Marvin The Moneyspider's Web Of Saving! SAVINGS CHALLENGE

zippychick

I've moved this to Savings for you


Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].


Zip

TM6

zippychick wrote: »

I've moved this to Savings for you


Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].


Zip

Thank you Zip

TM6

Good morning moneyspiders how are you all doing?

Ok, so it is only Day 4 of my diary but I am really pleased with how I am doing :T

Yesterday I visited 3 supermarkets within a mile of each other looking for items in the sales and this is how much I spent

Tesco £15.20

Sainsburys £2.01

Morrisons £14.39

My DH was really pleased as, part of the Morrisons shop included 4 reduced bottles of Christmas beer which we will keep for our summer holidays down here in Cornwall.

Being more frugal is definitely working as I looked at items that I wanted to buy but muttered to myself.... I don't need them :rotfl:

However my husband muttered miserably when I made him put the reduced mince pies back as we already had some back at my parents house.

Turning into a saver rather than a spender is going to be a long hard journey but so far, so good AND really rewarding

Thank you for all your support :T

Stubod

...just picking up on one of the topics in this thread regarding alcohol purchase...NB I accept that the current "none alcohol" January health promotion is about just that...ie health rather than saving money.

..however, that aside, and also not considering the social side of pubs...I re-discovered home brew a couple of years ago, (beer), and have more recently tried some of the wine kits. The quality of these kits has improved dramatically from what I remember of my "teenage" attempts, as has the number and variety of different kits.

It is now possible to make a reasonable quality beer for 50p a pint, (equal to or better than almost every "specialty" beer I have tasted in pubs). 40 pints takes about 1 hr to start, and about 2 hours to "bottle", (ie 3 hours work total), and is good to go after 4 weeks from the start. Wine is even quicker to do and is OK after 2 weeks from the start......approx savings per year £300 over buying it in, (more than covers the initial cost of the initial equipment)..

...and the real beauty of this is the more you drink, the more you save..!

****NB Always drink in moderation...and no, I do not own a home brew shop*****

robatwork

Just my 2p on the beer "thing".

It's surprisingly easy to stop drinking any alcohol apart from social occasions. I have saved loads by simply stopping.

I was never a big drinker but liked beer and wine - but it's just a habit. If you, instead of drinking a beer or glass of wine in the evening make a coffee, and get in the habit of doing that, it's pretty quick to make that a habit instead.

I still drink when going out, but when at home I don't at all, and don't miss it. And am saving ££££ when I calculate what I used to spend on alcohol.

TM6

I hope you are having a great weekend

We are currently on our way back home from Cornwall where we have spent the New Year with my parents. We have a 400 mile journey ahead of us which is really costly in fuel.

Which brings me on the my next question. Do you have any hints and tips on reducing your fuel bill?

I already use petrol prices.com as well as taking advantage of supermarket promotions. I must try to walk locally too.

Any other suggestions?

Archi_Bald

If you spend £300 a month on petrol, you can get a net £7 in cashback with a 123 credit card (£300 * 3%, minus the £2 monthly card fee). Plus 1% cashback in supermarkets for a few pennies extra.

http://www.santander-products.co.uk/credit-cards/display

Stubod

In response to the earlier post regarding cheaper fuel...subject to how many miles you do, have you considered a gas conversion?

..probably cost a grand, but gas is currently about £0.72 per litre..nb you will get slightly lower mpg...

TM6

I still have the sales bug rather than the savings bug but *fingers crossed* it will be a NSD

I'm sure if I can get one under my belt, it will have a snowball effect :rotfl:

Wish me luck! I need more will power!

WantToBeSE

You can do it, TM6!! I am sure you can! Grit your teeth and resist ANY sales shopping. In fact, go 1 better and avoid the shops altogether! Dont look at their websites either.