Virtual Sealed Pot Challenge 2015

A question about : Virtual Sealed Pot Challenge 2015

Hi All

Welcome to the Sealed Pot Challenge 2015 - better late than never! I was a late comer to this and am picking it up in the hopes we can do some wonderful things with little bank transfers - many thanks to Spam.Jam, Palema, Flat Eric and keza who have run previous challenges.

From last year's thread - and to continue the thanks
Spam.Jam started a thread in 2009 for a VSP (Virtual Sealed Pot) Challenge. Palema continued the Challenge in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013! (Thank you Palema)

Flat Eric started the 2014 challenge but due to work commitments had to pass the reigns.

Then keza took over (thank you!) and now it's my turn - hope this is ok with everyone.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=4988680 to the 2014 challenge part 2
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=4834728 to the 2014 challenge part 1
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=4320309 to 2013 challenge
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=3646567 to 2012 challenge
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=2896760 to 2011 challenge
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...8#post38957308 to 2010 challenge
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...html?t=1347179 to 2009 challenge

I'll be back to edit this once I figure out how to turn that long link into a 'linky'

Best answers:

• Keza's first post from 2014 thread - the principles will remain exactly the same except it'll be me doing the updating
  The aim is very Simple!!
  Every Friday (Or whatever day is easier for you - I'm a Sunday girl) the aim is to transfer the pounds and pence to round it down to the next nearest Ј5 or Ј10. So if you have Ј36.78 in credit you will transfer Ј1.78 orЈ6.78, or Ј20.04 in credit you would transfer Ј0.04 only. Some banks do not allow you to transfer less than Ј1 – If this is the case what I tend to do is note what the money I have left that week then add it in the following weeks transfer.
  For me: The 'Virtual Sealed Pot' is a savings account that is not attached to my bank account and that I cannot dip into whenever I wanted to. I do forget about it which is what the intention is!
  In 2010 there were 81 members of the challenge.
  In 2011 we had 171 members
  In 2012 we had 185 members
  For anyone interested:
  81 members in 2010 we managed to save a staggering Ј9031.31
  In 2011 from the 171 member we managed to save Ј19,393.00
  In 2012 from the 185 members we managed to save Ј13,178.09 (there were quite a few people who joined and did not post)
  
