Money Saving October

[snowlady4]

I know money saving top threads are probably done to death but I'm inspired today to get my act together and reign in my spending a bit. I have a reasonable wage, but seem to be saving less and less, so need to be more conscious of my spending. I have a holiday I'm paying off and want to gather some spending money too.
So far, my plan for October is:
Just stop buying stuff (obvious I know, but really stop buying clothes and bits I don't actually "need.") Basically make do with what I have.
Walk to work as much as possible, so not paying petrol and parking.
No beautician visits except for eyebrows.
Limit buying alcohol to once a week.
Limit coffee shops to only when meeting someone for a coffee socially- stop going in on my own or getting one when I go for a walk.
Try and sell a few things.

Anyone inspired to join the frugal fun?

I'm looking at saving some pennies as have a few big bills coming in.

I am going to be paying myself first, then ive done a spread sheet for all bills, whether annual or monthly I have totted it all up and have a monthly amount to put away each month to cover the bills. Then what is left is one to spend on grocers, petrol and me - but want to make sure I get through the month.

So using the coffee machine at hime, having 3/4 no spend days per week. Trying to do all my shopping in one shop, so not returning and spending more than needed

Yeh those little add on shops add up to more than you realise don't they. I'll also try an do just one decent shop.
At least staying in is easier when the weather turns crap!
I cancelled most of my subscriptions. I did hang on to netflix and prime. I should probably get rid of one or other of them actually.

I agree. I just take exception to people pretending it costs pennies to use taxis

I pay for prime and my daughter pays for Netflix

I use round ups on my back account, and mine can double as well. One tip I have started to do is transfer the pence of my current account to saving every day. It all adds up and I don't really notice the difference.

Im in

Im regularly selling stuff on vinted
I also have some stuff listed on Ebay

I eat out too much
Guna try and limit that in oct..

Could do with trying to save a bit too

@worldwidetravel2017 yes, eating out has gotten so expensive, even just for a simple sandwich or something! And half the time it's not even that nice anyway.
I am off to work today so must resist the takeaway coffees and sweets from the shop! Luckily it's not raining (yet,) which means I will walk instead of drive.
Also decided not to replace my flowers. I usually buy flowers for the living room every week or so, so it makes me a little sad not having them- but I really don't need them. Perhsps I'll buy a plant from time to time instead!

@GoldHold thats a good tip. I might start. I do have roundup on one of my cards but never amounts to much as I tend to prefer cash.

Have managed to cancel my amazon music at £9.99 a month. I can't quite bring myself to cancel amazon prime though. Not yet!

I'm in. On maternity leave at the moment and trying to survive on maternity allowance, child benefit and one wage from partner.

I really struggle with no spend days. I told myself today would be one and then realised we had no shampoo, conditioner, milk, bread or toothpaste so ended up spending £15 in tesco. Although have downloaded jam doughnut app so feel a bit better for getting some cash back on that.

Then picked toddler up and took him to cafe on way home, spent £9 there.

Try again tomorrow!

@daydreamingnightowl tomorrow is a new day. It could have been worse.. apart from the cafe was all essential items.
I had a no spend day- am unnaturally pleased with myself for taking my hot drink from home rather than stopping on the way.
Tomorrow I will get the bus, so thats unavoidable spending, but going to really try to not spend anything else.
Whst is jam doughnut?

Jam Doughnut is brilliant! I've saved loads with this.

I did a post a week or so ago about how
I've changed my habits. I was like you too but honestly my outlook has changed and I feel so in control and on track now.

I have so many tips about being frugal and the savings you make will be huge with the way your lifestyle has been (not judging as mine was the same),

My best advice would be to do one thing
Every day that is a positive step forward to
Change your financial future and the first step would be to get a bank account that can help you be organised. I switched to
Starling. It has little pots I can save in and it's
Fab! So you could save all the money you don't spend on all there bits into
Separate pots - you will find it so motivating with how much you save!

Do you fully understand where you spend your money? Starling will allow you to
Categorise everything and fully understand it.
Knowledge is power.

You should not be paying off a holiday you should be saving for it and then paying outright for it, get ahead of your finances. Plan save and plan more. You will thank yourself so much in the future!

I'm pretty new to jam doughnut but essentially it's a cash back app. I tried it for the first time on a small shop yesterday to see how user friendly it was and I did think it was very good.

I did my shop on the scanner in tesco saw it was £15 so went on the app and selected tesco and purchased a gift card for £15. It came through immediately and I got cash back of 53p into my account. You then just scan the voucher at the till and it comes straight off. You have to reach £10 before you can cash out or put towards another voucher. I had a referral code so I got £3 on top of that for my first purchase. There's loads of supermarkets and shops on there.

As I say, only used once so far but think you could build up a good amount of cashback on there!

