Saving for..?

JennyJukes · 4 August 2019 at 9:39AM

Thanks MovingForward that's all so really helpful. I haven't yet put the window down as I'm worried it'll break but will try it out when it really needs done.

Savingswannabe I do end up breaking most things I try to DIY but then I always find a way to fix it. Helps me in learning how to be creative. It's a learning curve really. I can't follow instructions so I sort of just try figure things out for myself.

Cannot wait until my boyfriend is here. 1 month 1 week to go. It's great being independent and self sufficient but having someone there to support you really makes the world of a difference. It'll be our one year together on Friday, obviously we aren't physical together so can't do anything and we won't be buying gifts (he never receives anything I've tried to sent), maybe we'll just watch a movie that night or something. We're on the same wavelength where when we're together we'll just go on a date rather than buy each other gifts. They don't celebrate Christmas in his culture but he likes the idea of it so I'll probably make more effort then. I did get to visit him on my birthday last year and we went out to eat then he took me to the arcade!! Cheap sort of date but really fun for us both! I have never celebrated my birthday as it is so near Christmas so I got used to everyone being skint or going to Christmas parties and my ex used to just buy me a gift, though one time he forgot to even get me a card... I much prefer this going out and spending time together rather than gifts. My boyfriend really makes me feel appreciated and special.

Anyway, I'm babbling..

Budget:
Entertainment: £57.80/£60
Shopping: £23.50/£25
Petrol: £40.83/£55

£1.50 leftover grocery shopping into savings.

Monthly Saving:
In: £17.04
Out: £390.37
=-£373.33

Overall Savings:
Help2Buy: £6584.95
Emergency Fund: £1764.32
= £8349.27

Today's goals...
1) get my !!! into the shower
2) hoover and mop the floors.
3) surveying and comping throughout the day
4) dread monday morning

Hope everyone has a great day!

savingwannabe · 4 August 2019 at 12:18PM

Hi Jenny I hope Monday goes well for you. Why are you dreading it? It is work? Im the same I just think about how much I am earning or in my case how little. lol.

Im the same as you doing housework. lol.

JennyJukes · 4 August 2019 at 1:49PM

Yeah, back to work. Nothing in particular on Monday and will actually be relatively stress-fee as we have a team meeting in the morning and I was able to sort out something major on Friday so don't need to stress over it tomorrow. Just same as you - my low income job isn't very stable so I'm always a little worried and waiting for the lay off though funding is in place until at least March. I hear my colleagues talking about the jobs they've applied for and I'm sitting here with applications and drawing a blank of what to write. I'll probably wait until the deadline and stress apply.

Can't say I've actually done any housework lol and still haven't dragged my butt into the shower :P

JennyJukes · 5 August 2019 at 4:01PM

Well I needed some new hooks for my curtains so popped onto Ebay. Got the recipe book whilst I was at it and at the end realised I had a £5 voucher! So that paid for the lot! Happy days.

Council tax letter received for new property, payment isn't due until next month however because I'm missing a payment it puts my future monthly payment up. Sorted it to pay over 12 months so it actually stays the same as it is in my SOA so budget should be fine going forward..

Grocery shopping was £11.35, I do need to get little bits and bobs later in the week and might get in some toilet rolls and mouthwash whilst my budget is low. Going well.. for now.

Due a prolific payout on Tuesday, can't remember how much and a CheckoutSmart payment of around £7 soon. Do have money pending in prolific but haven't really been getting much surveys lately.

Thinking of getting myself an ottoman for the living room as I have a big space full of nothing and it would be handy for my sofa throws - some girls like shoes, some like handbags but I love duvet sets and sofa throws!! Saw one for £18.99 on Ebay so going to go for that when there is a suitable delivery day. Was tempted by all the lovely gorgeous figurines and ornaments on there too but decided I will just get those sort of things from charity shops.

Now to attempt some spicy salmon fishcakes for tea tonight..

Budget:
Groceries: £11.35/£25
Petrol: £40.88/£55
Entertainment: £57.80/£60

Savings remain the same at £8349.27.

After my HelpToBuy ISA £200 goes into the account on the 8th, I am going to change it to £150 and add the remaining £50 DD to my savings instead until I reach £3000 emergency fund. Then the Help2Buy will go back up to £200. Will encourage me to get that emergency fund up asap!

MovingForwards · 5 August 2019 at 6:26PM

Things are going well, glad you got your bits for free - bonus!

Did you link your nectar card to eBay? You don't want to be missing out on some free pennies!

