Monthly budgeting thread

[Msbouffet]

Anyone up for a budgeting support thread?

I am trying not to spend money beyond food and essentials.

Taking it one day at a time. No plans to spend money today-goal is to avoid temptation to spend!

The bigger goal is paying off credit cards and (ironically) getting a favourable loan for a second hand car.

In the post today I got a nail polish I ordered which is non toxic. It is quite a nice salmon/orange colour for summer (better late than never, my old favourite L'Oreal one got used up). Also a lovely card from colleagues to say thinking of you due to a recent situation.

Anyone?

I spent 10 but it was on a friends fundrasing page so allowing that.

Started making plans to meet DM for coffee near B&M Store so I could browse. Agh no! I do not need whatever it is, and I can't afford it . That's better.

Gearing up for another No Spend Day. Going to put my lunch together for tomrrow in a min.

I’m in! Wanting to save to pay off credit card and car loan which is around £15k shock! Today hasn’t gone so well, I ended up going to a Nando’s but they stopped serving so had a McDonald’s! (Not great for my diet either), tomorrow is a new day and I’m aiming to only spend money on food and fuel for the next 4 weeks

I'm trying to do this , it's so hard when your a spendaholic though

No spends yet for September.

Although we are only on day two

Count me in. Two DC going to Uni this month. We’ve bought most things they need, and I’ve been buying basic food so they don’t need to be stressed the first month. Once they have moved out for University I need to stop spending. Also need to get a job, I was made redundant in June.

Hooray, Welcome @Highlandspring1991 @mumofthreewhatsfortea @Yankathebear @AdoraBell, to the pain and joy of not spending!

@Highlandspring1991 that's the attitude, tomorrow/today is a new day! No point beating up on how we got here although it can be educative to reflect

@mumofthreewhatsfortea great to have you on board, yes it is, not sure how we get past it, yet anyway!

@Yankathebear brilliant!

@AdoraBell that's exciting about DC starting university, the temptation/need to spend must be high though. I'm sure they will find their feet quickly. Finding a job is motivating challenge, do you have an interview outfit?

I almost bought some anti radiation phone Smart Dots that came up on facebook. Thankfully hovered away. This is exactly the thing I don't need, not now anyway! A friend is going through cancer treatment and I think these things make you anxious. Silly really.

I forgot that I did buy a book on Kindle last night argh, having trouble sleeping and wanted something soothing. Oops. Oh well, being aware is good. Next time, will watch something free or read a book I have already.

Lunch is things from the freezer. Nothing to buy or spend on today.

Well it's nearly half 11 on day 3 and I haven't spent yet . So that's a bonus 🤣

I was about to say the same!! Keep it up!

Due to my recent browsing all of my phone adverts are for costly trainers. N-o. I keep thinking maybe these are the best sales ever because of covid and everything will go up.

I could do with selling some items, I might have a stab at it this weekend, on Ebay, facebook and whatever else there is.

I sell on Vinted. If I sell something I can buy something. Even better is a swap!

I need to stop trying to make excuses for something being essential . Had a wobble and nearly ordered a subway for lunch and tried to justify it by saying its food so it's essential 🤣 you will be glad to know I talked myself out of it .

I had just done a tiny Asda online shop to be delivered Sunday but I literally only bought essentials which where mostly for the kids packed lunches through the week as they are back to school Monday

@Msbouffet I have so much I could stick on eBay . I really need to do a sort out . Buyers trying to con me saying they haven't received the item or that it's damaged really stresses me out though as I've heard eBay usually always side with the buyer

Yes msBouffet excitybut also daunting.

I’m reducing my online shops this month, not enough funds to go around this month.

Sorry for my late replies, you think you are okay then it hits you (friends illness).

@Yankathebear Very tempted to try Vinted, I quite like the swap idea.

@mumofthreewhatsfortea That's amazing you resisted. Congrats on not spending .. £7(?) in Subway.

I went for a walk deliberately without my cash card. I was in a super spendy mood, glad to have here to report back to! That was me not spending £4 in the supermarket.

That's awful re.buyers saying they don't receive an item. Would you get proof of postage? I received a package of broken glass once, the buyer offered me 50% back but I forgot to reply and it expired.

What sort of shops @AdoraBell?

Two previously ordered nail polishes arrived which I really like and (also previously ordered) Boden trousers which are going back (10 Regular is your ideal fit my arse!). They are too hot anyway. I also discovered a £25 m&s voucher and a £40 john lewis voucher I have been given, throws me into a dilemma. I could spend them on something I need (which I can't think of) or use them for food which is handy but not as fun. In any case my printer is totally broken so won't be rushing.

I confess I bought another book, I was having a twitter conversation with the author and they did something for me so I felt compelled to say Oh I just bought your book, can't wait. I could have lied I guess.

I have some cards and presents to post on Sat- both are bought so just the postage. I also need to collect my glasses from SS, trod on them and pleased it will only be 40 for the frame. Online food shop is on its way.

I am not organised for tomorrow at all, will just be winging it. Here is to not spending.

@MsBouffet it's more like £12-14 from subway because it would of been for me and my husband .

