Spinning a New Story

Blackcats

Well done on being nearly half way to your savings target. I think the climb to the half way point somehow seems harder than the descent to the finishing line.

Afdaff

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82044159#Comment_82044159

Thanks for the encouragement. I can see how an approaching finishing line could be really motivating. Looking forward to seeing it myself!

In terms of this month, despite doing things like a passport renewal and some extra outings due to opportunity and a birthday, I’m due to finish with about £150 surplus for the savings fund. Having the grocery money separated out by weeks rather than the full month is really helping me. I’m planning on a big declutterring and selling push in July too, all for the savings fund. I should also be able to do some extra hours for my self-employed work, though that doesn’t increase my actual monthly income by as much what with setting aside 30% for tax and NI, and UC being reduced accordingly.

Afdaff

End of month report. Despite passport renewal, unexpected repair needed for teen’s watch and an unplanned fun sales purchase, I’ve tidied a surplus £100 into household repair fund. That’s on top of the automated savings and current loan repayment that happen earlier each month. Not bad at all, but hoping to do better in July, unless related heatwaves drain all motivation!

Afdaff

Talk to me about cashback… I’ve got a couple of accounts but haven’t yet learnt how to use them productively. Most of my groceries are bought in person rather than online, so I’m not sure how that could work.

I had to book a hotel this week and remembered to go through a cashback site for that. I then made a silly error in typing my email address and didn’t realise until confirmation email didn’t arrive. This has necessitated a phone call in another language today, followed by lengthy online assistant chat, but I’ve got it sorted. If the cashback arrives later it will be a pleasant surprise!

ellenvan

You can buy gift cards for groceries to get cashback , then use in-store.

Afdaff

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82052676#Comment_82052676

Ah, that might work for me! Thanks. The amounts seem so small sometimes, but I suppose it’s the consistency of habits that mean it builds up and becomes useful.

Blackcats

I use £co for cashback. The big money is for car and home insurance, utility swops, hotels and occasionally bank account switches are on there. I get dribs and drabs from retailers and I try hard to check £co before any online purchases. We have just bought a new household appliance and I should get a few pounds cashback. It usually takes so long to be paid that it's a lovely surprise to get the notification that it's payable. I've got the thrill of £9.36 during November 😁

I use my blue light card to buy shopping vouchers for some family members if they need a bit of help with finances - a £50 voucher costs £48 so it's a small saving and a win/win for me and the recipient.

Afdaff

Thanks for the suggestions. I bought a supermarket gift card this week and used it for my shopping today. The gift card purchasing and then using it in store were straightforward, and the cashback is already being paid out. Plus it still seems to give me clubcard points for the in store purchases, so the bonuses stack onto each other. If my rough calculations are right, that should save an extra few hundred pounds a year.

ellenvan

As they say every little helps.

Just smart spending.

Afdaff

Exactly.

Does anyone else have a tendency to beat themselves up over all the ways this could have been learnt a lot sooner, and how much money would have been saved in the process? I do, and it’s not the best habit.