Should itsthelittlethings spend less on coffee?

itsthelittlethings

Spent £14 on presents for my niece and nephew yesterday.

I’m going to have a second coffee at home today and not get one out, saving nearly £4. I am cooking smoked fish pie for family next week and the ingredients are quite expensive so trying to save some money for that as my food pot is looking a bit empty.

Going to vacuum, clean the bathroom and then just knit this weekend. I do need to go out to pick up a rucksack which I have had mended. Hopefully I won’t be tempted to spend any money.

[Deleted User]

Having read your diary I am unsure about what you are aiming to achieve. I am assume one target is to get read off the credit card debt, which is very doable. Then what? You have lots of passing ideas but nothing seems concrete. I know we are all different in our approaches to life but just curious to know what the plan is I suppose.

itsthelittlethings

I want start living within my means, pay all my debt (even though it is a small amount) off and feel more in control over money. I would like to save up a decent emergency fund. 

Then start to overpay my pension. If I can get a job paying more by then I would also like to look at taking on a small mortgage and moving to a larger flat. If this is not feasible I’d like to save up and get a new kitchen, bathroom and carpets where I am plus some new furniture/ white goods.

[Deleted User]

Thank you for your response. 

itsthelittlethings

Up early as I had a long nap yesterday afternoon. I need to vacuum, wash up and pack then off to my sister’s on the train. I have £60 left in spending until Friday l. I will probably get a coffee for the train today and perhaps lunch out tomorrow. I think we are going to a museum. I’d like to get something in the gift shop but we shall see.

I've been looking forward to this little break for a while. I don’t see this sister much as she lives quite a way away from me.

itsthelittlethings

Back from my sisters. I had a lovely few days away and it was nice to have this afternoon free although I just did a few chores, I took it easy.

I’m making fish pie for dinner when my sister, niece and niece’s boyfriend come round for dinner tomorrow. The ingredients plus lunch and breakfast shop was £60! Plus I’ve got a £70 supermarket deliver coming tomorrow for dinners although that will probably last to payday with some freezer food and veg as well. I’ve definitely bust the food budget this month.

I had to buy a swimsuit while I was away as we had planned to go to an open water swimming lake and I forgot to take my cossie. Luckily I found a nice one in M and S for £15 - could have been worse. My sister kindly paid for my membership and swim which was £13.

One thing I really notice with us spending the day together is that I do tend to grab drinks on the go and she doesn’t. I bought milkshakes at lunchtime at a farm that sells milk and coffees at the swimming lake. I also thought about all the calories that are in the milky drinks I drink. It all adds up.

Back to work tomorrow for two days. I’m quite looking forward to it as I have some fairly interesting work on the go and I’m well rested. Just making the fish pie ready to put it in the fridge overnight then I can put it in the oven tomorrow. We also have a Tescos apple pie and custard for dessert.

itsthelittlethings

Just relaxing before work. I’ve done some knitting and watched the final of Race Across the World. I’ve done my finances for the rest of the month as well as recorded all my spending from when I was away. Will get a coffee on the way to work today (£3.80) and need to buy some hayfever medication at lunch.

itsthelittlethings

Have finished my Friday chores and watching Would I lie to you? Am hopefully going to London tomorrow to see the UK AIDS quilt at the Tate Modern and then meet my friend for an event at an art gallery in the afternoon. The train ticket is only £20 and I’ll take a packed lunch. We’ll see how I feel when I wake up.

It's too warm to knit, just waiting for the promised thunderstorms and early to bed.

itsthelittlethings

I am out of contract on my sim only deal which is £18 a month. I can see that I can get one for about £8 on a month by month contract so I think I will do that. I’d kind of like a new phone as my battery is not amazing but I will try to make this one last a bit longer as there is nothing else wrong with it. Maybe I’ll get a new phone for my birthday next year. Being money saving is addictive!

Organgrinder

Yes

There are some amazing deals out there current. Look on the MSE newsletter. 

With cashback I'm currently paying £5/month for 45gb of data (more than enough for me) and unlimited on ID mobile.  Crucially for me it includes roaming too. 

I think the top MSE tip is to buy through a reseller eg mobiles.co.uk or similar.