A Ditherer's Diary (again)

Naomim

The snails are pretty easy, they love courgette, although they need cuttle fish in the tank and a protein mix once a week to help keep their shells strong.  The Hammy's are new so fingers crossed 15yo will get them used to being handled.   My dog is also a gannet/fussy eater.  Change in diet and he gets upset stomach but he turns his nose up at plain dry food.

You mentioned transferring the money out of Monzo, this is what I used to do before I had my LBM and the Monzo account. I only saved for Christmas really and then every month we'd hit the back end of the overdraft and have to put money in. The only spare money was in the savings account.  So there I was, all smug telling people I saved for Christmas when in reality; when it came to buying the presents I had a tiny amount saved compared to what I should have done.  

This year is looking much better!

WinterWarrior

I don’t even have a savings account (well I do, but empty), but I’m really hoping to turn a corner! I started a Christmas pot in Jan....I have £5 left in it! But next month is a new month...I cant do much until payday. 

You are proving to me it’s possible. I will stop taking savings back again! 

Naomim

Suzanne54321B said:

I don’t even have a savings account (well I do, but empty), but I’m really hoping to turn a corner! I started a Christmas pot in Jan....I have £5 left in it! But next month is a new month...I cant do much until payday. 

You are proving to me it’s possible. I will stop taking savings back again! 

You can do it, have you started a diary yet or written up your SOA - even just for yourself?  I subscribe to the "give every penny a job" way of thinking which I believe is the YNAB way. So on payday you take your income, and list everything that needs paying, all bills, then your payments to loans and credit cards.  If you are paying the minimums on the loans, try and set the payment at £1.00 higher than the minimum for the first month, next month that £1 will slightly increase the amount it's clearing on the debt.  Anything left, needs to go on groceries, petrol, pet food etc, remember to give yourself some personal spending money, and work out how much you want to put into each pot.  I also try and forward forecast for my annual insurances.  I was paying £26 a month on DD for home insurance so I also put £25 a month into my Home Insurance pot so when it was due I had it available.    I also meal plan so I can keep a tighter rein on the grocery budget, it also means we eat nicer food than when I stare into the freezer with no idea of what we are eating.

It's really hard work at first but soon becomes the norm. The pots will need tweaking until you know how much you are budgeting so don't lock them straight away. 

Keep reading, keep posting as it really helps keep you focused.  Before you know it, you'll be handing out advice on the DFW boards 👍

Naomim

Naomim

As I mentioned meal planning, I thought I'd give you this weeks list:

Wednesday - Mexican style beef loaded wedges - this is the last meal from our Hello Fresh box which we are having once a month
Thursday -  Mixed herb coated chicken and rice
Friday- Burrito's
Saturday - Pork, pepper & onion kebabs with salad
Sunday - lamb roast
Monday - Sea bass & baby potatoes with asparagus

10yo is a real fusspot so she will eat the chicken as long as I leave one plain one for her and she'll eat the roast. Luckily the 15yo will eat anything and loves cooking.  Trying to get him a bit more involved in choosing meals and making them.

Naomim

WinterWarrior

The meal plan looks amazing. 

I always try to clear off my card, but by doing that I’m usually behind...for example pet food Is ordered towards the end of the month, then I’ll pay it off on payday along with other bits from that month...leaving myself very short for the next month. I need to find a way to get in front somehow. That’s the difficulty, how to get in front while not adding any debt.
i do have all my spreadsheet tabs, and work out everything each month...every pound has a job, but mainly because there’s not much spare at the end right now! 

Homegrown0

Regarding Christmas savings, I have set up something a bit harder to access which might be of interest to you? 

I opened up an account with my local credit union to save separately from my bank account linked savings accounts (to stop the inevitable transferring money back and forth). I set up a DD for £100 every month to go from my current account after pay day to my credit union account. I treat it like a bill, not an optional savings activity. 

Once it lands in my CU account, half of it is sent into a Christmas saver and the other half stays where it is. It means that by the time it comes to payout in November, I have £600 in my Christmas saver and £600 in my general saver which i can request payout for if i want. 

I can't access the Christmas money throughout the year (well, i could if it was an emergency but withdrawing it early closes your saver, so it's discouraged hugely). Because it's not held in my bank, i don't see it every day and i sort of forget about it but I know come November, it'll land in my account and I can request the other half which takes 2 days to arrive in my current account. 

Also, keeping them separate means that I still have access to half of the money saved in case of emergency. But I try not to touch it and just keep that for Christmas fun money. 

This setup might not suit you, but it has massively helped me to keep it all separate and inaccessible. 

WinterWarrior

That is a good idea. I don’t know much about credit union accounts, but I will have a look.
i discovered this week that you can lock Monzo pots, with an end date. That also closes the pot if you request it back earlier, which may discourage me....I hope! 

Naomim

I too don't really know about credit unions and learnt about locking Monzo pots recently. My Christmas one is locked until 30th Sept.  
Now my budget is under control, I have stopped taking the money out 👍

@Suzanne54321B it sounds like you need to re-visit your budget. Are there areas you could trim for a while to try and get in front?

bigsteve85

I use a credit union as well, mine is run through my union at work so my monthly saving comes directly from my wages and doesn’t even touch my bank account, if your in a union at work they should be affiliated with one, also a couple of months of real hard cut backs can help you get the footing you need to get yourself in front slightly

WinterWarrior

Thanks @bigsteve85 and @Naomim and Homegrown0 for all the advice. 

I haven’t seen anything from my union (and it’s a big one), but I will investigate!
and yes, definitely a few months of hard cut backs make sense. I am having a big birthday soon (sob) and need to change my ways! 

Naomim you are my Monzo hero 😊