'Virtual sealed pot' Challenge until Dec 1st 2009

A question about : 'Virtual sealed pot' Challenge until Dec 1st 2009

Hello
For the first time in 16 years, my only debt is to tax credits (grr) which is interest free and I have a payment plan for starting Jan 2009. So, I'm in a position to save a little bit. I have an old Natwest account paying interest, so from my nicely-in-credit Barclays bank current account every Friday I am going to transfer the pounds and pence to round it down to the next nearest Ј10. So if I am Ј36.78 in credit I will transfer Ј6.78, or Ј20.04 in credit I would transfer Ј0.04 only. The 'virtual sealed pot' bit about it is that I have the cashpoint card but don't remember the PIN, and I am giving the card to my nan to look after anyway (but I could access the account by going into the bank with my card and id, a bit of a faff, so I won't keep dipping into the account) (I have checked the Natwest account is working ok). On the law of averages I reckon I will save @Ј5 per week which would make Ј260 ish by december next year for Christmas. If things go well with my finances (as they seem to more and more since discovering this site, thank you so much all you MSErs) I will be able to do the same thing from my other current account (also nicely-in-credit) (I aim to save @ Ј260 from this account as well, from Jan 09). I just can't believe I have hit a point in life where I can realistically think about squirrelling something away.

So if you would like to join in please answer this thread with this size (6) lettering in your message saying

Count me in

and I will give you a number and add you to the list (if you have an amount you are aiming for put that too and I will add it next to your name e.g spam.jam #001 ( Ј260 + Ј260)

Credit to mumzyof2 for inspiring me with the original sealed pot challenge and Sue-UU who is running the sealed pot challenge for 2009 - many thanks ladies!! love from spam

spam.jam #001 ( Ј260 + Ј260 + Ј300 )
mbaz #002
sistercas #003 ( Ј200 )
littlepinkstars44 #004
SiannieLaz #005
edinburgher #006 ( Ј300 )
beanielou #007
violetblue #008
LilacPixie #009
jenki2 #010
lilian1977 #011 ( Ј1000 by April '09 )
larlie1983 #012
doelani #013
sam89 #014
kittiej #015
pandora205 #016 ( Ј250 )
likabu #017
Nicki_Sue #018
Buffythedebtslayer #019
littleangels3 #020
sparky0107 #021
elliemoo #022
ibelongtoguy #023
ella_ella_ella #024
TurnaroundSue #025
Melgirl #026
eSparkles #027
Allypops #028
Sweetpeanut #029
lysasparkles #030
mrssainted76 #031
debjones25 #032 ( Ј766 )
Palema #033 ( Ј250 )
Jaycee1972 #034 ( Ј240 )
torikate #035
chal #036 ( Ј750 )
Natti_A #037 ( Ј250 )
uzubairu #038 ( Ј300 )
2652147 #039
SEASHELL #040
ruby_eskimo #041
Norton Blade #042
coffeeholic #043
nickynoo08 #045 ( Ј300 )
ald65 #046 ( Ј200)
DOBEY7 #047
Raychee #048
cira9teen7tee #049
Moneybee #050

Best answers:

• I really like this idea! Think I'll join u!
• Oooh good, thank you. Have you got an old dormant account you would have a job to access to save into? My Natwest account has got Ј0.64 in!
• I do the same thing kind of - I transfer the extra bits into a savings account that I can't see on my usual online banking, and that takes 3 working days to transfer back into my account.
  I would be careful with not checking it though as you won't know if anything's gone wrong!
• Thank you lilian, I know the account is ok, I checked it online banking and then threw the codes away, but you are right I will go in and check it periodically and write down what I deposit and when ;-)
• It is an excellent idea - once you get into that habit you will transfer the extra money without even thinking about it - and you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you will have saved over the course of the year.
  Well done at only having the one debt left, too -that must feel pretty good
• Thanks hypno, this is what I like about this forum, the members are 99.9% lovely and encouraging. I really am feeling hopeful about '09. I've got a job interview (want to change job for something nearer home so cutting out travel expenses) on Friday as well so its all heading in the right direction for me (scuse the pun) xx
• Yeah, generally speaking we're not a bad bunch
  Good luck for the job interview on Friday.....get prepared by writing down notes NOW so that you don't forget really obvious things on the day! Nothing worse than coming out of the interview and then realising you missed out some really important stuff!
• Thank you again hypno. I feel quite prepared but no harm thinking about what they might ask, Im not nervous yet but might be Friday morning! Ive just been reading your diary thread, you have come a long way yourself, its inspiring.x
• Thank you! In turn, all my inspiration comes from these boards, so it is thanks to and MSE that I have got this far!
• i've been doing this as well!
• what a good idea, the Ј's and p's wont really be missed but will really add up over the year. good luck on Friday, don't forget to let us all know how you get on
  SC XX
• southern chick - thank you and I will let you know ;-)
  littlepinkstars44 - wow thats cool already, and you are right about the dreaded '-' sign, I think I have become alllergic to it. Do you have a time you will cash in your savings? for anything nice? and do you have an amount you are aiming for? Im aiming to save at least the Ј260 by dec 1st '09, but I would like to build on that with ebay earnings and daily clicks and quidco etc
• I think it's a good idea
  I do something similar, but my savings is my emergancy fund
• This is a great idea. Unfortunately I am not in a position to join in at the moment - may be next year :rolleyes: .
  Anyway, just wanted to say that I do the same (but in reverse) to pay off the credit card I have with my bank. It's amazing how every little helps cos the balance on this card is going down so much quicker than my other two.
  Good luck with this xxx