26, no savings feel stuck

Flowers123

They are amazing houseplant. Hope you're having a good week

Houseplant26

Well I've been totally useless at keeping contact on here, and doing my diary. I've had a bit of a stressful time at work and I felt very burnt out trying to keep on top of things. I feel like I'm coming out the other side again now. I've gone slightly over my £50 cash a week plan, mainly due to groceries but we did a big shop which will last week after pay day hopefully too.

Looking to finish my month (paid on Friday) £170 overdrawn so I think I've 'saved' £330 to pay off my overdraft of £500. Hopefully I can be out of it next month, although I am going away this weekend which will cost me but I really need it.

My savings plan, I think, may then be as follows:
On pay day put
£75 into regular saver
£25 into flexi saver
Both accounts with HSBC

Not sure whether to do this this payday or wait to make sure comfortably out of overdraft, as paid £4 in arranged overdraft charges this month.

Still not really sorted my budget moving forward. Need to redraft.

I've bought no clothes this month, and spent about £7 on toiletries I 'needed' (using up whatever I can but my conditioner was irritating my scalp and I was almost out of shower gel).

This is progress for me based on previous months.

Hope you are all well.

KxMx

Do shop around for the best paying accounts.

It's slim pickings out there now but I'm jumping ship from HSBC for my ISA as the so called "loyalty" product is having a second rate cut this year which represents a 0.50% cut so far.

Not willing to stay with a bank that treats loyal customers like that, even if it is easier as my main current account is with them.

Houseplant26

Hi KxMx,

I did have a look and the HSBC regular saver was up there I believe for best interest rate. According to this site. The flexi saver is because I'm not sure yet if I can afford to lock away £100, so I thought I could put £25 in there and move across of able to. Trying to avoid using my overdraft. Eventually o want to switch banks but I need one with an arranged overdraft that's affordable for emergencies. Not yet willing to get 0% credit cards until I'm earning more. I need to check my credit rating at some point. Maybe I'm doing it all wrong but I'm worried about making big changes and getting stung for it if I suddenly needed an overdraft or my 0% was taken away or something....

Pincher

Houseplant26 wrote: »

Outgoings:

Medicines/prescriptions: Average one prescription a month for my medical conditions so I'd say £9 (I forget current rate!)
Dentist: I'm going to pay £40ish a year to have insurance with private as used to use when NHS. So I guess that's under £5 a month. It's not a lot more than NHS so I think it's worth it.

Opticians: Recently found out I needed glasses and had to shell out £160 on two pairs. Want to try contacts when can afford it.

Not sure how I budget per month for my eyes, as could keep glasses for ages!

Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs)

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

You are a borderline case, but it just takes one extra prescription to make it worthwhile.


Costco often has coupon discounts for glasses.
You probably won't be shopping there much, so you really need to have a friend who is a member.

I tend to get prescription sunglasses when there are discounts.

Contacts are money pits, but if you don't need special prescriptions, use disposables from time to time. Costco also has coupons from time to time.

Flowers123

Hi Houseplant. Everyone I talk to at the moment is finding work stressful at the moment, myself included. You have done really well to stick near your £50 a week budget. I'm planning to set myself this target when I get paid next how has your meal planning gone? Well done on not buying any clothes this month. I was naughty and bought a top from eb@y. X

Houseplant26

Hi Flowers,

I fell off the wagon and bought chips and icecream today in the sun in my day off.
I also bought some lavender essential oil but mine had run out and it helps me sleep but still not exactly essentials.

Food planning is going fairly well. How about you? I'm usually pretty good at taking lunches etc.
£50 a week really shouldn't have been as tight as I found it but I think it was just it doesn't allow for cheaper and more expensive weeks, or buying any luxuries really. If you include groceries in it.

I'm proud about not buying clothes as I'm so bored of my wardrobe at the moment. I feel I've lost my sense of style and I wear clothes from years and years ago. Also really wanting to spend money on our renting flat getting Windows and carpets cleaned. We're up high and I can't clean outside and our carpet is filthy (was when moved in but didn't notice when looked round flat at night) it's really really horrid. Trying to work out if we can afford. We also don't have a dining table and chairs we borrowed a table and found two chairs but I'd love even a cheap second hand one we chose. My flat just feels unfinished I guess!

Flowers123

Don't worry I have fallen off the wagon too. We all deserve a treat every now and then and ice cream and chips sounds yummy, My food planning is going ok but I really need to start taking cash out once a week so I can keep track of my spending. Yes, £50 a week isn't much if it includes groceries and also socialising. I get paid next week so I'm going to try £50 a week to start with and see how I get on. Have you tried eb@y or charity shops for new clothes? I know it's not very MSE to buy clothes but if its cheaper than buying new clothes and stops you having a massive splurge then it could be an option. Have you tried your local recycling centre? Sometimes they have furniture people are chucking away. I've seen wooden furniture being chucked and you could always sand it down and paint it for a shabby chic look. If you have furniture that is made out of proper wood and not the MDF stuff it means it won't get ruined when you move house in the future Hope you had a lovely day off in the sun X

Houseplant26

Feeling stressed this morning.

I've been away for the weekend with my OH which I so so so needed and I had the best time and felt so much less stressed for. However it of course cost money and although I didn't go bonkers I'm left with the bare minimum for the rest of the month if I am to keep on track and be out of overdraft. Going to be a huge struggle and won't be able to save a penny.

I also am missing out on overtime. Boss said finance wouldn't let me work the extra one day I'd asked to do in an attempt to make headway on a project and the extra shifts I can pick up in a different role in evenings are all going to other colleagues. Understandably they are first come first served and I didn't see the email for a couple of hours but I'm a bit gutted and worrying about money now. Work is also taking on some extra flexible staff so there may be even less chance of me getting these sorts of shifts. May need to consider finding a second job which I was loathed to do and not sure how easily I will be able to.

Need to try to do my budget on money left this month and start thinking about finding extra income.

PinkGladioli

Houseplant26 wrote: »

My savings plan, I think, may then be as follows:
On pay day put
£75 into regular saver
£25 into flexi saver
Both accounts with HSBC

Just a tip incase your main current account is with HSBC too, I always find it too easy to dip into my savings if I can see them every time I log in online, now I have them with different banks I'm less likely to take £50 out here or there.