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A week of moneysaving effort
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Topher
Posts: 647 Forumite
I'm looking back, week at a time to try to put in one place, a record of what I'm doing to save money.
A Week of frugal accomplishments:
I cashed in the Lyk card that we’d put our travel money on for our trip to Malta. I’d felt really stupid about being duped into getting the card by the travel agent, paying for it by the most expensive means possible (credit card when we didn’t even need the money on credit) and finding out that the transaction to close the card and convert the money back to sterling would cost £50 at the agents as well as the conversion fee. I did however discover from a forum on Moneysaving Expert, that if I did the transaction online, the fee would only be £6. The Travel Agent’s website actually leads one in the usual circles when you try to do that, but I was able to telephone a number and have it done that way, still for the £6 fee, and bought back at the rate that existed on the day of the original conversion (sterling to Euros), not brilliant, but salvaged the situation to a degree, and, as it was turned down in about 80% of the places we’d tried to use it, it still had around £400 on it, so that has gone back into the account.
My son transferred some money we’d loaned him when he was in an accident that wrote off his motorbike and needed to fund another bike to continue travelling to work, so that was another useful lump sum going into the account.
When my husband got home from work he gave me a beautiful Sea Gems pen that he’d found on the car park near his car. It writes beautifully, and feels to be the perfect weight and width for me.
Sadly, a friend died suddenly last week, we were on our way to visit his wife, and to call in on my in laws. I knew there was a florists in a garden centre just a mile or two out of our way on the route we were taking, so we called in to get some flowers for the friend, and for my Mother in law. there were two beautifully presented bouquets marked down to £5 each with no sign that they were old or wilting so we got those. (Well when I say "no sign" - as I got out of the car with my MIL's bouquet, the wind picked up and completely stripped a Gerbera of it's petals just before we knocked on her door. I don't think she noticed the petalless stalk in amongst the dazzling array of other healthier flower heads). When I was at the same garden centre yesterday I called in at the florists to try my luck. No reductions, but the same styles of bouquets were on display so I checked what they should have cost us, one at £25 and the other at £35 !!!!! Although I rejected that idea, I suddenly saw a “Free Plants Help Yourself” stand on the way out. Figuring that even if I couldn’t rescue the poor specimens, the pots they were in could be reused, I picked up two crunchy tomato plants, a strip of brown sweet peas and an unidentifiable thing in a pot. We’ll see.
Today I finally plucked up the courage to return some towels to Aldi. They’d seemed like an ideal purchase back in December, but after an initial wash before use, we’d found them to have a bizarre effect of moving water around, but not absorbing anything. Even after two washes and two more attempts we hadn’t managed to make them perform properly. I was a bit concerned that I’d left my decision to return them for a refund for too long, (seven months) but still had the receipt. I was very pleased at the way two staff members dealt with my complaint, and came out with a full refund.
On holiday with my husband I’d felt quite shabby in my limited range of second hand summer clothes and had set a budget aside to buy myself some new items to supplement my wardrobe. I had a list in hand, but a friend who I’d arranged a day trip with on Monday had to back out last minute. I felt rather deflated, and decided instead of my trip to the mainstream shops as planned, I’d just visit about four local charity shops. In place of the cancelled 50 mile round trip, I did a convenient 6 mile local run instead. I picked up two pairs of jeans (on the list) of an old favourite cut that M&S used to make, that had always suited me. They seemed to be in good condition (they’re now washed, ironed and fit very well). They were on a £1 for two items rail. I got a leather handbag, some black linen cropped trousers, a pair of Fat Face cropped trousers, a cotton reversible shoulder bag, a Christmas gift to stow away for my grandson - it’s a voice changer megaphone from the Gadget Shop, still in it’s packaging, a Wade Whimsies ornament for a Christmas cracker filler collection I’m accumulating, and a cuff that looks like silver (and apparently tarnishes and polishes like silver), and a costume jewellery ring. I’d bought all but two items on my list. (The Fat Face trousers are probably the least well fitting so I wouldn’t have bought them new, and still feel that in addition, I need some loose summer walking trousers). I picked up four different pots of PlayDoh (all in good condition) for grandchildren entertaining occasions and then came home for lunch. (I’d have eaten out with the friend). So I spent £17.80 which was considerably under the original budget, nearly completed the wish list, found some extras that I know will be part of future plans. I’d also saved money on petrol, and eating and drinking out.
