Fiscal Fast

TM6

Fiscal Fast - Part 2 - Day 68

Way to go - 2 in a row - another NSD :dance:

Scary but exciting...

1. My daughter gets married a week tomorrow
2. On Tuesday we fly up to London
3. On Wednesday we fly to JFK

Only 3 days of my fast left - :eek:wow

PollyWollyDoodle

Wow! I expect you’ll relax on a few things, but do you feel you’ve acquired some habits that will stay with you now?

I hope you have a wonderful trip.

TM6

Fiscal Fast - Part 2 - Day 69

Last minute jobs really.

Both hubby and I had our hair cut today ready for the wedding :j

Our final spend was at Morrisons where we picked up shopping for DD3

We are still very conscious of keeping our spending as low as possible and I think we succeeded with our shop

TM6

Fiscal Fast - Part 2 - Day 70

How good is this...on the eve of my fast, it was a NSD - hooray :dance:

TM6

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

Wow! I expect you’ll relax on a few things, but do you feel you’ve acquired some habits that will stay with you now?

I hope you have a wonderful trip.

PWD, I'm certain that we will relax in a few areas but I don't think it will be on the food shopping front. I feel very much that my food shopping fast is now ingrained.

Where I think we will loosen the purse strings on spending is on the entertainment budget. This is where I have struggled the most especially with SO many good films out at the moment. I also miss being spontaneous when it comes to having a meal or hot chocolate out with my hubby or girlfriends.

HOWEVER, putting more money into savings for a rainy day is going to be a top priority for next year because it really was lovely to see the savings pot grow.

I do have a couple of special days out in the pipeline that I would like to save up for

Do I think I have acquired some new habits PWD - ABSOLUTELY :money:

1. I have changed where I do the majority of our food shopping.
2. I no longer succumb to money off coupons no matter what - before I would NEVER fail to use them but now I'm VERY selective.
3. I was a bit gung ho in my attitude to money at the start of the fast - I was full of good intentions but had no will power. I have now

Back in June PWD, you asked

Which new habits are proving most successful?

and this was my answer which is still very true.

I have picked up many hints and tips on here which I am most grateful for

In no particular order

* Only shop when you have to - no window shopping unless you have an armour plated will power

* Know exactly what you have in your food cupboards and freezer etc - keep your inventory up to date at ALL times.

* If possible, wait until you have a few items on your list so that you are not inviting temptation

* Don't be swayed by supermarket's £5 off when you spend £50 etc which run for 4 weeks in a row. We always used to use these and this is where treats creep in or you are pushing up your purchases just to hit the threshold

* Consider keeping a spending diary. We keep a daily diary and it helps us to keep a keen eye on where our money is going.

* Be held responsible by having a post on here - it has worked many times when I have been tempted but have wanted to be proud and share a NSD with you

* If you are self employed consider Bookers. Without doubt this is where our biggest savings have come for. Their RTC is generous and is not fought over. Temptation is unlikely as quantities are in bulk! The staff are incredibly friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. There is also free tea, coffee and hot chocolate to be enjoyed

* Keep your 'eye on the prize' - why are you wanting to cut back /down? Yes budget for treats but stay steadfast in your desire to achieve your goal

Also

What have you struggled with most?

I think the hardest has been reining in the entertainment side. We have quite a few excellent eateries down here especially a beach side cafe and a superb pub that does a carvery. I miss visiting these places but for our family size the cafe for lunch and drinks would set us back £40 and the carvery would be about £70 which are hefty chunks when you are on a Fast.

Have you got an idea of how much you've saved/reduced your outgoings?

Yes, we know how much we have saved down to the last penny and we will do the final reveal in the week running up to flying out to NYC
We could have saved even more but we have been ploughing more money than usual into auctions and car boot sales with the intention to make our money work even harder

Do you think it's got easier as time's gone on?

Without a doubt it gets easier as time goes on fo many reasons
1. You have established systems in place
2. You learn from your mistakes
3. As the clock to your end goal is counting down, you become more resolute to succeed

In August, I wrote this and it is VERY true today

It's funny how you start off a fast believing it was about cutting back and although we have certainly done that it has also been about generating more income. Going to car boot sales and the like had always been a hobby and we had always bought to re sell as it stopped me from just buying because items were a bargain!

Going to the car boot sales has greatly increased - as our income from ebay has snowballed it has given us the money and incentive to up the anti and consider actually having it as a second business...time will tell but we are loving every minute of it.

So there we have it - my fast finishes tomorrow :eek:

TM6

Fiscal Fast - The Final Day

I HAD to end the final day on a NSD and I achieved it :dance:

and that's it...it's all over

Thank you, thank you, than you for all your support - I would NEVER have been SO successful without you :beer:

and so.......

And now, the end is here
And so I face the final countdown (NYC on Wednesday)
My friends, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full (but hard going!)
I've travelled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few (overspending on Soap and Glory in the Boots sale)
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course (a shopping list that I stuck to)
Each careful step along the supermarket byway
And more, much more than this
I did it with the help of ebay :rotfl:

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew (especially JackieO)
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way Wahoo

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of coupons
And now, as tears subside
I find it all, all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh no, no, not me
I did it my way

For what is woman, what has she got?
If not herself, then she has naught
To say the things she truly feels (blogging every day)
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way
And did it my way


Adios Amigos :wave: :smileyhea :wave:

PollyWollyDoodle

Brilliant!

I hope you have a wonderful trip, and that the wedding is everything you hope for. Thank you for sharing your Fiscal Fast with us, and for the update on what you've learned on the journey.

[Deleted User]

TM6 wrote: »

Fiscal Fast - Part 2 - Day 67



OMGolly Gosh!!! We fly to NYC in a week's time - it is becoming a reality. To think I started this fast waaay back in January.

Wrap up warm, my DD and her OH are visiting my eldest DGS who lives in Manhattan and at the moment its quite colder than here and she sent me a text wearing ear muffs today when she was shopping

[Deleted User]

Have a fab time!!!