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
Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Cannot get rid of most expenses; gas, electric, internet (I need for work), childcare.
I plan to be more aware of my money.
Prepare all food at home.
Leave bankcard at home and take packed lunches to work.
Planning to save £200 per month minimum and put into savings account.
Also cheap UK holidays this year at Youth Hostels.
Hope to have saved £2400 by the end of the year.

I'm going back to work after mat leave which in my head means we will be rich. In reality my salary = nursery fees.

We are lazy, if there's an easy option that costs more we will take it. I intend to try shopping at Aldi and see how much we save compared to Sburys online. You won't find me cleaning my own oven or carpets though!

I always make sure my bank account never goes below a certain amount; that's my emergency fund. I don't use credit cards, just money that I already have (via debit card). And I always keep an eye out for a bargain!!

I'm hoping to save at least £3000 by March to pay off the rest of my student loan. Being a student is so great, but financially awful.

I tend to buy a lot of jewellery and bags so my resolutions probably are to cut down on both and also to stop wasting money by making excess food.

We are making 2016 our buy nothing non-essential year, other than excursions. No more products at all, unless absolutely necessary. This is part financial, and part just wanting less clutter.

We've switched to shopping at a discount supermarket and have a 'no sale shopping' rule for Jan to prevent any hasty purchases. We're also stopping buying lunch each day and will take sandwiches to work. All 'bits' of cash we are given - e.g from selling things goes straight in the bank to prevent it just being spent without realising. Plus we are doing more free activities with the kids, avoiding soft play etc. and replacing with a scoot along the seafront!

This time last year I had huge credit card debt and no savings.

I'm starting 2016 with minimal cc balance annual gym membership and small savings.

I'm thinking about what I spend. Do I want/need it? Is it essential.

I'm trying to make money too by selling things on eBay.

I check my balances everyday so always know how much is in my account.

DD is at prime party age and I have loads of family. My resolution this year is to start getting together a stash of party gifts when I see a bargain, rather than having to dash out at the last minute and pay over the odds. I'm also going to buy Christmas presents for next year when I spot something at a good price and stash them in the loft.

We're saving for a new kitchen, so I'm going to put aside a specific amount of money each month into a kitchen fund, rather than leaving it in general savings, so i can see how close we are to motivate me to save harder.

I'm also starting to think about finally biting the bullet and swapping my current account...

This year as last year I will clothes shop only in the sales.

We have already changed our provider for gas, electricity and car insurance.

Stop eating out as frequently as we do because it's a waste of money.

Pay more than the minimum amount of the cc each month and have majority or all cleared by this time next year. Once debt is cleared start a regular savings account.

Looking to buy a house this year, so DH and I have both opened help to buy ISAs and will be putting the maximum £200 a month in each. The balance when you buy is topped up by 25% and we're in a cheap area so that will make a significant difference to our deposit.

We are wanting to save some money to put us in a position to buy a shared ownership property. We are to open a house saving ISA and to save money each month to deposit into it!

I'm going to really try and ebay stuff and then only spend whats in my paypal balance on clothes, sports stuff etc

I am planning to sort out all the major bills - move mortgage and energy bills to a better deal and find a better (not necessarily cheaper) internet provider and move savings/ISA's.

This time of the year I normally shop around for better utility deals and savings/ISA providers.

This is the year I acknowledge that I'm getting older and need to plan for it.

I'm not going to pay the extra in supermarkets for a 2 for 1 deal when i really only want one.

I'm also determined to cut out the impulse purchase. If I still really want it a week later, then I'll buy it, but I'll get better at trying to find a discount voucher to use too.

Finally and I'm also going to get better with creating dinners out of the random leftovers at the end of the week to stretch the shopping to do an extra day.

I'll be taking my lunch every day (or try for 4/5 at least) rather than visiting M and S foodhall on a daily basis. It's a start.

I am doing dry January so hopefully that will save a few quid.
Stop buying clothes and shoes.
Eat the contents of my fridge and cupboards as I have so much food stashed away.

I've opened a separate account for food shop. This is where I need to budget, we overspend every month due to all those little extra food shops. I hope to save £100 per month with better planning and reducing our meat intake. We plan to shop in Aldi every week and try not be tempted by what we don't need. I have also a savings account to which a direct debit goes into. I don't know my login details which has done me a favour because I can't access the account and take from it. I'm saving for Xmas and a holiday in 2017. My priority this year is less spending more saving for special occasions/treats.

I have made a start already by not buying things in the sale that I do not need! Also I am planning to meal plan and do my weekly shop online in an effort to cut down on waste, over eating and money!

My new year's resolution is to save an extra £25 a week off my food bill by using up my leftovers and meal planning.

To get my finances in order, and workout credit scores and improve mine!

To bite the bullet and pay for professional financial planning advice.

I am aiming to start saving for next Christmas now by putting aside some money every month. I want to take control of my spending and stop buying unnecessary things.

To find something more profitable to do with my savings than put them in an ISA. The return is pitiful and quite demoralising.