A year of saving but maybe also spending a bit too!

Time2count

I've gone and done it. I've been toying with transferring my ISA for a couple of months. I've just done it. I'm feeling conflicted. I'm going from 5.25% to 4.14% which feels very counter intuitive I know. But my current ISA rate is for a year and the new one is a 5 year fix. My gut says all the rates will be dropping over the next 6-12 months, I very much doubt I'll be able to get 4.14% in 8 months time (when my ISA ends) and definitely not in 1-2 years time so I'm hoping I've made the right decision.

Time2count

Well not to be muddled this time, I cancelled my standing orders to savings earlier in the month. I've added up what is due to come out tomorrow and sent the rest of the money to my savings.
All I left in my bills account is the amount that is due to come out tomorrow (plus the £200 buffer I always keep in there). Let's hope it works properly for me this month!

Skint_yet_Again

Hope it all works out for you this month 🤞 Difficult to know what to do for the best with interest rates. I think you just have to take the plunge as you have done and hope for the best. Just don’t keep looking at what rates are doing! 

Time2count

Well it worked 😃 can't explain why or how as my standing orders were all round figures but I'll stick to manually moving my money in future.
I think the interest rates are as much of a gamble as the energy fixes at the mo SYA - we can only hope for the best. Although my current ISA blocked the transfer so it's still gaining the higher rate until I can find out why.

Time2count

So a week into August and I have a couple of weeks off work now. For the first year ever myself and son won't be going away as he's too busy to fit me in! We'll hopefully manage a few nights away somewhere later in the year!
Have been productive so far and have been deep cleaning a room a day, plus stocking up the freezer with homemade dinners and desserts ready for when life gets busy again in September.
Money-wise, all is going well. My different pots are pottering along as they should. The expensive time comes next month when I have to buy my next annual travel card but the money is all sitting waiting for it so no worries there. With my son out all day/ away a lot this month it looks like my shopping bill will be reduced so I'm going to treat myself to a haircut (must've been 4/5 years since I went to the hairdressers).

Skint_yet_Again

Hope you are enjoying your time off work. I too found it difficult when DS got older and spent most of his time at work or out with friends/ girlfriend. It’s what we want for them but it doesn’t make it any easier when they do leave us behind. 

How did you get on with the hair cut?

Time2count

My haircut was v expensive SYA but I really like it. In hindsight I wish I'd gone slightly shorter as it's already growing but I am now planning to start a haircut pot and start going every 3 months or so. I think I can probably get away with only colouring it every 2nd visit which should bring the price down a bit!
I've just had a few days away with a friend, they'd already booked a cottage and asked me along for a few days as I was at a loose end. Wouldn't accept any money so I paid for a couple of dinners and will send them some flowers in the week. Had a lovely relaxing break and even a day trip to the beach for a Mr Whippy! Summer is now complete!

Time2count

Had a little money wobble this month, I was looking at balances across various accounts and realised that some of the money isn't savings as such but where I'd put money until I needed it mainly due to the higher interest rates. That coupled with me having started a couple of monthly savers meant that my main savings hasn't grown as much as I thought by looking purely at the balance.
Half an hour with pen, notebook and calculator and I have figured out the 'real' figures and where I should be in a year's time and I feel easier in myself now.
I am going to try not paying too much attention to it all. I have my budget set, I have my emergency fund and I know everything else goes to savings, so I am just going to do my monthly shuffling at the start of each month, leave everything as it is and try not to think about it. I'm planning to just sit down every 6 months and update my notebook with the balances/ interest etc and not focus too much on the actual numbers.
I have definitely got caught up with the desire to save save save but I need to take a step back and stop focusing on it so much. 

In other news, it's been a spendy week with a few trips out with my son. However we've not been away together this year so nice to have a few days out. Back to work next week for me, my holiday comes to an end. I have my usual back to work anxiety but I know once I get back it'll be fine (have the same feelings most Sundays). Before I know it it'll be Christmas, it's already noticeably cooler and darker. The summer has ended, but Autumn's my favourite time of the year so looking forward to that.

Time2count

Hmmm had a surprising text from my bank this morning 'there's not enough in your account to pay your standing orders, please pay in by 2.30pm' I was at work and couldn't check it til I was home after 2.30. But I couldn't work it out. This morning I checked my account and all payments had been made, the expected amount was left over and what was in my account would've covered the 2 standing orders to my savings, not the rent payment though. If the rent payment had not gone out I'd have had almost £1000 more in my account than I had.
Checked my account as soon as I got home and the standing orders and the direct debits had all gone out overnight as I thought. 
So no idea what that was about but it did play on my mind on and off during the day. Thankfully all was ok in the end though.

Haha just reading my previous post saying the weather had turned, then yesterday it was nearly 30 degrees again! Cooler again today but very humid.

Time2count

Wow didn't it get chilly this week? I didn't actually go as far as wearing my winter coat but the gloves and hat were used. Seems far too early for that! Also too early for heating but as my thermostat read 14 and I was cold I put it on!