Sealed Pot Challenge ~ 14

Sue-UU

PLEASE READ THROUGH THE RULES AND THE CHANGES FROM NOW ON!    A very warm welcome to yet another Sealed Pot Challenge, our 14th!   I'll admit to it being a worry of what to do about  SPC for 2021 given the Corona virus and all the changes it's brought to us, not to mention the world. However, due to a lot of our lovely SPC friends giving their thoughts and enthusiasm, and our "Westie" who runs the Virtual SPC saying she doesn't mind, bless her, I see no reason why we can't keep SPC going. After all, none of us has any idea how long Covid 19 will be around, it may be here for a long while, though I sincerely hope not. If a successful vaccine comes out then Covid's life might quickly be shortened - what a great thought!  We've been doing it for 13 years now and it's no fault of ours that Covid 19 has mucked things up. I suggest we all save in the best way possible for each of us: if some still prefer to stick to cash, then do so, but please take care and was your hands vigorously! Those wishing to use debit cards, or save via the bank itself, please do so, though not by extortionate amounts as that's not the way we save. For all newcomers...Old Timers too - it's so very important to please read through this entire post to see what the SPC is all about, including the declaration date as well as our re-opening date etc.. However, if you haven't already done so, please be sure to join the MSE Forum in order to be able to join the challenge. For ALL SPC members, please chat away regularly about your conquests, money-saving ideas etc, it gives encouragement to all, including ourselves as it keeps us motivated to save far stronger and gives even more ideas of how to save. For all newcomers - a really huge welcome! We're a great bunch who just adore greeting more members to the flock. Please read through this entire post and you'll be aware of why SPC is so special. Pop on the thread and tell us you'd like to join, then start saving straight away and become part of our saving family. You will very soon be welcomed aboard, but don't worry if you have to wait a day or so. The idea is to save as much as possible throughout the following year until just before Christmas - which this year (2021) will be to open our pots on Thursday the 28th October 2021. We save it in pots that we've pre-sealed to stop us being tempted to open them. Any spare cash can be put away, every day/week/month, whatever is best for you. If you have change left over after you've been shopping - pop it in the pot! After all why not. However small the change...the likelihood is that it won't be missed, and might otherwise have been wasted! Most of us pot the difference that we've been saved on special offers etc, it's all saved at the shop so it makes sense to save it in the pot to mount up! Below are the basics for making your pot and sealing it. Firstly: Get yourself a pot, and remember - it doesn't need to cost much - if anything! Please kindly avoid plastic, thank you. With the emphasis being on saving money, your pot doesn't need to cost anything, a used sweet tin, coffee jar etc..are extremely MSE!! *Next - seal it with sellotape and be sure to make a slit in the lid, big enough for a 50p to go in, that way all coins will fit. If you wish, you can always take advantage of finding a cheap pot in the sales after Christmas. Terrimundi pots are available in many shops and online, they're very attractive and another ready sealed way to save, and though the manufacturers and retailers would have you believe differently, you DO NOT need to smash them to remove your cash!! I've used mine for 12 years...and at the end of each year's challenge, hubby and I used to have a whale of a time, doing things the 'old' way by tilting the pot and using a knife! A few years ago DH bought a 12" steel ruler in from the shed which is thin and broad and perfect for the job. So be assured that, so long as you go carefully, you CAN use them again and again. Regarding the Sealed Cans many of you use, apparently the best way to open the sealed tins is, rather than using a tin opener, squeeze the side of the tin, where the seam meets and you can pop the seal and tip the money out that way, better still, turn them upside down and get the cash out as advised above with Terramundi. The term roadkill = any money found on pavements, parks etc; even in car parks or on shop floors etc, however, if you've seen it dropped by another shopper - PLEASE give it to her/him!! NB. A few notes of interest. 1/ Money from a part-time job or anything similar is ok to be saved. Any money saved via Christmas Clubs can also be used in your SPC Totals or included when declaring, it's another way of saving for Christmas after all. Money received from cashback sites such as Quidco, topcashback etc can be included in your pots. Likewise, any money made from sales on E-Bay, Facebook, Surveys or similar can be saved. Also, it is possible to include all other savings from MSE Challenges with your SPC Totals i.e. the £2 Challenge as, apparently they aren't put down on the challenge threads themselves. Also, the 1p challenge can be declared. If you're unsure, please ask on the thread, and remember - there's no so thing as a stupid question! Second incomes can come in many varied and very lucrative guises and anything such as that would be unfair to other members. However, doing a little job for Mrs Bloggs can be included. Mostly the SPC is a challenge to see how much we can save during the year...mostly it's relatively small amounts which are saved from wages, housekeeping, good budgeting etc. Remunerations via the letting of second homes cannot be included in the SPC! 2/ Whenever you're in the dilemma of "ooh should I buy that?" If you don't need it, but just want it - leave it there and pot the cash instead, you'll be far more satisfied with the accomplishment, pleased with your self-discipline too. All too often, if I go back a second time I find I didn't even like whatever it was anyway! 