Turning Straw into Gold: Creating Long Term Security & A Solid Home

doingitanyway

Thanks @Blackcats for the household savings account. You have inspired me to get my current buffer fund up to £750 so I don't have to turn to my EF for things that are not really emergencies in that they could be foreseen

@MillQueen you are doing really well with your food budget

Blackcats

enjoy your budget friendly lunches and your bonus popcorn. I got 2 bags of cooking apples instead of the 1 bag I ordered with my delivery this week. I'm also disproportionately excited about making crumble and stewed apples for topping my porridge.

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81876159#Comment_81876159

I like the term “buffer fund”. I think I might double this up with my “tax fund”. As I have a small self-employed income, I set aside the tax each month in a savings account so that it earns interest and is there at the end of the tax year when I need to pay my dues. (This feels better than trying to find the tax money when I need it, and stops me feeling stressed about it). I have about £750 in there, so whilst I’m not quite on track to expand beyond my emergency fund yet, I’ll double those up.

I’m glad I started this, it really does help to stay motivated. I am finding myself genuinely excited to share my financial details with friendly strangers on the internet and hear yours in return. Thank you, friendly strangers.

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81876220#Comment_81876220

Oh wow, 2 bags of apples! That really is good isn’t it! That crumble and porridge is going to be so much more satisfying given that some of the apples were free 😀.

MillQueen

Had quite a nice day, despite the vet's bill being £350. My cat hasn't worsened too much and the vet was really good with her, so it wasn't too traumatic. I was expecting worse. Then I met with someone at work about a training opportunity that I was meant to be paying for and it turns out I might not need to pay for it all, which is a relief as it would have been a struggle. I'm holding savings in reserve in case I still need to, but it's looking likely I can get some of it paid for. She was lovely and I felt really valued at work, so that was nice. There is an opportunity coming up soon that I can apply for and that might make things easier too if I can get that, as I have some further big house repairs needed. Another nice thing is that a friend is selling his car and I am hopefully buying that now. It's low mileage, so fingers crossed that will work out, as it will be a good one to last a few years without me having to expensively repair my old one. I have a couple hours of freelance work to do tonight, so that will bring in a bit of money as well. It's been one of those days where lots of things have come together well and there may be good things on the horizon rather than struggling through.

jwil

Lots of positives there!

MillQueen

I haven't spent anything apart from the vets bill this week and I am going to try to keep it that way. I may buy a few bits of food, but I think I can probably just use what's here until the end of the week to be honest. I'm going to largely stay indoors for a couple of days and focus on work, rest and cleaning, maybe have a walk.

MillQueen

I am getting a Too Good To Go from Aldi tonight, really excited about this, as I’ve been finding them great. I’ve eaten so well for so little. It’s been an expensive month with the vet, and some ongoing dental treatment, and needing to buy a car from savings (which I haven’t yet). Might have to put other goals on hold for this month, while I survive it, and possibly next month too, as I need a cheap sofa and I’ve received the water bill to pay. I have found a lovely sofa for a really decent price, but not sure whether I should dip into savings or not yet. I already got a small one from the charity shop but I regretted the decision as there’s an odd smell I can’t get rid of.

doingitanyway

You are not alone. I have bought things second hand that I have given away as the smell bothered me. Now I have no shame. I sniff the items I am thinking of purchasing.

Tell us more about your TGTG purchases from Aldee

If you've found a decent sofa for a good price get it. I've lost out whilst I mull the decision over…Good luck

MillQueen

@doingitanyway, I shall adopt the sniff test. It was too good to be true, as it was an M&S two seater for £125 that looked like new, but it has the strangest smell that fills the room around it. I just can't enjoy sitting on it and I'm keeping the door to the lounge permanently closed as the smell is creeping around the house. I've tried spraying it and I even bought activated charcoal pouches to put inside and it still stinks. I think that's one item I've decided never again to buy second hand, as everything else I have had has been worthwhile.

The cheap new one I have seen is a 4 seater (which is what's needed, because it's a wide room), and it's a third of the price it originally was, now £600. I am going to look at it tomorrow and I may buy it, as I haven't seen one as good for that price. The only downside is that it's a pale colour and I've been trying to buy things that will last forever, as I am planning on having a couple of lodgers in the near future, so may be better with a dark colour. I guess I could use throws if it gets past its best. I think it would look nice in the room though.

The TGTG, which I have just collected, contained a lot of fruit and veg, which I am always happy with, as it's like a fun challenge of what to make with it all (thankfully no bread this time, as I have a freezer full of it from other times). This one has several sandwiches, a chicken noodle microwave meal, tons of bags of various salad leaves, spring greens, cavalo nero, two packs of mushrooms, a big bag of bean sprouts, a pot of egg mayonnaise sandwich filler, loose bananas, a punnet of plums, bag of potatoes, some carrots and parsnips.

I think I will be eating lots of sandwiches; having salad with absolutely everything; carrot and parsnip soup with cavalo nero; roast potatoes with spring greens and vegetarian sausages from the freezer with gravy; pasta bake with mushrooms and a jar of tomato sauce from the cupboard. I have had quite a lot of parsnips the last few times too, so I have chopped some up into bags and put them in the freezer for future soups. The freezer is still well stocked with frozen veg that I am working through and all I have been buying as extra is milk, eggs, sometimes cheese, and whatever cleaning products or cat products I need each week. It's been very satisfying, as it's actually the only bit of my finances I have any control over as everything else is bills.