I’ve been feeling tired and lazy all week so cooking a meal each night has felt challenging and I’d have preferred to buy take-aways or ready prepped food, so I consider my frugal accomplishments on the food front to have been that I have resisted the temptations to make my life easier each evening and have cooked from scratch. I’ve used cut priced on-date foods, stretched resources, and produced meals for ourselves and a guest who is staying with us this week. I spent £10.50 at the start of the week on main meal ingredients including a free-range organic whole chicken, three rump steaks, and a rump topside (miniature) joint and we haven’t run out yet - (the departure from our vegetarianism of the last three years does have a boring explanation, but not here). So I’d like my medal for that particular accomplishment.
So what are your achievements this week?
A Week of frugal accomplishments:
I cashed in the Lyk card that we’d put our travel money on for our trip to Malta. I’d felt really stupid about being duped into getting the card by the travel agent, paying for it by the most expensive means possible (credit card when we didn’t even need the money on credit) and finding out that the transaction to close the card and convert the money back to sterling would cost £50 at the agents as well as the conversion fee. I did however discover from a forum on Moneysaving Expert, that if I did the transaction online, the fee would only be £6. The Travel Agent’s website actually leads one in the usual circles when you try to do that, but I was able to telephone a number and have it done that way, still for the £6 fee, and bought back at the rate that existed on the day of the original conversion (sterling to Euros), not brilliant, but salvaged the situation to a degree, and, as it was turned down in about 80% of the places we’d tried to use it, it still had around £400 on it, so that has gone back into the account.
My son transferred some money we’d loaned him when he was in an accident that wrote off his motorbike and needed to fund another bike to continue travelling to work, so that was another useful lump sum going into the account.
When my husband got home from work he gave me a beautiful Sea Gems pen that he’d found on the car park near his car. It writes beautifully, and feels to be the perfect weight and width for me.
Sadly, a friend died suddenly last week, we were on our way to visit his wife, and to call in on my in laws. I knew there was a florists in a garden centre just a mile or two out of our way on the route we were taking, so we called in to get some flowers for the friend, and for my Mother in law. there were two beautifully presented bouquets marked down to £5 each with no sign that they were old or wilting so we got those. (Well when I say "no sign" - as I got out of the car with my MIL's bouquet, the wind picked up and completely stripped a Gerbera of it's petals just before we knocked on her door. I don't think she noticed the petalless stalk in amongst the dazzling array of other healthier flower heads). When I was at the same garden centre yesterday I called in at the florists to try my luck. No reductions, but the same styles of bouquets were on display so I checked what they should have cost us, one at £25 and the other at £35 !!!!! Although I rejected that idea, I suddenly saw a “Free Plants Help Yourself” stand on the way out. Figuring that even if I couldn’t rescue the poor specimens, the pots they were in could be reused, I picked up two crunchy tomato plants, a strip of brown sweet peas and an unidentifiable thing in a pot. We’ll see.
Today I finally plucked up the courage to return some towels to Aldi. They’d seemed like an ideal purchase back in December, but after an initial wash before use, we’d found them to have a bizarre effect of moving water around, but not absorbing anything. Even after two washes and two more attempts we hadn’t managed to make them perform properly. I was a bit concerned that I’d left my decision to return them for a refund for too long, (seven months) but still had the receipt. I was very pleased at the way two staff members dealt with my complaint, and came out with a full refund.
On holiday with my husband I’d felt quite shabby in my limited range of second hand summer clothes and had set a budget aside to buy myself some new items to supplement my wardrobe. I had a list in hand, but a friend who I’d arranged a day trip with on Monday had to back out last minute. I felt rather deflated, and decided instead of my trip to the mainstream shops as planned, I’d just visit about four local charity shops. In place of the cancelled 50 mile round trip, I did a convenient 6 mile local run instead. I picked up two pairs of jeans (on the list) of an old favourite cut that M&S used to make, that had always suited me. They seemed to be in good condition (they’re now washed, ironed and fit very well). They were on a £1 for two items rail. I got a leather handbag, some black linen cropped trousers, a pair of Fat Face cropped trousers, a cotton reversible shoulder bag, a Christmas gift to stow away for my grandson - it’s a voice changer megaphone from the Gadget Shop, still in it’s packaging, a Wade Whimsies ornament for a Christmas cracker filler collection I’m accumulating, and a cuff that looks like silver (and apparently tarnishes and polishes like silver), and a costume jewellery ring. I’d bought all but two items on my list. (The Fat Face trousers are probably the least well fitting so I wouldn’t have bought them new, and still feel that in addition, I need some loose summer walking trousers). I picked up four different pots of PlayDoh (all in good condition) for grandchildren entertaining occasions and then came home for lunch. (I’d have eaten out with the friend). So I spent £17.80 which was considerably under the original budget, nearly completed the wish list, found some extras that I know will be part of future plans. I’d also saved money on petrol, and eating and drinking out.
