Here’s a look back over ten key dates that have shaped the way I spend and save…
House News!
If you read my post: House Hunting – The Highs and Lows! a few weeks ago you’ll know that we found a house we really liked. Here’s an exciting update of what’s happened since…
House Hunting – The Highs and Lows!
My partner and I have only viewed five houses but we have learnt so much! So here’s an insight into our house hunting experiences along with a few tips about looking for your first house!
Saving to Buy
I am nearly at the end of a long journey of saving to buy my first house with my partner Shane! I’ve always loved a good bargain but I’ve stepped up by game to be able to save for a deposit on a house. Here’s a few of the things I do to help save money.
2018 Goals!
No New Year’s Resolutions; just one big GOAL!
Savings Update
As you know, I’m currently saving to buy my first house and my money saving ways are helping me to save as much as I possibly can. This month I hit one of my targets a month ahead of schedule and I paid off my car meaning I AM DEBT FREE! For the first time in ten years I am back in the black! I am incredibly proud that I’ve been able to do this whilst renting a house and saving money. It’s not been easy but I’m sure it’ll be worth it when it comes to buying a house.
The money that was going towards my car each month will now go into the house fund. I have also stumbled across a clever way to save even more money. At the start of September I stopped taking my purse to work with me, It’s such a small change that has made a big change. It’s prevented me from making impromptu trips to the sandwich shop at lunch time and stopped me nipping to Asda on my way home. Amazingly, it’s saved me an extra £100 in just one month. It just goes to show how easy it is to spend £5 here or £10 there on impulse purchases. I am amazed how much money I must have wasted in the last by buying rubbish I didn’t actually need.
Although I am being quite strict with my savings, I am of course still allowing myself to have treats here and there. I don’t think I’d cope without any treats so things like Groupon, Clubcard vouchers and Meerkat Movies all help me to still have a good social life without it costing a fortune. My clever spending also means I can still have a night out every now and again. If it’s a friends birthday and there’s a night out planned then I know I can go, I just won’t go mad and get a tan and new outfit like I used to. It’s great because I’m not having to make too many compromises and I’m still able to enjoy myself.
I’m excited that years of hard work are finally paying off and hopefully another six months of sensible saving will give us some extra funds. My goal is to be a homeowner before I turn 30 in June and I’ve already got a bottle of pink Veuve Clicqout ready and waiting. I’m hoping I get to open it before my birthday so between now and then I’ll keep you posted on how my savings are coming along and when we finally start looking at houses. I will of course continue to share all of my bargain deals and money-saving tips as well. Let me know if you have any money saving tips in the comments below.
Happy Sunday,
Thrifty Clair x
Countdown to owning a home & being 30!
June was an extremely busy month for me. I spent a lot of time celebrating my twenty-ninth birthday with family and friends; I enjoyed meals out, days out, and drank far too much prosecco! It was a brilliant, but also very expensive, month. I did get to enjoy lots of fabulous birthday freebies too so it wasn’t a total bank balance buster.
Continue reading “Countdown to owning a home & being 30!”
First time buyer? Read this!
Confused by all the different ISAs out there?
I can help…
A few weeks ago a relative of mine posted a status on Facebook asking about the Help to Buy and Lifetime ISAs. Having started saving to buy my first house just over a year ago myself, I shared with her what I have learnt. That in turn led me to write this as it brought back all those worries and questions I’ve had during that time.
Thrifty Clair 