Day-to-day moneysaving.....

PandaPants_2

Im not in a great deal of debt but i want to pay off my credit card (£250) and my over draft (about £900). I would be very grateful for any day-to-day money saving advice or tips. I earn an ok wage but i never seem to have any cash! I have set up a direct debit of £40 a month for my credit card and am planning to pay what i can on top of that. And i have found out i can reduce my overdraft by whatever amount i want, when i want. So i decreased it by £100 today. I get paid weekly so i can afford to pay a little each week.

Thanks :money:

poorandindenial

The best thing I ever did was to make my own breakfast and take lunch to work. Saving over £100 per month as a result. That and keeping a spending diary, it makes me think twice about what I am spending if I know I will be confronted by it each time I check the diary (as well as showing up all the rubbish that i used to buy)

Fairly simple stuff from me Ia m afraid but these are my main debt fighting weapons.

PandaPants_2

I thought i was actually a pretty good moneysaver until i realised how skint i am! lol
I actually usually buy bread, cheese, etc and bring it to work. I work shifts so most of the time i eat at home/fiances house and occasionally buy lunch/breakfast.

chalky_75

What ever you do DO NOT go near the shops. You dont need anything until you go in through the doors. You may want but that is very different than needing, It really does work. Stock up on basics e.g staple foods. uht milk so that you do not have to popo into the supermarkets either

Shineyhappy

I dont keep a spending diary as most days are a NSD and its very rarely I buy anything thats non essential (food,petrol) but most people seem to find them a great way to see what money is wasted.

I tend to think how can I have a no spend day today? before I leave the house, so I always take food to work, make sandwhiches for a long journey, take a book if I am likely to want something to read etc. Again not very exciting stuff I am afraid.

Have you posted a SOA recently for any longer term tips?

poorandindenial

I worked out what I NEED to spend and am shocked at how much money I SHOULD have left over!! [WILL have now I am a reformed character:D]

What I pay each year towards debts is more than lots of people have to live off - that made me feel slightly sick when I realised that:o. Once I am debt free I am going to be LOADED :Tbut will have forgotten how to treat myself by then:rolleyes:

I also seem to have become addicted to emoticons. lol

Ephemera

poorandindenial wrote: »

I worked out what I NEED to spend and am shocked at how much money I SHOULD have left over!! [WILL have now I am a reformed character:D]

What I pay each year towards debts is more than lots of people have to live off - that made me feel slightly sick when I realised that:o. Once I am debt free I am going to be LOADED :Tbut will have forgotten how to treat myself by then:rolleyes:

I also seem to have become addicted to emoticons. lol

Oh yes, those emoticons are addictive.. but I think I'm in control noww.....eek! :rotfl:

I've stayed away from the shops unless I absolutely have to go, and if I do I take a list. I've saved loads this month already!

I'm looking forward to putting lots of lovely money away for a deposit this year.

All the best

Eph.

PandaPants_2

Shineyhappy wrote: »

I dont keep a spending diary as most days are a NSD and its very rarely I buy anything thats non essential (food,petrol) but most people seem to find them a great way to see what money is wasted.

I tend to think how can I have a no spend day today? before I leave the house, so I always take food to work, make sandwhiches for a long journey, take a book if I am likely to want something to read etc. Again not very exciting stuff I am afraid.

Have you posted a SOA recently for any longer term tips?

To keep it brief, my outgoings are £494 per month (i counted it up this morning!) and i earn £1120 per month, £280 per week. Im trying to pay off £900 student overdrafts, £250 credit card and save £700 for flights to the US in the summer. But i just ALWAYS seem to be broke. I've been in my overdraft constantly since October, although im reducing it as much as i can. I just want to try and spend as little as possible day-to-day.

mhe

HI - I do the follwing to help
1. dont go shopping if I dont need to - I just buy stuff I didnt know I wanted!!
2. Make a meal planner so I only buy what I need when I do go shopping
3. Make a packed lunch
4. Reduce my overdraft by small amounts as soon as I get paid - if you havent got it you wont spend it but if its there and available you kind of feel obliged to ues it!
5. try goiung to Home and Bargain to do a shop for smellies and some food items. I bought OH arrid deod for 69p yesterday in there and they had lots of other bargains too
6. Try going to your local supermarket at about 8 - 9pm. At this time you can find lots of bread at 5p and loads of other things WHOOPSed too.
7. Sell unwanted things at a car boot sale to raise extra cash

Mozette

Definitely a spending diary.

PandaPants_2

Mozette wrote: »

Definitely a spending diary.

I started my spending diary today and im depressed already! :eek:
I buy the cheapest brands of things i can get away with, ie: deodarant, make-up wipes and moisturiser are always Boots own brand, or whatever is on sale.I buy make-up and most clothes from ebay, or clothing from charity shops/sales. I live at home so i dont really do food shopping unless im cooking something special. I also ONLY buy petrol in Sainsburys because they are always the cheapest and so i can get Nectar points.