I’ve been feeling tired and lazy all week so cooking a meal each night has felt challenging and I’d have preferred to buy take-aways or ready prepped food, so I consider my frugal accomplishments on the food front to have been that I have resisted the temptations to make my life easier each evening and have cooked from scratch. I’ve used cut priced on-date foods, stretched resources, and produced meals for ourselves and a guest who is staying with us this week. I spent £10.50 at the start of the week on main meal ingredients including a free-range organic whole chicken, three rump steaks, and a rump topside (miniature) joint and we haven’t run out yet - (the departure from our vegetarianism of the last three years does have a boring explanation, but not here). So I’d like my medal for that particular accomplishment.
So what are your achievements this week?
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Comments
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Blimey! Well done.
I discovered that I have been underpaid for several weeks due to a mix-up on my part (hence not chasing earlier) and a problem at the agency end- I will be getting a fairly hefty pay-out soon for the underpayment, just in time for the holidays. I don't have huge outgoings, so this feels like a bonus, and will boost my savings considerably.
Met a friend for coffee- free- from my local, independent cafe, and she pointed out I had a money spider on my shirt.
Took the children to the local optician for their eye tests, as well as booking one for myself. This was a big deal, as I've not paid full price for an eye test for years, thanks to MSE :money: but I have decided to patronise my local, independent shops as much as possible, so decided that £35 was worth it. I paid upfront, to save time on the way out. During the consultation I spoke of my family history, and discovered to my joy that the combination of my parent's eye history plus my advancing years (I'm over 40 now!) means that I am entitled to free eye tests annually, due to the increased risk of problems. Cue a refund of my £35, and the staff seeming as happy as I was about it! Thanks, money spider
Hopefully tomorrow will bring some more positive news, and I have a lovely evening out with friends planned, at home, so saving a lot on pub prices.
Happy moneysaving efforts, everyone!They call me Dr Worm... I'm interested in things; I'm not a real doctor but I am a real worm.
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Ooh good tip re: eye tests thanks. And nice recoup of the underpayment. Or should we be congratulating the money spider for two jobs well done?building_with_lego wrote: »Blimey! Well done.
I discovered that I have been underpaid for several weeks due to a mix-up on my part (hence not chasing earlier) and a problem at the agency end- I will be getting a fairly hefty pay-out soon for the underpayment, just in time for the holidays. I don't have huge outgoings, so this feels like a bonus, and will boost my savings considerably.
Met a friend for coffee- free- from my local, independent cafe, and she pointed out I had a money spider on my shirt.
Took the children to the local optician for their eye tests, as well as booking one for myself. This was a big deal, as I've not paid full price for an eye test for years, thanks to MSE :money: but I have decided to patronise my local, independent shops as much as possible, so decided that £35 was worth it. I paid upfront, to save time on the way out. During the consultation I spoke of my family history, and discovered to my joy that the combination of my parent's eye history plus my advancing years (I'm over 40 now!) means that I am entitled to free eye tests annually, due to the increased risk of problems. Cue a refund of my £35, and the staff seeming as happy as I was about it! Thanks, money spider
Hopefully tomorrow will bring some more positive news, and I have a lovely evening out with friends planned, at home, so saving a lot on pub prices.
Happy moneysaving efforts, everyone!0 -
Since getting back from holiday, I have been making a real effort with healthy eating, this means I am making my own packed breakfast and lunch to eat at work - rather than spend a fortune at m&s!! As a result I am as a veggie eating more protien, calcium, wholgrains, fruit and veg than before and spending a lot less!
I have swapped diet coke for tap water and am drinking more.
I feel better for it and am saving money!!
