Share your financial new year’s resolutions with other Mumsnetters - chance to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher, courtesy of Lloyds Bank NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

With a bit of luck the festive period left you with LOTS of happy memories - but we all know that Christmas can leave bank accounts looking a little worse for wear. To help you into 2016, Lloyds Bank would like to know the financial new year’s resolutions Mumsnetters are making.

Here's what they say: "January sales, unwanted presents and resolutions - the new year will bring new challenges, but plenty of opportunities for those who are shrewd with their finances. We'd love to hear Mumsnetter's tips for starting the new year in financial style‎." - Lloyds Bank

So how do you make sure your bills stay in the black? Do you make a spending plan to control your budget? Maybe opening a savings account is the best option? Perhaps you give the credit card a well-deserved rest and pay everything upfront? Or do you have some money-saving habits you force yourself to get back into once the festive season is over?

Whatever your tips, Lloyds Bank would love to hear them.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw, and one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks,

MNHQ
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i'm trying different (and cheaper) brands to see how they compare to the usual well know ones I buy to see if the extra money is really worth it.

I am going to stop eating out as we need to spend less and save more, a few little debts like the car finance and a credit card (on 0% I might add) which we needed to use why my DH lost his job last year. We do okay and we are comfortable, but I really dislike being in debt. I would love to start overpaying my mortgage.

have a look at better prices elsewhere for general household things, gas, electric, when i buy anything online etc, i keep saying i will do it and never seem to so this year i will.

My financial resolution is to stick to my YNAB budget for a year. If I can do this I can pay a little bit extra against the mortgage each month, and increase the pitiful personal pension contribution I make each month. My health resolution to investigate all possible ways to manage my hypermobility to improve my energy levels and mobility would also save me money and hopefully get me back into a paying job!

Like some on here, I feel I have been frugal all my life (learnt behaviour from when my dad was made redundant and money was tight) and I also follow Martin Lewis from MSe. So, I buy Xmas prsents in the sales, shop around every year for house and car insurance, pay it annually rather than monthly (same goes for road tax paid off annually). Renegiotiated Virgin broadband contract just recently. Have a water meter, be sparing with gas and lecy when I can and save. Trouble is I probably save too much and don't enjoy the now. Check my bank most days to ensure no irregular transactions too.

I am going to switch my energy supplier!

To finally sell the double buggy we only used for six months which is just taking up space in the spare room. Similarly some of the children's coats which were presents and barely got worn as we'd already bought them coats.

I'm going to use YNAB properly this year, and stick to a budget!

To balance finance and family

Sorry if someone else has said this. I have just calculated what we don't pay out in water rates (pay over 8 months) and council tax (10 months) at this end of the financial year and paid that amount as a capital sum off the mortgage.

Budget, budget, budget!
We've sat and spent several hours going through all our incoming and outgoings and have done al we can to save every penny we could, change energy suppliers, shop at Aldi, cancel direct debits for this we rarely use.

I'd like to open the new help to buy ISA and save up for my own house

I'm going to put money in an ISA to save for the children's university education

Jst go over what's we've got.see if there's anything big coming in the year to save for.re entering important dates to new diary/calendar helps.what's the summer holiday requests?dnt get blogged down.its just a Jew year.a new date.

we have managed to consolidate our cards leaving us with 1 monthly payment , our goal this year is clear that debt, its only 8,000 but with savings made on shopping and transfer of gas supplier and insurance company we should clear that this year....fingas crossed

Have a seperate account for direct debits and disposable income

I have filled in a 3 month income and outgoing chart to help with budgeting and listed everything from gas bills to haircuts and birthday presents, i'm really hoping that this will help us be more money organised this year

I am keeping the receipts from everything I buy and keeping track of my spending.

Aiming to cook from scratch more using my slow cooker etc and make double the quantity so I can freeze some. Added bonus there is when I don't feel like cooking I just have to defrost something and do some veg! Also trying not to make any impulse buys but to go away and think about it first and research on the net to see if I can get it cheaper. Also going to see if I can use the car less by walking/cycling instead.

Saving every month a small amount towards the car and holidays so there are no big expensive months.

We'll have an automatic payment set up to clear the credit card in full each month so there are never any interest charges

We'll be planning meals to help us eat better and cut down on food waste. Shopping around to get better interest rates on our bank accounts.

to try and save through out the year for unexpected expenses or emergencies! Shop more online using cashback sites to save money!

Our money resolutions are to only buy from the supermarket what we need - so make a list and stick to it! And meal plan for the list!
And we are saving from now ready for Christmas 2016, so then we can enjoy the time without worrying about money.

My plan for this year is to start saving for our own home . I am aiming to go to the shops with a list rather than an empty stomach ! and not buying unless really need . don't go mad on bdays / xmas's etc and start using cash rather than the debit card so I stick to a budget :)