Flanno's fantastic frugal diary:)

flanno_2

I do not have a huge amount of personal debt, although we have a number of 'investment' properties that OH looks after so I'll leave them with him !!


I have a small loan of 1800 from my local credit union which was taken out just recently for my DS who is away and lost his job in Jan 2014 and so far has been unable to get another one.

Consequently I am paying 100 per month for this loan.

Other than that I have no debts which is great, but I have no job and applied to do a Masters in September 2014 over 2 years part time which will cost 8000 euro over the course of the two years.

So in order to save money/make money I need some inspiration.
I live in Ireland so things are somewhat more expensive here in terms of groceries, dr visits, etc. so all help is gratefully received.

Obviously the big way to save is on groceries but with 2 DD's at home it can be difficult. One is still at school and one is 'working' but only part time and starts back to College in September as is the younger one who is hoping to do Veterinary Medicine.

Anyway I am going to take baby steps and for May I am giving myself the following goals:

NSD's 1-31st May 25
AFD's 1-31st May 25

Coin stash Save 31 euro = 1 euro per day - coin stash target from now to end November 210+

Groceries currently cost from 100-165 per week so plan on cutting down to 100 from 1st May.

Also start looking for and applying for jobs.

Its not hugely exciting but its a start.

Namaste
Flanno

flanno_2

The 1st of May and time to start my challenges.

So far my coin stash is at 2.00 as I started a day earlier than 1/5
target is to get to 210+ by 30/11/2014.

0/25 NSD:o


Having some friends over tomorrow night for a get together to celebrate our graduation but I'm cooking and have everything organised. Doing hm lasagne and risotto as one of the girls is a vegetarian. My OH got some wine the other day and brought some back and changed for beers so I didnt have to shell out for that.
Happy days.

Its a very wet one here today. Hope its dry where you all are.

Flanno.

flanno_2

Just a quick update.

NSD here today and 2.00 into coin pot.


small steps to big rewards.


flanno

flanno_2

Been MIA for the last couple of days but still in MSE mode.

Friday night with my college friends went really well if I do say so myself. :j

They came with gifts galore as well which was totally lovely albeit unecessary. I got a lovely handmade wooden dish for olives, a gorgeous glass paperweight and a hand made pot which I had been part of a project on and my partner kindly gave me another one for my collection. As well as the gifts they came laden with alcohol as well It was a late night as well 3am before I got to bed but it was worth it.

Yesterday Sat was up early to meet my VBF and walk at the beach in Bray followed by a cuppa and a toastie in a local hostelry. We browsed the local indoor market for goodies and I came away with a 2.00 euro figurine of a westie as we have a westie doggie ourselves and my eldest DS is doggy mad. She had been very sweet on Sat morning and got up and cleaned up all the left over mess from Friday night, totally unasked and totally unexpected. The Universe is being very good to me this weekend.

After my VBF and I said our goodbyes I called into my Mum who is in a nursing home and that went well too.

Last night was a relaxing evening chez les girls at home, so not an NSD but an LSD = low spend day.

Today Sunday went for a long walk after doing some revision for one of my 3 exams, NSD so far but going out with the girls for a bite to eat tonight to a local Italian restaurant. OH is away in Lanzarote this weekend.

Tomorrow will be at Library all day and an NSD definitely planned as well as for the rest of the week where possible.

2.00 pot up to 22.00 :T Have been throwing everything into it this weekend.:A

Namaste

Flanno.

RainbowBridgeReturns

You are doing really well, what a great start to the month. It sounds like you have got a good balance between work and play, and all those long walks will keep your stress and weight levels balanced:).

I like the idea of a £1.00 a day pot. Where do you keep all your pounds? I think I will start one from 1st May too, to pay for Christmas, but I am concerned that I will raid it if it is housebound.

I look forward to your regular posts x.

flanno_2

Hi Rainbow

Good to hear from you. I keep my euros in a box in my bedroom but you are right it is easy to raid it when things get tough. I had it up to almost 100 euros after Xmas when I started the 365 day challenge but needed it for DD and her various expensive outgoings.

anyway thats why I've started it again and determined this time to save at least 1.00 per day between now and the 30th November 2014. Month by month it should go up by at least 30-31 euro from May to November - a nice stash indeed.

I also have a couple of accounts set up on my switch current account, one for college and one for travel and every week I put a few euros in these to build them up.

Every little helps as the saying goes.

Flanno.

sassychick2014

Hi Flanno

Saw you on Rainbow's thread so thought I'd pop by and say hi - hi!

You seem to have got off to a good start and the pound-in-a-pot idea is great. Although as they're euros I don't suppose they can be called a pound-in-a-pot, maybe euros-in-an-eggcup? Although you wouldn't save many in there! lol

Good luck, look forward to following your diary and supporting you along the way

flanno_2

Hi Sassychick thank you for taking the time to send me encouragement, its very much appreciated.

I've been MIA again over the last few days with exam revision but the NSD and AFD's are going well.

Euro in an egg cup - I like it

another 2.00 euro in the egg cup today

NSD 4/25 for May so far
AFD 4/25 for May so far.

Onwards and upwards.

Applied for my Masters today so have to get the money making cap on to start funding myself.

Namaste all.

Flanno.

RainbowBridgeReturns

When do your exams start Flanno? You are sounding very disciplined with your revision, AFD's and NSD's .

flanno_2

Hi Rainbow, Sassy and INOD

I really cannot believe its been so long since I posted.
I am not disciplined at all in any way Sassy, the AFDs have gone AWOL and so have the NSD's although they have been LDS's ie low spend days.

Nevertheless the exams are finished since Friday 16/5 so its onwards and upwards.

I have been keeping up with the Euro in an Eggcup challenges and the Monthly Challenge of a Euro per day and the balances are as follows:


40.00 in the 1.00 a day for May (target was 31 so i'm ahead of my goal

7.00 Euro in an Eggcup so thats coming along nicely.

However I have only been tipping the iceberg with this money saving stuff so now its getting serious.

I am going to challenge myself to to a Car Boot before the end of June. Myself and my DD1 have been scouring the house for stuff to sell and there is a lot of stuff we could get rid of I'm sure.

So thats my next challenge.

Watch this space.

I am so far behind you motivational ladies in my endeavours but I will be able to give this my total committment for the next 3 months at least as I'm not back in college until September (I hope).

Just have to take each day at a time................

Just watched a TV programme on Dylan Thomas on BBC2, Tom Hollander was excellent as the poet. Gosh the wife was a feisty woman !!

Namaste
Marie.

flanno_2

Just a quick update today.

Now that I'm finished with college I should be able to get a better handle on saving money on food, using up leftovers, being inventive with ingredients and also get started on compiling a lot of stuff for selling at Car Boots which are cropping up daily around the area.

My NSD for this week is 1/1 - today won't be an NSD as had to get toothpaste today so 5.00 out but LSD is OK too
The coin stash target for May was 31.00 and its at 40.00 at present

The holiday fund is at 7.00 for Mexico 2019

Todays big news is an offer of a place on the Masters Course in 2014 that I applied for. Delighted. One small problem is the deposit of 500.00 to secure it. So shall have to get my thinking cap on. Have about 250.00 in various savings pots but reluctant to use those up and have nothing left in those and still have to find 250.00 so serious thought is necessary.

Namaste
Flanno.