Marvin The Moneyspider's Web Of Saving! SAVINGS CHALLENGE

Melaniep101

TM6 wrote: »

How is January going for you - we are now over half way through it

I've been really good! No Sales shopping for me, and I've barely spent anything on groceries so far this month. I have had a work trip to the US so lots of free food/drink was available, plus I expensed EVERYTHING! Not been very good at noting these down, but I would guess that I've had about 11 NSD's for January so far. I signed up to the Goals for 2014 thread on the DFW forum, and thats helping to keep me on track :-)

TM6

Melaniep101 wrote: »

I've been really good! No Sales shopping for me, and I've barely spent anything on groceries so far this month. I have had a work trip to the US so lots of free food/drink was available, plus I expensed EVERYTHING! Not been very good at noting these down, but I would guess that I've had about 11 NSD's for January so far. I signed up to the Goals for 2014 thread on the DFW forum, and thats helping to keep me on track :-)

WOW - a week in the States - I would SO love to go

TM6

Another NSD - 4 in a row and another £5 into my 'pot of dreams' :dance:

Melaniep101

TM6 wrote: »

WOW - a week in the States - I would SO love to go

I guess I am quite fortunate that I get to travel there every year (I work for a US company), we go to Washington DC every January for our annual kick off. I do love the US, and even better that it's free... :j

AdmiralAsda

Can I be cheeky and join in on your challenge? I've suddenly became quite aware that I don't have a safety net, which I desperately need due to my hours at work varying (60 hours a week when it's busy, 32 hours a week, maybe less, if it's not).

I'm also a massive spendaholic - I went to visit a relative in hospital who asked me to get her grapes. I stopped en route at a market to get them and my change purse was empty by the time I left!

TM6

Another NSD today - so that brings my total up to 6 :dance:

I'm pretty happy with that as I have been buying quite a bit in the sales so my bargains won't start to turn into savings yet.

TM6

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Hi, only me again!!

TM6 i cannot believe i am an inspiration to anyone really Thanks for saying it, it was really kind of you.
I wasn't sure if i should bother setting up my savings diary, but i am really glad i did now as its become a success. I thought i would be there all alone, with nobody reading it. I think the saving bug is contagious

I have done money diaries in the past and failed spectacularly :rotfl:

This time, I agree with you, it is contagious and I think that is because we are sharing our challenges and our experiences.

So please keep on dropping into my diary - I read yours at least twice a day

TM6

AdmiralAsda wrote: »

Can I be cheeky and join in on your challenge? I've suddenly became quite aware that I don't have a safety net, which I desperately need due to my hours at work varying (60 hours a week when it's busy, 32 hours a week, maybe less, if it's not).

I'm also a massive spendaholic - I went to visit a relative in hospital who asked me to get her grapes. I stopped en route at a market to get them and my change purse was empty by the time I left!

You are very welcome and I hope that you catch the savings bug as much as I am :T

TM6

Good morning Money Spiders :wave:

Where has the time flown since I last posted?

I am REALLY doing well changing from a spender to a saver but my savings account isn't showing any real difference at the mo.

However, I have very good reasons for that. DD2 was 18 at Christmas and DD1 is 21 tomorrow and so I have had some big expenses to pay out.

I have now managed 9 NSD as well as many LSD (low spending days). Every time I achieve a NSD, I put £5 into my sealed 'Pot Of Dreams' as a reward so I know that there is at least £45 in there :dance:

We have been able to dramatically reduce our car fuel bill by walking as much as possible. It also helps that I am trying to lose weight and get healthier so I am on a fit and frugal challenge :rotfl:

We haven't had a take away at all in 2014 (including Fish and Chips) which is amazing! :eek:

We will hopefully reap the benefits of our frugal living challenge in March which will be demonstrated as lots of savings (kerching!)

How are you all doing?

JoJoC

Hi TM6,

I've just read your thread and I think it's great that you're trying to change your ways.

I was also a spender- I looked at my account, saw money and spent it, not considering any bills that were due out, or whether I actually needed the item.

2014 has become a turning point for me- I have a little boy who was one at Christmas and we really need to move from our pokey flat to a family home, so we've given ourselves two years to save up what we need to move house (negative equity, new build selling issues).

I've started a spending diary, and although I've not been as consistent as I'd like with it, it has helped quite a lot. I'm going to restart it in March because i've not been updating it as specifically as i should have.

Other than that, I've got an e-saver that I'm transferring husband's overtime into and any extra money. Our little piggy bank in the house gets filled with 'extra' cash (of which there isn't often much in my purse) and any homers that husband does and gets paid in cash also goes in there.

I'll stop blethering now, but it's always good to see how well other people are doing.

As you say, it's about a shift in attitude, not just a resolution that can be broken after a couple of months.