Saving for..?

JennyJukes

Boyfriend got his money today and transferred me straight away so that's him sorted for a few months.

My new colleague started and I was happy to see she's very nice and has the understanding you really need for this job. Also lots of connections and insight which I lack lol. So hopefully it will be good. We will make it work, together.

To the store for some groceries £12.96 with a view to go again in a few more days. Then to the doctor who said my blood work came fine and likely I am just dehydrated, which makes sense as I'm quite bad at drinking throughout the day. Truth be told I really hate drinking water so I need to flavour it.. Plus my routine has been out of whack since December and I haven't been eating that well. So a better diet it is! Can't believe something that was so painful was most likely just not drinking enough water!!

2 more days to pay day!! Let's see what I get paid. Lots of competitions to catch up on.

Groceries: £12.96/£25
Entertainment: £112.93/£60

Can't wait until that entertainment is back to £0 lol

JennyJukes

Woohoo pay day! Boohoo extra tax! I put the leftover money of £114.80 into my Marcus account so I'm starting fresh again on my wage.

I have updated my SOA:

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 0
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1582.45
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1582.45

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 70
Rent.................................... 395
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 83 (12 months)
Electricity............................. 53 (Gas & Elec)
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 10
TV Licence.............................. 12.54
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 5.99
Internet Services....................... 19
Groceries etc. ......................... 100
Clothing................................ 10
Petrol/diesel........................... 30
Road tax................................ 1.66
Car Insurance........................... 27
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 35
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 50 (Maximum, can be less)
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 10
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 25
Haircuts................................ 10
Entertainment........................... 60
Holiday................................. 0
Help to Buy ISA............................. 200
Other Savings............................. 250
Other Beauty............................ 5
Spotify................................. 9.99
Total monthly expenses.................. 1472.18


Assets
Cash.................................... XXXXX
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 1000
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ XXXXX


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 0........(0)........0<
Owed Tax.......................150......(50).......0<
Sofa...........................520......(20).......0
Total secured & HP debts...... 670.......-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Total unsecured debts..........0.........0.........-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,582.45
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,472.18
Available for debt repayments........... 110.27
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 110.27
[/i]

I haven't included how much savings I have as I feel that isn't a good idea. But the aim is still to save whilst paying off the debt. I have about 3 months left of tax repayment as apparently I haven't paid enough tax so it's being collected over the next 3 months. 2 years to pay off my sofa which is at 0% so not too bothered about paying off. Trying to keep my second hand bought outright (11 year old) car going as long as possible. Everything else I'm just trying to keep as low as possible and renew to the best deals. I have also started paying into my workplace pension so that's 2% of my wage. That's an aim to increase. I also now put £250 extra into a savers account on top of my H2B. I already have my 3-month emergency savings too. This will all change again in April, some higher some lower. I might try to pay off car insurance and TV license in one go when it comes up for renewal to reduce interest.

Now looking back to the goals from when I started this diary in July:

My goals for last year:
1) Stick to budgets and save the rest. - For the most part I've done this!
2) Get a better paying and more stable job. - I bumped my wage up around £300 a month!
3) Only buy what I can afford - no more financing/debt. Save for what I want. - Have stuck to this.
4) Have fun with my money! I don't want to lambaste myself for having an occasional treat. -Have stuck to this too!
5) Learn to cook more and bake.. at all Haven't baked at all lol but tried out so much new dishes! So sticking to this too!

Now for my goals this year

1) Get my contract renewed or find a job that pays at least £19000 (I need this if I need to sponsor my boyfriend when he leaves University)
2) Stick to budgets and save the rest
3) If my contract is renewed then increase my pension
4) No financing, save for what I want to buy
5) Continue to bulk cook from scratch
6) Clean more often lol
7) Have fun!

