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

No more impulse buying and put away what I do not spend on things I do not need.

Yet again I'm determined to clear my debts, each year I set out my stall and I'm slowly chipping away at them - we created them so we will clear them .......

My resolution is to visit more of the UK.

To predict spending for big events / birthdays etc throughout the year and save up for them rather than having to spend out everything from one month's wages!

Set up a monthly standing order into an ISA to save for a special holiday for the family to celebrate a 'special' Birthday. I'm also going to continue to find bargains by doing my research and also start overpaying on my mortgage.

If I can't win the lottery then I guess I will have to do the following:

1. Write a shopping list for food and stick to it, making meals that last longer and which I can freeze in batches.

2. Using price comparison and cashback websites more for purchases.

3. But if all else fails, stay away from the shops as much as possible so I don't get tempted!!!

I am going to save all of my spare change through the year so that Christmas will be paid for and I'm going to do shopping via cash back sites as much as I can to save money.

I've been selling my unwanted clutter on Ebay for a few months now but have never calculated how much I'm making from the sales as I always thought it was too complicated. I've just found a website though that does all the calculations of fees etc for you so I've started a spreadsheet listing all my profit so in a few months I'll be able to look back and hopefully have a nice tidy sum that I can use to treat the family. I've already had 2 sales already in 2016 so my current profit stands at a princely sum of £13.06.

We're planning to buy a £40 giftcard on payday every month. Which means come the end of November we'll have £440 to spend on Christmas presents.

Not very good with money but this year in July my husband is 55 and can get a lump sum from his pension which we will be using to clear the credit cards and other debt's then it going to be if we can't afford it we don't get it until we can save the money,this includes christmas.

Simple......stop spending

This year whenever I'm paid via BACS I'm going to withdraw the most I can in cash. I will then use 10% of that to buy gold, and another 10% on crypto. The new EU law requiring bail-ins by us ordinary account holders is the reason for this.

To switch all my bank accounts and credit cards

I purchased YNAB last year and stopped using it - I don't think I was ready to face up to just how awful my finances are. Not any more. I'm budgetting properly this year

I put £30 a month away in a savings account starting the first pay day in january to put towards christmas costs so I don't screw myself over. I only buy for a handful of people so this works wonders. I also plan on using money i'd spend on takeaway food (around £20 a month) on a gym membership to try and shed a few pounds :)

Ive decided financially that if i ride my bike to work i will save a small fortune in petrol and parking plus exercise at the same time so that will save me at the gym too we have finally booked our dream holiday/ honeymoon to NYC weve only been married 4 years lol so every penny counts at the minute

Im determined to save for Christmas 2016,I say It every year though
Also plan my meals and try toprepare In advance as not to waste food

I need to stop buying trashy magazines, I'd save a fortune

I am going to find more coupons on the internet and use them to save money shopping. Also sell more on ebay

My resolution is to save more,i waste far too much money on food shopping and impulse buys.

I always budget - then make a game out of sticking to the budget or trying to come under. Creative meal planning, gift giving etc.

This year I am only going to go food shopping with cash and leave all cards at home, hopefully I will then stick to my list and not be swayed with clever product placements

To become financially aware and try to save for a rainy day!

We are going back to meal planning and online food shopping as that works out much cheaper for us than going to the supermarket. Have also upped my credit card repayments now that Christmas has finished to try and clear some more of the debt.

Am going to try to budget more stringently, with the aim of saving a set amount every month.