Money Saving Diary - dianek's journey

dianek_2 · 11 October 2015 at 10:29PM

I finally checked my credit report for the first time. I'm disappointed that I went through the trouble of getting on the electoral roll in April but it's not reflected on the report thus showing as a negative factor, I wrote to the company but heard nothing back.

dianek_2 · 11 October 2015 at 10:31PM

I was also surprised that applying for a current account in the last 6 months was also a negative factor. I'm contemplating switching this account to get free switching money as there are many deals at the moment.

dianek_2 · 11 January 2016 at 9:20PM

Wow, it's exactly a year ago that I started this diary!
I'm so happy with my progress, especially completing the Save 12k in 2015 challenge! I saved £10,100 which is 84% of my 12k target

dianek_2 · 11 January 2016 at 9:50PM

I've been thinking about my New Year resolutions for 2016.
I only have one: Take it easy with work.
Last year was pretty stressful workwise and I do not want a repeat of it this year or ever.

On the financial front, I am hesitant to set a savings goal/target because I don't want to be too frugal at the expense of enjoying life. I'm so glad 2015 is over because I purposed to live on the bare minimum that I could survive on and save the rest of my salary. It paid off eventually but it was hard and miserable. My strategy this year is to boost my income so that saving is not a struggle.

dianek_2 · 1 February 2016 at 10:44PM

I hate to admit it but I've now started playing the lottery. I've budgeted £10 per month for this so it will be a ticket a week and the odd scratch card or vice versa depending on my mood.

I've been tempted to do free competitions with cash/voucher prizes but I don't feel comfortable dishing out my contact details to companies.

dianek_2 · 10 February 2016 at 10:16PM

Since my last post I bought 2 lucky dip lottery tickets and won nothing. Then I switched to scratch cards as they have higher odds of winning something however small. I bought five £1 scratch cards and finally yesterday I won a fiver each on 2 scratch cards! I'm just happy to recoup the £9 that I had already spent. I now have only £1 left out of my monthly budget. If its a loss, it's already recouped.

dianek_2 · 10 February 2016 at 10:37PM

On a more serious money saving note - I have opened a Help to buy ISA and a couple of interest paying current accounts. I hope my credit score is still good enough to open one (or two) more accounts before April when interest on savings becomes tax free. A friend told me that I'm basically ruining my credit with all those searches but frankly I don't have a choice and would rather do it now than years later when I am applying for a mortgage.

dianek_2 · 22 February 2016 at 9:50PM

I haven't received paperwork regarding my help to buy account except my online activation code. What happened to "welcome packs" and such? Thankfully I had written down my account number so I managed to pay the first 1200. Come to think of it, I never got a welcome from the bank staff either after I opened the account. This bank hasn't impressed me much. I hope the 4% interest is worth it.

dianek_2 · 17 April 2016 at 10:11PM

I need to get better at updating my diary. Work is keeping me so busy that I have no energy to do anything else. As I have been leaving late and want to get home as fast as I can, I have succumbed to taking the tube and train a lot instead of the bus and yet I have an annual bus pass. So I'm wasting a lot of money.I've been good at taking the bus in the morning though.

doingitanyway · 18 April 2016 at 9:00AM

Well done on taking the bus. It takes longer but you can read and get a seat and you get exercise built in walking to and from the bus stop. I always say I will do the same but somehow I don't....Are you still doing it? You sound very motivated and you are doing just great.