Making savings before it's too late

[Deleted User]

I made two unexpected trips out yesterday, about 18 miles in total. While out I got more cash and more treats to stash. I feel better if I have enough in my cash wallet, at least getting one lump of cash helps me to keep track, rather than piffling small amounts hemhorraging away.

There are no unexpected sums coming my way, all fixed on state pension every monday, small works pension on 18th and a very small extra pension on 26th. I have my fingers crossed for premium bonds at the end of the week. I have my eye on cc increasing, I did buy a few things for dd as she has broken her arm quite badly, needed to send her stuff asap and the quickest was prime, plus I did buy some things for myself earlier on. Whatever, I will pay it all off next monday. This is the march total btw, I don`t like any debt but cc is a safer way to buy online. Then belt tighten as council tax looms again

Blackcatsreturns

I have just done my end of month spending totals. I have decided to work my figures on my average monthly spend for last year and aim for a reduction of 10% for this year. So far this year then I have managed nearly a 20% reduction which I am very pleased with but I know that I have some expenses in future months which will make this reduction less.
I have treated myself to some lovely toiletries in bo*ts which were 3 for 2. It gives me a real boost to have a luxurious shower and use some lovely body lotion so I reckon that is money well spent. I have changed my mobile tariff and should save £20 per month which wasn’t money being well spent.
Hope everyone is keeping warm.

caronc

Payday for me today for my main income so a couple of hours spent budget shuffling/allocating/paying my credit card bill ready for a spendy March. Thankfully everything balanced at the end, though I do wish British Gas would hurry up and work out my final bill so I know exactly where I am utility payments wise.
I think my treat for this month will be a small tea pot. The ones I have are all huge and I'd like to move to loose tea. I'm last of the big spenders though as the one I like plus the insert/filter only comes to just under a tenner including delivery:rotfl::rotfl:

Blackcatsreturns

Caronc - it is often the little inexpensive things that give most pleasure. I bought 2 mugs from the Poundshop (no prizes for guessing their price) and I love them and always enjoy my cuppa in them.

caronc

Blackcatsreturns wrote: »

Caronc - it is often the little inexpensive things that give most pleasure. I bought 2 mugs from the Poundshop (no prizes for guessing their price) and I love them and always enjoy my cuppa in them.

It is indeed:D, in the end I swapped the insert for a strainer and it's come in at just under £8 (plus tea of course) but I will enjoy it. My favourite tea mug was a 4 for £2 job many moons ago (at least 15 years:eek:)from Matalan. Just the one left now and I will be so sad when it breaks...

[Deleted User]

ok I am not going to spend anything and have no forthcoming bills, so it is safe for me to transfer what is needed to completely clear my cc. Just did that and my actual bank acc balance in the current acc is more than on m/s money. I do that deliberately, another safety net, I round expenses up so that the extra cash gradually accumulates and then I will slip it into the bank attached savings account. It is a £40 difference today but I bear in mind that I will have a large electricity bill next time around

So far so good for march. I intend to use up food stores this month so not going out in the car much, instead am hoping to get into the fresh air on my bike and also on the allotment. I need the exercise after being cooped up

tori.k

Looks like we finally found a house :j
So my no spend March is hopefully likely to be expensive, we should find out Monday if the deal can be struck.
The compromise was on the parking it's a semi detached with garage but in a cul-de-sac on a hill so no more off road parking but plenty of un restricted parking bays, it's mostly older folks so everyone has pretty much claimed there own parking nearest there houses but we have no issue being dotted around in the spares. We plan to drop a car as soon as we can so it's hopefully a shortish term problem, and will try to inconvenience the neighbours as little as possible.
So I paid the CC off early this month to clear the balance ( makes me less grumpy about his glasses if I'm not looking at the balance )
A very frugal month planned shopping wise I already have money set aside for the mortgage fees & cost but will have a chunk to pay off for the solicitor for the house that fell through on top. So rather have a little worse case money in that pot, we don't intend to have any debt other than the mortgage I will have white goods and wardrobes to buy with moving but will recoup the cost of these pretty quickly with the saving in fuel and council tax as we would drop from band D to B and save £100 a month in fuel at worse.
I just so hope this works out, I can't face much more of the house buying stress much longer. If this doesn't work out im taking 6 month break, I get to busy in the spring with work to be adding to the stress.

Blackcatsreturns

Kittie - I have just done my money movement for the start of March. I have been away for a few days so it is a bit later than usual. My timing was excellent as I missed the snow but came home to a very cold house late last night. I took a cup of tea to bed to warm up and had a good nights sleep. I have some money coming in tomorrow which will go to credit card. I accumulated £100 by rounding down from my current account last month so that has gone over to National Savings account where it is out of sight and therefore no temptation to spend it.
Tori - I hope that the house move proceeds swiftly and smoothly for you. Fingers crossed.

[Deleted User]

Tori, I have everything crossed for you, all my very best for a smooth transition

I have scraped that £40 excess out of current account into bill savings, was very worth rounding up expenses, it added up bit by bit. I need to save another £108 this month to bill savings, to reach my monthly target over the 12 months. I think I will do it, any excess will be real savings ie over and above allowing for bills. Jury is out on that one for this month. I want to swap and change insurances, utilities etc but won`t do that until I find and settle into a new home.

Blackcatsreturns

I have just redeemed my free drink from my favourite independent coffee shop. I had a delicious hot chocolate and saved £2.50 and whilst this is not a huge sum of money it represents my new approach to spending and saving. This month is going to be tight money wise if I!!!8217;m going to reduce my spending by the planned 10%. I have had a holiday which has increased my monthly total spend (was worth it). I can make savings on eating out as I spent quite a lot last month in restaurants mostly on mediocre food and overpriced wine. I also have some money accumulated on my CoOp loyalty card which will cover a week of groceries. I shall aim to tighten my belt and complete the first quarter of this year on target.