Head out of the sand. Saving for a shiny future

ForestBluebells

I’m making roast cauliflower soup to have for lunch then I’ll freeze the rest of the portions. I had a rather sad looking cauliflower in the fridge I hadn’t got round to eating so making use of it before it’s too late. It really is a lovely day. Once I’ve done a few more chores and had my lunch I’ll be off on a nice walk with the dogs I have to give one a bath later too as my boy dog peed on my girl dog this morning 🙈

savingwannabe

OMG that's a bit worrying about the dogs. I wonder what that means in dog psychology? Enjoy your walk. Ive done all the housework since I have decluttered it takes minutes. I'm just plucking up the courage to look at marking. Maybe later. lol. 

ForestBluebells

So not a lot has happened yet this month. My dishwasher started leaking but I was pretty proud of myself for having a go and fixing the broken pipe myself instead of calling a plumber. Saved myself that expense 🙌 I’ve also been enjoying my lovely little garden when my neighbours aren’t out.  I’ve been doing a lot of research on potential privacy plants I could plant but none would be cheap to give me the level of privacy i want after my neighbours made unapproved changes to their garden. I could report them to the council but trying to decide if it’s worth the hassle although I do miss my privacy. 

I’ve been on some absolutely lovely hikes with my dogs lately and I’m looking forward to being allowed to go out more than once a day so I can go running more again now. I definitely need to get back to the fitness routine!  I was feeling the corona pounds pile on so I’m back on track eating better and going on longer hikes and feeling healthier again now. It’s hard not being able to go to the shops as I used to love meal planning and now it’s a case of cooking random food from what I can get hold of whenever I manage to get a delivery slot. I’m in the higher risk group (not shielding group) so I haven’t been to the shops since before lockdown and I miss it but I’m too afraid to go due to health conditions. 

So far this month I’ve managed to squirrel away £990, I’ll add more as I get paid from my 2nd job plus I’ll get my LISA bonus added too. Trying really hard to be good and I’ve definitely changed my spending habits entirely this year. Completely switched from only saving £100 a month to now saving over £1000 a month. So far this year I’ve saved over £5,300. Why didn’t I do this sooner!? I genuinely thought I didn’t earn enough to save and I just realised how wasteful I had been. So many years of wasted time, I could have loads saved if I had realised this sooner.  Still... onwards and upwards, I’m now aware and working hard to stay on track. I now think twice (or more 😂🙈) before buying anything. I do want to buy some more plants and something for privacy, be that a tree or additional fencing but I’ll have to see what I can justify spending. So far I haven’t taken any money out of my annual spending pots (such as house improvements, vet bills etc) and I’m trying to keep it that way as much as possible, I’m just using my monthly spending budget instead. I might need to start rolling forward my monthly spending budget instead of scooping it into savings if not spent though if I want to keep doing that as I’ll need more for any bigger purchases. I’ve been wanting to buy a steam mop but again putting it off as I’m not sure I NEED it. I just want it.  I did buy myself some new shoes (kids shoes in the sale) but I don’t really like them 🤦‍♀️ I’ve worn them now though so they are now my shoes for a while. 🙄 I did really need them though as I had actually worn through the soles of my last shoes so you could see through them in places 😳  I do get a little obsessed about things I’m interested in (currently money saving) but hey ho that’s my personality 

savingwannabe

Fantastic savings!!! We all beat ourselves up about wasting money and not realising sooner but at least we have realised now. Personally I think shoes, steam mop and privacy plants are essential spending and I think you could buy them. I hope you are staying happy and wish you a good week. 

lantanna

Like you I get a but obsessed with things too, saving / trying to save is my current obsession. I’m older than you 41 this month and trying to save for a house deposit and have increased my pension contributions. Going to bookmark your thread look forward to seeing how you get on.  And yeah I hear you about the corona pounds.

ForestBluebells

lantanna said:

Like you I get a but obsessed with things too, saving / trying to save is my current obsession. I’m older than you 41 this month and trying to save for a house deposit and have increased my pension contributions. Going to bookmark your thread look forward to seeing how you get on.  And yeah I hear you about the corona pounds.