4 weeks and still keeping it up!!Dogs return to eat their vomit, just as fools repeat their foolishness. There is no more hope for a fool than for someone who says, "i am really clever!"0 -
On holiday with my husband I’d felt quite shabby in my limited range of second hand summer clothes and had set a budget aside to buy myself some new items to supplement my wardrobe. I had a list in hand, but a friend who I’d arranged a day trip with on Monday had to back out last minute. I felt rather deflated, and decided instead of my trip to the mainstream shops as planned, I’d just visit about four local charity shops. In place of the cancelled 50 mile round trip, I did a convenient 6 mile local run instead. I picked up two pairs of jeans (on the list) of an old favourite cut that M&S used to make, that had always suited me. They seemed to be in good condition (they’re now washed, ironed and fit very well). They were on a £1 for two items rail. I got a leather handbag, some black linen cropped trousers, a pair of Fat Face cropped trousers, a cotton reversible shoulder bag, a Christmas gift to stow away for my grandson - it’s a voice changer megaphone from the Gadget Shop, still in it’s packaging, a Wade Whimsies ornament for a Christmas cracker filler collection I’m accumulating, and a cuff that looks like silver (and apparently tarnishes and polishes like silver), and a costume jewellery ring. I’d bought all but two items on my list. (The Fat Face trousers are probably the least well fitting so I wouldn’t have bought them new, and still feel that in addition, I need some loose summer walking trousers). I picked up four different pots of PlayDoh (all in good condition) for grandchildren entertaining occasions and then came home for lunch. (I’d have eaten out with the friend). So I spent £17.80 which was considerably under the original budget, nearly completed the wish list, found some extras that I know will be part of future plans. I’d also saved money on petrol, and eating and drinking out.
Well done on all your money saving.
But can I just, very gently, say that although your £17.80 spend might have been under budget, it wasn't really spent on what you'd planned to spend it on.
You say that on holiday you felt shabby due to wearing second-hand clothes, so you'd budgeted to buy some new items. Then you went and bought some more second-hand clothes, including a pair of trousers that don't fit. What happened to the plan to buy some new clothes so you don't feel shabby?
Also, why are you spending your money on things you don't need (Christmas is months away) and not on the things you do need (you say you didn't get two of the items on your list). The money's gone, but you haven't got what you needed.
You're making great progress with money saving - but it's important to stick to the plan, and don't let yourself get side-tracked.No longer a spouse, or trailing, but MSE won't allow me to change my username...0 -
Well, I think the OP said she felt shabby in 'her limited range of second-hand clothes'. Buying second hand doesn't mean tatty or worn out; I find many brand-new items in charity shops. I buy almost everything second hand for ecological as well as economic reasons and am often complimented on my clothes.
Also, I would dispute the suggestion that buying things for Christmas is buying stuff 'you don't need'. Yes, Christmas is months away and that's why canny people buy ahead to spread the cost! :rotfl: I buy Christmas presents throughout the year when I see suitable items.
I applaud you Topher - very :money: so keep it up, I'd be thrilled to have got all that for under £20,Life is mainly froth and bubble: two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own.0 -
PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »Well, I think the OP said she felt shabby in 'her limited range of second-hand clothes'. Buying second hand doesn't mean tatty or worn out; I find many brand-new items in charity shops. I buy almost everything second hand for ecological as well as economic reasons and am often complimented on my clothes.
Indeed - and I'm not averse to buying in charity shops myself.
But OP's plan was to go and buy new clothes, and she'd set aside a budget to do this - which is exactly the right way to approach it. Unfortunately, instead of sticking to the plan, she went and bought more second-hand clothes, and some items that weren't in her budget at all (ie Christmas gifts etc). So yes, she's possibly saved some money - but she hasn't bought what she intended to buy, which was new clothes. And now the money that she'd put aside for doing that has been spent on other things.No longer a spouse, or trailing, but MSE won't allow me to change my username...0 -
Name and shame that travel agent.Value-for-money-for-me-puhleeze!
"No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio
Hope is not a strategy...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!0 -
VfM4meplse wrote: »Name and shame that travel agent.
I agree. I was listening to a discussion on Radio 4 Money Box yesterday about these prepaid cards. It's a minefield as OP has pointed out. I'd avoid them personally.
I agree that I, too, read the original post as dissatisfaction with second hand clothes on holiday. But maybe it was the limited wardrobe rather than the second hand nature.
