Target December 2026

thepurplepixie

Signed up for a credit card through topcashback, already tracked so that is £35 I should be getting in a couple of months.  Every little helps.

I've spent most of the morning cutting the grass (was considering paying someone to do it but I've decided to do it myself and save the money) and doing some batch cooking so I have a meal for tonight and six meals in the freezer for days when I feel too lazy to cook.  Cheaper than a takeaway!

Spendless

Agree that the forgotten tax bill must be frustrating but at least you remembered it. I make your initial goal from May 1st 2025 to Dec 1st 2026 20 months or like you say £850 per month. If Ive calculated correctly adding in the tax bill means saving £890 a month instead, £40 more or approx £10 a week. Is this new figure doable by you finding an extra tenner every week on top?

Are the xtra committments you' re making  for this year/next year to family one offs rather than ongoing? 

Whilst yes having a budget per head is sensible. It is the gift itself rather than the price of it that makes it a success. The 2 presents that have gone down the best in recent years other MSE posters sugested them
 One was garden lights because my Dad cooks chips in the air fryer in his garage. 🤦‍♀️ and after 2 cataract ops I was convinced he was going to do himself a mischief wandering up the garden path with chips during winter. The other my 99 yo Nan wanted a jumper in a style and colour my parents couldnt find it 2 cities. A poster suggested  trying Edinburgh Woolen Mills, the nearest is in another town and sure enough they had exactly what Nan wanted. Neither present ecpensive, both delighted with their items. 

thepurplepixie

 Thanks for the tips Spendless, I've been out to buy a birthday present for a GC this morning and it came in £16 under budget so that is a positive.  Second positive is one of my commitments (which was just in my head) was £1,000 to help a relative, spoke to them last night and offered £500 and they were pleased so that helps with the tax bill.  Two more birthdays next month, one child one grandchild so I will have to see how that goes.

Presents might also be helped if DH contributes.  He is disabled and getting a bit confused as his 80th birthday approaches so sometimes he will contribute to presents and sometimes not or sometimes an amount that is small, e.g. at Christmas he gave me  £100 towards everything, that's food/cards/presents so you can imagine with the kids and partners and GC coming to 16 and lots of visitors to feed on top of the presents the £100 doesn't go far.  So I won't count on anything and then anything will be a pleasant surprise.  His income is higher than mine and he pays more towards bills so I'm not going to stress about it.

 Now for the going backwards bit, I got my payslip for my pension from my old job, excited to look at the increase and my take home figure has gone down.  I knew it wasn't going to be much, not a big increase and my state pension using up most of my tax allowance but I didn't think it would be a negative.  Hopefully my state pension increase will make me a bit happier.

I need to get all my paperwork sorted and get an exact figure for the tax bill.

thepurplepixie

Sorted out my figures and my aim has changed to £17,100 so not a big difference.  I think that works out at £855 a although having 2 months with a double payment of my state pension will actually make a big difference, actually makes it more like £750 a month which is quite significant and much more doable.  

Getting ready for May and getting this started.

thepurplepixie

All systems go for tomorrow.  Things to help

Going to sort out money in cash back and survey accounts and get them paid out.
Spend Nectar points and put the money saved into the pot.
This should give me about £150 to start off my savings.

Good news is I was accepted for a credit card which I will use for shopping which I think will make it easier to see what I'm spending than it is in my bank account whee it is all mixed up with money paid in and direct debits  I hope so anyway.  It also means I get £35 cashback at some point.

I get my big shop delivered by Sainsbury's on Thursday's so a big spend on the first day but we have to eat!  

I signed up to NSDs in April and I've found that really helped my spending on unneeded stuff so doing it again in May.

All systems go.

thepurplepixie

Transferred some money from cashback and survey sites to start the month off.  Had my Sainsbury's shop delivered and it came in under budget so I have £120 to start me off.  SRP due in ten days and all direct debits covered so will boost things then.  Not doing well with looking for birthday/Christmas presents to put away so hope I can make progress with that.

OhLookAnotherNewStart

Well done on getting started! 
Following along as I'm starting around the same time so nice to see someone getting used to things at the same time. 

thepurplepixie

Hi OhLook nice to meet you.  I'm finding writing stuff down here is a good incentive.  I'm also doing the NSD challenge.  Tried it in April and found it really helped me think about what I was spending and being more organised.  Not needing to pop to the shops as I'd run out of milk of bread actually saved me a lot as I never end up with just the milk or bread.  Good luck with your journey.

thepurplepixie

Well it is a one step forward two steps back sort of day.  Invited to a family thing which is nice but will cost me about £100 so need to try and put some extra away for that.  Popped into Sainsbury's for some bread and milk and spent over £25, the good news is I spent more because a couple of things I buy regularly were on a nectar price offer so I bought a few and saved £8 which means my shopping should be a bit cheaper for the next week or two.  Onwards and upwards.

OhLookAnotherNewStart

I swear you can't get out of a supermarket now-a-days without spending at least £20!