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 own YNAB (the classic / v4 one) and have never actually set it up. So that's on the list. As is chasing up my self employed small earnings cert from HMRC. Keeping a closer eye on things, as expenses have been creeping up and our income is static and we don't want to take our eyes off the ball.

We've started 2016 saving those small bits of change, 1p for Jan 1st, 2p for Jan 2nd, 3p for Jan 3rd and so on so we have some extra cash when needed instead of money down the side of the settee etc!

I intend to use less water - my water bill has risen a lot over the last year so I intend to be more economical with it's useage!

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. The winner of the prize draw is rhinosuze :)

to save a little each month and to have more in the bank at the end of this year than end of 2015

Keep overpaying the mortgage whilst the rates are low.

make lunch, don't buy it

My resolution is to think before I buy.

I'm guilty of popping into a coffee shop and blowing a fiver on a coffee and muffin without thinking that all those fivers add up. Add to that the magazine or newspaper that I get to read when I'm in there, and the £'s are leaving my purse at a fast rate!

So, I'm allowing myself one trip per week (no muffin & no magazine) and putting what I would normally spend into a savings jar for a holiday. I think I'm going to be surprised how quickly it adds up .

we will be researching and changing out=r current account from 1 bank to another better one and we will also be keeping a spending diary to keep an eye on exactly what we spend our money on

Easy - Don't spend what I can't afford and save any little pennies/pounds that would normally be spent on things I don't need! When I get the urge to spend I try to have a de-clutter session at home and I then realise that I need to be saving and not spending!

I have resolved to try and buy second hand, if I can. A big challenge for me, as I like to shop and have quite specific tastes. However, so far I have managed to put together a new season wardrobe for a tenth of what it would have usually cost me, incredible!

I was also just starting to put together a budget for our family spending. I needed a bit of procrastination time, so came onto MN and found this thread, what a coincidence and certainly a nudge in the right direction

I'm currently using Excel to stay on top of it all, as it is what i'm used to and so far so good. However it is only the 12th 'gulp'

I've opened a help-to-buy ISA so my financial resolution is to pay £200 into it every month!

I need to get on top f my debts x

10% of everything I earn goes in the saving pot starting from my first pay check in January. I also now stash away any £2 coins I get!

spend less on going out, making my diet easier, and saving pennies for a fabulous holiday

i am aiming to open some sort of savings account for my two boys this year...theyre growing up fast before you know it they will be at uni!

Try to save as much as possible each month, iv brought lots of christmas present in the sale, and not to buy to much 'stuff' we dont need and focus on investments like a new conservatory roof.

No more food waste! And not going to buy anything we don't really need.

Same as the year before, eat healthier, drink less, save money......

Saving a bit each month
Only buying what I need when I need it (avoiding sales temptation)
Checking and changing utilities price plans/ contracts to save money eg switched to DD payments.

I'm really bad at spending money when I just have my card so I have a new plan. I have set up a payment account. As soon as I get paid I'm going to move all the money I need for bills into it. I'm then going to get out in cash my money for the week. I'm hoping if I can see it I'll be more careful. Just before I get paid again I will move all of the spare money into a savings account xx

I'll be checking price comparison sites for all my insurances and utilities when they become due for renewal, saved £100s last year.

Only buy what I need, so I aim to curb impulse buys of food and clothes.

I am determined to stick to my shopping list this year, spend less money on on clothes, use vouchers and local shops, trying to save on petrol and parking.

I am putting money away every month so we can afford a family holiday in 2017.