Have you looked on gumtree to see if anyone is selling / giving away an ottoman? Also local FB groups are good to look at; only mentioned it as I happened to see one go up today.

You are doing so well with your budgeting, think it helps when you are seeing it written down.

savingwannabe · 5 August 2019 at 9:40PM

I agree with Moving Forwards you are doing v well. All the surveys etc soon add up.

The ottoman sounds great. If you can get a bargain one that will be brilliant. I see them on local ebay and facebay occasionally too. Good luck it is so nice choosing furniture.

JennyJukes · 6 August 2019 at 3:51PM

Thanks for the advice ladies - I ended up deciding against the Ottoman, for now anyway. I have a old TV unit that I haven't been able to sell and instead of giving it away I've put it into that corner to use up the space until I find something else. In hindsight I don't *need* the Ottoman, all I wanted was to fill up the space and it is now. I could probably get some sort of sheet or throw to put over the unit to make it look less like a TV unit and add little bits to it.

I did get my whole 3 nectar points from ebay for the hooks and recipe book don't worry

Received £7.50 from prolific today so straight into savings which takes me up to £1771.82 in my emergency fund and £8356.77 overall savings. 2 weeks till payday!

Finally got 2 studies at once! after nothing but they both said 0 places remaining! I clicked the higher reward one and got to take it anyway? It's in my submissions so hopefully it's actually gone through and I'll be rewarded and maybe the 0 places remaining was a glitch, as they literally had just popped up and said 0 places.. hm.

Also applied for 3 jobs after nudges from my other colleagues who are also looking. They helped push my brain and I powered though and sent off 3 different applications. Not feeling particularly lucky but at least I have something to start with for future applications.

Now to do that hoovering I was supposed to do at the weekend.

So been pretty productive and a NSD

Hope everyone has a great day!!

JennyJukes · 8 August 2019 at 4:30PM

Recipe book arrived - looks really simple and cheap! Also has some recipes for sweet treats so deffo me and my boyfriend will be trying those out at the weekends!!

He commented today that I'm looking skinnier and I'm already skinny as it is so that's not good - I haven't been eating very well at lunch time (usually a roll, a "salad" except nothing substantial, a bit of cheese or small bits of fruit) and really need to sort that. Most people bring leftover meals but I don't know - not sure I want them to see my cooking! And I like keeping them for my team time meals so I don't need to cook too much. Need to re-think my current lunchtime routine because I do get home and am really hungry.

Shop today for little snack bits and household items I needed, £7.71 . I would have spent twice that on the same products but branded somewhere else. I now live near Aldi so have been going there - when I'm there I wonder if there's anyone who's on MSE... especially when I see the reduced groceries in their baskets! Speaking of which, got 6 rolls reduced to 24p woo!
Money to Help2Buy went through £200 bringing total to £6,784.95
Changed the Help2Buy to £150 and the other £50 to go into a savings account to get my emergency fund up to £3000 asap! Will go back up to £200 once reached.

Budget:
Groceries: £19.06/£25
Petrol: £40.88/£55
Entertainment: £57.80/£60

Savings:
Emergency Fund: £1772.47
HelpToBuy: £6784.95
= £8557.42

Whilst typing this I got a nosebleed! Really strange for me so not sure what caused that!? Not a bad one but it's only happened to me once or twice and came out the blue.

Oh well, time to attempt some chicken jalfrezi.

MovingForwards · 8 August 2019 at 5:34PM

I'm glad your book has arrived, I do highly recommend the cherry cookies and the banana / walnut cake

what I sometimes do is have a play with the ingredients and make mixed fruit / nut cookies, I've also made a pear and mixed nut cake.

Use the book as a guide and make the recipies your own.

Chicken jalfrezie sounds nice!

Well done with your budgets, you will reach your goal and it will be fun doing it.

savingwannabe · 8 August 2019 at 5:41PM

Well done on applying for jobs and on bargain shopping.

Jenny I don't know if I should say this but i am a bit worried about something. Im going to sick my nose in and say if he said your figure looked svelt that's nice but if he said you look 'skinny' that feels like it was not said in a nice way and he has no right to say anything that can upset you or cause you to feel doubt.

If you feel healthy he can keep his comments to himself. Only your dr can make an informed decision on whether you are skinny or not and they will do that by looking at your BMI. Please don't doubt yourself. Stay positive and enjoy happy cooking. Don't let anyone doubt yourself you are doing amazingly well and stay strong ok.

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