Modest march

[ProjectsGalore]

Following on from frugal feb. Assemble all those wanting to manage money better this month. I've managed to actually put some money into savings this month to start an emergency fund. I'm determined to make sure that my council tax bill savings go straight into savings this month too!

I haven’t posted on one of these threads before but hoping to make march a lot less spendy . Pleased that I changed tariff for electricity and monthly direct debit is now £150 starting from today.

Today will be a NSD for me
Had to buy new trainers and a birthday gift earlier in the week

I'll join too please. I need to curb my spending this month so I can get through to Easter without going into my overdraft.

Hopefully saving this month. I need to save for new windows later in the year which is a big expense. And I need a lawnmower this month as old one died end of Autumn.

Hi. I need to join you. I had to move and my rent has gone up by 450 a month so I need to tighten my belt. The house is nicer and it's doable but I need to be focussed. I am out for a friend's birthday tonight and it's my son's birthday on Monday so unfortunately it's a bit of a spendy weekend to start the month 😔

Yes please.

Last month I survived on very little in order to try and stay out of my overdraft.
This month I would like to save.
My biggest downfall at the moment is buying lunch at work but I’m starting a diet today so by not buying lunch it’s win win.

I'll join too. I'm budgeting within an inch of my life this year 😬

Moderate March is underway with me. I Get paid on the 25th of the month so this is when i budget from.

Lightbulb last month was understanding that how i have setup savings etc was giving me a license to spend. How have pots setup that mean €525 goes to savings each month. Not savings for specific items i want to save up for to buy, just regular savings.

Also bought €220 worth of bark mulch for the garden so thats wiped out the budgeted amount for garden and household so need to avoid more of these purchases.

Have a short break planned for next week and flights and accommodation is paid for. Will need to pay for transport, food and attractions but i have my regular spending money and some extra holiday savings for this.

Managed to save £210 in February. Trying to save £200 a month from now on.

I think to achieve this it may be necessary to cut down on the would be nice things. For example a breadmaker. I don't need one but it would be nice. That sort of thing. I used to have one but it broke. I need to lower my expectations!

Well, the cat finally had her operation today so £215 on the flexible friend and £1.79 spent at the Spar. The cat came through her operation with just a couple of worrying scares for the vet so she had a longer recovery period for extra checks but we have her at home now and we now need to keep her quiet and hopefully stop her doing zoomies everywhere!! But at least once she is fully recovered she can, at last, start to go outside.
Freebie morning planned for tomorrow with some of the GCs as our roads address has been picked for a local attraction. But then need to do a top up shop - the freezer is full with meat, veg and GCs favourites so we need tinned tomatoes and other staples to fill the gaps in the cupboards.

Feeling very impressed with myself that I managed to get a 2 course lunch out at the Italian with 2 alcoholic drinks for the princely sum of £2 - would have been around £35 but thank to points from previous meals + new starter points worth £10 + a complimentary birthday drink I got it down to £2.

Also had a coffee out so come to £5 in total

I'm in! DP lost his job, he has a new one, not exactly what he wanted and same money. He's not enthusiastic about it.
Anyway, we do need to spend less, we manage day to day but anything outside of that, we can't afford. We do want a holiday so would like to save for that.
I also have a credit card which I want to clear so have applied for a second job. I work as an invigilator so it's seasonal but due to health reasons, I can't commit to a full time job.
Enough waffle! Had to buy some food today, stuff for lunches for me and DD next week. DP also bought stuff for dinner and essentials so £30.
Whilst tidying and decluttering, I have got all my toiletries and cosmetics together so can easily avoid spending on them.
@Rainbow1901 hope your cat recovers soon. Ours has had bladder issues so ran up some vet bills thankfully, Petplan paid out very quickly so we only had the excess.

My aim for the month is to reduce spending on unnecessary food/drink while out and about. I throw away far too much money on mediocre snacks and overpriced coffees. I reckon I could save £60 per month minimum, if I just cut these out!

I'm saving for work that needs going on the house and garden. I'd like to see tangible items as a result of spending, rather than losing money on snacks etc.

Am in!!

the first of the month is when all
our payments come out.
car x2
insurance x2
house insurance
loans x2
church payment
phones x3
mortgage
life insurance

so it’s a lot of money in one day.

also need to pay dds rent for uni 🤦‍♀️

After that it’s just groceries/fuel/school dinners etc

wanted to have a weekend where I didn’t spend but need to get some bits for myself so prob budget £150 for that including lunch out.

I had a low spend month last month and another one hopefully this month 🙂 Just Mothers Day to buy for this time and no birthdays. I've put my 2nd free council tax money into savings and my first free water month into savings also. Plus a bit extra so savings is looking a little healthier as my MOT is due in May 👍

Me! Didn't do too badly in feb, especially towards the end of the month but happy to be beginning march on a NSD

Signing in. I've got about £400 for a family of four and two dogs for food, petrol and any luxuries & I really struggle keeping a shop under £100 right now 😖

Great to see March up and running. I’ve done well ended up end of month with enough cover the water bill. It’s few days late but it’s all ready to go. This month have what I need to save planned so it’s just sticking to it.
Jan had to finish off Xmas and few other bills in Feb so hoping March is a clear run.

Im spending so much less taking cash but forgot today and went to checkout till with member of staff and remembered had £10 in silver! He just took ages to count even though I placed it in his hand in £1 groups.

Also in for March, thank you @ProjectsGalore for the new thread! Currently going through all my direct debits and standing orders to see if there's anything I can cancel/ amend to save a few pennies...

Off to buy a Mother's Day present tomorrow so it won't be a NSD, also need to do a bit of food shopping now I've finally been paid I'm trying to use Too Good To Go and Olio (both to give and receive) as much as I can, it does help.

Best wishes for your cat's recovery @Rainbow1901 !

I'm in for March, too! Had a successful February, too, overall, with 14 NSDs in total for the month - not bad considering we had two birthdays in it! Need to keep up the frugal habits.

Payday on the 29th and sent £300 to savings (paid myself first). In March I have already spent for a work trip mid-month (will be reimbursed) and £41 on stocking up replacement toiletries and skincare for myself and ds. This one is a danger category for me, but I stuck mostly to what we needed, rather than extras. The cost increase alone for some items made me reconsider, and I don't personally notice much difference between shampoos.

Also spent £11 ish on groceries, rolls and fruit yesterday to get us through to our next big shop.

Starting to dread making a final decision about which flights to book for our trip to the USA this summer to see family (we have savings set aside for it). It has been 6 years since our last visit and I think it's one of those things where I'll probably feel much better once flights have been booked!

Going for a run this morning, then to see a play with ds and DH late this afternoon (free tickets). May see friends tomorrow, which probably won't be a NSD, but would be fun. 😊

Sending healing vibes to your cat, too, @Rainbow1901 ! And good to see you all for March - we can do this!

Hi, folks !
Here for March - I did so well in January and February. Saved loads and paid loads.
Not the best start to March, but it couldn't be helped. Had a long standing arrangement to meet family and I had to pick the bill up - all good.
I'm on a NS now til April !

I was dreadful in Feb so have no choice but to watch the pennies this month.

Filled the car on Friday and have to do a grocery shop today.

Didn't spend anything yesterday. Was looking through some lighter tops suitable for work and realised a lot are knackered so ordered two.
Getting low on some hair product, will have to use my less favoured one some days to stretch it out!
Going to sit down later and plan meals for the week around what we have in.

110 in shopping however 50 of that was a voucher that needed using so happy enough.