NST; January Challenge- The Money Saving Game

stewby

Thanks loveadove!!

Definitely in for this... need to get this debt gone by June. Fed up of missing out on life due to credit cards. Would rather miss out on life cause I am saving for the wedding.


Hugs to everyone.

CEW

Count me in please. Really looking forward to a fresh new year.

Thanks Loveadove

Philae_2

oooh can I join too please?

rb6ac

Please count me in, so excited

Bobarella

Yes why not. You know it goes to show where I am as a person now. I used to read these challenges back in Kat's day & think so chance could I do that. But now I think I do most of those things anyway! Let's go!

Dottydaisy

Not been around towards end of December but will try harder in new year. Lots of STUFF happening so not in a good place just now but I am going to go positively into 2015, notebook, receipts tin (so I can't lose them), designated time each day to do accounts with a super team of turtles to help along the way!
Please count me in Loveadove.


HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR AND BEYOND IS WISHED TO EVERYONE.
HUGS DOTTY

LoveaDove

Hello all!

Thank you for signing up- it is lovely to hear from each and everyone of you! You have all been assigned a number ready for the challenge!

Bobarella - It certainly sounds like a sign of changing times for you! I felt exactly the same way when I first saw Kat's challenges! It is amazing how after some time these small conscious changes become habit.

LoveaDove

Dottydaisy - You are in! I hope that 2015 is much brighter and easy going on you! You sound like you are getting well prepared for 2015! Check in with us if you also need to offload x

CEW

Dottydaisy love the tin idea. I tend to keep all my receipts in my wallet (I use a mans wallet in preference to a traditional purse as I think they are more practical) and when it gets too full I take them out and put them somewhere safe never to be seen again :eek:

I have lots of tins, boxes etc that I collect (hoard) so will use one of those.

Chez x

speakingofart

Please can you sign me up loveadove? Thanks for doing January, it looks great. Goals/ set up below - need a very frugal month after December to make sure all my saving goals are met for upcoming annual bills! This is one of those challenges made annoying by my mid-month pay day, but have put both budgets in that I'll use to get through January and hope it makes some sense.

Set ALL of your budgets at the beginning of the month: let us know what your budget is for: groceries, fuel/travel, social/leisure, Birthdays and any other saving goals for the month.

Groceries until 15th January £0/£75
Groceries 15th Jan - 15th Feb £0/150
Fuel until 15th January £0/£26
Fuel 15th January - 15th February £0/£60
Spending Money: £0/50 for January.

Savings goals: have £31 remaining from above budgets to top up my savings amounts to even numbers.

Save £354.50 when paid in January (£100 for MOT, £24.50 for the reminder of my car tax, £200 for car insurance, £30 long term savings) - this will be the majority of my disposable income and takes account of some backpay, so it's a tough goal to meet, but will be worth it to be able to fund my rainy day funds by May 2015.

3. Pay money to your debts first- This will help you budget your money for the rest of the month and make adjustments accordingly. But please do not leave yourself really short!

I don't have any debts, but will be paying towards my savings goals first on 15th Jan when I get paid.

4. You MUST bring your lunch to work every day No using the canteen (unless this is free of course) or local cafes. Coffee shops are also banned throughout January! It's time to detox (or get your money's worth from the home brewed variety if you can not do without)

Lunch to work: 0/20 (Not back at work until 5th jan)

5.Donate £3 from your food budget, or £3 you have saved from not visiting a coffee shop and purchase £3 worth of items to donate to your local food bank. Many supermarkets have Food bank drop off baskets, alternatively donate unused tinned products from your cupboards or donate online £3 to The Trussel Trust who help to run Food banks across the country. Let's support those in our local communities and make a positive start to the New Year.

Will do when I go to the big supermarket which has the collection bins!

6. Down shift 3 of your branded food items. Try down shifting a brand to super market own! Yellow sticker items (reduced items) are also your friend's- so long as they can be used towards a meal!

This will be interesting - I don't tend to use much branded stuff, but will have a go - I do tend to buy branded tins of tomatoes etc so will try downgrading to Tescos...

7. Meal Plan!- Try to meal plan as many of your meals as possible. This will work wonders with helping you to condense your shopping list (along with your cupboards) if it is all written down and justified for allocated meals. Helping you to be armed and prepared for the Supermarkets inevitable consumerist advertisement, drawing you in to sales of items you would never normally buy!

Must get back into the habit of doing this, was great at it when I was paying off my debt. Also will be good for improving weight loss/ keeping to resolution to learn to cook!

8. You will aim to achieve 18 Spend Free Days (SFDs)- Plan your spends, think about what you are buying. Is it worth losing a SFD over a chocolate bar? Exemptions include: prescriptions/ medication, yellow sticker (reduced) food or drink and regular direct debits- these will not lose you a SFD.

SFDs: 0/18

9. Document your spends- Use a spreadsheet, notebook or your phone. Document every single spend that you make. You might be surprised as to where you money is going!

All spending is recorded in YNAB so that I can report on it/ see where money is going. Will try to categorise cash spending in January in addition.

10. Time to get moving - Increase your movement, whether it's taking the stairs at work instead of the lift, getting off a stop early, going out for a walk. We all feel a little sluggish after the indulgences over the festive season. You do not need to join the gym- save your money and get creative!

Two goals here (loveadove, this challenge is honestly like you read my new year resolution's list! ). One is to make sure I use my lunch break everyday to get out and take a walk, the other is to commence the couch to 5k programme as part of developing a fitness routine.

11. Choose your Debt Free Date now. n/a

12. Share your 2015 Goals- financial or other.

1. Fill all rainy day funds and start saving yearly amounts once this is completed.
2. Continue weight loss and embed a fitness routine into my week.
3. Complete qualification to best of my ability by May 2015.
4. Look for more challenging job once qualification completed.
5. Continue to use YNAB to manage my money wisely.

13. Check in regularly - Check in with us regularly throughout the month and keep us posted on your budgets, your successes, general chat and if you want a bit of motivation from team NST- give us a shout! (or a message).

Will do! Have been shocking at this during December, so looking forward to getting back on track in january.

Happy new year everyone!