Atrixa's Saving Diaries

atrixa

MovingForwards said:

It helps logging things as a pattern emerges and adapting is easier.
How have the other spends met expectations or budget?

Congratulations on the payrise!

Thanks Babs and FB!

In terms of other spends it's been as I expected really, I budget for anything known in advance and that gives me time to decide if I really need/want it or not. I change things around as and when I need to, so I might end up going over on my meals out budget slightly, but then not use my window cleaning or entertainment budget so I just move money around to other lines, anything left over is rolled into savings the next month. I pay into my savings first so I'm not tempted to dip into those. I usually over-estimate what needs to be paid out in the month so there's always a bit of a buffer.

atrixa

Payday!

Savings pots now look like this, I've added £475 in total:

Sinking Fund for Holidays		£       262.89
cat adoption		£       250.00
House Emergency Fund (£4000)		£       902.53
Bathroom Sinking Fund (£5000)		£   1,276.26
Car (£2,400)		£       690.00
Emergency Fund (£7000)		£   2,746.84

I'm spending a bit of money on the house/yard this month to make sure I'm set up to grow some of my own veg, but next month I should be able to put quite a bit more away.

MovingForwards

Savings are looking good.

Starting up the garden does cost a bit, once up and running costs do come down a lot due to saving seeds, not buying plants and compost.

Do you have space to house a compost bin? it would annual reduce costs. 

If you have space for a comfrey plant, you can make your own fertiliser and attract pollinators.

atrixa

Yes, I've got a compost bin bookmarked to get ordered today, fantastic for reducing what's sent to landfill, too. I'll definitely look into comfrey plants too

MovingForwards

Again depending on space, a water butt off your guttering down pipe. There's tall slim ones nowadays compared to just the wide ones, helps if on a water meter and plans need water when no rainfall. 

As you've mentioned a yard, rather than garden, look at growing upwards. A pallet, flipped on its edge, with parts taken off another to create the base on the shelves, will create more growing space. Have a search online for ideas.

atrixa

I've ordered a slim waterbutt to attach to the porch downpipe along with the other bits. I'd like everything to be as sustainable as possible, so water saving is a must. My office occasionally gives away pallets, so I'll keep an eye out for an email. I've got quite a lot of space in the yard, so I can zone it off a bit and still have plenty of room for a table and chairs. Next door have more space than I do and they've managed to ram so much stuff in their yard that they can barely move. I followed a local 'yardeners' group and they've got some wonderful ideas to make the yards really inviting and productive.

Weather is lovely here today, feels like spring is just around the corner. I completed a 5k trail race and a run/walk to and from it. Yesterday I spent a few quid on groceries, first-aid items and a new pair of slippers (£7 Mr M) but today was an NSD

MovingForwards

The group sounds great, I also lift ideas from balcony growers and allotment holders, adapting for my space.

I do hope you'll update us as your yarden develops.

atrixa

Compost bin is set up (took ages, so many little bolts) with the help of bf and a bit of swearing. Got one shelf up in the porch for my chillies. I'm really starting to detest DIY. The second shelf kit had the holes drilled wonky so I'll contact W!ckes for a refund shortly. Hopefully they'll refund me then I can try to fix it by drilling some new holes. It's a shame I haven't got a vice handy. The water butt needs a 27mm hole saw that I don't have (and no one else does) so I'll order it off the big river company next week. Shame W!ckes doesn't have any as I'm in that neck of the woods tomorrow. 

I've put some catmint into a propagator (left over from the chilli kit) and I've planted some lemon balm for the bathroom window sill in the pot that my dear-departed poinsettia came in. I plan to move the catmint outside when it gets warmer and hopefully dry some out to put in cat toys. BF's cat really likes it. Later in the month I'll put sow my sweet peas for my hanging basket, then it should be time to plant some outdoor veg. In terms of my herbs, first coriander sowing didn't go well at all but the 2nd is looking much better. Parsley seems to grow like a weed, chives likewise. I've got some little shoots on the basil I planted a few weeks ago, so hopefully won't have any issues with that one. Chillies are taking over the house. I'll probably plant some of the Bolivian Rainbows outside when they get a bit bigger. They seem to grow quite slowly but I've only lost one or two so far.

I've done my sums for the rising energy prices for next month. My cheap fix runs out on 20th March then I'll be moved on to the Flex tariff. My direct debit is currently £61 and it will rise to £113 per month. My provider has already worked this out, so I shouldn't be hit with any surprises. Most of the price increase is from the absolutely astronomical increase in the electricity standing charge, so using less won't help as much as it should. I think I'll keep an eye out for cheap electric blankets for next winter and make sure (as I already do) that the thermostat never goes above 16C to save on gas.

Meal planning is still going really well. Made a lovely lentil and cauliflower curry tonight and I've got soup and pasta sauce already in the freezer.

Skint_yet_Again

I know how you feel about detesting DIY. I have times when I love it and get loads done, then I’ve had enough and can’t bear to do any more 😆

Love to read about the gardening & growing stuff 

MovingForwards

I'm not surprised you're fed up with DIY, you've done nearly the whole house in not much time.

Learn about successional planting as that will increase amounts, but not require more space.

Hot water bottle, decent snuggle blankets, slipper socks, boot slippers, thick dressing gown and you'll be set for next winter.