Learning to live within my means

astrocytic_kitten

Very true on the pretty books! I always want to own my favourites in paper, kindle and audiobook...I basically decorate my flat with books and plants 😆 I’m going to hold off till payday, mostly because I still have no idea how much I’ll be paid (though it will definitely be much less than usual). Really hoping to be able to get back to work next month.

savingholmes

Books are gorgeous - I had to go digital - we were being over run

redofromstart

I started buying on waterproof kindle because I mostly read in the bath, but when my hands are playing up I also find the paperwhite much lighter if I am reading in bed.  Middle aged eyes and variable sized fonts is a bonus.  I am trying to weed out the paperbacks as I buy the kindle copies but I don't find it easy.

elbree

Hi @astrocytic_kitten, I've just come across your diary and wanted to say a quick well done on everything you've achieved! If you're looking for somewhere to keep some of your savings maybe try a stocks and shares ISA - I use the app M*neybox and LOVE it. It's a few weeks notice so you can't keep all your EF there, but you could be earning interest on some of it. Keep up the amazing work!

astrocytic_kitten

Thanks @elbree! I want to keep the emergency fund somewhere conservative where the capital isn’t at risk, but I definitely plan to use a stocks and shares isa for savings beyond that. I’ve had the MSE article on them bookmarked for ages, just need to actually read it. Pretty intrigued by the apps so good to know it works for you!

Books... I had a huge book declutter a few years ago when I was moving house frequently and all the boxes of books seemed a bit much to carry everywhere. I halved my total number of books and since then I haven’t added very many physical copies, it’s mostly been digital with the odd secondhand paperback. I do miss a lot of the books I donated though....have done masses of decluttering over the last few years and (aside from one ornament with sentimental value) the only things I regret giving away are books. I once donated loads to a charity bookshop and then bought quite a few back. I’m sure there’s more efficient ways to give money.

Still feeling brighter now spring is here, and I’m also managing to read a bit which is good! Got paid and managed to put a chunk into savings as well as covering everything I needed to, it’s such a relief to be debt free and able to do that. A couple of years ago this income level would have been a disaster and sent the house of cards tumbling down. A weight really has been lifted. I also bought the book I wanted, but restricted myself to just one rather than the 4 that started off in my basket 😂

I’m hopeful that next month I’ll reach a 6 month emergency fund for new house living expenses (though who knows how long it will take me to move now, can’t see myself getting a mortgage anytime soon) though it might be the month after. Once I reach that I’m going to start splitting the savings money between overpaying the mortgage and emergency fund. 

elbree

Morning @astrocytic_kitten! I wondered what your thoughts were on Kindle Unlimited? They've got a deal on for 6 months membership which I was considering asking for as a birthday present next month. I did the free trial a while ago and seemed to find plenty I'd like to read but wonder if that might run out..iyswim? 

astrocytic_kitten

Oooh, good question @elbree! I don’t have KU but I know others do and use it a lot, I think maybe @redofromstart is a fan? I also have a family member who loves it. I had a trial of KU a while back, as you say I could see plenty I’d read, though not many of my favourite authors. I didn’t go for it because my local library has a brilliant selection of ebooks (plus there’s the couple of hundred unread books on my kindle) so I’m not short of things to read. I’d definitely recommend you check out your local library’s online selection if you haven’t already, mine has a lot of new releases and audiobooks too.

elbree

Good tip on the library @astrocytic_kitten, I think I've been put off in the past by having to read on my phone which I'm not keen on - my old kindle doesn't work with the borrow box. My little spending demon is now telling me I 'need' an upgraded kindle 😂

redofromstart

Good question on KU.  Its a bit of a 'how longs a piece of string question'.  I would never pay full price, and the annual free trial or three months for £2 offers give me the chance to read the new stuff that has been released in the last 12 months.  

astrocytic_kitten

I think the only kindles that work with the library apps are the Fires, I don’t think any of the reading focused ones work with them in the UK (though I’d love to be corrected on that!). I read the library ebooks on an iPad mini...I would love an upgraded (waterproof!) kindle, my ancient paperwhite is pretty slow now but it works well enough that I can’t justify a new one yet.