Making savings before it's too late

[Deleted User]

I am ready :cool: and prepared for 2018

This morning I paid off the last of my visa credit card and am starting 2018 with zero balance. I only use visa cc online and I use it for one-off purchases for safety, mostly via paypal, so cc is unseen actual money and can flow away fast and it has flown fast, very fast

So m/s money is absolute key. My main account is halifax current, used for incomings and bills and direct debits and standing orders.My very important `side` bank is smile. In smile I have current, savings and visa cc. Smile current gives me the flow from halifax or to visa or savings. Smile savings is my cc safety net. This morning I transferred £210 from halifax to smile current and when it arrives then I will pay off cc so that my cc balance will be zero. I don`t think there is anything in transition

I see, looking at m/s money that there is a crucial halifax pinch point on 22nd january, so I need to take great care for that date, not much allowance left, so to then, I will not be spending anything from halifax, there are bills due

I have about £7 in smile savings and £21 in smile current. I need to build smile savings up and will do, my first aim in 2018. I do have other savings accounts but will not be accessing them so will not mention them again

In the meantime I do have some cash, notes, enough for petrol and necessities for the whole of january and my weekly organic box order is already accounted for in m/s money. I am set and ready

lessonlearned

Good morning everyone......sounds like you are pretty well organised there Kitty. I need to do something similar before I go on holiday.

I will clear my credit cards before I go and then I need to ensure there will be enough in my current account to clear the February accounts whilst I’m away. I will pay my ship onboard account by credit card and clear that when I get back.

There’s a lot of forward planning to do when you are going to be out of the UK for 6 weeks and mainly out of communicado to ensure that bills are paid etc. I will load up my current account and I will also get my son to check it regularly so he can move money around for me if necessary. So it should all work out ok.

Today I’m going to do a freezer inventory and do a loose meal plan. Anything that’s perishable and not used up by the time I go I can give to my son.

That’s probably about all I can do for now. I can get down to the real nitty gritty after my holiday. I have my spending money accounted for although I am one of those people who usually overestimate how much I need and I don’t usually spend it all.

I have bought my two new bras online and was very good. I didn’t order the two dresses that took my fancy........:rotfl:

[Deleted User]

you are grounded LL

At last I am feeling grounded too, it took me almost 3 solid years to come up from that mire, from the initial stage when money meant nothing at all. Now I appreciate that I have maybe 30 years ahead of me and need to provide for myself. New house next, with all that entails then holidays as long as I keep saving Tbh it is nice to have longer term plans, something to aim for

lessonlearned

We are getting there Kitty.

Don’t beat yourself up about how much money you spent. Apparently it’s quite common for the newly bereaved to go on a bit of a spending spree. I think it helps fill the gaping hole of losing a dear one. I know a number of people who have said the same thing.

But.....you have realised and are taking steps to steps to rejig your finances and start saving again. You’ll be fine. You have the knowledge and nous to know what you need to do, and of course this thread will support and encourage you.

Like you, I have overspent a bit this last year. But that stops now. Nothing too drastic, I have not racked up any debt but I have dipped into my savings. I want to replenish the coffers........;)

maddiemay

Another one here who has bought too much stuff and needs to replenish savings, not through bereavement in the accepted sense of a loss of a loved one, but as a sort of compensation for health issues, several, all forever and none life threatening as long as I continue with the treatments, but grief for the loss of things which mean so much to me and the collapse of the plans for retirement which OH and I had.

Pain and muscle weakness (could be caused by all 3 conditions), means lack of mobility and not being able to walk our dear dog and spend our time (as we did before) walking the wonderful areas Great Britain and enjoying nature etc. Add to this the chronic fatigue type symptoms and life has kept me more at home and struggling to craft, cook etc.

Sorry for the tale of woe:o, but I am more optimistic than I have been for a long time and I think that a new treatment may just be improving things. Fingers crossed.

2018 - Get a grip on spending. Improve health as much as is possible through diet and necessary supplements. Build up my walking (taking more of the allowed pain relief if necessary). Keep smiling, I have tried to do this whatever has been happening).