Hi there 👋 are you are as geeky into spreadsheets as me? 😂 I love my budget spreadsheet so much and check it daily! In another 12 ish months I should have paid off my student loan which will help top up my pension contributions and maybe over pay mortgage or add to long term investments. My pension contributions are artificially high this year as I got a second job to put directly into my pension as I was so devastated I only just started it recently and had a dire pension forecast. It’s only a maximum of a 12 month contract then I’ll have to see if I can find another contract that fits in with my full time job but I’ve worked out that if i add another £50 a month to what I already put in from my salary each month (so much!! 😱) then that “should” be ok. Plus I can up my contributions each year with pay rises all being well. I feel a bit less panicked about it now I have a plan anyway and I can review it annually just because I enjoy doing so 😂

good luck on the house deposit savings! It’s great to have a goal and you may even find that property prices drop soon and that might help too. I intend to keep my eye on the market just in case I see something nice at a good price. I hate living in such an expensive area but after having a wonderful 2.5 hour walk this morning right from my doorstep I do love it here. 

ForestBluebells

savingwannabe said:

Fantastic savings!!! We all beat ourselves up about wasting money and not realising sooner but at least we have realised now. Personally I think shoes, steam mop and privacy plants are essential spending and I think you could buy them. I hope you are staying happy and wish you a good week. 

It’s hard now to make the decision to actually spend money when I think “oh but I’d have to take it out of savings”. I’ll keep researching different opinions and if I find something reasonable (steam mop/privacy plants) then I might treat myself. I’ve already saved more than I would in years so far this year so I can allow some treats I think. Especially when they are useful items. 

lantanna

Yes I love keeping track of everything and doing my monthly budget. I look forward to payday not for the spending but for the moving of it all into my pots! I think 2022 will be the year I buy a house, I’ve a bit of time to see some nasties drop off my credit file and present myself in the best light. Lockdown has taught me I def need a garden as I currently don’t have one and realise I need one!

ForestBluebells

I’ve been good and not bought anything other than food this week. I’ve been googling what garden plants I might like but still not set on any specifics yet (I’m perpetually indecisive.... it’s a problem). Done some gardening, there isn’t much to do as my garden is tiny and I’m on top of most things but I did try tie back a rose a bit.  I need to try attach the trellis to the wall but I’m not sure I can do that on my own. I’m just wrapping fishing line around things currently to try and give it some support, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be doing with it but that doesn’t feel right. I also tried cutting back my neighbours hedge that’s growing into the gutter on my garage. I can’t get down the side to do it properly but I at least managed to saw through a branch to stop it growing more into the gutter.

I’m thinking of getting a small stock type fence built on my front lawn to grow some climbers up and stop my neighbours walking over my lawn which I personally find quite rude. I’m thinking maybe clematis as I love mine in the back garden but my roses I’m struggling With an ongoing battle of black spot so probably won’t choose another rose. I can’t figure out if I would need planning permission to build the fence though due to not having permitted development rights. 

I’m feeling a little bored and isolated this week. I was supposed to see this guy I’m kind of dating but it’s hard to form a lockdown relationship and he didn’t end up giving me any time or place to meet him so that didn’t make me feel very valued. I’m supposed to see him tomorrow now instead but it’s always more tiring after work as I have worked a full day at home then have to walk my dogs and cook dinner and it feels rushed to try fit in a visit to see him. We shall see if it goes anywhere....

MovingForwards

You can buy rolls of bamboo for a quick, reasonable priced privacy screen, provided you have something to attach it to, a few stakes and the u nails will be fine. Comes in various heights, let's some light through and you could grow some climbers up it like clematis, sweet pea, honeysuckle etc.

I've had a steam mop, ended up selling it a month later. I may have purchased a rubbish one but the Devil certainly didn't clean the dirt, got better results and went back to the mop.

Do you normally feel a spark with the guy? If not, think about cutting your losses and waiting until things are more settled. If you do, how about a date walking the dogs and a bag of chips or something? Not ideal, but covers both things you need to do after work.