The 'Save 12k in 2014' Thread!

Skittles26

For me I've set a strict budget and tried to cut out most frivolous spending. I'm in the process of saving for a deposit, so really hoping to knuckle down.

Tiglath

I build it into the budget and transfer it on payday so it's not sitting in my current account. I also invest monthly in a stocks & shares ISA.

Another £77.95 paid in in coins - the machine died before I could put the rest of the coins in, so they can go towards February's pay-in.

Lomcevak

I have just found this thread, but I am wondering how people save?

I have my wife on me on a strict budget but would love to save to afford a good holiday and or new car.

Are people cutting back, or finding cost cutting options or something else?

Bit of everything really. I've looked to increase earnings at work when worthwhile (e.g. on call payments are really good, there's also overtime but less great - sometimes worth it though) and reduced outgoings a lot. I wouldn't say i've "cut back" in a negative sense though, rather i've learned that a lot of what I used to spend money on didn't really bring me any real enjoyment so these days I just think more before buying. If it still seems a good idea then i'll happily spend without regret, but it has cut out a lot of the tat. We've also really worked on cooking well, so do most things from scratch and have cut food bills in half while eating better than we used to.

fatpat

Currently on £396 but get paid on monday so will shove some more into the savings account and will declare final total for the month then. Total is higher than expected for this month already which I'm really pleased with. Earlier in the month I was going to buy a couple of unneeded things (shoes and bag) which cost £100 so put that £100 into my ISA instead. I think it was a lot more satisfying saving the money which was unexpected as I normally just spend without thinking.

It's great to see everyone's successes so far. Keep up the good work!

mouthscradle

Just paid in £300 of a cheque I got from old car insurers following some idiot writing off our car. The rest has gone on spending money for our holiday next month. Get paid on last day of the month so we'll both be putting about £400 aside then. So hoping to make it to £1129 for January.

115K

I have the savings go out on payday too so I'm not tempted to spend any of it.

I leave us £50 for any pocket money for us and leave £50 in the account in case we need it for anything too.

mouthscradle

The £X29 at the end of my savings balance really irritates me. Does anyone else share the need to have a nice round number at all times??

Skittles26

mouthscradle wrote: »

The £X29 at the end of my savings balance really irritates me. Does anyone else share the need to have a nice round number at all times??

Yep, I get a bit antsy seeing random numbers like that too. Whenever I make bank transfers/deposits I always round down to 5/0 and put coin money in a jar, which I'll take to the bank every other month as a more rounded lump sum.

mardiemare2008

20 Hrs Overtime confirmed for next week = More money for the savings pot

Nichelette

To try and keep my savings on track I do a few things. I also move my savings over on pay day like others or I know I'd end up spending more than I'd like to.

I've set myself a budget of £300 per month which includes petrol (about £100/month getting to work), food, mobile and anything else I need. I don't lock myself away and have no social life, just try to cut down a bit and do cheap things like going to pub with friends for a coke or two!

I'm really bad for buying food at work so also trying to be more organised and taking lunch with me. Am also trying to plan healthy but cheap meals with my sister which saves money as things don't go to waste.

Another thing is trying to make extra money from surveys. Some give cash which goes into the savings. I get Amazon vouchers from others which I use to buy rabbit food to try and make the cost of keeping them as neutral as possible.Where sites don't offer cash or Amazon vouchers I use other vouchers to get gifts for birthdays/Christmas which is handy. For example, I got some vouchers from my cc which I put towards a Pandora bracelet for my sister so I only spent £15 and she got a nice present. Win win .