Building savings to bubblewrap my new life.

doingitanyway

Thanks @Skint_yet_Again. I am back on the sensible eating again. Stock bubbling away in the background and it will be soup and smoked mackerel salad and fruit today. 

Thanks @MovingForwards Such a good idea! Do you have any lists from prior to your move that you could share as I don't really know what needs doing.

Today I will be stocking up on shopping but I have made a list and a menu plans so I don't overspend.

This month has been helpful in terms of what I need to feel comfortable in the budget so I am going to be allowing myself £300 in February for all discretionary spending (food, travel, fun...) That is roughly £75 a week. I'm going to have 4 days NSD a week too.

Today I will be setting up the new phone as the friend I am meeting has the new s1m to give me. I can then load the banking app.

It takes time but I am getting some clarity on my spending and saving, partly due to the helpful input in this corner of the forum

MovingForwards

I've just messaged it to you. That exact same list was used for moving twice 😁
I also prepared a to do list for packing and breaking rooms down, but i think that one has been recycled.

Budgeting takes time, tweaks and does fall into place.

Looks like a good weekly budget.

doingitanyway

Thanks MF

I can see I am getting there with the budget and now I have a much more realistic idea of how much I reasonably need.

Today is a NSD. 

Cancelling the fee paying account led to a bit of chaos but I think I have sorted it. Luckily I could divert funds. A few years back it would have been a disaster but not now.

Feeling glad I sent the boots back as I needed the money more than I needed the boots.

I reduced the payment to the CU account and that will become the Christmas account. 

I have had a stressful day but I've eaten all the frogs that needed eating so now I can relax.

Hope everyone is ok.

Skint_yet_Again

Well done on the frogs DIA 🐸 

I have bought some smoked mackerel fillets from aldi. I really like the peppered ones. Nice cold with crackers and salad. 

doingitanyway

Skint_yet_Again said:

Well done on the frogs DIA 🐸 

I have bought some smoked mackerel fillets from aldi. I really like the peppered ones. Nice cold with crackers and salad. 

Thanks SYA. I'm having the peppered smoked mackerel today with salad again

doingitanyway

There is £177 left in my account for the month.

I'm switching back to an organic veg box that is quite expensive. It will work out as £40 a month, but I can stay out of the shops more. I am in a high virus area so it seems a sensible move. The plan is to order fortnightly and shop on the week I don't buy a box. I'm thinking of using to Mr S more often. They have a really good organic veg range and a good basics range too. I can combine them.  Mr S. is a bigger store and they are stricter on distancing and other measures. I will still use Mr A and Mr L but I will get there when they open so I am not exposed so much.

I might do a big shop with a friend, cycle and ask her to drop the shop off in my front garden as she drives...

There is a shredder for £10 in Mr L that I think will be good to have. The plan was to get to the shop today at opening but I was late getting up so I will leave it until tomorrow and hope they have it.

Off to set up the veg box deliveries.

Hope everyone is okay.

MovingForwards

How much space do you have in your freezer? Would it be worth doing a monthly shop at Mr S, then batch cook and freeze everything.

doingitanyway

I have a big freezer and my natural inclination is to keep it full but I am conscious I may be moving so I am not wanting it full. I want to try fortnightly supermarket shops but even if that works out as every 10 days that is an improvement. I'm also revisiting the idea of a weekly paper delivery so I don't feel the need to pop out to a shop at the weekend.

savingwannabe

It is great that you are being MSE about it all. I reckon you have some good tactics to save - i didnt ever cut back on freezer spending when i moved house and must have just chucked food away. Wish i had read your diary.

doingitanyway

savingwannabe said:

It is great that you are being MSE about it all. I reckon you have some good tactics to save - i didnt ever cut back on freezer spending when i moved house and must have just chucked food away. Wish i had read your diary.

Aw thanks