February money challenge
- Thread starter sparty
- Start date
GrannieAnnie
Silver Member
I`m subscribing!!
After doing so well in January I`m raring to go for February.
We`re away for a week early Feb but I`ve already put our spending
money by for it. The intention is that we won`t overspend and
dip into our bank account.
We shall wait and see!!
After doing so well in January I`m raring to go for February.
We`re away for a week early Feb but I`ve already put our spending
money by for it. The intention is that we won`t overspend and
dip into our bank account.
We shall wait and see!!
TamaraJDM
Full Member
I would like to join please.. Really need to get a handle on my finances with 2 holidays coming up (one is paid for, Florida I haven't even touched!) I also have a credit card and overdraft to clear down.
I can't do it all at once though and as the overdraft is quite low and I only pay about £1.50 a month for it I'm going to leave that to one side for now.
So.. This month!
My bills come to £698 a month so that's gone straight away! I do get my 2 months free council tax and water from this month though but instead of spending it - that's going in the Florida account so about £110 there.
I'm then going to pay £100 off the credit card, as is hubby so £200 off that this month.
Then I am going to draw out the rest of my money - approx 340 which will be split down as below:
£80 - Day care for my dog for the month
£120 - Petrol for the month
£25 - meal and drinks after work Friday
£40 - hair as it is in a state and I haven't had it done since October
£30 - valentines, although I think we may cancel it this year due to what we've got to save for!
£45 - hopefully into savings providing nothing else creeps up on me!
Hubby pays for food each month so that's covered. He also puts quite a bit in savings and shares etc as he gets paid more!
Sorry that's a right ramble isn't it!!
Tamara xx
I can't do it all at once though and as the overdraft is quite low and I only pay about £1.50 a month for it I'm going to leave that to one side for now.
So.. This month!
My bills come to £698 a month so that's gone straight away! I do get my 2 months free council tax and water from this month though but instead of spending it - that's going in the Florida account so about £110 there.
I'm then going to pay £100 off the credit card, as is hubby so £200 off that this month.
Then I am going to draw out the rest of my money - approx 340 which will be split down as below:
£80 - Day care for my dog for the month
£120 - Petrol for the month
£25 - meal and drinks after work Friday
£40 - hair as it is in a state and I haven't had it done since October
£30 - valentines, although I think we may cancel it this year due to what we've got to save for!
£45 - hopefully into savings providing nothing else creeps up on me!
Hubby pays for food each month so that's covered. He also puts quite a bit in savings and shares etc as he gets paid more!
Sorry that's a right ramble isn't it!!
Tamara xx
sparty
Gold Member
I'm trying to empty my cupboards and freezer as well this week and do without getting much in (which I should be able to do). Luckily both bf and I get paid Friday and he will give me £350 this time and then £350 again in 2 weeks when he gets paid again.
so on Friday I will pay £200 off my credit card and put £150 In to savings.
Then it's bank account switch time!
The other £350 will be part money for the month, part savings and part paying off overdraft but I'll sort that out when it arrives!!
so on Friday I will pay £200 off my credit card and put £150 In to savings.
Then it's bank account switch time!
The other £350 will be part money for the month, part savings and part paying off overdraft but I'll sort that out when it arrives!!
pixie-gem
Gold Member
Definitely need to be on track for February. January has been a very expensive month!!
I have a weeks holiday early feb but I have £950 for spending money already put aside which should be plenty and I really want to not dip into my overdraft (I cleared it but they won't let me cancel it as it's part of the account...how stupid is that?!) so it's constant temptation. Also have a catalogue to get cleared as all major appliances seemed to break last year and I have until July to clear it before I start getting charged interest.
Good luck everyone
Does anyone get paid monthly but do their shopping weekly? I always end up having to go back in at least 4/5 times after I've done the shopping x
I have a weeks holiday early feb but I have £950 for spending money already put aside which should be plenty and I really want to not dip into my overdraft (I cleared it but they won't let me cancel it as it's part of the account...how stupid is that?!) so it's constant temptation. Also have a catalogue to get cleared as all major appliances seemed to break last year and I have until July to clear it before I start getting charged interest.
Good luck everyone
Does anyone get paid monthly but do their shopping weekly? I always end up having to go back in at least 4/5 times after I've done the shopping
x
pixie-gem
Gold Member
I get paid monthly and usually do a weekly shop.
Xmas has been bad as we were here then away then back here again so no planning was done.
Do you just divide the money you would normally spend into 4 and just go once a week? We usually allocate £160-200 (depending on how much diesel we need) for the month but I think I easily spend another £20-30 a week on top!
pixie-gem
Gold Member
Oh that's a great idea! I think I still have that old online food phobia where I'll get nearly all out of date stuff lol so have been putting it off. Thanks
x
TamaraJDM
Full Member
Oh that's a great idea! I think I still have that old online food phobia where I'll get nearly all out of date stuff lol so have been putting it off. Thanks
I know what you mean and yesterday's delivery have a loaf of bread that went out of date yesterday and mince today but I've complained and getting my money back for them. Asda also check your receipts and if you could have got the same shop elsewhere for 10% cheaper they give you the difference so every shop I've had a couple of £'s knocked off too!
I may try morrisons online shopping now as I much prefer their products but will see if there's any difference price wise first!
Happy Holidays
Gold Member
Count me in
*Emsie*
Gold Member
Definitely need to be on track for February. January has been a very expensive month!!
I have a weeks holiday early feb but I have £950 for spending money already put aside which should be plenty and I really want to not dip into my overdraft (I cleared it but they won't let me cancel it as it's part of the account...how stupid is that?!) so it's constant temptation. Also have a catalogue to get cleared as all major appliances seemed to break last year and I have until July to clear it before I start getting charged interest.
Good luck everyone
Does anyone get paid monthly but do their shopping weekly? I always end up having to go back in at least 4/5 times after I've done the shopping
I get paid monthly and divide shopping money up weekly. We do spend a lot on food but I try really hard to stick to what is budgeted now. I used to pop the shops in the week to get a bit more fruit etc but now I try to just keep it to the bare essentials of milk, even with the need for superfree with sw there are ways round avoiding the supermarket and ending up spending more in the week eg having frozen veg and fruit in to top up.
Since I have stopped the mid week top ups I reckon I have saved at least 100 a month as would always get carried away x
Happy Holidays
Gold Member
Does anyone get paid monthly but do their shopping weekly? I always end up having to go back in at least 4/5 times after I've done the shopping
Yep, I get paid monthly but go shopping weekly.
I don't even allocate any money for food I just buy what's needed, but I go to Lidl every Monday for bread (OHs favourite), fruit & yogurts & whatever else is on offer which we'd normally buy. I then go to Asda or Morrisons for whatever else is needed, I also go to the market for meat, but that's not every week, I'm not a big meat eater & what I buy OH puts in the freezer & takes out as & when.
I've no idea the amount of money I spend on food, at the market its generally £10, Lidl anywhere between £10-£30, Asda about £65, there are only two of us, I don't think that seems too bad. Maybe a lesson here for me
February again I'm going to try & only buy what is actually needed & not buy any unnecessary items, you know like books, etc. Whoopsie just remembered I need some walking ankle boots, DD may be able to get me some at cost from where she works otherwise it's that online bidding site. Then thats it, me & OH don't bother to do anything for Valentines day so no worries there, I've no birthdays, parties etc so shouldn't be too bad.
*Emsie*
Gold Member
Yep, I get paid monthly but go shopping weekly.
I don't even allocate any money for food I just buy what's needed, but I go to Lidl every Monday for bread (OHs favourite), fruit & yogurts & whatever else is on offer which we'd normally buy. I then go to Asda or Morrisons for whatever else is needed, I also go to the market for meat, but that's not every week, I'm not a big meat eater & what I buy OH puts in the freezer & takes out as & when.
I've no idea the amount of money I spend on food, at the market its generally £10, Lidl anywhere between £10-£30, Asda about £65, there are only two of us, I don't think that seems too bad. Maybe a lesson here for me
February again I'm going to try & only buy what is actually needed & not buy any unnecessary items, you know like books, etc. Whoopsie just remembered I need some walking ankle boots, DD may be able to get me some at cost from where she works otherwise it's that online bidding site. Then thats it, me & OH don't bother to do anything for Valentines day so no worries there, I've no birthdays, parties etc so shouldn't be too bad.
Surprised at no allocation of money for food, maybe because its such a big outgoing for us though
*Emsie*
Gold Member
100 a month...oh how I wish! We spend about 150 a week and thats without boys lunches of 25 a week each!
Happy Holidays
Gold Member
I think so, to be honest it surprised me as I thought about it, I'm so organised & like to know what's going on, I pay for the food, OH doesn't pay for any of it. I do think it's because there is only us two now & we're not a family of 4, when DS & DD lived at home we did have a budget allocated to food.
It did make me think & I do need to look at how much I spend on food & set a budget, I don't over spend, I never waste food & think overall I don't go mad.
Happy Holidays
Gold Member
Flippin eck, that is loads, and the boys lunches of £25 each, wow, I'd be sending them with packed lunches!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Emsie*
Gold Member
I know I do try and keep it down and do get most toiletries and pet stuff out of that too.
Is your estimated 65 a week or month Michelle? Just thinking if weekly thats for 2 of you and theres 5 of us so not much difference per person?
The lunches is a ridiculous amount I know but they have really long days and it does include some drinks and some breakfast/break stuff sometimes and youngest is really fussy with food and doesn't like enough stuff to send in a packed lunch that he would eat and then it doesn't help his behaviour so am kind of resigned to paying it :sigh:
Its funny how we all have such different ways with money etc but great to see it on this thread for inspiration for change where possible
