Expensive times

singlemumofgirls

Single mum with young family trying to avoid the dreaded debt. Starting a diary to hold myself accountable for my financial decisions. Hope this is the right place. Am currently out of my overdraft and hoping that posting here will help keep things that way. 

singlemumofgirls

Feels like the right time to really buckle down with regards to our spending. I am usually careful with money but the state of the economy is making me more vigilant than usual. 

Last day of summer staycation and it has been great. Have spent fifty quid today on petrol for the journey home tomorrow and the pack lunches are made. Have made use of the washer dryer here and done all the laundry, as well as charged up all our devices. 

Have had a quick look at the direct debit list and have been able to cancel three unnecessary ones. These seem like small outgoings but when I added it up, this is going to save me £500 over the next year!

Also posted a form to request a refund - money in to bank account always better than money out!

shell16

Hello and welcome!

Fantastic that you are starting this to stay accountable for your financial decisions.  Do you have debt currently?  What are your goals?

Shell x

Squirrelz92

Congrats on your new diary!
What sort of debts do you have currently? x

singlemumofgirls

Visitors! Hello! Thank you for stopping by. I have been in and out of different degrees of debt over the last decade or so. I have a credit card and store card which I use but try and clear before the end of each month. So I suppose this is more of a staying out of debt diary and my main goal is to try and reduce spending and start a little savings pot. Not easy in the current economic climate!

Travelled home today and waiting for me on my mat was news of yet another gas direct debit rise. Sigh. In better news it was a no spend day. 

Not much else to report. Hoping for a productive and money saving day tomorrow!

singlemumofgirls

Big shop done this morning and a small spend in the post office but otherwise a productive and cheap afternoon spent in the garden. 

Trying to reduce shower times and I am a terrible one for using the tumble dryer - big win today was getting the clothes dried outside! Also did some batch cooking and will try to avoid putting the main oven on for a couple of days. 

singlemumofgirls

Forgot - I washed the car at home instead of going through the £5.50 one at the petrol station. Hoping all these little changes will add up!

Honeysucklelou2

Line dried washing always has a freshness about it. Well done on the wins.

WinterWarrior

I use the dryer too much too. I tend to forget the wash is in there until it’s spitting, cold or dark 🤦🏻‍♀️ 
Do you have and goals? A target to save, an emergency fund, something you want to buy in the future with cash? Do you have a soa? You don’t have to post on here (although people are helpful with suggestions), but it’s good for you to see your earnings, outgoings and assets laid out. It will give you a clearer idea of what you could cut and what you’d be able to save. I am saving for 2 things. I’d like a decent emergency fund and I’d like to replace my car using cash when the time comes (for the first time ever I want to do that without a loan). I’m a quarter of the way there and hope to do it within 4 or 5 years, touch wood.
Wishing you extra good luck.

singlemumofgirls

Thank you for the advice fellow mse-ers! Well done on your great progress winterwarrior! Yes an emergency fund is the plan. Trying to keep spends down as much as possible so that there is some surplus after bills to allocate to this. 

There was a take away ordered when my parents were here earlier which wasn’t planned but I kept my order smaller than usual and collected instead of getting delivered. Baby steps!

singlemumofgirls

Lots of changes with my budget currently so just trying to make sensible decisions while things stabilise over the next couple of months. Will then be able to set clearer goals. 

Made use of an offer and got the kids away for a cheap day out today. Took a picnic so only a few pounds spent in the end - success. 

Did a big food shop which was expensive but am hoping to eek it out for most of the rest of the month. Will try to keep top ups to a minimum. 

Waiting on a couple of refunds but no sign as yet.