10k in 18 months

A question about : 10k in 18 months

I hope to save 10k in 18 months, a lot but I am determined to reach it. And if its just below, thats fine, if I have Ј5k thats a fail and I'm determind not to fail. The aim is Ј555 a month.

There is me and 3 children, school age so plenty of I want's and school needs. But they are gradually coming round to the saving idea. We are using the do we really need it idea or is it to keep up with the Jones.

Things we no longer need are being sold, less food waste, cheaper options.

Over the last year we have wasted a lot of money, meals out takeaways. That is to be reduced. Instead of at least 1 or 2 meals out or takeaways a week to be one a month, so it feels like a treat.

We still have treats but not every day, limited to 1 or 2 a week. When the biscuits are gone thats it till the next big shop, done monthly with top ups for essentials. There are still snacks available, but fresh fruit is the option.

I started in October, although half hearted. And have saved about Ј300. Ј30 was from bits sold and the rest cutting back on the meals out. I'm hoping November will be a lot higher.

So far November I have sold Ј30 of clutter and managed to stop myself from spending for the sake of it, only buying bread and milk. The big shop arrived on the 6th and aiming to get December, near to christmas and in budget. November had a few christmas bits all been put away. Hoping to carry on with the good start made.

Most of the presents have been brought ready for Christmas, hoping the last bits will be Ј100 or less. Less food will be brought for Christmas.

Meals will be using up things in the cupboard, meal planning and leftovers the next day.

Best answers:

