Making savings before it's too late

pigpen

Spendless wrote: »

'I really loved my children being teenagers' said no parent ever :rotfl:

Apart from me... we have our moments but we have a laugh and conversations and I love that we can enjoy each others company... 6-13 is THE most horrid age.. whiny and naggy and so demanding and never a minutes reprieve.. And I've had the most evil toddler today.. she is vile when she is hungry or tired.. today she was both.

I have got to the point with most of mine where I go in their room and absolutely gut them.. I never throw away anything that is not actual rubbish.. but I put things away and they think I threw out loads of stuff. I have just done my 22, 19 and 17 y/o's rooms.. we swapped bedrooms about and so I did the sorting.. Then my 20 y/o mived back from uni so I have lost my front room! at the weekend I am sorting her stuff.. once I have decorated DD3's bedroom.

They never like it when I am in the process but DD1 (now 24) admits it was lovely and she was very secretly glad I did it because she didn't know where to start.

I wish my mother would come sort my house!! HAHA!!

I'm trying for a thrifty month but am, so far, failing miserably. I've spent £150 on decorating materials for the bathrooms and DD3's room I just shifted the 2 piggy boys out of! I need to find a lot of money this year!!

I have looked at ways to save the cash.. waiting for the mortgage company to sort out my new rate and the payments will be a lot less.

My budget is becoming more managable but I am pretty desperate for OH to get the job he is qualified for and earn a decent amount more than crappy minimum wage which we cannot live on!

And I am knitting up my yarn stash.. very very slowly! Scarf anyone?

[Deleted User]

I am going to my first viewing today, a new build, small builder, converted from a demo plot, 3rd of 3 bungalows. I had such an adrenalin fuelled re-action when RM sent me the alert and thankfully have calmed down but in the meantime have done a terrific amount of online research. I now doubt that this will be the one for me but it was wonderful to actually get an alert after 6 months of nothing suitable at all. Couldn`t sleep at all last night, whizzy mind and such leg aches as well

I am very very interested in reading about the savings conundrum at different life/family stages. I think it got much easier when I was on a fixed income but in other ways is harder as there is never an opportunity to increase income and bills keep creeping up

Chandelier.

Afternoon,

It's been quite a tough, emotional week here. I've been accepted under the crisis team and hopefully will be accessing the support I need. I have someone coming to visit me this afternoon to do some therapy with me and then I'm hoping to get to the gym and possibly swimming.

I've had no spends the past four days and all my bank accounts are looking healthy so far. I've nothing much planned for the rest of the week and I'm trying to set aside the time to relax.

The only plans I have which are not set in stone for the week, is possibly going to Bingo on Thursday night with a friend. That shall come out of the entertainment budget which has been left untouched so far. The only other possible plans I may do with the boy is go to our local theme park on Saturday which we have annual passes for and we'll most likely take a picnic. We may buy a hot drink whilst there but spends will be limited to less then a fiver.

I'm trying to save as much as possible and cut back where possible although I'm going to treat myself to a new fitness tracker if I can find it at a decent price. My mum and sister both have one and I've been thinking about it for a while and it may motivate me to exercise more.

I'm hoping to go to the gym at least 3x this week. I managed to go 3x last week so its a start. I'll start small and build it up. I need to book a session with a personal trainer which is free and they make you a programme that you can stick to.

I've lost 2.5lb since last week. I've snacked less on junk food but I'm still not eating three proper meals a day which I clearly need to so this is something I'll try to work on. I've also cut back on the amount of sugar I have in hot drinks. Its the small changes that matter.

mardatha

One thing, being snowed in for a week def helps cut down the spending no post or binmen or school since last Tues. Only one quick trip out to the docs, and more snow this morning covering the road again. Sitting tight and spending nowt here

JCS1

Chandelier. wrote: »

Afternoon,

It's been quite a tough, emotional week here. I've been accepted under the crisis team and hopefully will be accessing the support I need. I have someone coming to visit me this afternoon to do some therapy with me and then I'm hoping to get to the gym and possibly swimming.

I've had no spends the past four days and all my bank accounts are looking healthy so far. I've nothing much planned for the rest of the week and I'm trying to set aside the time to relax.

The only plans I have which are not set in stone for the week, is possibly going to Bingo on Thursday night with a friend. That shall come out of the entertainment budget which has been left untouched so far. The only other possible plans I may do with the boy is go to our local theme park on Saturday which we have annual passes for and we'll most likely take a picnic. We may buy a hot drink whilst there but spends will be limited to less then a fiver.

I'm trying to save as much as possible and cut back where possible although I'm going to treat myself to a new fitness tracker if I can find it at a decent price. My mum and sister both have one and I've been thinking about it for a while and it may motivate me to exercise more.

I'm hoping to go to the gym at least 3x this week. I managed to go 3x last week so its a start. I'll start small and build it up. I need to book a session with a personal trainer which is free and they make you a programme that you can stick to.

I've lost 2.5lb since last week. I've snacked less on junk food but I'm still not eating three proper meals a day which I clearly need to so this is something I'll try to work on. I've also cut back on the amount of sugar I have in hot drinks. Its the small changes that matter.

