2017 - my frugal year

SkintTeacher

Hello all! I was clogging up the debt free wannabe section so I've headed over here to start a diary so I can stay motivated to clear my debt and start some real savings.
I've been in teaching 7 years and never managed to save anything. I was never in terrible debt but it did creep up to £800 in 2016. I had my LBM (luckily) before it got too bad - I realised I'd started to use the credit card to pay for stuff I wanted but couldn't afford. Cc debt now down to £130. Won't be going up again.
I have big plans and since Oct 2016 I've been monitoring my spending closely and had a few realisations. I'm far too generous, mainly! So I've cut back on all non essential spending.
I'm also tryng to slim down for my wedding in April - 8 kilos gone so far (about a stone).
Both debt- busting and fat-busting are going really well.
If you pop by for a read, do say hello - it's so motivating to know people are cheering you on! :beer:

Lonire

Hey there, ah I too need to head over to the debt free diaries. Will get mine posted soon!

It is rather addictive once you get into the money saving ways, I have found. I just hope to keep it up over the coming months. I am pretty similar in that since college I have never really saved and just thought well it will all be ok. But I'm glad Ive had my LBM and realised I actually need to sort myself out and it will only be ok if I make it ok. if that makes sense.

You are doing so well. Look forward to reading more. Keep it up

SkintTeacher

Lonire wrote: »

Hey there, ah I too need to head over to the debt free diaries. Will get mine posted soon!

It is rather addictive once you get into the money saving ways, I have found. I just hope to keep it up over the coming months. I am pretty similar in that since college I have never really saved and just thought well it will all be ok. But I'm glad Ive had my LBM and realised I actually need to sort myself out and it will only be ok if I make it ok. if that makes sense.

You are doing so well. Look forward to reading more. Keep it up

Absolutely makes sense - a sudden realisation that no one else is going to do this for you!? And that you're no longer a spring chicken who can put it all off until 'tomorrow'? I know the feeling well.

Thanks for the support - really appreciated

Lonire

yeah it is def the thoughts in my head as well, I've had my fun being carefree now I got to sort it out . I think you said you are getting married this year. I am too and it has made me realise that I need to be a lot more sensible to get myself on a good footing to start of married life.

I'll be following your journey too. Hows the weekend looking?

Bobarella

Good luck with it Skint Teacher happy new diary

SkintTeacher

The best laid plans...

The week-end has been slightly different than expected so far as my little one is ill. So no outings today except the pharmacy and the local sweet shop. I also filled the tank with petrol as I'd like to avoid spending on another day (obsessed with NSDs!)

Tomorrow we can't go to the birthday party because of v+d so wondering how to spend the day. He has a high fever so we can't really go anywhere out and about.

I feel like I've settled into spending less but I'm still struggling with feeling bad when I've spent anything at all - not guilty, more annoyed at myself for not having enough restraint. Then I remember all the savings I've stacked up in just 2 months. Looking back over the months I was never truly spend thrift - I hardly ever bought stuff for myself but obviously it was going somewhere...

I need a little boost so I think I'll list some positives:
1) £600/ £1000 emergency fund saved
2) 'piggy banking ' experiment underway
3) son's savings boosted by regular dd
4) ISA regular dd set up
5) next year my partner's earning should go up
6) £130 left on the cc
7) cheap half term planned

Ooh, that does feel better!
Night everyone, hope your Saturdays weren't filled with marking and illness

Lonire

hello there,

Sorry to hear about the little ones illness. doing better?

Sounds like you have a lot of positives. I know what you mean about feeling guilty when you do spend anything but I suppose you got to think about where you've come from. i,e spending more and given you are having restraint now you are doing a lot better even if you do have one spendy day. Well thats what I tell myself. Spending a bit more one day rather than spending a lot most days is def a plus. ( talking from my own experience). I too get the guilt when I have one day where I spend a bit more but it usually works to tell myself how much I've changed. Your positives are very positive! You are doing so well.

I hope you had a nice weekend despite the illness and marking. As I said on my diary, I was out this weekend so fun day yesterday but today was marred with a hangover. I think I would rather have been marking :O lol

Hope you have a great week.

Ilona

Ah, you found it. :cool: You'll soon get some supporters on here, they are a friendly bunch. Keep posting, let us know how you are getting on. Good luck in your frugal year.
Ilona

Bobarella

SkintTeacher wrote: »

The best laid plans...

The week-end has been slightly different than expected so far as my little one is ill. So no outings today except the pharmacy and the local sweet shop. I also filled the tank with petrol as I'd like to avoid spending on another day (obsessed with NSDs!)

Tomorrow we can't go to the birthday party because of v+d so wondering how to spend the day. He has a high fever so we can't really go anywhere out and about.

I feel like I've settled into spending less but I'm still struggling with feeling bad when I've spent anything at all - not guilty, more annoyed at myself for not having enough restraint. Then I remember all the savings I've stacked up in just 2 months. Looking back over the months I was never truly spend thrift - I hardly ever bought stuff for myself but obviously it was going somewhere...

I need a little boost so I think I'll list some positives:
1) £600/ £1000 emergency fund saved
2) 'piggy banking ' experiment underway
3) son's savings boosted by regular dd
4) ISA regular dd set up
5) next year my partner's earning should go up
6) £130 left on the cc
7) cheap half term planned

Ooh, that does feel better!
Night everyone, hope your Saturdays weren't filled with marking and illness

That's a great list of positives!

Drawingaline

It's a better list of positives than I have atm!

Good luck on your journey x

SkintTeacher

Thanks all for your support! I'm bunkered down as everyone in my house is ill. Still going to work (2 parent's evenings this week) but then collapsing once home.

Agreed with OH last night that we won't do anything for Valentines - he's normally very sweet and gets me a card, flowers and chocolate but the card and flowers seem a waste of money and I'm not eating chocolate... We're out on Saturday for his birthday anyway.