Learning to live within my means

savingholmes

Hope you had a lovely festive period. 

astrocytic_kitten

Today I've been playing with spreadsheets and looking at my 2021 monthly spending averages for discretionary spending:

• Food, household 120.02
• Cat food and litter 47.45
• Toiletries 12.48
• Meds, vitamins 21.66
• Books 16.31
• Plants 25.83
• Yoga 39.05
• Clothes 40.07
• Home stuff 24.38
• Random spends 51.58

Total 398.83

Random spends covers things that were planned and budgeted for but that I didn't know where to put: haircuts, new glasses, new phone, other tech etc. I went back to see how this compares against 2020 but apparently I didn't do a year end round up then.

It was a year of big changes - for the first part of the year I was being very frugal and paying off debt, then I had 6 months of spending following debt payoff (mostly on things I'd been putting off during the debt payoff), followed by some moderation. But looking at it, other than spending on plants which seems a bit high (though it is a hobby that gives me a lot of joy), I'm pretty happy with my spending this year. The vast majority of it was planned and considered, even after I was debt-free and loosening the purse strings - something I was really worried about!

There's a couple of clothes spends that in retrospect I'd have been better returning (I think about £25 in total), and some things that very much come under wants (such as my discovery of a candle brand I love), but overall I feel like I've come really far on this. Though my current waistline indicates that I could have done with fewer treats in the food budget especially over the last month or so

I'm a bit stalled on goals for 2022, as it all seems so up in the air depending on moving etc, and moving will come with its own costs and things I'll want to buy for a new place. I might aim to just not spend any more than my 2021 spending. I've got a lot of thinking to do about 2022 plans in general, ideally I'd like to recover some health through the year. Easier said than done...

elbree

I know what you mean @astrocytic_kitten about being stalled for goals. After some thought I've decided to aim for saving an average of £300 a month, outside pots for car, holiday etc. I'm not 100% sure what I'm saving for because property is off the table (unless I suddenly win the lottery) but at least when I think of something I'll have some money towards it 😂 Otherwise I won't save much and I'll be annoyed with myself! 

savingholmes

Good luck with your planning - at least if you save it gives you options later.

astrocytic_kitten

Thanks @elbree and @savingholmes. Elbree your savings goal sounds like a good one! 

Inspired by comments on other diaries, I have been investigating the frugal living thread and looking at my 2021 expenses and, well... I don't know the meaning of frugal Excluding mortgage and council tax but including all other bills etc I spent £8k last year, and that's with much lower utility costs than some of the other participants. I'm in awe of the people with families spending 4 or 5k a year.

My forecast spend for 2022 not including mortgage or council tax is £9230, I've estimated some costs on the high side for the new place so that would hopefully come down a little bit. I think keeping my spending on 'stuff' at the 2021 level is do-able, but I'm not sure if I could keep all the bills etc at the 2021 level. On the one hand my income is still pretty precarious so saving as much as possible would be very wise, and there's definitely savings possible. But on the other I don't do well with restriction and I'm not sure if I'm ready to start squeezing every penny as much as possible. Plus some things, like my food bill, are higher by necessity for health reasons... being disabled is expensive.

Hmm, lots of thinking to do. Even if I don't match the amazing frugality of others, it's good to know its possible. And I really like the idea of an uber frugal January to shock me into good habits.

Also, I am planning to flit over to the MFW board at some point, but I don't want to jinx the move by doing it just yet!

Tiredbutdetermined

I love your spending averages. My spending has been so erratic over the last year, initially with the ex and then as we adapted to life on our own. Mine would look crazy if I graphed it

redofromstart

I smiled at your plant spending - why not if you enjoy it and actually keep them alive? 

Its the pointless fritters that don't give any particular pleasure or impact on my health that I try to focus on reducing, you know the 'why did I eat that' ones, or buying gardening magazines when I can read them for free on the library app.  I want to enjoy the money I do spend. Pence per smile rather than pence per wear. 

astrocytic_kitten

Thanks redo! The 'why did I eat that' feeling is strong this year... I bought in some Christmas treats but other than the cheese I'm not sure I've enjoyed any of it all that much. As someone with a massive sweet tooth it's a bit of a shock to realise I could have done without most of the sugary treats (not that I did do without, I scoffed them all....).

I'm going to keep my running list of the clothes etc I've bought in 2022 as I find it really helpful to have a reality check of the things I've bought and ways I've treated myself when I'm telling myself I need a treat. I don't want to get into food logging or anything, but it would be useful if I could find some ways to apply mindfulness to my food choices too.

savingholmes

I need to be more mindful around food too. 

Running list on clothes sounds interesting. The other way of doing it is having a clothing allowance and trying to stay within that

astrocytic_kitten

Thanks SH - the clothing allowance seems to work for most people, but after a decade of trying and failing to stick to one I’ve accepted that it doesn’t work for me and I need a method that addresses the emotional hole I’m trying to fill by acquiring things instead 😂 

Giving myself £50 per month to spend on books, clothes or plants while also building in some checks and balances to keep the wants at bay is really working for me for right now.