If you're interested here's a referral code:
I thought you would like the JamDoughnut App. It gives you discounts and instant cashback at 1,000's of shops, restaurants, and supermarkets. Use my referral code TLW4 to get a £3 bonus when you use the app for the 1st time. Download for free: app.jamdoughnut.com/TLW4

@daydreamingnightowl @Mumof3darlings
Oh Jam doughnut does sound good. Had a quick look and there are some shops I actually use on it. I have used cashback cards before but have found my supermarkets and shops only stay on there for a limited time.
Airtime rewards can be good too.
Not heard of starling but I think most banks have this pocket function now too. I'm a big fan of revolut.
With regards, "should not be paying off a holiday," have to disagree on this- it's one area I'm brilliant at getting the best value in- love seeing my balance going down each week- and great incentive for saving. But, to each their own- you know what works for you! You sound like you've gotten yourself well organised which is brilliant!
I am off to work this morning, with my packed lunch, teabags, cold drinks so all being well, should be a no spend day apart from my bus- but still cheaper than parking!

Oh don't get me wrong. Holidays are my number 1 priority and I spend a high % of my disposable income on them. What I was saying was that it sounded like you had perhaps paid on credit and were paying it back? I was saying you should save for them instead but still do them! To give you the incentive to save and not pay credit. Do you see what I was saying? But sounds like you maybe do save? Is it a holiday you have not been on yet?

Interested how you get good deals on hols? x

I actually could pay it outright from my savings but I book early and pay a proportion each pay day so I'm not touching the savings! It's not really on credit as such.
For best deals I basically shop around, use any discount available to me and either book really early or really late. For easyjet flights, I set my alarm for 5:30 the day they come out and get them booked straight away.
Where's your next hol? I'm a holiday-aholic too!

Realised on school run I had no petrol so £20 gone on that today and also run out of formula so had to stop for that, but got the cash back on jam doughnut and also won an extra £1 in the daily live game on the app too so that made it slightly less of a hit!

No more spending today.

Tomorrow has got to be a no spend day. We have a free activity planned in the morning and then will have a home day.

Oh wow that's a good tip on easy jet flights thank you! How do you know when they open up for bookings?

Our next one is a week in Oct to Tenerife for a bit of sun but I did t get good deals for the flights - have to say I'm not savvy enough with booking hols so I really would love to learn how to be more savvy and get some deals on those!

I check Martin Lewis website but you can just Google it. Easyjet do send out emails too. Last year I booked my Christmas flights the day they came out and by that evening they hsd almost doubled! They do come down again.. some people say tbe optimum time to book is 12 weeks before but I'm not sure. Sometimes luck is with you, sometimes not.

How you all getting on?
I feel I'm doing ok.
Really cut back on the non essentials and feeling better for it.
I will spend a bit today as I do have a hobby I'm buying a few things for- but I'm ok with that. Other than that and a takeaway coffee today- I won't buy anything else other than groceries, gas and electric!
Chipping away at my holiday nicely.
Plan for next week is more of the same really.
I did join jam doughnut, so thank you for the recommendation.. Only £5.85 on it so far but you've got to start somewhere!
Have a gorgeous, cheap weekend all!

Can I hop on this thread please! 🙂

My finances have changed drastically and I need to reign in my spending. :-/

It's all the little things that add up isn't it. I'm terrible for convenience spending (take aways for example) and dopamine spending (impulse retail therapy that I don't need).

@Mumof3darlings I've seen your other thread about Jam Doughnut and wonder if you could answer a question I have please? I joined today and have bought a Tesco voucher to use this week which has given me 41p in my 'cashpot'. I've had an e-mail to say I've earned another £3 for signing up but it's not showing yet, just the 41p. Do I have to wait until I've spent the giftcard before I get this £3?

Hi there

Glad you have started using it and hope you get on with it.

I think you should message them about the £3 as it should really have gone in. Their customer service is really good though so they will sort it for you.

So if you message them by clicking on the little person icon on the top right and selecting 'contact us' and then 'send us a message'.. I think they will sort the £3 for you.

My recommendation would be to get a really good bank with separate pots to the account so you can plan your spending each month. Write it all down and work it out and then use the app..

So let's say you know you have £300 spare each month then you can put a pot for takeaways £50 and a pot for clothes £150 and a pot for say going out £100 - just using these as examples. You will then watch what you spend in those areas and really notice and start to appreciate it - how you overspend in certain areas and just how much you are spending. For example you might realise that according to what you have been spending on takeaways you should put £75 into the takeaway pot each month and then think about it and say to yourself 'wow if I reduced my takeaway to £25 a month I would have £50 per month to save for a car or whatever is a goal of yours.

I find these banking apps help massively with the frittering and really brings it home. I personally use starling for my banking but I think a lot of the banks have this facility now anyway.

@Mumof3darlings oh thank you so much, I've messaged them just now!

@Mumof3darlings my £3 has been added into my cashpot now so thank you again! I have to say I've been really surprised at all the shops that are available on the Jam Doughnut site, shops I use all the time so I'm really pleased I spotted your post about it!