Making savings before it's too late

pigpen

I am wondering if I need a new bank account.. my current one has no overdraft, no charges nothing at all other than the basic bank card.. it does function for me but I don't know.

I have just started a new ISA as an investment I hope.. so I will see how that pans out. Here's hoping for a decent return on it.

My next big thing is paying off my credit cards. I will get them gone.. one has just £300 left.. it is next on my hit list.

The food budget has been reduced.. so we will see how that goes.

tori.k

There is money to be had with switching regularly pigpen, be nice if loyalty was paid once in a while but it isn't, so get switching

[Deleted User]

pigpen, lots of people start ISAs thinking they are the best savings vehicle but we all can earn up to £1000 interest in a year without paying any tax. There are savings accounts that would give a far better return than ISAs.

My pensioner bond matured and the cash was in my bank this morning, I have already transferred the whole of it into a savings account elsewhere. The house pot

I completely stopped being euphoric re house hunting, learnt too much about EA devious ways. I am seeing 2 today, an hours drive from here, I found on the net last night that one has a vehicle business next door. Anyway that property does not look maintained, even I would have put preservative on the fencing plus they are asking 60k more than it is worth if it were top notch. I will go because I have the appointment but the EA spiel will go out of one ear and I will be asking carefully constructed questions. That house plus a brand new one, with no photo of the garage or its access nor a mention of the rat run `street` which I discovered by going onto the village site. Should be interesting and no wonder I want really to stay local, an area that I know well, warts n all

[Deleted User]

Took £100 cash out, first time in a while. Petrol tank is now full and all I needed to spend yesterday was £5 on a lovely toasted sandwich with salad and a mug of tea and it wasn`t in a dive, just a good value cafe local to where I was viewing. M/S money is still pretty well the same as the actual current account, good. My cash purse now contains £120 and my everyday purse £23, I will be putting some of the coins into my car, I always keep some in there for car parking etc

I am very much on track to do well with savings this month. Later I will add all of june`s bills to the current in m/s money, to make sure there are no big surprises and I need to add more cash to my cash wallet, which is my cash float. I have ample food in the house, so see no need for a suermarket shop

Last house view later this morning, I am 60% sure it won`t be for me, it is a cottage, won`t be for me if it is too dark, so I will be switching lights off downstairs. After today, I will sit and wait for RM alerts only in my chosen areas

[Deleted User]

cottage didn`t do, was too open at the back and no lights there so was far too unsafe for me re burglars. Was also too dark downstairs, I need light for crafting. Now I sit back and have learnt to be content and patients, Rm will come up with alerts in 4 different areas. The costs of moving to a new place are putting most off selling

I sorted a few bits of paperwork and remembered about the air ambulance appeal, some good people always having to work so hard to get donations in. No-one thinks they need it until they do so I set up the dd. Air ambulance and hospice are my two charities and it is better that I did a dd for air ambulance. I did a yearly one, helps me keep track of my finances

Blackcatsreturns

Scorinlondon and pigpen, I have been looking at savings accounts for 2018/19 and there are not very inspirational rates available. I've found a bond that tracks Bank of England rate plus a % that I thought might be ok. It has a minimum of £5000 deposit. My regular saver has just matured so I need to save up the difference between that and the £5000. I am much better at saving for a defined target than just saving in general.
My cutting back expenditure challenge is slightly behind target. I am trying to reduce my spending by 10% this year. Quarter 1 figures are 91% of last years average. Quite close and it hasn't felt like I've had to make sacrifices just be more thoughtful with spending. Having flu for most of the start of April has helped reduce spending!
Kittie you are very sensible with your potential house move. Some Estate agents are fascinating aren't they!!! I read some of their write ups on Right Move - extraordinarily badly written works of fantasy. Do you ever look at the "take a look at this" thread on the house buying/selling thread. Very amusing.

tori.k

That's seriously the truth Kittie, RE moving costs was bad enough settling the conveyancing bills, now its all the little things you forget about like fitting a phone line and changing locks that are starting to add up.
Moved £250 across into the emergency fund im bringing this up to 3k as the gas boiler is fine but 10 years old so makes sense to put money away for the replacement.

[Deleted User]

Yes I agree, even the new house had many hidden costs, putting rails and curtains up, shelves etc. The old houses are sometimes neglected and sometimes just let go because old people cannot face moving and no maintenance is done

It is my cc that is the money drainer on a day to day basis, I never use it for day to day when physically shopping but online it does add up. I haven`t used it for 7 days, last was a just giving. It would be nice if I could avoid using it for some more days. It looks as though I will be able to actually save for the house this month but I have decided instead to go hell for leather to boost my 12 month one-off bills account. I am going to aim to get that filled with 12 x my monthly aim, then any savings will really be savings. When the 12 month account is full, I will class it as my emergency savings net and will withdraw and replace if needed. I wonder how long it will take me to get that 12 months in there? I have 2 so far

I really am not spending much at the moment, I have all the hobby stuff I need, all the food I need

White_musk

lessonlearned wrote: »

Katie......yes stress is toxic for fibro isn’t it, probably the worst trigger for a flare up. Hope you find something to help.

I also ditched the wheat......in fact I have gone completely grain free, sticking to a largely Paleo diet. It has helped me enormously.

Sorry, I know this is an older post but LL I totally agree about the Paleo diet. I have chronic arthritis and an autoimmune condition and I cut out wheat, simple carbs, legumes and suchlike and my health has improved so much. My GP said that while he officially couldn't recommend this diet he knows it is by far the best way to eat for my health.

White_musk

This is a brilliant thread. I hope you don't mind me jmping in.

My biggest worry is not using savings but topping them up instead. I also really need to cut down on fripperies. I live in a small one bed bungalow with almost no storage and have got a home for everything. If I keep buying stuff I don't really need I'm going to end up in a pickle.

Most of Aprils bills have been paid as they come out via DD on the 1st. My utilities are on the 21st, that's all to pay now. My downfall is the bay of E. I love that site and spend too much time and cash there so that is going to stop. I have an order on it's way for something I do actually need but once that arrives - no more!

I do need a haircut. My hair is down my back and I can't cope with it anymore so appointment is booked to have it done next week. Not sure what that will cost but I have to have it done. I was a deep mahogany red-head but am going grey at an alarming rate of knots, so plan to ask the hairdresser what she recommends so I can stop dying it red and allow it to go au natural.

I have cut my food bill down to £50 a week, that includes dog food, household supplies and toiletries. Since moving my gas and electric have gone from £100 a month to £60 so that's better but if I am going to add to my savings at the rate I want to I need to stop spending just because.

You have permission to smack my hand if I spend on Eb*y on rubbish. :rotfl: