Spendy Wendy to Saver Savvy

Spendywendywoo

Thanks @1stTimer, this is handy to know. 

Thanks @Suffolk_lass, my MIL retired at the start if this year and she is saying the same - she doesn't know how she ever ha time to work lol

Spendywendywoo

So two wins this morning... following on from @Sun_Addict's message, I did a bit of digging and I too can get discounted gift cards through work benefits so I'm going to look at this for the next month - thinking of trailing £150 each for 2 different stores that I shop at to give variety and shop the best deals across them both... 

Second win... I went to S@insburys this morning and did a food shop that came to £53.09... I saved £9.25 from having a Nectar card - I do concentrate on buying the products on offer where I could for things I needed i.e. a big pack of sausages was cheaper than a smaller pack, I will just put the remaining sausages in the freezer for future use. Then..... I noticed there were some vouchers left in the machine and one was £4.50 off a £30 shop. Now, I wouldn't normally be so dishonest and use other people's vouchers but they had clearly been left and I have stopped receiving the physical vouchers for some reason so I used it! There will certainly be grocery budget left on payday (Monday) so more money towards the car payment

Spendywendywoo

Well, they say things come in 3's... third win of the day, pet insurance. I had budgeted for this at the start of the year and usually pay monthly but paying annually from now on. My renewal quote was almost £100 over budget (£120 more than last year) but I have managed to get it for £141.24 cheaper than the quote, which is £61.28 less than budgeted plus clubcard points have been accrued too!

That's £61.28 more in the car balloon payment fund

jwil

Great result on the pet insurance!  Well done on the other savings too

Spendywendywoo

Morning! I hope everyone is well? 

Busy busy this weekend, very productive as we are currently balancing a lot of life stresses, home improvements and general day to day routine with being back at school, after school clubs etc. 

Finances are looking very good; payday today so managed a large lump sum into the car balloon payment fund - reaching the 80% mark, just 20% of the payment to save now...two pay days to go plus we'll have the usual car payment available in the final pay as the final monthly car payment is next month so it should be achievable, however I won't be happy until it's been reached as we have the MOT and service due on said car next month (all budgeted plus a buffer maintenance EF of £300 which should cover any major issues (though hoping there won't be any given it's near new and well looked after). 

Budget complete for the month for spends too, looking tight but it will be worth it.  I've completed an inventory of the foods we have in the cupboard, fridge and freezers and I've managed to meal plan all breakfasts and dinners from stocks, just need lunch supplies for me and DH (DS has a packed lunch and I've organised and prepped that already) so just need to purchase some sandwich fillers and snacks, plus some fruit but total should be far less than we usual spend as I'll shop at L1dl (but avoid the bakery section). I'm also going to make some homemade rolls for lunch today using greek yoghurt and flour

I know I say it quite often but I really don't know how it took so long to have my LBM and really start to take control of our spending, it really is life changing. 

Anyway, almost time to start work so will catch up with diaries shortly on my break. 

I hope everyone has a great day, 
Wendy x

FootyFanDan

Amazing progress made towards that balloon payment, hopefully once that is out of the way that might ease up some of the tightness in the budget and give a little more margin for error.

Inventory of food is a great idea, I need to do that with ours, I am very aware we just seem to buy the same stuff and then realise that we already have it. We really need to plan better in our household around this.

Spendywendywoo

Thanks @FootyFanDan .  The inventory has been an eye opener for us this week, I've just done my shopping list and the cost will be a 1/5 of what it normally is - milk, fruit, sandwich meat, frozen garden peas, garam masala (we ran out last week and one of the meals is a chickpea and lentil curry), chia seeds and flax seeds. Usually it's £80-90 a week plus a top up. If you need motivation to do the inventory, this is the sign lol. 

Spendywendywoo

So... bit of an update with regards to the balloon payment, whilst I've made really great progress this year and I'm super proud, it is also causing anxiety - crazy I know as I'm in control and I'm so close to saving the full amount.

However, due to the anxiety (built up of this and other life issues which are ongoing atm), I'm debating whether to use the money that I have saved for future annual bills (some due end of Dec and end of Jan plus Christmas) and add £1,000 to the current balance. I will then use the money I save each month plus any other monies I can save during the month, that I was going to put towards the balloon payment, to pay for future bills. I also have extra in our EF atm so not sure if to add that too. I guess I'm using the snowball method that is used for multiple debts.... 

Lots to think about, whilst trying not to think about it   

rachmac3

Sometimes it's just good to weigh up your options and think about it all. Part of taking back control is having these options available. You're doing fab!

Spendywendywoo

Thanks @rachmac3, guess I'm thinking out loud on here as I don't want to mess up after doing so well - I worry that I won't be able to save the money again for the future bills and Christmas but I guess paying off the debt is priority for now.