Forever saving

[Appleabananasandpears]

I’ve been putting away money since I can remember, about 10 years now, always in pursuit of the seemingly elusive goal of a home. I’m still not there, feels like an impossible task at times. Life expenses constantly get in the way, but how dull would life be if you didn’t get that broken washing machine fixed or didn’t go out with your friends?

So please tell me your good news stories, what did you save up for, how long did it take and how did you feel once you finally achieved your goal. Desperately looking for some inspiration!

I'm a saver.
So I could tell you about lots of things ..... my first driving lesson.... my first car..... yes, a deposit for my first home ..... that holiday I dreamed of ....... but also little things.

But long before those 'grown up' things, the same satisfaction was there with saving for some thing from my pocket money as a child. It's about setting a goal and then knowing you have earned and saved that for yourself.

The first flat I bought needed a LOT of work doing, and it was fab to save for X, then get it, save for Y then get that, and so on and so on.

When I met dh he used to smoke. He decided he was giving up and part of the way he did that was to put the money he would normally spend on smoking into a jar. First he bought a screwdriver. Then he bought a suit.

I've never been a saver I'm definitely a spender. Like you said yourself, life expenses always get in the way - and for me, that was always going out with friends rather than paying for broken washing machines!

The only reason I was ever able to afford a deposit on a house was due to being made redundant after 17 years in a half-decent job. The payout was my deposit, luckily this was some years back when it was pretty easy to walk right into another job.

I.knew I would be saving for a deposit till I was 80 otherwise so I count myself lucky that I was made.redundant at that time!

@UsingChangeofName yes, reaching a goal gives the ultimate satisfaction. I paid off my student loan a few years ago having made extra payments towards the end…that feeling was amazing…back then my student debt was £20,000, fees and accommodation included. For students now, paying off student debt by age 30 must be almost impossible. The day I paid off my £13,000 car was great too.
@NoodleNuts I’m glad you had some good fortune, it’s definitely needed in this day and age!

It’s hard right now! Don’t be too hard on yourself

I saved for 10 years to buy my first home (around 10 years ago). It felt pretty depressing at the time, never went on holidays or days out, wore my cheap clothes to death, eating out was a special occasion like 2 or 3 times a year, did none of the "big" things in life that also cost money like marriage, driving, travelling. I come from a low income background so it felt fairly normal to me at the time. Now I'm older I'd hate to have to still live like that, I can finally have treats and the things I scarified in my twenties. If I hadn't done it then, I'd never be able to afford own my own home and Id be paying double what I pay now on my mortgage in rent. Keep going!

When I say...if I hadn't done it then.. I mean I think it's easier to scrimp and save first and then spend and enjoy later, than the other way round. I wouldn't want to go back to being so frugal although I'm still careful how I spend my money as Im not a huge earner