3/ If you wish, you can ask me to put a Target on for you to try to meet (it's put in black ink with brackets alongside your name and number on the 2nd post below) but it's not necessary. If you do set one, but are unable to meet it, don't worry, at least you tried! A few people keep account of all they save, but most of us count what we save daily or weekly, then put it on the thread to help encourage others....ourselves too; after potting it  we naturally forget each amount and.... wait for the surprise at the end of the year!!!    3 a/ If you are hoping for a particular amount by Declaration Day but still want a nice surprise come October, work out what amount you would like to save, then work out how much you will need to pot on a weekly/monthly basis in order to achieve it. Save that sum regularly as well as potting any spare change after shopping, that way you are bound to come out on top and have a surprise come October! 4/ SPC is a challenge to see how much we can save in a year for Christmas 2021. However, over the last 13 years we've had some members who have needed theirs at times throughout the year for bills, debts etc, and personally I'd far sooner they take the cash out for that than pay more interest or...miss a due date! You can always start again, even if it's getting later in the year, plus you can still include what you needed to take out on Declaration Day, after all, you will have saved it!! Whatever you need to do, don't worry about it - be happy and proud you have saved! Please don't worry about the amounts others save! We are all individuals with varying jobs/incomes, each with different expenditures and commitments etc so while some find saving a real struggle, for others it's obviously easy. However, it's the pleasure each of us receives from our personal potting results - whatever you manage to pot, be happy with it, and be proud!!!! 5/ If you wish to save for something special, a holiday, wedding etc then please do so, just please remember to declare it on October 28th. The most important thing, is that you are saving ...and hopefully not tempted to take it out unnecessarily. If anyone has any other queries, then please just ask. 6/ At the end of the year (or when we've saved for what we wish) count up all your money saved and declare your Total either by waiting until the declaration date - or (if you've needed your cash for other things - by putting your Total on your MSE signature to remind you to include it in your full Total; that particularly applies to those using their money for holidays etc, but PLEASE remember to return to the thread on the 28th October to declare those Totals to us. Some members prefer not to keep too much money in the house and count theirs up every now and then to bank it, in which case they always pop the amount banked on their MSE signatures to remind them to include it when they declare. 7/ KEEP YOUR POT or POTS SAFE and out of sight of others!! If you hide it, be sure to remember where you put it!! 8/ "Holding Pots": To anyone concerned about putting money into their pot - only to possibly need it later in the week/month: Why not use an unsealed pot or purse as a "holding pot" and pop the money in there first each day/week/month - then, if it's not needed (for car parking costs, little Johnnie's school trip etc) - put it in your Sealed pot so it stays put. Do that each week and it'll save you taking money from the bank. Discipline yourself to only take what's needed though!    9/ "Where to take bags of cash at the end of the year?": Most banks will accept them providing you have an account with them. Remember also that most banks have counting machines, so any of you who really don't like counting money, take them in and let the machine do the counting for you; you'll get a receipt which you then take to the counter. PLEASE - DON'T EVER CHANGE IT IN ONE OF THE COINSTAR MACHINES AT THE ENTRANCES OF SUPER MARKETS.... THEY WILL TAKE AROUND 10% OF YOUR MONEY!!!!!!!!! 10/ Members who do not return by two weeks after closing date will lose their numbers and be removed from the list. Many people who sign up to the challenge then don't bother returning! To be fair, I think a lot get swept up in the excitement of it all, but for one reason of another, can't or don't wish to keep it up,or forget all about it,  but that then leaves us with a list of holes in the membership list which makes things very difficult indeed. Any saving members won't be at all worried about this - however, if missing members remember, then - come on back and ask for another number, you will always be be more than welcome! On the post below is a list of members and their numbers, always put your No on your signature please, that makes life so much easier for me and my DH when counting up all Totals. In December or thereabouts we declare the Grand Total of ALL that we members have collected, and what a terrific sight that is! Please declare your savings ASAP on or close to the 28th October please. Once again, we've just had an amazing year, let's keep it up and see what we can achieve this year, in spite of Covid! Good luck everyone and save well!! PLEASE take note everyone Thursday 28th Oct is the closing date for 2021, the day we declare what we've saved on the thread, kindly declare your monies saved within 2 weeks of the 29th, thank you kindly.     Sue NB folks: Opening date for SPC 14 is 28th October 2021!  Anyone wishing to join us, it's NEVER too late! So please just ask and you will be made very welcome.