• Today is set to be no spend as have ill child during night and this morning. On a not so good not was supposed to be meeting 2 people for sale items so had to cancel that, they say they still want items, lets hope so. Can't put othe things on as not sure when we will be back to normal.
  Will need to do top up shopping tomorrow or monday at a stretch so hoping all are well again. And make it back to school, with no one else ill.
• Had a good weekend with little spending. Would normally be Ј30 of top up, but kept it under Ј10 with what we really needed.
  Today has been no spending. And have managed to sell a few bits, not loads but got Ј15, all helps.
  Some Christmas presents arrived today, all good offers and reduced so thats good. Got about Ј50 left to get things.
  Getting easier to save and not spend. Just hope to keep this up long term.
  Kids sorted out their rooms over the weekend, both came down with a bag of toys to go, they have so many still, but a few less soon.
  If I can carry on the way we are we will come well under the spending budget for this month. Will be the first time ever!!!!!
• Good Luck Coolcats!! I take the Ј10k is for a deposit? I can't wait to see your total going up x
• Hi Coolcats!
  Well done on your saving thus far - reading about you selling your bits and bobs on ebay has motivated me to do some myself and earn some pennies!
  Keep updating us all, great you have got your kids involved too!
  H x
• Thanks for the support.
  Selling seems to of stopped a bit the last few days. I'm sure it will pick up again soon. There is more to sort and put on so that will help a change of things and relist it in a few weeks.
  Although I have picked up a few bargins. A toy dyson style hoover for Ј15 new. And 24 cans of 7up for Ј6. Ideal for Christmas drinking.
  Meals have been from the freezer and a few no spend days (the above has come from separate budget so doesn't count) . Although made up a bit today. I went to Lidi to buy bread and ended up with 3 packs of chicken goulons at Ј2.79. Kids love them and good value so now in the freezer. They will last till next time on offer and cheaper than the big store alternatives.
  I have been making sure I only take out a few pounds for what I need to buy and not loads, so I know I can't spend extra. Although I do have a little spare in separte purse just incase there is a good offer as there was today. Seems to be working. By now I would of easy spent double what I have done in a normal month. So doing well!
• I had to spend today, sent brother his birthday present, early and as cheap as possible. Brought some veg and meat, again only brought what we needed and will use. I did look at the offers for Christmas, but stopped myself. Also only just had enough to buy the bits with cash so would of gone on the card. And we really don't need 2 tins of sweets just because they are offer.
  I phoned up the water, there will be a refund there and the monthly payments will go down next year. Phoned for the gas, there is a payment added which should bring in a refund as well or reduced payments next year. I'm also giving the meter readings monthly, which seem to be keeping an eye on where I am with it, currently in credit, but should even out at the end of winter.
  Tea will be the meat and veg with store cupboard items. There will be enough for a few days.
  Once the bills money has transfered I know what is left to save. Ј200 has been transfer to savings accout, hoping for more at the end of the month. Will depend what is left in there for food. Hoping to save another Ј100 at least. Going up slowly and steady.
• Have redone the local facebook sale page. They are changing the posting rules so not sure if it will work for or against me. I've posted the things on and had people asking for more info, but no sale as yet.
  Tea was h/m curry left from yesturday, made from a jar, chicken brought to make it. The jars are going down slowly. And makes a nice change.
  It has been a month now since we had a meal out or takeaway, done really well and hoping to keep up a bit longer. Although was tempted the other day. I got the menu out to work out what we could have, worked out the price and realised not getting it we would save nearly Ј20, that stopped me buying! It has helped using the left overs for a second meal, so not feeling I'm cooking every day. And have had a few ready meals in the freezer, ideal the odd day we have to rush about. The kids have school dinner so not so bad if they have an easy tea.
  If we can keep this up I think November will come out at Ј150 less on normal spending. Which means Ј150 to save. So I'm pleased about that. Not so sure every month will be as good, but hopefully it will. Also more left in the bank as of the bits that have been sold.
  I'm hoping to have a few days of no spending, as seem to have had a lot the last week. Hoping to last till thursday before we need anything. The bread,veg and milk should last till then and there is plenty of other food.
• Still people look at the selling page on FB and still no sales, getting depression now. People have been asking about things, so maybe sales wil come.They have changed the rules that only allows 10 items and you can only have them for 2 weeks and only bumping them no more than 24 hours. The items are only odd household bits, kids out grown clothes and toys.
  If nothing big comes up between now and the end of the month, and we can resist the takeaway urge. It looks likely to almost reach the target for this month. What has helped is my daughter's birthday present got lost in the post, the family that sent it had put a claim in for the lost parcel, we got the claim money, that will go in the bank, I had to buy a present from them at the time or have an upset child.
  The store cupboard still has plenty in it so all I need is meat and veg to go with it and we have a meal. The freezer has plenty of the chicken the kids like so they are sorted for easy meals. I do need to get some bread in there or the part baked rolls. I try to freeze the odd pint of milk so that never runs out.
  Been hard a few times, but its getting easier to say no to spending. I have to keep remembering the reason why.
• Don't worry Coolcats it will pick up once December hits!
• I'm sure things will pick up again. the whole page seems slow for a lot of things. And I have got over the target for November, so not really a big issue. A bit of a mix of other life issues going on as well.
  I opened the loyalty saver with Nationwide, had thought about it for a while, so feels good to of done it. Not a great interest rate, but will be good to hold onto for when things need moving till I decide where to put them.
  I felt the need for a cake when in the town doing it, but resisted the urge to go and buy any, so pleased about that. By the time I was home and busy the urge had gone. A few pound saved.
  Its hard at times but I'm still doing really well. Just life has a way of throwing things at you that don't need money but treats are much needed.
  I had to post a parcel, normally its last minute that I have to do first class, managed to get it organised early enough that its gone second, saving a few pence.
  Have also ordered another case of drink from the drink man, so thats saved a few pounds and will last into christmas. Most of the snacks are gone and normally I would go and buy more but as promised there will be no more till the next online shop. Another few weeks yet. Still be bread, milk and fruit just no biscuits or cake. Expecting some complaining but they will get used to the new routine. And may make it last a little longer.