Take care lovely people, 2018 will be our year:D:D:D

lessonlearned

Definitely Maddie. As my kids would say..... We are going to make 2018 Rock!!! It’s going to be AWESOME!!!

I am have been “monitoring” you - as it were - and your attempts to address your health issues......(basically because some of mine are similar, although not as severe as yours).

I just want to say you are doing well and that your positive attitude will get you through. Managing our sort of conditions is a bit hit and miss and I think we have to keep an open mind and explore every avenue, so as well as the usual rest and take the meds......I agree diet, gentle exercise and any supplements needed to ensure you are getting all the right nutrients. And yes......laughter therapy, so keeping company with people who lift your spirits and make you laugh, watching comedies, reading books that entertain and inspire you. etc.

You are doing so well Maddie. Just take care, lots of TLC (and that doesn’t cost a penny:rotfl:).

Talking of TLC I have just given myself a facial and will be doing more self care later. I won’t be visiting any posh salons, it wil all be diy. (Well I am a trained beauty therapist)..

Here’s my virtual savings on salon treatments....rough costs, quite conservative. A posh city centre salon could easily double those prices.

Facial..................£40
Manicure.............£25
Pedicure..............£25
Eyebrow tidy .......£15
Half Leg wax .......£15


You know some people spend that and more, every month, without a second thought.

It’s just a pity I can’t cut my own hair.

[Deleted User]

maddiemay wrote: »

needs to replenish savings,the collapse of the plans for retirement which OH and I had.

hugs maddie, you have a brilliant attitude. Its all about how we deal with what life throws at us, about not becoming a victim

mardatha

Can I come and play? I was just floating around OS and found you Maddiemay I can empathise with you - I've just been there with the spending mindset in mourning for lost health and plans. That's why I feel guilty now and thought this thread was just what I need
So. listing the things that are ok first :
I'm a minimalist and very tidy, less is more for me, so no mess or clutter here. Saying that though, I spend 90% of my time in the house and def don't need all the clothes or shoes I have. So have already decided no more spending on clothes or shoes.
The house works well, we spend £35 a week on coal but that gives me 26C in the livingroom, bearable in the hall and bedrooms, constant unlimited very hot water - and the clothes dry overnight in front of the stove. Elect is under £5 a week.
I don't use a credit card or have debt, work mostly in cash and only leave in enough for the few DDs we have. I've never had much money and am finding retirement on pensions quite comfortable and stress-free re income. But I could do an awful lot better re saving..
There are things I need to tighten up though! Food. I get Sainsbugs home delivery as not got strength to trek round a big supermarket. The min order is £40 plus delivery of £3-ish. I know we could manage on less but that would involve us getting to Aldi/Asda/Sainsbugs and that is tiring as hell. When I'm tired, I make mistakes. A lot of them I forget half the things I went for and end up saying oh god that's enough come on let's go home. So I'm not sure how to save money here unless I get the deliveries every ten days instead of weekly.
Next is online shopping - wool and books and supplements. When you are stuck at home you feel left out things and tend to splash out to cheer yourself up. I need to stick to 1p books and cut out the £25 wool :rotfl:
Anyway this has become a book in itself, and I will shut up.

lessonlearned

An idea re the online food shop.

If you can’t manage 10 days straight away then maybe start off with 8, then work up to 9. Once you get into a regular pattern it might get easier. The only “problem” might be fresh milk......although I’m sure you could work your way round that, milk delivery, local shop, long life milk.....whichever suits you best.

I’m a great fan of the £0-01 books. My little treat. I know I should use the library more but that’s a car ride away.....:rotfl:.

Katieowl

mardatha wrote: »

I know we could manage on less but that would involve us getting to Aldi/Asda/Sainsbugs and that is tiring as hell.
.

Doesn't your Asda do deliveries? Shame if they don't because their min order is only £25. I've been getting stuff from them recently, which comes from miles and miles away, they still have all the basics stuff like washing powder and washing up liquids that Mr T have stopped selling,

Don't trust their online thing to say if they deliver to you either, I could only access an account via an ap on my phone. I had to email them to find that out.