How much to live on

Organgrinder

Nebulous2 said:

Sometimes the stars do align.

I play the switching, regular saver and cashback game. Not as adeptly as some people here, but I play it all the same. I'm going away 'down South' for a few expensive days, taking in a couple of shows, a Christmas market, some good food and possibly even a few beverages. 

This week I've had; £155 from the TSB switching offer, £136 interest from a regular saver, £100 cashout from surveys and £20 topcashback. That's over £400 towards our trip and a good chunk of it paid. 

Amazing. Well done you.

I have been fortunate to have had plenty of extra clubcard points courtesy of clubcard challenges this year.

After a debacle with easyJet earlier this year, I ended up in a situation where my compensation voucher from a previous holiday (worth £290) was going to be cancelled along with a further £210 of clubcard partner vouchers. Fortunately through a bit of arguing I got it all back.

I really don't want to use easyJet again but that £500 was too much to waste so myself and Mrs O are off to Krakow over Easter. Total cost including meet and greet airport parking, private transfer, seats and baggage is £850, £350 after using said vouchers. Pleased to report there's only £37 left to pay, the other £313 has all come from clubcard challenges and clubcard points. The balance will get paid for by the last round of clubcard challenges.

That's £560 of clubcard partner vouchers in total. I can assure you the £280 of clubcard vouchers has not come from £28000 of spending this year! My total spend has been way way less. Just my regular shopping.

I'm sure everyone knows I love a freebie. And this has to go down as one of my best!

Organgrinder

And the stooze goes on.

Just had an email to confirm another £7200 transferred to a new Virgin Money card. 34 months at 0%. It will make after fees about £400.

I now have £36,000 on various interest free deals, generating approx £1,500 a year in interest. And another 0% purchase card which I'll use over the next year to build another £10,000 pot.

I should add that none of the £36,000 is in stocks and shares. It's all in ISAs. Whilst the potential returns are lower, so are the risks. I'm certainly not prepared to borrow money in order to lose it.

As I've said before, a few years ago I'd have hated having that much debt.

So a few tips for you if you're interested in this.

Do use a stoozing calculator to check your returns. Cards with high monthly payback percentages can eat into your potential returns, especially if interest rates fall.

Set up direct debits to ensure you pay the minimum amount and make sure you keep a balance of the total minimum payments in your current account. I know this isn't essential and you can do it in other ways. It is just safe to do so.

Take each card off your Google wallet or apple equivalent. You don't want to accidentally use your card.

Equally take them out of your wallet/purse.

Keep track of the zero interest end dates and either transfer to a new card ( I usually get one a couple of months before) or pay it off in full.

Don't do it if you know you need a new mortgage. You will tank your credit score. I know in the UK these scores are pretty meaningless but all the same, such a high amount of unsecured borrowing will likely impact any mortgage application.

But best top tip.

Enjoy spending whatever money comes your way as a result. I use mine predominantly to contribute to a holiday. Next year, Zante. 

helensbiggestfan

All this stoozing, cash back talk is very interesting and truly inspirational. Makes me realise I have been guilty of leaving money on the table.  Thanks for all the tips and advice. I shall definitely be trying some of them in the new year.  More money with little effort.  What's not to like.  

Well I managed my save an extra £2k by Christmas challenge, thanks mainly to my nice tax rebate. There would have been a shortfall without it, but that's ok.  Alls well that ends well.  I shall be spending some of that in the new year on some new furniture and accessories for my house. 

Just about finished my Christmas shopping.  I don't "host" anymore.  My days of running a Christmas B&B with full restaurant facilities for the duration are thankfully over.  I have passed that baton onto the next generation. It saves me a small fortune, enabling me to a generous gift giver.  I love spoiling my family with nice gifts and surprises, some practical to make their lives easier and some frivolous fripperies. As my late husband used to say "we all need fripperies". The practical gifts this year, are a fire extinguisher and fire blanket.  Not exciting but something every house should have.  

Ask me how I know........😱😂🤣. Yes I once nearly burned my kitchen down.  No one was hurt but it was an expensive mistake. I noticed my kids don't have them. They will probably think I'm being over protective but hey, once a parent, always a parent, even if my babies are now middle aged.  

Anyway looking forward to the festive season.  I've managed to get my lounge coved and painted in plenty of time, the Christmas decorations are up and I have been to see Santa, had my hair cut and styled, bought a new outfit.  I'm all set.  Didn't manage to book our annual Chatsworth visit, so we will probably go sometime during Twixmas. I shall probably host New Years Day. Then before we know it 2026 will be upon us.  

I'm very much looking forward to fresh challenges in the new year, including setting new financial goals.  I want to keep building up the war chest, continue beautifying my home and garden and of course have lots of fun.  Car is due its MOT in January.  Recently I was tempted to replace it but my trusty mechanic assures me it will pass the MOT with flying colours so I decided  not to bother.  

Exciting tImes ahead.......

louby40

When talking about saving and cash back sites. Anyone use Jam Dougnut? I'm sure I've mentioned it before.

We have a TUI holiday balance to pay at the end of January. My plan is to wait until Jam Doughnut boost their TUI gift cards ( currently 3% but may boost to 4%) and buy a TUI gift card for the amount we owe (I think it's just under £2k) and then pay off the holiday balance using the gift card, which means we will get about £75 free cash. 

Literally takes minutes to do. 

LL_USS

Nice to hear from you, welcome back @helensbiggestfan. Great to see you get your Christmas set. 

I've asked the kids' paternal grandma (the only one they've got still living in England) to stay with us for Christmas but she is not well and does not want to travel. So a lazy Christmas for us it is :-).

Thanks @Organgrinder again for a summary of stoozing. I am normally just curious to try to work out number crunching, how these money tips work whilst I don't tend to apply many of them - but I've picked up (slow) stoozing (not too slow as I set up the cards when I right away got very big spendings). Have used up almost the total limit of these purchase cards (keeping all credit used under 65% of total allowance across all normal credit  cards +purchase cards) whilst having the balance fixed mostly in 5% saving accounts till the promotion period ends - and will get new ones in the new year.

Hope everyone get ready to enjoy the festive season :-) 

Dizee123

What an extremely good idea to gift fire extinguishers and blankets @helensbiggestfan.  I wish I had thought of that one.  Very practical and you only realise you need them and wish you had them when it is too late!  My mother set the kitchen curtains on fire once with a chip pan and I have been terrified of using any kind of deep fat fryer ever since.

They are going on the list of thinks to buy my children (and myself) right away

helensbiggestfan

Dizee Glad I gave you some inspiration....lol. I decided after reading about a local family who had had a kitchen fire.  Fortunately no one hurt but it did remind me of the necessity of "better safe than sorry". I got one for myself too whilst I was at it.  

My kitchen fire was years ago, caused by me trying to be clever and do something "cheffy" with pork medallions in a red wine sauce.  😱😂. I had more or less forgotten about it till I heard  about that local family.

I know it probably sounds a rather boring "gift" but when you think it could potentially save lives, lives of people you love, then I guess it is justified. I think it's probably  one of those things that only really occurs to us when we have experienced a fire, a bit like installing an alarm system and a safe after we've been burgled. 

They will probably tease me for "worrying too much", but I don't mind.  And of course I bought them some fripperies and fun stuff, as well.