Sue-UU

Membership List

001 Sue-UU
002 jakes-mum
003 bubbs
004 Frogletina
005 Makethedayscount
006 mummytummy
007 32b3in2013
008 Buffythedebtslayer
009 siju
010 babs_103
011 mummytummy

012 little_sweetie

013 Chocolatedrinker

014 welshspendthrift

015 lucyhope

016 too_much_debt

017 Antomac (Target £500)

018 Lost2

019 hickles69

020 MrsShazbat

021 VickyA   (Target £1000)

022 frostie101

023 Hettyhound (£300)

024 Westie983

025 MrsMe

026 SummerDays

027 e4rub
028 Maddie57 (Target £600)
029 LivingInTheBlack

030 YoungandFrugal

031 hanert

032 twigletcaz

033 rasp

034 EverTheOptimist

035 CapricornLass

036 Saver-upper

037 BlytheDoll

038 bizarre_rachel

039 Honeysuckle02

040 Bounty123

041 delta13

042 catherinen

043 3forholidays

044 franlow01

045 claremylove

046 IntoTheForest

047 Cariad21 (Target £500 for dream holiday!)

048 SuperSavingD

049 DrCarrie (Target £150)

050 Pinkwhisk

151 cobweb18  (Target £500)

052 bluebell-on-track

053 Candy0107

054 gonnabedebtfree

055 cdm
056 Rdpncp
057 Dragon_Lily
058 Doily94
059 AbundantBudget

060 georgiesmummy

061 Money_Choices

062 debtfreefor22

063 grassgirl

064 krl147

065 Elephantchunks
066 NotARealAvery
067 MostlyFine

068 Lookafterthepennies2020

069 the-mrs

070 jadewest94
071 madlyn (Target £75)
072 lindsay54v3
073 scotmumof3

LivingInTheBlack

Ooooo new thread, so shiny 😍

Thanks Sue

Saver-upper

Thank you for continuing as our fearless leader Sue. It has been a worrying year, and, as you say, we don't know what the future will look like. 

As you know, I wasn't around for a lot of  SPC 13, but I am here now, logged in properly and am going to show my face round these parts more often. 😊

Tonight, I have started my pot (actually I have  3 pots:£2 coins, £1 coins, and the rest. It makes counting a lot easier, and I specially save every £2 coin that crosses my path 💕.) 

Tonight i  have potted:
£15 in notes, 
£1 coins x13
£2 coins x3
£2.63 in loose change. 

Total of £36.63 to start the challenge  with. 

Good luck everyone! 

Lost2

Thanks 😊 Sue for all your hard work and a lovely new link let’s hope next year is better than 2020   😄

frostie101

Starting my first full year potting lets see what I can save.
Pot sealed and ready, first few coins in the pot.
Good Luck everyone.
Lets hope 2021 turns out to be a better year for everyone.

Hettyhound

Happy hello to the new thread.  I need to seal up but have a few pennies to go in from my payday purse clear and of course my 1p roadkill from yesterday.  Good luck everyone and merry potting 🥰

catherinen

Having a rethink about how I save this year but starting off with some loose change in my pot so I know I’m on my way. 

LivingInTheBlack

On the covid issue front. I have started using plum (other apps are available 😉) which, as well as seeing what it thinks i can save every 4/5 days, also rounds up my spends to the nearest pound. So that, as well as my physical change tin, has become my pot 🙂

I'm gonna help my nearly teenage son tidy his room this weekend 🤢 he knows that any roadkill i find is mine. Hopefully it will teach him to look after the pennies.

Thanks for last years thread, it was my first and despite only saving a small amount, i am absolutely buzzing that i have the money for Christmas. I have a set amount i spend on my sons main presents but i like to put little things in his stocking as well (chocolates, new socks etc) but usually haven't factored in that cost. This year i have it ready to go 😁😁 i can't tell you how good that feels!

AntoMac

Wow! All you insomniacs beat me to it!  I’m excited to be in from day 1 this year
Made my first proper pot with the money I was going to use to treat myself to a nice coffee yesterday.
As always, a huge thanks to you Sue for doing this
When you see a grand total saved in the history of this  challenge of over half a million pounds that really is impressive 

Buffythedebtslayer

Number 008 signing up for 2021. 
Lets really hope it is a LOT better than this year! 
I have an aim of 300 pounds in cash which is 25 quid a month. 
thanks for running the thread Sue - UU 
XXX