Sealed Pot Challenge ~ 20

Sue-UU

                                    PLEASE READ THROUGH THE RULES AND
THE CHANGES FROM NOW ON! A very warm welcome to another Sealed Pot Challenge,
our 20th!  

Due to the Cost Of Living, I suggest we all save in the best way possible for each of us: if some are still able to stick to cash, then please do so. Those wishing to use debit cards, or save via the bank itself, please do so, though not by extortionate amounts as that's not the way we save. Personally, due to many shops still not wishing to deal with cash, I manage to transfer from our bank account to what I refer to as our SPC account and it works well.

For all newcomers...Old Timers too - it's so very important to please read through this entire post to see what SPC is all about, including the declaration date as well as our re-opening date etc. For ALL SPC members, please chat away regularly about your conquests, money-saving ideas etc on this thread, it gives encouragement to all, including ourselves as it keeps us motivated to save stronger and gives even more ideas of how to save.

For all newcomers - a really huge welcome! We're a great bunch who just adore greeting more members to the flock.Please read through this entire post and you'll be aware of why SPC is so special. Pop on the thread and tell us you'd like to join, then start saving straight away and become part of our saving family. You will very soon be welcomed aboard, but don't worry if you have to wait a day or so.

The idea is to save as much as possible throughout the year until the end of October, when we open our pots on Thursday the 28th October 2027. We save it in pots that we've pre-sealed to stop us being tempted to open them! Any spare cash can be put away, every day/week/month, whatever is best for you. If you have change left over after you've been shopping - pop it in the pot, after all why not. However small the change...the likelihood is that won't be missed, and might otherwise be wasted! Most of us pot the difference that we've saved on special offers etc, it's all saved at the shop so it makes sense to save it in the pot to mount up!

Below are the basics for making your pot and sealing it.

Firstly: Get yourself a pot, and remember - it doesn't need to cost much - if anything! Please avoid plastic, thank you. A empty sweet tin, coffee jar etc..are extremely MSE!! *Next - seal it with sellotape and be sure to make a slit in the lid, enough for a 50p to go in, that way all coins will fit. If you wish, you can always take advantage of finding a cheap pot in
Christmas sales.

Termundi pots are available in many shops and online, they're very attractive and another ready sealed way to save, and though manufacturers and retailers would have you believe
differently, you DO NOT NEED to smash them to remove your cash!! I've used mine for 17 years...and at the end of each year's challenge, hubby and I used to have a whale of a time, doing things the 'old' way by tilting the pot and using a knife! A few years ago DH bought a 12" steel ruler in from the shed which is thin and broad and perfect for the job. So be assured that, so long as you go carefully, you CAN use them again and again.
Regarding the Sealed Cans many of you use, apparently the best way to open the sealed tins is, rather than using a tin opener, squeeze the side of the tin, where the seam meets and you can pop the seal and tip the money out that way, better still, turn them upside down and get the cash out as advised above with Terramundi.

The term roadkill = any money found on pavements, parks etc; even in car parks or on shop floors etc, however, if you see it dropped by another shopper - PLEASE give it to her/him!!

NB. A few notes of interest.

1/ Money from a part-time job or anything similar is ok to be saved. Any money saved via Christmas Clubs can also be used in your SPC Totals or included when declaring, it's another way of saving for Christmas after all.
Money received from cashback sites such as Topcashback etc can be included in your pots. Likewise, any money made from sales on E-Bay, Facebook, Surveys or similar can be saved.

Also, it is possible to include all other savings from MSE Challenges with your SPC Totals i.e. the £2 Challenge as, PAD apparently they aren't put down on the challenge threads themselves. Also, the 1p challenge can be declared. If you're unsure, please ask on the thread, and remember - there's no so thing as a stupid question!

Second incomes can come in many varied and lucrative guises and anything such as that would be unfair to other members. However, doing a little job for Mrs Bloggs can be included. Mostly the SPC is a challenge to see how much we can save during the year...mostly it's relatively small amounts which are saved from wages, housekeeping, good budgeting etc. Remunerations via the letting of second homes cannot be included in the SPC!

2/ Whenever you're in a dilemma of "ooh should buy that?" If you don't need it, but just want it - leave it there and pot the cash instead, you'll be far more satisfied with the accomplishment, pleased with your self-discipline too! All too often, if I go back a second time I find I didn't even like whatever it was anyway!
3/ If you wish, you can ask me to put a Target on for you to try to meet (it's put in black ink with brackets alongside your name and number on the 2nd post below) but not necessary. If you do set one, but are unable to meet it, don't worry, at least you tried! A few people keep
account of all they save, but most of us count what we save daily or weekly, then put it on the thread to help encourage others....ourselves too; after potting it we naturally forget each amount and.... wait for the surprise at the end of the year!!!   

3 a/ If you are hoping for a particular amount by Declaration Day but still want a nice surprise come October, work out what amount you would like to save, then work out how much you will need to pot on a weekly/monthly basis in order to achieve it. Save that sum regularly as well as potting any spare change after shopping, that way you are bound to come out on top and have a surprise come October!