• wow that sounds like a great challenge i hope you succeed i would like to do a challenge like that but for about 2k as i still have lots to buy for xmas and both my kids bdays are before xmas yes bad timing good luck let us no how your going
• Xmas is pretty much sorted. Have totally down scaled this year. Older 2 kids present was brought in August, most others are just bits, total each Ј80, youngest has just got few bits about Ј20. But he is too young to need much. Other family have got photo of kids, and box chocs, they will be happy with that. Few other token presents upto Ј6 each one. Total cost of presents Ј320 I guess.
  Not sure what we will do about Xmas main meal, but I have budgeted for only a little over normal budget. I have brought a few nice treats already, but don't plan to buy much more than already have. We have so much waste normally determined this year we won't have so much.
  Not sure I will ever reach the target, but I will aim towards it. I think it helps to have a high target, but then into smaller chunks. If in a few months I'm set on target, then great. But if not will reveiw time and target.
• Good luck with this challenge, a thread is a great way to keep motivated.
• I've been reading debt diaries and saving diary's to get me back on focused. Has been fine, till I get a text from the ex moaning he has no money cos of what he has to give me, all Ј5 a week!!!! As he is unemployed. Could it be the fact he smokes!!!!!
  Our son is with him and I think he needs to be seen by the doctor that is about 30 minutes by car being the weekend. He can't afford the petrol. He has his mum with him, she can afford to buy food regular from M and S. I'm sure she can help. He always monas he has no money, how about you give up smoking then, get a job, walk rather than the silly car journeys you instist on doing. 5 minutes in the car, 15 minutes walking.
  He gave up a perfectly good job 2 years ago. Got a job last year, after a few weeks gave it up as he had to work 6 days a week to earn enough to live off. So do plenty of other people, get over it, better to have a job than not.
  He would rather smoke than look after his son properly, say so much of his prorities. And he's not a young father either, think he would prorities.
• Good luck with your saving.
  Have you thought about doing some baking to pad out your cakes/biscuits diminishing. Flour/butter/sugar are fairly cheap from Lidl/Aldi and you can get a lot of cookies from a bag of flour.
  We're cutting down (since my partner lost his job 3 weeks ago) we normally spend about Ј400 a month on food (Ј100 a week) but probably top up each week so that figure is more likely Ј450 a month. We used to have a regular Tesco online shop.
  We started shopping in Lidl and have spent Ј196 on 3 weeks worth of shopping. I've been making my own flapjacks, cookies and cakes and borrowed my brothers breadmaker and have made my own bread.
  If we could spend Ј65 a week on food that would save us Ј1700 a year on food bills!
  Lou
• I have been making chocolate cearal cakes from slightly out of date cereal that they have decided they don't like any more. Couple of bars of chocolate eat time, butter and sryup we already have. We did 24 cakes yesturday now theres about 4 left! Doesn't matter what it is if its there they have to eat it. thats 2 of them eatting them, third child out. Hoping a few days of no nice things they may decide to make it last a little longer.
  I wish you well in your cutting back. Will be nice to save Ј1700 a year on food. I've been doing a mix of Lidi and coop, the local shops. And online with Asda once a month. That seem to be helping on cutting down. I think I should just come under budget, as long as there is no big spending these next few days. We don't need much. Although I do have Ј20 of child care to pay for which is included in the months spending. Its for one and a half hours after school club once a week. Next month I will pay off the balance for the whole year, but should be just under Ј20. And then look to see if it will carry on in the new year.
  My friend has phoned to ask for her daughters xmas present, she has given me 3 things to pick, all about Ј20. Will look to see where is the cheapest place and get the cheapest item. She will expect to have a birthday present as well as her birthday is just before, won't be another Ј20 though!
• The kids are still asleep and should be having breakfast, or will be a rush for school, oh dear. Mind its not nice out there that we wont want to go out. Will have to wake them it seems, the weekend there are up so much earlier!!!!
  Almost the end of the month. Been looking at how we have done and what is left. I'm impressed. Normally we will of spent at least Ј350. At the monment that comes in at under Ј200. There has also been an online shop at Ј100, cost of Ј80. Which was all neccesery. The Ј200 includes the extras not just food so total spending, except couple of things online, but they come out separte account so not included in this budget. I have got a total monthly budget including bills and that is also impressive. Not sure how much will get saved as haven't looked at that yet, but its sure to be high, but then the current account will be less than normal (no overdraft, so has a buffer kept in it). The main fact has been we have had no takeaways or meal out for the whole month. That has made a big difference with only buying whats needs for top up shops.
  I still have a little spending to do till the end of the month, but hope to use just what is in my purse, will force me to think do we really need it! As we are back to using the frozen milk, so will need more milk and bread.
  The first month has gone well, I hope the next few months go as well and this is the start of cutting back on wasting and it will be come part of life.
• Congratulations on your saving so far! It really is a part of life, I'd like to keep saving and spending within my means for as long as I can.
• Thats what I'm hoping it will all be part of life. It had been a few years ago, but the last few years its gone down hill. Not that I'd saved that much a few years ago! But now I have the chance to and am determind to do the best I can.
  I am really please with what I have done so far this month. It certainly has helped to keep this diary and keep the records of what is saved and how I've cut back.
  I had a meal at church today, Ј3 for main and pudding. Today was beef stew and trifle for afters. There was loads left so some had seconds. They do the meal once a month, except Dec. Its open to anyone and very good value. I'm hoping to go to as many as possible. Although not sure I always will, but will try. Following the meal is a short talk, only 15 or 20 minutes. Save me cooking, although I do for the kids its always an early tea as they have club. I had homemade soup for tea, which was made with veg looking past its best.
  I also stocked up on bread, with no temptation for anything else. I have Ј5 left to get some milk and veg with, but have everything else. So that should last till the end of the month.
  A friend did have a last minute panic that she was too later to get her child, so I got her from school and offered to give her tea. An extra mouth but she cleared the plate and encouraged mine to eat all there tea, so even better, less for the bin. They all do the club so was easier. And I know her mum will invit mine over sometime.
  A letter came home from school asking for Ј9 for swimming lessions. They have 6 each year at the local pool. Knew it must be nearly our time!! They have said to pay by 7th dec. So that can come from Dec money.
  Selling hasn't really been happening. I really need to sort out what there is and take more photos. I have taken loads of bits off as its had the 14 days allowed. Although I can relist it. Although I have still added a few bits.