Put away your purse & become debt-averse

QueenJess

I hate clothes shopping when I actually need something as you can guarantee I won’t find anything I like. These days, unless it’s underwear, I go online and find everything I want second hand instead.

My savings plans for this year are a bit mundane and very vague. They are along the lines of saving as much cash as I can and try to bulk up the pension at the same time as I may decide to take a career break in a years time (or sooner since there is a high probability our department will go this year and I will be made redundant). Just need as many options as I can, which needs money!

foxgloves

Same here, @Sun_Addict, there is just nothing around atm in that line which isn't slarmed with cartoon characters. Why do clothing chains think adult women are going to be rushing out to choose those? My friend (obviously even more in need of new nightwear than me!) said she had to resort to choosing between Pinocchio or Winnie the Pooh on the front. She asked which I'd have chosen & I said I'd rather sleep naked. Maybe the new season stock will bring a few less infantile designs!
F x

foxgloves

@QueenJess - My plans feel vague too. Also the new car on which we paid a deposit in September (!!!) still hasn't materialised due to the general chip-related new vehicle shortage. Even though I have the money set aside for this, I don't feel confident squirrelling too much into new savings in case something goes wrong with the very delayed car purchase & I need to access the money at short notice. Sounds like we both can't really go wrong with spending as little as possible until our savings plans for the year feel more defined. I think that's how I'll start until I'm able to number crunch it all properly.
F x

QueenJess

Agreed. I can’t properly plan as I can’t know for sure how I’ll feel until I actually go back to work (April), but then there is a threat of redundancy hanging over me anyway and that could (or might not) happen at any time. So planning is hopeless. They will give the minimum notice of redundancy. Mind you that happened in July 2020 and they kept extending my contract and then offered me a permanent job on Xmas eve (totally unexpected) despite knowing I was pregnant! So expect the unexpected really!

I’m trying to whittle down our everyday expenses where I can, so at least it makes everyday living more comfortable if we go down to one wage earner. This month I’m concentrating on food and doing what I can whilst being severely hampered by a tiny and demanding baby!

HairyHandofDartmoor

I hope your tooth feels better soon Foxglovess.

A good idea to put back the less than perfect nightie. I agree about childish designs for grown women. I'm too old for Disney characters 😡.

ladyholly

Going back to your cooleagues daughter making Pizza mine made fruit salad at school and had to take a tin of fruit cocktail

When I made fruit salad at school around 1965 it was all fresh fruit. The only complaint from my Mum was it was winter so the fruit was expensive and hard to get (much eaasier these days).

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi Foxgloves
My debt plans for the year will be to focus on my mortgage; i'm in a fixed rate deal till the summer so i want to see how much i can reduce the balance to by that point.  I've joined the Mortgage Free Wannabee thread and set up another online savings account specifically for the mortgage
Dx

Sun_Addict

My financial plans are to get promoted to the next grade up to give me more £££ to build up my pension ready for retirement in just 5 years time. How have I suddenly got that old 😱 Also to save to refurbish the living room later this year. Oh and we have two holidays abroad booked this year, April and August, Covid permitting. 

crazy_cat_lady

I really need to make some inroads into this stupid debt I've run up. Part of the cause are the issues I have around confidence and self esteem so I need to be focussing on that too - setting boundaries and learning to say no to people. 
I have done the budget so now I just need to make sure I stick to it and write everything down.
I'm also quite jealous of your cookery education - it sounds like it would have been practical and useful and something I would have benefitted from being someone that follows rules to the letter so I have no idea how to substitute ingredients etc.
Hope your tooth is feeling better soon...

QueenJess

crazy_cat_lady said:

I'm also quite jealous of your cookery education - it sounds like it would have been practical and useful and something I would have benefitted from being someone that follows rules to the letter so I have no idea how to substitute ingredients etc.

I agree.  Ours was totally useless and I dropped the subject as soon as I could.