Boyfriend went to a research type meeting today on international students studying in Scotland. He got a £25 amazon voucher for taking part. I've definitely converted him to doing things cheaply and for extra money and extra credit! We make a great, frugal team! My ex used to use our money for luxurious things that I couldn't afford and I hated it. £20 on fizzy drinks a week which is almost my current weekly food budget!

I bought a toastie to go along with my soup today for £2.50. I need to go to the store tomorrow to make some more bulk meals for this week so should stay under budget. Not sure what I'm doing this weekend - I had a night out but it has been pushed back and I was offered to come to another but tbh I don't really feel like it. It's cold, I'll have to travel alone and I won't know half the people so it won't be fun and not worth it for me. Planning to visit family soon so that'll be enough socialising

Work is starting to pick up so I'm feeling confident again about it and I'll have other staff in my office - I won't be eating alone soon enough lol

Groceries: £15.46/£25
Entertainment: £0/£60 :j:j:j

savingwannabe

Hello well done on achieving your last year's resolutions. I think you have done really well. You are saving as much as me on pretty much a similar salary so well done.

If you don't feel like having a night out that is fine. It's not everyone's cup of tea - it's certainly not mine. I am glad working is picking up you seem to be enjoying it well done.

Have a good food shop tomorrow. I might not be able to do one till the weekend. lol. Good night.

JennyJukes

Night out is back on 8th Feb! Heading to a newly opened buffet then some drinks. Excited!

Work picking up again and made some new connections. I do always say care work brings in the best and the worst people, clients and staff alike. I've heard some awful, awful things said by "care/health" staff but there are other ones who are so understanding and nice. I also received a really lovely thank you email today which makes it all worth it.

£6.01 on more food today which leaves me with £3.53 for Saturday night with boyfriend which isn't even enough for snacks, heh. But I'll try keep costs down. Cashed out £8.15 from prolific so straight into savings.

Groceries: £21.47/£25
Entertainment: £0/£60

savingwannabe

Hurrah for a good night out at the buffet and a nice email. I hope you do treat yourself on your night out with BF as you do work hard.

JennyJukes

Hi all,
Haven't been here in a while.

BF and I broke up in January and my mental health really declined.  I've been seeing a therapist and prescribed anti-depressants and feeling a bit better.   I haven't gone into my savings but haven't saved anything either but not too bothered.  As long as I'm eating well and doing things that make me happy then I'm not so bothered.  At one point I wasn't even making sure I had enough money to pay for what I was buying but I'm better now with the therapy and medication.

I did have a trip planned with family but no longer happening due to Flybe going bust and also this coronavirus.  I work in a hospital and tbh nothing has really been said although I know there are no cases within our hospital, they will be sent to another one and the only confirmed cases here are in a different hospital.  I have had an awful cold and fever the past week but have been told I won't be tested.  I work with vulnerable adults so it makes me worried so I've just been washing my hands a lot more and not visiting the most vulnerable.

Hope everyone else is keeping well and I'll be back in a few months (if I can get used to this new format!)

MovingForwards

I'm sorry to hear you split up and your MH has dipped, it's to be expected but hopefully things will start to pick up for you. When they do you can reassess what you want.

Things are being kept very hush hush regarding the virus.

Hope you start posting again in the future.

Skint_yet_Again

Sorry to hear your news about the split. I am glad you have got help with meds & therapy and that you have felt strong enough to post. Look after yourself and post again if you feel up to it. We are all here to support each other. x 

savingwannabe

I am so sorry at what you have experienced. It will take time and in the meantime you must put yourself first. Tablets and therapy and doing nice things. If you can go out with family and people you enjoy being around. You are a wonderful person and we adore you, hugs and love, swx

JennyJukes

aw thanks guys so much, i really appreciate it  my breakup and this coronavirus stuff has put everything into perspective, that life is too short and unpredictable and for now i have to let everything be, let it all blow over.  as my therapist says, right now it's survival mode, so as long as the bills are paid, i'm warm, healthy and there's food on the table, the money saving and long term planning can take a back seat. health and happiness comes first!

 take care everyone.