Mini challenge: to go for as long as possible without frivolous spending (essential groceries and planned expenses don't count). Aim for today: no frivolling :rotfl:
Just popping by to say you are doing so well. You mentioned having to buy a card for £3 earlier in the posts. This is always such a money drain - sometimes I feel like I am taking out a 2nd mortgage paying for them. When I am organised I make a list of upcoming birthdays, anniversaries etc for about 3 months or so then go to one of the discount card places and save a bomb ! All those small £3 you save would be better off in your pension/mortgage payments I think. Keep plugging away.
Also,maybe have a look at the Frugalwoods blog which is doing an Ultra Frugal Month currently. I subscribe to the free daily email updates she does as they are so good and motivating to think about what and why you are spending. Well worth a read. Have a great day.
Thank you Angela, it's nice to know I'm not just wittering away to myself . Great tip on the cards (bring more organised would solve many problems) and I'm off to have a look at that blog.
Well, the Frugalwoods blog is a bit of a rabbit hole! So much information - and case studies! I love a good SOA.
It's also made me think about how I allocate my spare cash - while paying down the mortgage is a definite priority due to the length of term, I'm also pondering starting some (small and low risk) investments as well as building the EF. All my savings are in low interest accounts at the moment. There is some useful info and help available via my bank, which also saves me having the palaver of opening any new accounts. I spent last month sorting out the kids' bank accounts and it nearly broke me!
Anyway, I'm not rushing into anything as I don't have the budget allocated this month :A.
Happy to report yesterday was a low spend day: £1 on lunch and £1 non-uniform day contribution.
Grocery shop for the week: £51. Boys' school dinner accounts are topped up for the month, which leaves nearly £270 for the rest of the month (3 weekly shops plus any extras). Need to stay focused!
You're not wittering away to yourself Glenda. I am enjoying keeping up with your diary.
I used to have a bit of a gift drawer when DD was younger - sale stuff and regifting stuff. And I picked up a couple of those boxes of occasion cards really cheaply - I think it was one of those book sellers that used to come to work and somewhere like The Works. They did us really well for birthdays etc. for quite some time.
I was just saying I am going to start up a gift drawer again, but for family and friends, as it annoys me to buy flowers/chocs/wine as a last minute option when I could have my go to drawer again.
OSWL (start 13st) by 30Jun20 6/10 £1/day Xmas'20-62£214/£366 saved Grocery Challenge Jun £742/£320 spent
Homeowner wannabe by July 2020 - WooHoo!! Starter Emergency Fund £1000/£1000 saved
A gift drawer is a great idea in principle, but I know I'm guilty of buying bargains because they will come in useful - and then they don't (or I forget about them until too late). Cards I can do, so I will start there and work my way along!
A gift drawer is a great idea in principle, but I know I'm guilty of buying bargains because they will come in useful - and then they don't (or I forget about them until too late). Cards I can do, so I will start there and work my way along!
Absolutely. One of Marie Kondo's bit of advice I took on board is not to hold onto stuff just in case, as you almost always forget about it or can't find it.
OSWL (start 13st) by 30Jun20 6/10 £1/day Xmas'20-62£214/£366 saved Grocery Challenge Jun £742/£320 spent
Homeowner wannabe by July 2020 - WooHoo!! Starter Emergency Fund £1000/£1000 saved
Given the frequency at which I lose my keys/phone/bag/gloves/anything else not attached to my person, I should be far more minimalist than I am .
:rotfl: I'm surprised at where my glasses end up. I opened up the airing cupboard the other day and they were on the shelf. I hadn't even realised I'd lost them until I found them. If I'd needed them to go out I would have been in a panic and never found them - last place I would have looked. :cool:
OSWL (start 13st) by 30Jun20 6/10 £1/day Xmas'20-62£214/£366 saved Grocery Challenge Jun £742/£320 spent
Homeowner wannabe by July 2020 - WooHoo!! Starter Emergency Fund £1000/£1000 saved
Replies
Also,maybe have a look at the Frugalwoods blog which is doing an Ultra Frugal Month currently. I subscribe to the free daily email updates she does as they are so good and motivating to think about what and why you are spending. Well worth a read. Have a great day.
It's also made me think about how I allocate my spare cash - while paying down the mortgage is a definite priority due to the length of term, I'm also pondering starting some (small and low risk) investments as well as building the EF. All my savings are in low interest accounts at the moment. There is some useful info and help available via my bank, which also saves me having the palaver of opening any new accounts. I spent last month sorting out the kids' bank accounts and it nearly broke me!
Anyway, I'm not rushing into anything as I don't have the budget allocated this month :A.
Happy to report yesterday was a low spend day: £1 on lunch and £1 non-uniform day contribution.
Grocery shop for the week: £51. Boys' school dinner accounts are topped up for the month, which leaves nearly £270 for the rest of the month (3 weekly shops plus any extras). Need to stay focused!
I used to have a bit of a gift drawer when DD was younger - sale stuff and regifting stuff. And I picked up a couple of those boxes of occasion cards really cheaply - I think it was one of those book sellers that used to come to work and somewhere like The Works. They did us really well for birthdays etc. for quite some time.
I was just saying I am going to start up a gift drawer again, but for family and friends, as it annoys me to buy flowers/chocs/wine as a last minute option when I could have my go to drawer again.
£1/day Xmas'20-62 £214/£366 saved
Grocery Challenge Jun £742/£320 spent
Starter Emergency Fund £1000/£1000 saved
Absolutely. One of Marie Kondo's bit of advice I took on board is not to hold onto stuff just in case, as you almost always forget about it or can't find it.
£1/day Xmas'20-62 £214/£366 saved
Grocery Challenge Jun £742/£320 spent
Starter Emergency Fund £1000/£1000 saved
:rotfl: I'm surprised at where my glasses end up. I opened up the airing cupboard the other day and they were on the shelf. I hadn't even realised I'd lost them until I found them. If I'd needed them to go out I would have been in a panic and never found them - last place I would have looked. :cool:
£1/day Xmas'20-62 £214/£366 saved
Grocery Challenge Jun £742/£320 spent
Starter Emergency Fund £1000/£1000 saved
Short version: at 2 NSDs, busy weekend ahead, must get some reading and walking time in so as not to kill anyone
Have a great Friday, all