantToBeSE

Thanks Mr CF. How is your saving going?

atush

If all these pots are in cash in your house it will soon add up (and be above your insurance threshold for cash int he home) and liaqble to be stolen, damaged/burnt etc in a fire. Not to be alarmist, but if anything happened and it were not covered you'd be horrified at your not understanding this.

So set up seperate pots in bank accts/credit unions or even new current accts that pay good interest each time one of your pots tops 50-100 quid. Or just save the treat money and sealed pot challenge in cash at home and put the others in bank accts.

I too keep cash in the home, but never more than abt 100 quid, plus 50-100 euros and USD from previous tips and whatever is in y wallet (usually under 50). More than this and I would not be covered.

JoJoC

Your savings plan sounds great WTBSE and you're really on target to be saving an awesome amount of money I do agree with Atush though that you should watch how much you keep at home. She has some good suggestions.

Your shopping bill was nice and low too, even with a few bits and bobs you'll still be on target!

Hi MrCF, how's the savings going?

I doubt I'll be able to save much until the end of the month and I'm kind of reluctant to this month because we'r still getting used to what the bills will be as we've only been in a month.

I'm still potting though and watching the pennies. I potted £2.16 tonight from change from the shop after I bought bread and milk.

Quiet night tonight- once my son is in bed (15 mins) I'll be going for a shower then chilling out in front of the TV. All dinner, Lunches for tomorrow, washing up, and washing is done so I can rest without worrying about chores.

WantToBeSE

Morning All


atush, I hadn't thought of that, thanks for raising that issue. I think maybe I'll set up another e-savings account and create a spreadsheet for it, so I can have a few 'pots' in each one. I wouldn't know where to start with a spreadsheet though, or even if its a spreadsheet I need, or if its something else I'd need.


Off to work in a minute. My 'old' client has moved house, so I have to find where she lives now. I think it's quite easy to find, but I have my sat nav just in case.


Have a nice day all, what is everyone up to? Does anyone else have things that they want to do/achieve/change in 2015?