I think my Asda shop came to £30 . Usually I would of spent way more than that but I need to remember our cupboards are always nearly full and so is the freezer so I really don't need to be buying more food . Even though the meals we have aren't particularly what we want to eat .

Little Asda shop consisted of packed lunch stuff for the kids , butter , bread, milk , baked potatoes , juice and bare essentials . So I'm rather impressed with myself .

Husbands going to think I'm ill when it comes and there's hardly anything delivered 😂

I spent £35 this morning. An academic diary as I’m starting a course (which is much more in depth than I first thought!) and an anniversary gift for Dh.

Morning budgeteers! Some sandals I bought previously on ebay (last of bought previously) arrived today. They look great. I did browse for a different colour but thinking rationally it's September now.

Fridge is looking decidedly bare. Have rummaged freezer for lunch. I did a load of batch cooking at the weekend and although it took ages I wrote a list of everything that it is in the freezer which ia handy if a pain to update.

Food shop is coming later, two items are missing so I am going to pick them up and not get tempted to buy anything else! Have some macadamia nuts in there as I plan to try making nut brittle at the weekend.

Also cancelled my gym membership as
not going 3 times a week. I might have a gym theme in January again.

Decided to cancel Spotify premium. I quite like no ads but that's the only benefit I have found. The only ones that seem worth it are the supermarket delivery saver and possibly Prime.

I went through my statement a few months ago and cancelled the national trust, Spotify and reduced my mobile to sim only. Saves around £60 a month.

That's brilliant @Yankathebear -an amazing £720 a year!!

Some work deadlines have come up (ones I have put off) so my clear out plans are getting postponed this weekend. Will have to give it more attention in a week or two. In the mean time I am going to squirrel away some money and try and hunker down without spending. Thinking of having a round up of spend/saved at the end of the week.

Good luck budgeteers and keep the regular updates coming!

Hope I'm not too late to join in aiming to save £15000 by the end of 2022 to put towards our forever home... but budgeting has totally gone out the window. Will be properly starting Monday when we're back off holiday.

I am trying to save for a house so definitely need this thread! Hopefully I’m not too late either. The aim was to save 10k by end of year I have saved half so far so I’m hoping with no spending support I can pull it through!!

I need to do this
Lockdown was a dream for not spending

I’m out of control!

Sat down last night and cancelled my amazon prime subscription, and my glossybox subscription. Redirected the £21.95 to the house fund on a standing order. As lovely as the makeup box is every month, I'm hardly going out anywhere to wear much

How does everyone actually budget/track spending? I've always just had a vague idea in my head of what I'm spending and when, but clearly this isn't working for me or my savings pot would look a lot less sad.

Welcome @Otterses @Isobels @ivykaty44, not late at all!

Hope you had a great holiday @Otterses. That sounds like a great aim and totally achievable.

@Isobels wow you're well on the way to your goal

@Ivykaty44 it was wasn't it! That's why I started the thread as I could see myself on the edge of a spending spiral , already in denial about the last two months!

I've tried loads of different methods - an Excel spreadsheet, budget notebook, envelopes for cash, the Emma app that links to your bank accounts and my phone. Currently use notes on my phone.

I have had a bumper day. I cancelled audible and an online subscription, went through my bills account and squirreled a few pounds, found a cheque from my previous energy company, changed my energy payment as (long story) I was using the immersion by mistake and spending double what I should, used up some old stamps and saved postage and returned the boden trousers.

The best of all though, DM told me about We Buy Books. I scanned in some books and they are worth about £35. Mostly cookbooks, reference type books, self help & memoirs seems to do well, fiction that won awards. Some really odd ones, an obscure semi autobiographical book on 90s dance culture was nearly £2, whereas a massive Rough Guide to all films ever and Dalai Lama Art of Happiness are 20p each!

I then saw that they take DVDs but sadly my DVD collection is paltry. I had an idea to look up cassettes on ebay and discovered that many of my cassettes which I still have as I am this old sell for about £5 on ebay. Some of my CDs e.g. rare ones are worth about £12! I think it will be a long game to sell them but there should be about £125 there.

I also put aside a heap of clothes and two king duvet covers to sell on Vinted/ebay, I think there is about £115 there. I also have an old Kindle, cheap tablet and mobile.

My John Lewis voucher is going on food this month as I really just want the money.

So in the immediate I've been able to put £157 towards my credit card and found about £310 of things to sell, so that's £467. Wow. Some things won't sell but it's a nice aim!

It has taken all my will power not to spend money on yellow suede sandals. I even had them in my basket at one point but talked myself out of it. I'm still regretting not buying them but being strong.

I just need to tidy up the mess I've made, I've done meal planning and there's nothing I need to spend money on this week, and doing all my work deadlines/walks in between, get some decent sleep and check in with family. My friend has finished the next chemo round so fingers crossed their break goes smoothly.

I also have to confess I found another book in my Kindle, I don't even remember buying it! It's related to illness/loss so think it was at night when I was up worrying. This reminds me I will unsave my card from Amazon!

Ok
Positive action today, got up at 4:30 & went to biggest car boot about 45 minutes away. It was £10 for the pitch so excluding fuel and pitch made £195.

Good news is I have enough “ junk” for a repeat boot sale, so thinking of going again