Keep on at the crisis team, you may find they allocate you to be seen by a place but then there is a big wait. Whereabouts in the country are you? There may be some charities who can help out with group meetings whilst you're waiting for NHS........ message me if you want to chat

caronc

Tori good luck with the house and Kittie hope the viewing went well <<fingers crossed smiley>>

I'm at that point where most of the big bills for March have been paid so my current account is looking somewhat depleted but hopefully I've not missed anything crucial in my planning.

Shop ordered for this weekend's celebrations and birthday lunch for my Dad next week, my £3 per head for Saturday has more or less came in though required a bit of [STRIKE]restraint [/STRIKE] tweaking as we are now 9 rather than 10-12 and I still want to cook the same menu.

A couple of extra unplanned spends by way of taxis that couldn't be helped and were paid from in cash already in my purse though I did have to visit the ATM to make sure my (small) cash store didn't get overly depleted.:)

lessonlearned

Hello everyone.

I am back from my Amazon adventure and ready to pick up the savings baton again.

I had the most wonderful time, saw lots of wild life, flowers, birds, and of course millions of trees - the trees were stunning, so tall. And not forgetting the insects. :rotfl: I took every precaution I could think of and only ended up with three small mozzie bites, which is amazing for me because they usually feast on me.

We were very fortunate with the weather, despite it being the rainy season we saw very little rain. Just one spectacular rain storm when we were nice and dry on the ship. I did find the humidity exhausting but I expected that. It was much more pleasant in The Caribbean on the way back.

Anyway I am back and ready to start my savings journey. I need to replenish the war chest.....especially as I am now faced with the prospect of a huge dental bill. I have also booked a trip to Iceland next year - weather wise one extreme to another. So I really need to tighten the belt and get serious about saving.

Let the frugality begin.

So this month I intend to rejig everything, look at switching banks and savings accounts. I want to try and squeeze every last penny out of the banks. I am going to play them at their own game and milk their deals.

I have been very good so far this year and not bought any clothes or anything new for the house. I intend to try and not buy New clothes or shoes this year, other than underwear as needed.

I was offered a job before I went on holiday but I have decided not to accept. Instead I have decided to go back to college to refresh and update my qualifications. Then I can go self employed as a complimentary therapist. Luckily the course is government funded so I have nothing to pay other than books and any course materials.

It is a long term strategy (well more of an outright gamble really) but hopefully one that will pay dividends, both financially and in terms of job satisfaction. I did enjoy my old line of work, selling houses for property developers and it was financially rewarding. But, it was very stressful and although it was lovely in summer it could be extremely cold in winter. I am not sure my old bones could cope now. As a therapist I will be able to work from a nice cosy treatment room - much more comfortable.

Being self employed will give me more flexibility, I can choose how much I want to work. I am 66 and drawing all my pensions and have enough income to meet my needs. I do not have to earn a full time wage but some extra income would come in handy. The extra will fund my travel adventures and will also help me put something aside for my real old age.:rotfl:

So......it all starts now. The bills are paid, the freezer is full and I have a full tank of petrol so hopefully not much spending this month. I am aiming to keep it down to £100. Here goes.......

I have only read the last couple of pages so forgive me for not commenting on everything but I would like to wish Kittie and Tori good luck with the house moves.

[Deleted User]

LL, welcome back and I am glad to see that you have more nice things to look forward to

I am going to be helping a dd financially, out of my base savings pot. She is going to be hitting a bad pinch point ahead and has no scope to prise herself out. I am so pleased that she thought to chat to me, very difficult for a proud professional to do. She uses a spreadsheet and they have a very difficult decision to make soon, involving grandchildren. They need to make the right decision and this will be the one involving my help. I can help and I will. No point when I am dead and it is too late. She couldn`t sleep last night but I have just told her and hopefully taken a burden from her. It is what families do

My aim over the next year is to get a new house, sell mine and get an annuity to give me some more fixed income for the rest of my life. I want to end up with an amount that will allow the flexibility of paying all bills and make some savings for holidays and so on. I do have a base sipp, one I managed for dh since 2006. It is being depleted to an extent to help fund my house but there will be enough left for any emergency medical problems and potential care if needed. I am hoping to get back to actively managing it, to make it grow again, to hand it down to children and grandchildren.

pigpen

How depressing is it when every penny that enters the bank account is long since accounted for? I have today spent a small fortune on food, bills and paying for the holiday in August.. We would be screwed if OHs mother was not helping us out.

I have cleared a carrier bag worth of ebeast sales though which is nice.. I have less stuff in my house! That is a win and that money is going towards paying off ... the gas bill!! My life rocks!

I have sent an enquiry about doing a course at the college starting in September.. My baby starts nursery in September 2019 so I need something to focus my tiny brain .. It is a part time course, mainly evenings so I can fit it in if I try.

caronc

Sounds amazing LL (pun intended;))

My dinky tea pot and strainer arrived late this afternoon so I enjoyed a blissful cup of "proper" tea in my favourite mug while snug indoors listening to the rain batter off of the conservatory. One of though "priceless moments" so reckon it was £8 well spent.:D