  I don't know the total for 2014, sorry - if I find out I'll update. And as it's late and people seem to have stopped posting it probably makes sense to start a new list of members. This will mean everyone gets a new number - unless you're desperate to hold onto your old number, I'll do my best.
  Challenge will run from now until 30th November - slightly shorter due to me kicking this off so late I'm a member of the sealed pot challenge and so this may be an additional way to save for Christmas.
  To make things easier for me, I would ask that everyone post their VSP number ( I will assign these in due course) in their signature and post their total (in colour if possible please) on the thread, so I can add it to the running totals in this post. I'll do my best to provide updates on how we are doing
  If anyone wants to set themselves a target for their savings please let me know. Anyone else wishing to join, please just ask, you're most welcome and it's NEVER too late.
  Please be patient when asking to join, I am not online every day so it may be a day or two before you are added to the list and assigned a number.
  So, if you want to join let me know, I'll give you a number and we can crack on
• #1 Nix143
  #2 32b2in2013
  #3 DreamerHelen - target Ј200
  #4 e4rub
  #5 Buffythedebtslayer
  #6 iloveshopping93
  #7 Tescodealqueen
  #8 rasp
  #9 Lolly88
  #10 keza
  #11 tracy6697
  #12 crimson.addict
  #13 ruby_eskimo
  #14 Loubyloux
  #15 Meezel
  #16 Charlie1507
  #17 Dizzy Imp
  #18 brokeapproaching30
  #19 Cabby
  #20 VickyA
  #21 Westie983 - target Ј500
  #22 mowen81
  #23 catslovelycats
  #24 Kittykat1981 - target Ј300
  #25 Seaotter
  #26
  #27
  #28
  #29
  #30
  #66 shangaijimmy
  etc -
• Get me involved, New Years resolutions etc... Can I have number 66 please so it's same as SPC.?
  I've no idea on a target, but all cash will go as a mortgage overpayment!
• I'll join in if that's ok?
  I have already transferred Ј37.97 to my virtual sealed pot since the beginning of December.
  32b3
• Can I join as well please? Every little bit helps....would be nice to have maybe Ј100-Ј150 by the end of the Year...
• Done my first Bank Account Skim of Ј3.10... I'm on my way!!
• DreamerHelen, 32b3in2013 and shangaijimmy - you're on the list, welcome to the revised, slightly smaller than last year but still hopefully wonderful , list!
  If anyone else would like to rejoin please do let me know - I'll try to accommodate keeping numbers etc if at all possible.
  Transfer day for me is Sunday - it's when I do my online money jiggery pokery
• Thanks Nix....I appreciate you giving me a number....
  Well even if it's only 3 or 4 people....we will still raise some money and that's got to be worth it....
  What do you plan to do with your Money at the end of the Year?
  I would like to use some to pay off my Debt...perhaps pay a Credit Card off altogether....or something like that...that would be GREAT
  Anyway...Thank You again.....
• Hi everyone, I've been involved in most of the VSP challenges but last year just didn't get round to updating as much as I would have liked! Need to update my signature as well but hope to join in properly this year!
• Thanks for the number. My plan is to transfer on a Sunday evening once DS x 2 are tucked up in bed!
• Hi ruby_eskimo - I've added you to the list and left you with your old number. My optimisim says we'll fill up the ones in between
  My VSP will be combined with my actual sealed pot (which is bulging at the seams right now) and it will all pay for Christmas. My best friends and I are hoping to spend New Year in Egypt this year so I need some extra funding from somewhere
  ANY OLD VSPers - apologies if I have allocated 'your' number to someone else. The old thread had gone so quiet that I figured a nbew start might be a good thing. Just let me know if you want to hold onto your old number and I'll do my best to accommodate
• Hi Nix can I join again I have been #007 for the last couple of years, tend to do my sweep on a Friday
• Thanks Nix! New Year in Egypt sounds great; we'll probably be at the pub as always!
• Done Tescodealqueen nice to meet you!
• Wow Nix...New Year in Egypt sounds AMAZING!! Where in Egypt will you go? I've been to Sharm el Sheikh and it's WONDERFUL!! Although I went in August one Year (many moons ago) an d it was ridiculously hot...I don't do hot weather!! LoL
  I remember going to Tunisia when I was about 15/16 for Christmas and New Year...and it was so incredible....I remember walking down the Beach on Christmas Day and thinking that was really weird....but the Hotel were amazing...considering it is predominantly a Muslim Country they were amazing and even did us a Nativity Scene in the Hotel Reception Area....they were so lovely and really went all out....One of the best Holidays in my Life...EVER!!
  Sorry, I can get carried away talking about Travelling
  I AM hoping to go on a Day Trip to Paris towards next Christmas....I used to go every year...used to catch the 11pm-ish Coach from Victoria....arrive in Paris around 7.30am...spend the Day in Paris and then get back on the Coach around 11pm-ish that Evening and arrive in Victoria the next Day...but I'm FAR too old to do that now!! LoL...I think Eurostar will be the way to go for a Day Trip...and Paris is so wonderful....and can be done fairly cheaply...so I'm hoping I will be able to do that...
  Anyway...I'm sure I've rambled on enough
  Well Done to Everyone that has joined...Let's ALL go for this and achieve what we want to achieve!
• DreamerHelen - your day in Paris sounds lovely! I think that's a great thing to do.
  New Year here was so wet and miserable, everyone I knew had a cold - so we thought why not fly to Sharm for a week and spend New Year there instead? It won't be crazy hot but it'll be nicer than it is here. I always find New Year a bit of a let down - it seems an idea to take advantage of being off work and get away from it all. We'll see how much it costs though before we get too excited
• Aww thanks Nix....Yes, Paris IS beautiful...have you been? I absolutely love it there and never get bored....the one thing I would LOVE to do though is go to see a Show at the Moulin Rouge...Pigalle and Montmarte are my favourite places in Paris....But unfortunately if I'm only there for the day I'm fairly sure I can't do the Evening Show at the Moulin Rouge...but maybe one day!!
  Also, I don't find Paris too expensive either...particularly if you eat from the Street Vendors (can anyone say the word "Crepes" )....and I don't tend to go up the Eiffel Tower since I've done that and don't have any desires to do it again....I like to wander down to the Seine and I have once taken a Boat ride on the Seine, which is beautiful...and then wander up to Pigalle, Montmarte and the Sacre Couer...and then maybe over to the Notre Dame....I would also love to do the Catacombs but I am rather tall and also slightly claustrophobic and I'm worried that once I got down there I would completely freak out...so I haven't gotten around to doing that yet.
  Oh Sharm is WONDERFUL Nix....While I was there (I think it was about the Year 2000) I didn't have much money and so I had to choose between a Tour to go and see the Pyramids...or a Tour to climb Mt Sinai...I chose Mt Sinai...I don't regret it for a single second....It was incredible....I actually did the first part on a Camel since I'm incredibly unfit....but then I climbed about 700 steps to get to the top....and then we watched the Sunrise...
  I found the people were so friendly....the food was incredible...the Hotel was amazing....It was just a lovely wonderful Holiday....I just haven't gotten around to going back yet....But I'm sure you will have a WONDERFUL time and if you Book early enough it shouldn't be too bad price-wise...
• Hello,
  can I join please XX
• Brilliant........am really glad this is continuing this year........#4 reporting for duty!!!!!!!!
  Emily x