Tilly Tidy in 2025

2Scratters

How is every one doing?
February seems to be being kind. I have been able to move money around and more for Tilly Tidy. 

Off to a good start for the year
2 Scratters xx

2Scratters

Well yesterday a friend called round who is trying to get her finances in order. 
She has spent all her adult life wasting and loosing her money. When retirement is knocking on the door and not a lot in place it has finally awoken her. It's never too late. The hint of the coffee is all we need. As she uses internet/mobile banking I encouraged her to set her bank account where her spending goes from to activate the round-up offered by the bank. 1 less thing to think about and bits still happen. I also encouraged her to round down when she logs on and move the small change to a pot she is working on filling. We have had this conversation previously clearly without any success, this time she got it. 
With some tough love from friends some headway is happening. Fingers crossed for a better future for her. 


Have a good week 

2 Scratters xx

YorksLass

After much pondering, I've now cancelled my annual SM delivery pass so the £40 I had ring fenced for the auto renewal will be transferred to savings at the end of the month.  I'll be doing a monthly online order from now on and will build the £1 saver slot delivery cost into the shopping total.

I have £11 worth of loose change bagged up ready to be paid in to my current account (via the Post Office), a bit more to eventually sweep into savings.

The Friday penny round-up of my current account balance for this month stands at £1.64 so far.

My grocery budget for Low Spend February is lasting well and, as there's only a few days of the month left with no more shopping needed, I'll have some cash left over that I'll use towards March's spends.

In preparation for the start of the new financial year I've set up a budget spreadsheet and will populate that with new figures once the bills start to roll in.  As always, I'll be looking at where I can cut back (things like clothing, crafting etc) - there won't be a lot of slack to play with so any small savings can only help.  The one thing I'll not be sacrificing is a trip to the hairdresser every other month - a girl's gotta have a treat now and again!  

@2Scratters - It takes a long time for that light bulb moment to kick in for some people and I hope your friend continues to make progress with your support.

Onwards and upwards ...

2Scratters

@YorksLass Re the hairdresser I cheat in this area as I have short hair I now use the village barber shop a fraction of the price and still don't go monthly. They also have a loyalty card and prefer cash with a better rate as the card users have to pay a bit more for the convenience. 

2 Scratters xx

YorksLass

@2Scratters - I used to have short hair, pre-lockdown, but needed to go every 6 weeks to keep it in shape - it grows very quickly!  Now it's a jaw length bob and much easier to look after so I can stretch it out to 8 weeks between cuts.  If push came to shove, I could probably make it a 10 week gap but it's my treat to me, so 8 weeks it is while I can still afford it.     

February Tilly Tidy came to £108.  Most of that was cash that I had left over from January's grocery budget and rolled over into February but there were a few other savings too.  Friday 1p round up of current account balance £2.27; a £2 coin; Co-op membership/MOCs £4.23; loose change £11.

I've started March off with £15 left over from February's budget but have cut back drastically on what I allow for groceries so I'm not expecting such good savings this month but that's fine, there's still savings being made.

2Scratters

@Divingmad hope is all OK where you are. 

I moved another £25 to better savings account from my Tilly tidy where I round down.  Am now thinking of checking with the bills account NatWest to work on that. It is literally used only for the bills and no spends. It's a pity they don't do round ups on DDs. I may have a go at doing it manually and then round down also to gleen a little bit more. 

2 Scratters xx

2Scratters

Morning Peeps,
It is sunny just now and is a lovely spring morning outside. Just checked into my Nat West account where just the bills are paid from. There is no spending done from here. I have fortunately got a years emergency fund for the bills sat in there. This did take 5 years to get to this point. Looking at it I should review this as the money is not working i.e not gaining any interest. That will be a task for a rainy day but now I have thought about it, it will be diarised to be worked out. Any how back to today... I have decided there is enough slack to round up manually the DD's and I will take it to the nearest £5. Remember we don't spend from this account. The savings account is 6.5% fixed for 1 year maximum deposit per month is £150 not a lot in the grand scheme of things but not to be sniffed at. I will add to the account the short fall to maximise it each month. 

In another bank account (online only this one) I have a couple of pots that need building back up again. This bank pays interest monthly so I have Tilly Tidied the small bits from the other accounts that are at an appropriate level and moved the interest payments again T Tidying down into those pots. For those who are scared of the "messing about with bits" thinking why all that work? when the balance starts to rise it all comes together and makes sense. We are all different, with different needs and planning styles. I can't get my head round a spread sheet for example yet others thrive with them. There is no wrong way or right way it's just what is right for you, which ever method you find that works is the key to success.
Today I rounded up 2.36 from a DD. 

Have a good week all

2 Scratters xx

YorksLass

The interest rate on my easy savings account will be going down (yet again) at the beginning of April.  Even with the included bonus rate, it isn't that great now.  I was intending to look around for something better last time it dropped but silly me didn't get around to it.  This time I've set aside time in my diary to make sure I do.  All regular monthly bills are paid by DD from my current account, this is cash that's earmarked for other bills that come around once or maybe twice a year. 

My ISA (rainy day/emergency fund) and credit card (used once a month for the big grocery shop/other occasional big ticket items and always paid in full) will be moving from Sainsbury's Bank sometime this year to Natwest so I'll need to keep an eye on those too - the T&Cs might not be quite as favourable.

The balance on my fixed rate savings account is growing nicely - 6% for one year, £250 pm.  I did think it was quite a lot to commit to every month but then I realised the money was just sitting in my current account earning zilch and it wasn't earmarked for anything either so I might as well put it somewhere else and make it work for me.  I haven't missed it and, if the worst came to the worst, I can always shift it back again.

As per @2Scratters, when I first started using the Tilly Tidy system for the odds and ends, there were times when I wondered why I was bothering as the amounts seemed so small but, once the balance started growing, I could see the point of it, plus it's a flexible way of saving.  It also had the knock on effect of making me look at any and all other ways of saving.

The outlook for the fast-approaching financial year doesn't look great but I'm thankful I have a savings cushion to fall back on, should it be needed, and I'll still be saving where and whenever I can.

Onwards and upwards ......

2Scratters

Morning Peeps,

just popping in as I feel I am neglecting my focus. Rounded up 2 x DD and moved 4.47 into the small savings account in the bank. This is clearly a habit I have maintained from building up from nothing.
I need to check in with my friend who is supposed to be starting this method to get her going. When I have asked during the month she hasn't declared anything and was evasive about it. My other friend who helps her mentioned she had spent it and  not on what it is to be saved for either. Her mindset has not shifted yet from having some money it needs to be spent. 

Have a good week all

2 Scratters xx

2Scratters

Morning Peeps,

last post for the month. I have been a little successful at rounding up from the bills account into a decent ish 6.5% savings account linked to the account. It worked out fine as I managed to squirrel £132.36. I did round it up as there was no council tax demand payment needed this month. The limit is £250 pcm. Moved another £25 from my Tilly tidy account to a building society account. 
Here's to warmer weather and lighter nights and less electricity being used. We can do more indoors without using electric taking advantage of these wonderful daylight hours. Onwards and upwards Peeps.


Have a good month - one day at a time

2 Scratters xx