4/ SPC is a challenge to see how much we can save in a year for Christmas 2027. However, over the last 19 years we've had some members who have needed theirs at times throughout
the year for bills, debts etc, and personally I'd far sooner they take the cash out for that than pay more interest or...miss a due date! You can always start again, even if it's getting later in the year, plus you can still include what you needed to take out on Declaration Day, after all, you had saved it!! Whatever you need to do, don't worry about it - be happy and proud you have saved! Please don't worry about the amounts others save! We are all individuals with varying jobs/incomes, each with differing  expenditures and commitments etc so while some find saving a real struggle, for others it's obviously easy. However, it's the pleasure each of us receives from our personal potting results - whatever you manage to pot, be happy with it, and be very proud!!!!

5/ If you wish to save for something special, a holiday, wedding etc then please do so, just please remember to declare it on October 28th. The most important thing, is that you are saving ...and hopefully not tempted to take it out unnecessarily. If anyone has any other queries, then please just ask.

6/ At the end of the year (or when you've saved for what we wish) count up all your money saved and declare your Total either by waiting until the declaration date - or (if you've needed your cash for other things - by putting yourTotal on your MSE signature to remind you to include it in your full Total; that particularly applies to those using their money for holidays etc, but PLEASE remember to return to the thread on the 28th October to declare those Totals to us...before if you wish, BUT NOT AFTER THE 28th! Some members prefer not to keep too much money in the house and count theirs up every now and then to bank it, in which case they always pop the amount banked on their MSE signatures to remind them to include it when they declare.

7/ KEEP YOUR POT or POTS SAFE and out of sight of others!! If you hide it, be sure to remember where you put it!!

8/ "Holding Pots": Anyone concerned about putting money into their pot...only to possibly need it later in the week/month: Why not use an unsealed pot or purse as a "holding pot" and pop the money in there first each day/week/month - then, if it's not needed (for car parking
costs, little Johnnie's school trip etc) - put it in your Sealed pot so it stays put. Do that each week and it'll save you taking money from the bank. Discipline yourself to only take what's needed though!  

9/ "Where to take bags of cash at the end of the year?": Most banks will accept them. Remember also that most banks have counting machines, so any of you who really don't like
counting money, take them in and let the machine do the counting for you; you'll get a receipt which you then take to the counter.

PLEASE - DON'T EVER CHANGE IT IN ONE OF THE COINSTAR MACHINES AT THE ENTRANCES OF SUPERMARKETS.... THEY WILL TAKE AROUND 10% OF YOUR
MONEY!!!!!!!!!

10/ Members who do not return BY ONE WEEK after closing date will lose their numbers and be removed from the list. Many people who sign up to the challenge then don't bother returning! To be fair, I think a lot get swept up in the excitement of it all, but for one reason of another, can't or don't wish to keep it up, or forget all about it,  but that then leaves us with a list of gaps in the membership list which makes things very difficult. Any saving members won't be at all worried about this. However, if missing members remember, and return and ask for another number, you will always be be more than welcome!
On the post below is a list of members and their numbers, always put your No on your
signature please, that makes life so much easier for me and my DH when counting up all Totals. In November or thereabouts we declare the Grand Total of ALL that we members have collected, and what a terrific sight that is!

Once again, we've just had an amazing year, let's keep it up and see what we can achieve this year, in spite of Covid! Good luck everyone and save well!!

Sue

NB folks: Opening date for SPC 17 is 28th October 2027 - before if you wish... but NEVER AFTER THAT DATE ! 

Anyone wishing to join us at any time, it's NEVER too late! 

So please just ask and you will be made very welcome.

Sue-UU

Membership List
001 Sue-UU
002 jakes-mum   
003 Peony40
004 Frogletina
005 Antomac   
006 mummytummy
007 32b3in2013
008 Dizzycap   (£400) 
009 siju
010 JynErso               
011 ThriftyPrincess400

012 nanto3girls

013 BeyondDirect981
014 Tattypud0

015 lucyhope
017 LittleMissDetermined
018 Lost2
019 kr147    

020 MrsShazbat
021 VickyA    

022 RedLipstick0

23 Hettyhound
024
025 Milki
029 sams247
031 skilly

037 Madlyn 
045 RisingPhoenix1046 october82  
071 madlyn
078 rancid-a

Sue-UU

• Hi all Sealed Potters!!! A very happy Friday to you all
  
• To all those who are ill or low in anyway, do take care and get well very soon. A speedy recovery and love from us all here at SPC.
  
• A very new Sealed Pot Challenge, and a very warm welcome to you ALL!!!
  

Here's my very first £5 transferred from T's and my SPC account. Fingers crossed I'll hopefully be
saving more this year, depending on whatever happens in the Budget next WEEK.

Take very great care folks. Good luck everyone and save well!!

Sue

• NB folks: Opening date for SPC 19 is 28th October 2027 - before if you wish... but NEVER AFTER THAT DATE ! 
  
• Anyone wishing to join us at any time, it's NEVER too late!  So please just ask and you will be made very welcome.

nanto3girls

I haven't done this challenge for a couple of years. I would like to join again if i may.