2018 - a year for saving and acheiving goals!

Bookaholic

Time to start a diary and take back control of my spending!

In the run up to The Christmas period I’ve gone a bit mad with spending! If only it had all been on presents for others! Luckily this hasn’t put me into debt (though not going into my overdraft this month could be a challenge) but I really need to get a handle on it!

I don’t really consider myself to be in debt but I do have money I need to pay to my OH and my dad. My OH paid for our holiday last year and I’m paying back my share in instalments. He’s also paying for our garden landscaping which I would like to contribute towards (he is happy to pay but it’s our house and I feel it should be split between us). We’ve also learned we need a new boiler...not and expense yet but will be in the next month or so...we’re currently making it work by jamming a screwdriver in! My dad loaned us money towards our deposit which we’re paying back in monthly installments...I’d love to be able to up what we’re paying him each month and pay it off more quickly.

I have a bit of a book and craft habit which unfortunately means I buy lots of books and craft things that then sit on a shelf for months without being touched! I’m starting to take control by deleting the Etsy app from my phone and iPad. If it’s harder to log in, I’m less likely to spend, right? I’m going to do the same with Amazon and pledge to only read books on my shelf, or from the library over the next 6 months.

In general I just need to be a bit smarter with my money...take lunch to work, meal plan more consistently and look at what we’re spending to see what is necessary and what is wanted.

I’m also going to save money towards Christmas next year in a jar. I’m aiming to add £1.50 each day (or the equivalent of) so I don’t need to use my savings for that next year.

2018 could also see me buying a car (even more reason to save!) OH paid for my first driving lessons as a Christmas present. While I’ve managed until now relying on buses and my OH being super at driving everywhere it’s become a challenge recently...I have to get up ridiculously early to get the bus to work and I can’t bring books home on the bus. It can also mean I leave home at 6.15 and not get home until after 9pm if I have to catch the bus to a meeting after work.

I can feel I’m getting a bit rambly so I’m going to consider other ways I can curb my spending and come back later!

enjoyyourshoes

Sell the books you have not taken off the shelves in the past 8 months.

I bet if you don't they will still bother at Christmas 2018 !

Any unopened craft stuff you can sell ?

Good luck

Bookaholic

Hi Enjoyyourshoes. Thanks for reading my ramblings!

I’m going to have a good sort of my bookshelf next week before I go back to work. I’m sure there are books on there that I’ll never read so will look at selling them! Not sure about craft stuff...I wouldn’t be surprised thought, so will look through all that too!

CoffeeCakeYarn

Another craft a holic here! Working from stash only for the next six months... promise!

Bookaholic

So I’ve deleted the Etsy and Amazon apps from my phone and iPad! I’ve tried to unsubscribe from a magazine but the website isn’t working so I’ll try again tomorrow!

I’m currently going through my planner supplies - 2 years ago my sister in law bought me a Happy Planner which I use as a diary and scrapbook with lots of prettiness added. It’s beautiful but I have so much stuff for it! Trying to organise it all and declutter a bit!!

foxgloves

Same here regarding books & craft.....or more specifically, yarn....as am v keen knitter. So books first: Use the library as much as possible. I also use our local Oxfam bookshop. It's one of their shops which only stocks books, CDs, DVDs, etc. Ours consistently has a great range of fiction.....amazes me how many people must just read a new book once & donate it. I can usually pick up fairly current titles for a fraction of the cover price & our branch always has one bookcase where every paperback is just 49p. I've always found the books to be in good condition.
Now onto my other weakness.......buying new yarn! This Spring, I imposed a ban on myself. No new yarn to be purchased until all my stash & uncompleted projects have been knitted up. It's worked well & saved extra money too, as I knitted up lots of the sock yarn in my stash to make Christmas gifts for 3 people, & then knitted 3 further pairs which I sold. I used the leftovers to knit baby socks & sold 6 pairs of those too. I've knitted huge chunky aran hiking socks for my partner, a nice purple shawl for myself, 2 dishcloths (to use up some cotton yarn), 2 new panholders to replace old shabby ones & a box of Christmas tree decorations for a local charity market stall. I also knitted loads of little mitred squares which is an ongoing project to make a blanket. I do have some new yarn now & am enjoying knitting myself a jumper, but even that wasn't a spend as it was a Christmas present.....I got a 'new yarn fix' that way! I also knitted up 3 lovely little kits that had been gifted to me over the last couple of years. So in a bit of a roundabout way, I'm saying that knitting up ypur yarn stash could save you money in more ways than one!
F x

Bookaholic

I’ve spent the evening sorting planner stuff. Quite proud of myself as I’ve cleared out loads of half sheets of stickers and almost empty sheets that I’ve put the stickers into my planner. I’ve also unsubscribed from loads of email newsletters that have tempting offers in them! I’ve been busy setting up different bullet journal pages to keep track of saving and things I’m doing for myself (and OH)

Next money saving job is to look at what we’re paying out each month - from joint and personal account and trying to minimise where possible!

Bookaholic

Today hasn’t been hugely Money savvy but we’ve been out for my niece’s 2nd birthday. Fun at soft play (with coffee while there) and then pizza for tea with the family...so not very healthy either! It’s been a fab day and I’ve spent half the afternoon being told to stand up and jump properly and half of it videoing races between my brother and niece down the slide! Now curled up on the sofa with my OH watching Boss Baby before sleep! Here’s hoping I sleep better than last night!

erniethecat

Well done for unsubscribing to those tempting newsletters. I fall for them too. Look, it's on sale!!!!

Nope. You're inspiring me!

Bookaholic

Today has been a no spend day. I’ve managed to avoid spending at all and only had breakfast at home. Had lunch at Mum and dad’s and now at my brother’s to bring in the new year with PJs and board games so the only food I’ve used up today is breakfast cereal. Drinks tonight are red wine left over from Christmas Day and a glass of prosecco at midnight - only bought because on offer in L1dl

Bookaholic

Happy New Year diary! Today I’m shattered! And stuck at home because we’re having our boiler replaced
New Year was fun. We spent it with my brother, SIL and niece. We played games, watched Disney films and are many snacks! It was fun to wake up to the sound of an excited 2year old yesterday even if it was super early! We went for a walk together and found some geocaches then played on the swings! Later OH and I went shopping for the week and took a shorter walk in the rain!

Today will be a quiet one I think. I’m too tired to do much other than the essentials!