Making savings before it's too late

blackcatsx2

Thank you FionaandPhil
I need to look at my mobile phone expenditure.although I am on Sim only, the monthly cost always seems to be more than I think it will be.
I’ve been tracking all my spending since last January. I know I spend too much but the annual figure is terrifying. Last January was my lowest spending month and then it crept up and up. (New Years resolution appears to have been abandoned by February). I’ve set a target to reduce overall spending by 10% this year but not compromise on holidays so some categories of spending will need to reduce by more than 10%. No need to worry too much about me cos there is lots and lots of excess that can be trimmed!!!

PollyWollyDoodle

Definitely recommend using Billmonitor to find the best deal for your mobile - details on the MSE pages.

[Deleted User]

My cc statement for this month appeared today and I still put unplanned buys on the card, :cool: house plants this time , I will enjoy them for a long time. I bought them for a trolley, so can wheel them to suitable places. Open plan area so will be good for `dividing` areas

I shall make sure to put that on my month spends on m/s money, luckily for the end of this month, which is when there is leeway

Am I the only one who has no inclination for a holiday? I went on a cruise, my only cruise ever, solo and came back with terrible bronchitis, went on a plane to scotland and caught a very rough cold. Went to malta with hubbie and he spent the whole time in the room, caught bronchitis. I get so wary of using someone else`s pillow, hearing people cough and cough in the rooms along the corridor. I get simple pleasures from being at home, just cycling in areas protected for nature, or sitting knitting in a sunny window and listening to an audible book or pottering on my allotment. I think not going away allows me to have the occasional bigger spend as long as It is allowed for and I still save

PollyWollyDoodle

Every time I go away I wonder why! I spend huge amounts of energy and time preparing, arranging for cat to be fed, packing etc, and then pay money to (usually) sleep in an uncomfortable bed and, if it's self-catering, cook in a poorly-equipped kitchen! As I'm self employed, holidays cost me double as I'm not able to work for those days, too.

I'm being flippant, of course holidays usually offer new opportunities and there are still a few places left on my list that I'd like to see, but it has to be something really worthwhile for me.

mardatha

All my life I longed for holidays but the husband hates going away. We only ever had 4 days at the most and mostly in Scotland. Now I don't have the energy - and I watch the news full of delays, cancellations, nightmares at airports and train stations etc and am quite content to stay at home

tori.k

It wouldn't bother me so much nowadays Kittie, we've traveled a lot over the years and I started to struggle with the long hauls ( Washington will be the last) I actually now prefer days out and my own bed.
DH is basically a big kid that always needs entertaining he gets fearful of the jobs I will make him do round the house if he's not working, it's very much out of sight out of mind with him on the smaller day to day jobs.
I do factor in £1500 a year for entertainment, seems a lot to some, when you think it's £30pw it's the cost of a couple of take outs or a tv package that others may choose to have.
I'ts surprising how far money can stretch when you separate it out into categories, keeping entertainment separate does show how much homebodies we really are during the winter months especially.

Ilona

I do like my holidays and days out, I need to get out of my village into wide open spaces. My passport ran out a year or so ago and I have not renewed it, I have no wish to join the throngs at the airports.

I have two walking holidays a year, seven days/140 miles, lots of days out, midweek stays around the UK, (drive and walk), my treats. This is why I am frugal with my day to day living expenses, so I can afford a car, hotels, hostels and travel.

Ilona

trailingspouse

Made the switch in December from Utility Warehouse to British Gas. We were averaging £137 a month for gas and electric combined, and our first payment to BG has just gone out. Only £75 a month. Yay - pretty much a 50% saving!! Happy days.

I know what you mean about holidays PollyWolly - we're self-employed too, and if you start adding in how much you're not earning to the cost of going away you would never do anything!! We're off to Australia in August (grandchild over there, due in June), so that's going to be 3 weeks without pay. But I keep reminding myself that a) it's not good for you to never have a break and b) we work hard for our money - we should enjoy it and c) grandchild!! Priceless!!

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Ilona,
what an energetic person you are! Mind you, doing the things you love is a sure way to happiness & contentment:T

Have a great day everyone

MrsSD:)

Ilona

Mrs_Salad_Dodger wrote: »

Ilona,
what an energetic person you are! Mind you, doing the things you love is a sure way to happiness & contentment:T

Have a great day everyone

MrsSD:)

Thank you. I'm starting to think about my spring walkabout, where from and where to. Do I need to buy new maps, or can I use the ones I already have. I do believe the answer to physical and mental health is mostly down to exercise. I walk three miles every day, 50 minutes at a fast pace.

Yes, have a great day everyone, make it so.

Ilona