Setmefree's Diary: MFi5 journey

Floxxie

StuartGMC wrote: »

SMF2
I live in the west of East Anglia (if that isn't an oxymoron?) these days but I was born and bred in the south of the Cotswolds near Bath and Bristol. I can recommend visiting both Norfolk and Suffolk, why not add it to a list of potential day trips which you have ready planned for when a nice day turns up?

Another location I can recommend is Stamford in Lincs, easy by train via Peterborough and you may get cheap tickets that way. Beautiful town we lived in for a couple of years but too far from my job to remain there.

I'm a Stamfordian and also a genealogist..couldn't wait to escape from the place but still doing research for people. Small world.

Floxxie

setmefree2

Daily rate for March 2009 mortgage interest was £4.87:j This time last year was £25.09

Monthly charge was £151, this time last year was £778. Saving £627:T

A Big YAY

SmlSave

Such a big change in the daily interest - yay:T

Floxxie

That's a fantastic reduction SMF. Well done! :beer: (you'll have to have a bog-standard image as I am not as clever as you )

Floxxie

StuartGMC

Evidence if needed of the benefit of overpaying now; if interest rates do indeed rise you will have significantly mitigated the effect by the substantial capital reduction. Well done.

Little_Mama

setmefree2 wrote: »

Daily rate for March 2009 mortgage interest was £4.87:j This time last year was £25.09

Monthly charge was £151, this time last year was £778. Saving £627:T

A Big YAY

Big WOW! Well done SMF2 :T

LM

setmefree2

It was one of my new year's resolutions to try and use more coupons, points, vouchers etc. This is how I've been doing:-

Savings made since Jan 1st 2009:-

Boots £76.14 (points used & coupons - does not include 3 for 2 deals)
Hairdressers £36.60 (local-me and kids- vouchers)
Homebase £21.23 (15% off voucher)
Body Shop £9.96 (10% off card)
Sainsburys £3.25 (coupons)
WH Smith £1.84

TOTAL Saving £149.02 in three months:j

Points outstanding:-

Boots £31.04
Sainsburys £56.18 (to use in Argos)
Tesco £23.00
Legoland vouchers £60
Airmiles 6991 points
Your points (Natwest) 3551



Still haven't used my nectar card on Amazon purchases:o

Not bad though:T

setmefree2

• Boots £76.14 (points used & coupons - does not include 3 for 2 deals) To get these savings I had to use the round-and-round-again trick;). I spend the minimum to keep getting the £5 off vouchers. In total I collected and used 11 £5 off No 7 vouchers, used them against No7 cleanser and Toner reducng the cost of the cleanser & toner from £7.30 to £2.30. I now have enough cleanser and toner to last me for quite a few months LOL. Going round-and-round again can be slightly embarrassing but worth it...

• Hairdressers £36.60 (local-me and kids- vouchers) Sadly, these vouchers are now all used up

• Homebase £21.23 (15% off voucher) We have a homebase card and this was an offer attached to the card

Body Shop £9.96 (10% off card)
Sainsburys £3.25 (coupons)
WH Smith £1.84

TOTAL Saving £149.02 in three months:j

SmlSave

Morning SMF2, can I be cheeky and ask how you manage to get so many points with Boots?

setmefree2

SmlSave wrote: »

Morning SMF2, can I be cheeky and ask how you manage to get so many points with Boots?

Hi smlsave:hello:

I only use No 7 cosmetics. Cleanser, toner, moisturiser, foundation, nail varnish, etc, etc. I suppose I use a lot of make-up as I wear a full face everyday:o. (I can't leave the house without my make-up on!).

I have found that if I just buy Perfect and Protect Serum that I can get enough vouchers and free gifts to never have to pay much (if anything at all) for any other cosmetics. Boots do £5 off No 7 vouchers quite often which means I can reduce the cost of cleaners & toners to £2 a bottle. I stock up when this offer is on. Plus, Boots regularly do free cosmetics bags full of goodys - this gives me free foundation/ tinted moisturiser, mascara, nail varnish, blusher, eye shadow, lippy, etc. I rarely pay for anything else other than the serum.

Additionally, I always:-

• Use the kiosk in store to get extra points. Save up all your purchases to maximise this. Check what the spend total is. Might be extra points 300 points for £30 worth of purchases. This plus the regular points means you are getting between 15% to 20% off. I buy toothpaste, mouthwashes, medicine, vitamins ( all preferably on 3 for 2 as well).
• Use the vouchers they give you through the post. I get vouchers for double points on total spends (I had 2 this month) and extras for spending on larger spends.
• Only spend the minimum to get the maximum points. Keep going to the check out as many times as it takes to get the maximum points.
• NEVER go into Boots when you are in a rush! Look up what deals they have on line before you go. Plan out each transaction before you go to maximise your points.

It's time consuming but worth it. LOL.:D