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How much have you saved?

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  • MSE_Martin
    MSE_Martin Posts: 8,272 Money Saving Expert
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hoorah - Go Sheenagh :)
    Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
    Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
    Don't miss out on urgent MoneySaving, get my weekly e-mail at www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips.
    Debt-Free Wannabee Official Nerd Club: (Honorary) Members number 000
  • First of all a big thank you to Martin, I can honestly say that since seeing you on the TV and then finding this site has changed our lives for the better.

    5 months ago.....

    Had an Endowmnt mortgage with a badly performing with profits endowment due to fimish in 15 years and be £19k short.
    Paid large sums on credit card interest rate
    No savings and struggled at all the expensive times in the year(Holidays, xmas etc)

    And now...

    1/ Mortgage switched to Flexible type
    Endowment poilcy surrendered, paid off existing
    credit cards and threw the rest at the mortgage

    2/ 2 New 0% Credit Cards maxed out at 10k with SBT
    into mortgage
    Saving = £600 per year

    3/ Changed both car insurance policies
    Saving = £150 pa

    4/ Changed Gas & Electric
    Saving = £50-60pa

    5/ New 12 month 0% purchase credit card I use for
    absolutely everything leaving salary in mortgage
    account
    Saving = £600 - 1200

    And this is just the start

    The best thing I have learnt during these 5 months which I never did before is how to cut costs which previously I just took for granted.
    'About cutting costs, not cutting back' (Is this copyright!! :-X)

    Again a big thank you Martin
    micheal5kr.gif
  • Thanks to this site my budget planning now works, my spending habits are now managed, and I've learn't to live below my means. It's taken 32 years to get here mind!

    In my previous life I managed to rake up aound 9K of debt, expensive debt, including going into my overdraft about 2 days after being paid.

    Now I never use my overdraft. Hurrah!! Incidentially it was a co-op overdraft - one of the most expensive around.

    So to savings

    C/C transfers Loads
    16/06/16 £11446 30/12/16 £9661.49
    01/08/17 £7643.69
  • Opps pressed the wrong button.





    Car insurance 88.04
    Contents Ins 18.27
    Buildings Ins 141.57
    Breakdown cover 12.95
    council tax 141.04 (split with BF)
    gas & elec 108.00
    NTL 120.00 just asked for discount!

    Thats £629.87 just on boring stuff. Will be changing mortgage in next couple of days so more to add then.

    I've also just be proven that Asda's savers foods are just as good (apart from bolognese sauce) so will be looking out for these next time I shop.

    I am currently paying around £400 per month to C/C and would like to try and make it £500 p/m so that i will be debt free before the end of next year.

    Only thing now is where else can I look to save more to repay those debts as soon as poss.
    16/06/16 £11446 30/12/16 £9661.49
    01/08/17 £7643.69
  • I don't know how much its worked out at, but with help from the credit card Super-tarting advice on here, I have not paid 1 penny in interest on my £4000 credit card debt for 3 years.

    Next month is my final payment and I'll have paid the lot off. ;D

    I've done other savings such as phones along the way to help, but it is clearing the credit card debt that has improved my quality of life so much. Its more han just saving moey, its actually directly impacting the way I feel and the way I am. Debt free = stress free (well, not quite but you get the idea).

    From next month, I'll be looking at how to save money instead of paying off debts.

    Its nice to hit the tipping point.
    Named after my cat, picture coming shortly
  • ntl savings

    great tip
    i will save £180 and get the x -box upgade for a year.
    follow the tips.

    bye
  • Id just like to say thank you I have been looking on this site for a few months but not really done anything to save myself any money.

    My partner has just been made redundant and I thought it was time to start seeing how much I could save. I have just saved over 100.00 on my car insurance and over 100.00 when I switched energy providers.

    Now I am going to see if I can save anything on my mortgage.

    I will definitely be using this site more often. ;D
  • matthwnm
    matthwnm Posts: 85 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thanks Martin and all fellow moneysavers :)

    I have only been at this a short while and only scratched the surface, but have made good savings already:

    Saved £350+ on my car insurance renewal and got comp instead of 3PFT !!! ;D YEAH BABY

    Have taken 2.9% for life Barclaycard, and 0% 18 month Cap One balance transfers saving at least £500 per year I estimate.

    Our mortgage penalty period is up in a month so will use this site to save me more.
    Can I really save thousands by paying a few extra quid a month???

    Just got Martin's book today too, so looking to save much more.

    Matthew
  • ...Since listening to you on the radio, I have switched gas/electricity suppliers, signed up for v. cheap land line phone calls, and have got a new mobile phone and new deal from Orange with 500 mins talk time and 30 free texts and - without having to go anywhere near disconnections. The mobile phone deal alone will save me at least £720 a year. All-in-all, I expect to save well over a £1,000 in the coming year.

    The most productive site on the net. Fantastic.
  • Lawe
    Lawe Posts: 209 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Well having stumbled on this website awhile ago, trying to find out about mortgages and bam, I am a addict ;D

    So far in the quest of saving money:

    Payment protection for my mortgage = £207 Per Year

    Argos sales, Virgin Mobile phone (bought 3 of them) = £405 :o

    Balance transfer to Capital one 0% for 18 months = £1200 Per Year approx!

    Switching Gas and Electric = £202 Per Year

    Freebies (Xmas cards, photos, light bulbs, etc...) £98

    So far then £2,112 and still going :)

    All i can say is thank you :)
    :beer: Lawe :wave:
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