I think you've done really well OP. Can I ask why you're doing this? Do you have a goal in mind? Need to cut down? Change in circumstances? I'm asking because if you are mse from choice (as I am) because you like a challenge and hate being ripped off then it's different from those who are just hard up. For example, I can afford to buy in bulk up front when I see good offers which saves me money in the long term. So, similarly, although you don't need Christmas gifts now, the chances of the toy and the ornament still being available in December at that price are zilch so you've saved in the long run.0 -
The plan to go on an outing to buy new clothes was scuppered at the outset by the friend cancelling, so this was an outing to compensate for that. The new clothes would have included two pairs of jeans from Marks and Spencers £35 each plus some other new items, so the budget would have been around £200. The jeans I bought were from an old range which I always preferred and was sorry to see that it was no longer available in M & S so for £1 instead of £70 I got what I consider to be a perfect match for the item I had planned to buy. If it satisfies my need to smarten up, I don't see what's wrong with second hand, I'd been scouring charitiy shops for the best part of a year, and not finding what I wanted, hence the choice to pay in full as I wouldn't have been relying on luck to get what I wanted. The Fat Face trousers were "The least well fitting" they do fit, and will be used, they just won't fulfill the goal of being the trousers I'd want to look good and feel comfortable in while walking with my husband.trailingspouse wrote: »Indeed - and I'm not averse to buying in charity shops myself.
But OP's plan was to go and buy new clothes, and she'd set aside a budget to do this - which is exactly the right way to approach it. Unfortunately, instead of sticking to the plan, she went and bought more second-hand clothes, and some items that weren't in her budget at all (ie Christmas gifts etc). So yes, she's possibly saved some money - but she hasn't bought what she intended to buy, which was new clothes. And now the money that she'd put aside for doing that has been spent on other things.
In the same way many people spread the cost of Christmas, I'm opportunistic with my second hand shopping, so I'm hardly going to turn my back on items that fit my long term list, just because they aren't on the clothes shopping list am I?
I don't want to justify point for point what I did and wrote about when in fact your bottom line was correct, I didn't buy the new items on my list (although I didn't consider myself to be on THAT shopping trip), and there is something in the idea that you should stick to original goals, or the shopping and budget do get out of hand.
Thanks for expressing your opinion and gently pointing out the ways in which I'd not stuck to my budget, it gave me pause for thought.
T0 -
Certainly you can ask. I've had mixed fortunes in my life, never in debt other than my mortgage, but a single parent on the poverty line (wavering below it), and having to manage and develop skills to make money last, and work for me. I lost my job, and had a breakdown six years ago, meanwhile my now long term partner, supported by me, has done a total of twelve years of study and got a doctorate, and a secure job, so we've swung from me being the only wage earner, to him now taking over that role (initially on a student loan, but to avoid a mental health disaster on my part). By continuing the frugal habits/skills of my parenting years, I've managed to pay off a modest mortgage, my own student loan, and saved a small pot of money (I'm now stuck, unable to choose a way to put this money back into a pension. My work pension is abysmal). We aren't out of the woods yet, but I consider we've a little distance to fall before we get into poverty. So I continue with the frugality, we make choices, (we've just been on holiday), but we're fairly modest in our "treats" (our previous holiday was in 2012). The holiday impacted on the savings/pension pot, so I'm reining it in, and trying to tighten up my grip on casual spending. We've also changed diet recently and that is costing about double my previous grocery budget.I agree. I was listening to a discussion on Radio 4 Money Box yesterday about these prepaid cards. It's a minefield as OP has pointed out. I'd avoid them personally.
I agree that I, too, read the original post as dissatisfaction with second hand clothes on holiday. But maybe it was the limited wardrobe rather than the second hand nature.
I think you've done really well OP. Can I ask why you're doing this? Do you have a goal in mind? Need to cut down? Change in circumstances? I'm asking because if you are mse from choice (as I am) because you like a challenge and hate being ripped off then it's different from those who are just hard up. For example, I can afford to buy in bulk up front when I see good offers which saves me money in the long term. So, similarly, although you don't need Christmas gifts now, the chances of the toy and the ornament still being available in December at that price are zilch so you've saved in the long run.
Oh and it was the limited wardrobe that caused the dissatisfation, not its second handness.
Thanks for asking, sorry if this essay is more than you bargained for.
T0
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