2019 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

Hettyhound wrote: »

Just paid off the credit card :j. It was used for an emergency payment because I didn’t have an emergency fund; that’s the next challenge on my list :T

Well done! :beer::T Will you keep it for future emergencies? Handy for keeping the credit score in the right place, just in case,

Frugaldom

Dave_Saver wrote: »

Almost finished my first week since payday, have opened a home buyer ISA and set up standing order to pay in to it each month.

Good start to the month

Good luck with your new savings regime :T:beer:

Hettyhound

Hi Frugaldom,

Yes will keep the card as I to use it for larger purchases and online buys because of the protection it offers. Those are normally planned and I pay off in full when the bill comes through but unfortunately the vets bill wasn’t and as I’d just had the electrician in and the builder was booked to insulate the loft my emergency fund/savings account was already allocated. If the vet thing had happened earlier I wouldn’t have booked the work on the house until I’d had time to save back up. Anyway happy to report Hetty is fully mended and recovered and a lot happier.

Just been trying to work out new tax credits and none the wiser. My new job is slightly higher salary but not much and then pension going up quite a bit. ML tax calculator tells me my new take home pay but tax credits calculator is confusing beyond belief. I’ll just have to wait and see but I think my total income will be the same but I’ll earn more of it rather than it coming via tax credits. Also did the mortgage overpayment calculator the other day and if I throw every single bit of spare cash at it (which I know is a tall order) I can pay it off in under six years! Tax credits won’t let me have more than 6k in savings before it starts affecting payments so I may as well overpay as much as I can. It was a real motivator seeing that 5 years and 10 months on the screen; I can do this, :j

stirchleygirl

OLaney
Yes it's brilliant mine a was present from my sister a few years back (it's about 18inches square so large enough to fit everything on but small enough to carry and use) that I used to use as my 'to do' list but then stopped - so it was nice to use it again for something and the write on wipe off is brilliant.

Frugaldom
Yes making a blackboard is cheaper than buying a white board and serves the same purpose and you could always do it on a small piece of wood or board to be able to carry the list to whatever room you do you online shop in or to where you write your shopping list. Love both the photos :-)

stirchleygirl

chocolatelover93
Thanks it is such a long and stressful process I'll let you know the outcome.
Sorry to hear about your DS praying he is on the mend.
Well done with the meal planning and keeping on top of your spreadsheet - praying your HB is sorted soon and that you get your deposit back.

Ouch about the phone and having to put it on a card but sometimes you can't be without them.

Yes taking lunch to work is a big saver when I was no longer able to do my own but before I had any help I was buying lunch at work and even with staff discount I was spending over £5.00 per day and that was when I was still able to work full time (5 days) so £25.00-30.00 per week. Now my packed lunches probably cost a few quid for 2 or 3 days and are healthier for me.

stirchleygirl

Crafty Lisa
WooHoo!!! well done on your under- under spend on groceries and being able to put £100.00 to pay off your hols.

Hettyhound
Woohoo!!!! well done - another one bites that dust!!!!!!!

stirchleygirl

cw18 and FrankieM
Well done for spotting what does & doesn't work for you and your circumstances.

stirchleygirl

chocolatelover93 and Kerry Woman and Treasurequeen
Wow! you are all on a roll keep up the good work!

stirchleygirl

FrankieM
You could have probably bought a whole melon for that price.

Watermelon is my favourite fruit and I hadn't had it for quite a few years as I no longer had the strength to cut through the skin and I refused to pay the high price for a few slices. Anyway since getting my PA she now cuts it for me and to save waste (as they are rather large) I give her half of it to her (as she also loves watermelon) so none of it ends up in the bin and I give her a bit of a treat.

stirchleygirl

sinkorswim2018
enjoy your holiday :-)