The Saving Starts Today

Muser1

Love the typo :beer::beer:

Looking forward to reading. What about keeping a spending diary for the next month? There is the grocery challenge on the o/s board too. That's where we have saved the most. I couldn't believe the difference batch cooking and meal planning made. We now have a takeaway selection in the freezer (homemade curry/ Thai/kebabs) guilt free and stops us splurging at the weekend.

Good luck you sound like you are doing great! :money:

Muser x

helpful27

Thanks for the reply.

I was going to keep a spending diary this month BUT with Christmas coming up I don't think it would be that useful as not representative of usual spending.

We have done well though thus far I feel. We had the very rare chance of my brother having the kids overnight at the weekend so we did go out for dinner last sat and lunch on the sunday.

However, spent very little in the week - took packed lunches to work, had no alcohol mon-thurs (good for us). We were trying to last until friday but a nightmare day at work for me and then the chaos of dropping various kids of at swimming and piano and staggered teatime necessitated a couple of bottles of lager

I often get my ironing done and as part of saving I was planning to do it myself this week but just have not got the time.

On a positive I have signed up for topcashback and logged on to the online mortgage statement. I have also done all the xmas shopping for the kids - spent an evening on amazon and got loads for less than £200 (got 98p cash back!!). So they are done. Got mum and mum in law and a few nieces to go - but got some ideas and think I can also do those for £200.

Sorry i realise this is boring to others - i am just using the page as a diary.

The frozen food idea is good one but already do that to a certain extent (husband has a very limited diet for medical reasons) and although we eat out a lot (but reducing) we rarely get takeaways.

dancingfairy

Hi. As you've put gas/electric/water and everything in together it's difficult to know if you've missed anything.
Car- have you included tax, mot, repairs, petrol, parking etc?
Insurance- car insurance/house insurance?
Prescriptions/Dentist?


A spending diary should help on this or checking your bank statements for standing orders/direct debits. Also there is an SOA calculator (if you google it you will find it). It will go through your budget thoroughly so you can see if there is anything you have missed off.

Best of Luck
df