No more plastic fantastic

kdalwayskint

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6072052/saving-for-christmas-2020-1-a-day-challenge

Hi

If I've done it correctly, there should be a link to my 'Saving for Christmas 2020 - £1 a day challenge' it might help you don't worry that you've started late, any amount you can save towards next Christmas is helpful.

Any online shopping i do I try and go through top cash back and I save what I earn throughout the year and either use it towards Christmas or a few treats for me

I've subscribed to your diary so I'll pop back in from time to time

RoslinGirl

Thank you, Black Coffee and kdalwayskint! The positive support is greatly appreciated. I think this is a marathon rather than a sprint and I am just getting started!! :eek:

I will have a look at the £1 challange, this sounds like a great idea. Thank you for letting me know.

So, I have made the toffee apple and pecan loaf which turned out not to be a very good plan form a money saving point of view as it is DELICIOUS!!!! Only a few slices survived beyond yesterday and have been popped into the freezer for pack lunches. I plan to just take out one slice at a time! :rotfl:

My DH is away at the moment and I forgot to change the our milk order (we get bottles delivered - see...living up to the diary title with the plastic ). So we have far too much and I plan to make parsley sauce and Mornay sauce for the freezer (I believe you can freeze these) as I have all the ingredients.

I reviewed my meal plan for this week and I have just 10 items on my weekly shopping list and that includes toiletries and cleaning products. This is a big change so I feel pleased with this progress.

As I have mentioned we do live quite rurally which is a change for us. I am keen to start trying to grow veggies as we have the space here to do so. However, I am completely (and I mean completely) clueless about how to even start. To the best of my knowledge I think I need to wait until Spring time to start doing anything now, so I have a month or two to do research.

There are so many things I want to do at the moment and always so little time. I have signed up to do a 'try' athlon in March and I am also completing quite a big qualification for work over the next 6 months. I feel a bit overwhelmed by everything and feel like everything (including this) needs hard work and effort.

Anyway, less moaning and more doing is probably the answer!!!

RGxx

RoslinGirl

Well, who in the world can’t make a basic white sauce?!?! That would be me. Epic fail on trying to make parsley sauce for no explicable reason. I am going to try again today but with double quantities of patience to see if that helps.
I also have some ham hocks which I am going to try a recipe with those. I have some left-over beer from Christmas so I think I will try to use that.
Life overtook me this week hence the lack of posts. However, I hope things should be a bit quieter moving forward. My ‘try’ Athlon training begins today which I am weirdly looking forward to. After great deliberation I have decided to focus on 4 main goals for now. There are a million things I would like to achieve but I think I need to focus, and these 4 things are the most important. Here is the list:
‘Try’athlon – train and compete in event in March
The Organised Mum Method (TOMM) – this is the plan to help you manage housework and avoid spending all weekend cleaning (this sounds like a welcome plan to me!!). I am going to try it out and see how I get on which I hope will help with the other goals
Work qualification – major studying required which is a goal but not a choice!!! Ha ha
Budgeting – Of course, my most favourite and important goal is to practice, practice, practice and become a Money Manager Fantastique!
I aim to post here very regularly to keep myself accountable, so watch this space.
Enjoy the weekend!
RGxx

RoslinGirl

Good morning all,

Aren't Sunday mornings just the best!

Just a very quick update from me to keep me accountable:

Budgeting - I am still building up to February. I am going to transfer all the money for February into my savings account when it credits and keep it there until the 1st of the month. I think I always blur the lines between the months which makes budgeting so much harder. Also, I am going to investigate YNAB to see if that will make life easier for me

Triathlon - first session of couch to 5k complete and cycling lesson booked

TOMM - today will be the boot camp to get things in tip top condition ready to manage on the 30 minutes daily

Studying - don't ask!!!

RGxx

RoslinGirl

Good morning All,

Still awaiting a bright new budgeting month in February but at least it is in sight now! I tried to investigate YNAB (I was rushed so didn't give it enough time) but the version I downloaded was American and I couldn't then sync with a UK bank. I know there will be a solution to this just need to investigate.

However, I did see the app 'Emma' which I briefly looked at last year. Our finances were too complicated at that point and I was too stupid to make it all work but the concept was good. I may try that to see if it fits now that things are more straightforward.

No progress on studying or triathlon (other than looking into swimming technique lessons), however you can expect great things from me today!!

I did a 30 minutes blitz of the house. Not really as prescribed by TOMM but it was useful and I think if I do the same thing again today we will be making good progress overall.

Enjoy you day!

RGxx

Mnd

You are doing fine with the money saving, but I can offer some advice about the veg. You are right to wait, I haven't sowed anything yet! Get seeds and pots etc. Wilkinson are fine, don't be too ambitious.
Start with cut and come again lettuce, not with asparagus. Plenty of advice online.

savingholmes

If you wanted to start now radish grows well in pots inside - you wouldn't need to sow many seeds to have plenty. I've potted things up in pots sat on narrow trays on the kitchen window sill before now... The lettuce is a good idea too.

I think - working out where your money is going - and then sitting down with your partner and agreeing spending, saving and investing priorities is important. Getting a starter fund of at least £1K emergency fund is a really good goal too. If you don't have this already is there anything you could sell to help make that a reality. Once you get the hang of budgeting - then ideally grow your EF to a 3-6 month emergency fund. It may also be worth checking into what level of life insurance cover do you have, what state are your pensions in, do you have any life goals that require money to fulfil them? Map them out and then work out what you would need to do to help you get there. Seeing the longer term gain you could have from say visiting a dream destination or working less hours or years later - may give you some of the motivation to stick with it now.

I think another thing - can be giving yourself to permission to do do something badly. Sometimes we have to be willing to go through the pain of failing and gradually improving before we ever get to good at something. A bit like couch to 5k. Few people can go from zero exercises to running 5k overnight.

RoslinGirl

Apologies everyone. I have very much been missing in action! Thank you very much savingholmes for your helpful post which I am only just reading just now. Lots for me to think about and take on board there. Very timely too as giving myself permission to do something badly is probably where I am at!

So, one of the legitimate reasons for my absence is that work towards the end of January was the busiest I have ever experienced in my professional life. I am talking 5 am starts and very late nights and STILL being behind. However, I survived and it was at least a positive month financially (I am self employed) so I am only complaining a little bit. Although it will be a few months before I see any of the benefit.

Zero progress on the studying to report....this is becoming a problem!

However, the Triathlon training is slowly taking shape. Of course focusing on this when you have no time is very good planning!! Ha ha

With the workload I had, I haven't worked on the February budget as I should and now I am too scared to look. So, I was all for running away and hiding in a corner but thought I would come here instead. This is what a diary is for, is it not??? Does anyone else dread looking at their finances even if they aren't necessarily in bad shape??? I don't know where this irrational anxiety has come from but it is very frustrating.

Anyway, in the spirit of allowing myself to be bad at things but not giving up, I shall dare to peak and salvage what I can for the rest of the month and continue to report back on progress whatever that may be.

Wish me luck....

RGx

RoslinGirl

Quick update....I have had a peek...I didn't like it but it was better than I thought and I am now managing the situation....PROGRESS!!!