My 2008 Savings Diary

jo_b_2

Better do a quick update!

I'm playing free bingo at Gala bingo at the minute - along with 5000 other people so not much chance of winning there! :rolleyes: It's also mind-numbingly boring but at least it's free although....

I did get tempted to gamble on scratchcards on there with real money because I was getting so bored. Not very MSE but luckily I came out with £5 profit overall so I'm counting that!

Over the past week I've accrued £37.40 in profit from various Bingo offers. I'm turning into a little old lady huddled over my online bingo! :rolleyes: I'll also get cashback from different sites (eventually!) so the bingo was risk-free for the most part.

I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't earned/saved much else!

jo_b_2

I've bingo-ing mad today and made £1.46 that will be getting paid into my account! :rolleyes:

I've also won some more but won't count that yet as it's still sitting in Bingo funds until I've got enough to withdraw!

jo_b_2

January hasn't been the best month for me, in terms of moneysaving efforts. On the other hand, I haven't made any major purchases so that's a bonus (and obviously reduces the potential to make big savings.)

I'm doing a big Tesco (points) shop tomorrow so will report back on my coupon usage. I'm also sending off for some free greetings card from the Photobox offer once the kids are in bed tonight.

I received one last week (worth £3.99?) and it'll help with the 'Special Occasions Challenge' too!

I'm expecting cashback from Quidco and TCB over the next few days too, so I'll add those in to the pot.

The most productive thing I've done is (finally!) open a Cash ISA for this tax year. I've opened the top-paying Icesave ISA with the minimum of £1000 and hoping to 'accumulate' that amount through savings this year (plus the interest!) I've still got to get around to transferring old ISAs into the new one so that's my target for February.

Next target will be looking at a stocks ISA and deciding the best options for that in the current climate! :rolleyes:

Off to read other people's diaries for tips.....

Reformed

Well done jo_b - Will be reading this to keep myself inspired and continue as I have been so far this month - completely curbing my addiction to amazon!! Good luck with the saving!

jessicamb

well done Jo

fenrow1

Has anyone done a good list of what counts as savings etc
Do people post here have accounts for xmas - or buy presents for xmas early and count these as savings?
All my friends laugh when I say I start buying xmas presents and Birthday presents in January but must say I never have to find alot of extra cash in December and nor do I end up buy for the sake of getting a present - though i did get caught out on Farepak to the tune of £1500 thought I'd do vouchers and then go xmas shopping am sticking to buying the presents during the year now!

When you say savings - do you actually put the money somewhere or just buy something else with it!

PS well done on the board guide - not that I realy understand it as a complete newbie - but it sounds like you have done alot to get there and by the looks of it will be getting aquite a bit more to do now you've got there!!!

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35 Xmas presents needed - 8 bought
35 people to buy birthday presents for - 10 bought

have booked a cruise in 2009 planning to put £1 a day away to pay for excursions- March 08 to April 09 - on target!!

Becky_2

Hi Fenrow 1!

Well done for starting to buy your Christmas presents early. I wish I did the same, occassionally I do but not often enough.

Any spare money I have left at the end of the month I put into my savings account. If I have a "smaller" amount left i.e. £10 I keep that at home and save for a special treat, at the moment that money goes towards a hot stone massage. It's a great feeling when you can pay for a treat by cash rather than using a credit card.

Good luck with your money saving.

Becky

jo_b_2

fenrow1 wrote: »

Has anyone done a good list of what counts as savings etc

Do people post here have accounts for xmas - or buy presents for xmas early and count these as savings?

When you say savings - do you actually put the money somewhere or just buy something else with it!

Each person counts 'savings' differently. I just include any extra income that I get from cashback sites, free bingo, loopholes, selling my old stuff etc. I also count money saved by using discount codes and getting discounts etc.

With the extra income this year, I've been saving some every month into an ISA. (Icesave as recommended on here, although there are a few better rates about now.) My husband wants a new car by the Summer and has challenged me to try and save enough to buy it with my moneysaving ways! :rolleyes: (Obviously, by new we're talking new to us but a secondhand car - my moneysaving isn't quite that good!)

fenrow1 wrote: »

PS well done on the board guide - not that I realy understand it as a complete newbie - but it sounds like you have done alot to get there and by the looks of it will be getting aquite a bit more to do now you've got there!!!

Thanks. It's just a voluntary position on this site. It's mainly about pointing people in the right direction to find the information they're looking for so it's a pleasure rather than a chore!

jo_b_2

Generally a good month savings wise.

I haven't got any up to date figures but have finally taken the plunge into matched betting! :eek:

I'm expecting some cashback for signing up to Betfair and should also make a nice profit after my first round of matched betting. I'll update with amounts once it's all safely sitting in my account. (Although a big chunk needs to stay in my Betfair account to fund the next round of matched betting!)

jessicamb

jo_b wrote: »

Generally a good month savings wise.

I haven't got any up to date figures but have finally taken the plunge into matched betting! :eek:

I'm expecting some cashback for signing up to Betfair and should also make a nice profit after my first round of matched betting. I'll update with amounts once it's all safely sitting in my account. (Although a big chunk needs to stay in my Betfair account to fund the next round of matched betting!)

well done Jo - only problem with matched betting is your spreadsheet keeps telling you you are making money but you cant spend it as you need it for more offers :rotfl: