pickle me's diary

pickle_me

I've just done my sums for March outgoings and realised that by the end of March we will have enough surplus in our bills account to cover the tax and MOTs for both our cars. We have never saved up for these expenses before, just used that month's income (and put other bills for that month on credit cards, I guess), so this is huge! And the tax and MOTs aren't due until end of October We're going to keep putting a bit extra in the bills account to build up an emergency fund. I love the thought of a pot of money that actually grows rather than shrinks - a first for us!

Just under a week to payday .. can't come soon enough ........

satchmo1

Hi Pickle


Great news on starting to build your savings pot.


One of Martin's tips is to save money for your 0% credit card bills in an interest bearing savings account so that you have the money available to repay those debts, but you also build up free money from the interest.

pickle_me

Thanks satchmo I can see the logic and the reward in doing that but for my own peace of mind I need to see the cc balance going down as quickly as possible every month! I'm just not comfortable having this much debt, even if we had the money saved to pay it off at the appropriate time.

Just back from getting my sister's birthday present and amazingly came in on budget. Well, plus £4 for some very pretty tissue paper to wrap it

I'm realising that now I've stopped buying clothes, shoes, cosmetics, in fact anything for myself (not sure whether to laugh or cry about that!), my biggest expenditure seems to be presents. I never realised how often there seems to be a birthday to buy for, and how it adds up. And of course it's something I've never saved for - just taken the money out of the general pot, which was fine when I was working full-time and/or had savings. But now I really have to look carefully at how to afford it.

There's a big glut of family birthdays coming up: elder daughter and my father in April, my mother and my husband in May; all pretty important people and I do not want to be scrimping on their presents! I know it's the thought that counts but these are people I care about and I want it give them something nice. Plus a birthday party for my daughter - she'll be 6 and has really got the idea of birthday parties since starting school! We're having a party at home for just her closest friends, and she's really excited about it; it'll be the sort I had as a kid, just lots of games like pass the parcel and musical statues. Cheaper than last year when we hired the church hall and had a fabulous children's entertainer (it was a joint party so we split the cost with another family - was totally worth it, too ) But it all has to be budgeted for ... I can see my spending money disappearing on family presents for the next few months. It is better to give than to receive though

satchmo1

If you are able to take the emotion out of bidding, I find eBay very fruitful for finding imaginative presents at a budget price. I set myself a price ceiling and don't hesitate to withdraw from bidding if the price rises above my limit. When I'm bidding, if the price rises over my limit, I console myself by being pleased that I've helped the seller get a better price for their item.


Maybe it would be useful to have an annual spreadsheet of birthdays so that you can budget accordingly?

satchmo1

Just to add, I bought my husband's milestone birthday gift last year and I've been hiding it until he has his big day in April. It's quite hard as he has been mithering lately about buying himself the gift that he doesn't know I've bought. I got a bargain, at a quarter of the retail price, but I'm fretting now about whether he'll see the value of the item.

pickle_me

satchmo1 wrote: »

Maybe it would be useful to have an annual spreadsheet of birthdays so that you can budget accordingly?

I've had that thought - I'm still just a beginner with this budgeting business, but once I'm through the April/May birthday bonanza I absolutely will start budgeting properly for birthdays! Not to mention stockpiling cheap presents for all the birthday parties my children get invited to.

eBay is a good idea for presents, although there's a danger that I get distracted by other things I fancy (kids clothes usually). We have found a few of the children's presents on eBay though.

Can you dissuade your husband from buying the item in question? Tell him it's a bit too expensive or not very good quality ...!

satchmo1

It is way too expensive (in my opinion but not his), and it is the best quality. His trouble is, he won't wait for anything. I've told him he can't buy anything until after his birthday because the Chief Financial Officer (me) hasn't sanctioned the budget, lol

milocat

Pickle - be grateful for your husband being on board! My OH is being rather dreadful recently with money and its winding me up no end.

My friends and I stopped buying each other presents ages ago - it saves me no end of money. That being said, when it comes to Christmas I still manage to feel guilted into buying people stuff. I'm starting to think a homemade card is more worthwhile - cheaper in the end as well!

I like the way you write - I've subscribed to you

pickle_me

Thanks milocat

I'm very grateful my husband's on board - I couldn't do this alone. He's had a real mind shift since we started debtbusting, and it's a relief as I know it means we'll never get into this situation again!

I don't buy my friends presents only close family. I actually added up my gift-buying expenses across the year and it works out at £85 per month (that's for all birthdays and Christmas) :eek: which sounds ridiculous. But once the debt is gone I will be able to afford this, and I like giving presents, so I will just make sure I budget for it.

Congratulations on your pregnancy - how's it treating you so far? I'm going to seek out your diary now

milocat

Its going considerably better than the last time I was pregnant!

£85 a month does sound mental - but I think that's because I don't even spend that on myself any more, and I don't really have a family to buy for. Cheaper but lonelier.

You do seem to have your head screwed on - I admire you