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A mission to secure my future!
Comments
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Bit of a spendy day today. But I have good news to go along with it. That balances it out..right?
I have one bare wall in my lounge area which is pretty big and unsightly, so over the last few weeks I have been looking for some artwork to frame and solve that 'non problem' I found something perfect today. So I bought it. I also bought two T shirts with the same design as I loved it so much. One for me, one for my brother. I will need a frame for the art though. So il try and find something suitable.
I managed to find a part time job, so I should do about twenty hours a week in addition to my current job. It should net me about £400/month after tax. Most of which will be added to my education/mortgage deposit funds.
OW is close to another £10 withdrawal.
GTM is also close to the £10 mark too.
No e-Baying has commenced recently.
My birthday is coming up at the end of the month and at a recently family event my Grandmother gave me a card with a gift inside as I probably wont see her around the time due to living far apart.
Summary:
Artwork + T shirts: -£48
Groceries: -£13.49 (Includes a 1kg tub of my favourite peanut butter!)
Teaching: +£10
Birthday gift: +£50Sealed Pot Challenge:
2014 = £202
2015 = £3820 -
Been given my shifts for my part time job for next week. Il have to work nine days in a row. I do have two mornings off, so I can at least get to the gym in that time. Il be tired, but I will earn an additional £116 + fuel milage.
I will probably split this between my car fund and my ISA as I dont need it to live. I dont want to simply spend it on unnecessary things. The whole idea was to increase my savings with it.
Apart from that all my direct debits have gone out for July already and the account is healthy. As I will get paid again the day my rent goes out and that is the only expense left aside from groceries and maybe some fuel.
Had lunch and icecream out with a pal today. Found ten pence on the floor too!
Summary:
Lunch: - £12.60
Icecream - £5
Road Kill: + £0.10pSealed Pot Challenge:
2014 = £202
2015 = £3820 -
No updates for twenty days! I have both good, bad and unexpectedly delightful news.
Good = I have earned an additional £606.72 this month from working part time + overtime at my main job.
Bad = Im knackered, my car insurance and annual service is due next month.
Unexpectedly delightful = Porridge with smooth peanut butter and walnuts is quite divine. (I ran out of bananas one day and had to improvise)Sealed Pot Challenge:
2014 = £202
2015 = £3820 -
More money savings/spending news. Again both good and bad.
Firstly had my car insurance renewal through..£800.. Jokers.
Fifteen minutes later by phone and sending them details of an identical quote at £500, I paid £489 with my current company. Bit of a result.
In not so good news, I had the headlight bulb changed, made no difference, so I believe its a electrical device that controls current to it thats at fault. Dealer suggested £314 for a replacement.. Sigh. Im out of ideas as to what it may be so Il have to get it diagnosed at a garage and see what they suggest.
Im sure it will wipe out my savings from the insurance policy, which is a bit of a shame!
Apart from that, still plodding. Managed to add about £300 to my savings despite the car costs.Sealed Pot Challenge:
2014 = £202
2015 = £3820 -
Still plodding.
I am averaging about £120 a week from my part time job which is going nicely!
I have been going to the gym regularly and I feel great for it. I signed up to run 'Major Series' which is a 5km obstacle course designed by the army. I have about seven weeks to go before that. Downside is I need/want gym clothes/trainers and stuff. Will Quidco whatever this costs so I might get £5 back if im lucky.
Had the water meter man around recently, who said a meter could not be fitted but I can go on the 'single person occupancy' thing. He was shocked my bills were so high. So Im hoping to save maybe £10 a month there. I got a quote from a plumber pal of mine, he suggested £120 for labour and fixings to allow space for the meter to be installed. I dont use a lot so its probably worth it in the long run. Il see if my landlord wants to help out as it will make his property more desirable.. Im hoping.
I found £1 in my usual gym locker today, shamefully I kept it.It went in my sealed tin.
Just had a phone call from my father, he pays my phonebill. Turns out I went a little over my data allowance which is charged at £1/mb. I used 334 extra.. Then he re reads the bill and finds out its £1/10mb instead.
Summary:
Locker coins: +£1
Part time wages: +£245
Gym attire+trainers: -£110.97
Major Series event entry: -£49Sealed Pot Challenge:
2014 = £202
2015 = £3820 -
Been over a month since my last update and some stuff has happened.
I went to Berlin for a few days, loved it. Id highly recommend the city to anyone thinking about a short city break. AirBnB was a great help!
I got taxed an extra £300 one month due to my new part time wage coming in. I sorted the tax codes out with HMRC and its fixed now. I got the money back on the most recent payday.
Apart from that all things are going nicely in terms of money + savings towards things. A helpful man at a match and more supermarket saved me £1 the other day by pointing out an offer I had overlooked, which was nice of him.
Bought some water filters on e-Bay and also a pair of autumn shoes.
I have worked a bit hard recently at my part time job so these costs are not too detrimental. However I do plan to sell more bits I dont use anymore from home.
Summary:
Berlin Trip: - £327
Filters: - £32
Shoes: - £44
Part time wages: + £240Sealed Pot Challenge:
2014 = £202
2015 = £3820 -
Berlin sounds fantastic - I'd love to go there one day! Everyone is always singing Air BnB's praises to me but I'm not 100% sure about it.0
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belleandthebudget wrote: »Berlin sounds fantastic - I'd love to go there one day! Everyone is always singing Air BnB's praises to me but I'm not 100% sure about it.
It was amazing, I would highly recommend it!
I think Air BnB has a lot to offer, especially if you prefer cultural breaks rather than tourist type stuff. I would think it depends mainly on who owns the apartment you stay in. The lady I rented from was amazing, she bought a map and pinpointed all the cool stuff in the city based upon our likes.
Personally I would use it again!Sealed Pot Challenge:
2014 = £202
2015 = £3820 -
Oh, what a lovely thing to do! I think it's probably one of those things that's totally safe but just makes me nervous cause I've never tried it. Should probably give it a go!0
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A little progress here and there. I have listed some stuff I dont use on e-bay, been on half an hour and has two watchers, so that bodes well. Im going to try and sell/get rid of at least two items a week from now on. I hate clutter. My pile of car tyres will have to go also! They fit an old car I no longer own.
Had an oil and filter change for my current car also and a general check over. Wasnt great, Im going to need two new tyres very soon and two more within 2 months. Not ideal when the manufacturer recommendations are £180 each.. At least I can plan for this now I know its coming.
I also completed the 5km Major Series mud run I mentioned earlier which was fun! Wasnt as hard as I thought it would be, so I must be doing something right.
Had a date the other night also, which went really well, will be seeing her again. Being the chivalrous gent I am, I paid for it. Dont regret it at all, Im a bit old fashioned when it comes to first dates. Wont put the figure in the summary though for this one.
I also have a confession, something very un MSE. I have been looking at some high thread count bed linen on The White Company website. I slept in some whilst at my parents house and it was divine! But they cost £303 delivered for 2 pillow cases, flat sheet & a duvet cover. Iknowright. Not frugal. Today they had 20% off, so became £241. I got £28 back from Quidco also so total outlay is £213.. I know I know. Wiped out all of my PayPal funds and my account took the £39 hit.
Il be frugal from now on, I promise. I havent been doing much part time work either due to working nights for my main job. This will change in the next week or so though so I can at least recoup.
Did get some cashback from Waitrose though so all is not lost!
Summary:
Oil+Filter change: -£101
Bed linen: -£241
Waitrose cashback: +£4Sealed Pot Challenge:
2014 = £202
2015 = £3820
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