tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8814984506642537843.post2934390923719008691..comments2024-03-03T16:03:52.071+11:00Comments on Debt Free, Cashed Up and Laughing - The Cheapskates way to living the good life: The Top Seven Money-Saving Mistakes - Part 1Cath Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982092492622482815noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8814984506642537843.post-60004415060454869392012-09-13T11:16:16.578+10:002012-09-13T11:16:16.578+10:00Hi Cath,
Great site, thank you for your time and ...Hi Cath,<br /><br />Great site, thank you for your time and your thoughts in doing this.<br /><br />I was continually disappointing myself by settings savings targets and never meeting them. Yes, they were mostly overambitious, I suppose, although that was only part of of it.<br /><br />Instead, once I focused on my spendings only, and used that for a budget, it takes time to adjust to rein yourself in, but then what was once a tight budget perceptually, was rather maneagable in day to day living. It forced priorities for petrol, weekly food shopping and discretionary spending. I now see that say a $137 Bunnings shelving purchase does not have to bought at once, but can actually be put aside and save up for it out of my allocated weekly budget.<br /><br />I now even place all left over weekly money into a money box, this is to be saved for well, just to be saved - aim is for Christmas period 2013.<br /><br />Another one that has helped, is that I have been paying my power and gas bills in advance with spare money, in time this has built me up into a good credit situation, should unemployment arise, then I am better placed for 6 months minimum of electricity and 18 months in gas up my sleeve. I have slipped to just keeping up with my phone bill as it comes in, however, when that was in credit, I found that I was more mindful that I was spending my money in making calls, so would economise better.<br /><br />The feeling to get a bill and see that you are in credit, is a good feeling whereby I actually enjoy paying some more to keep me well in front.<br /><br />Going through the shopping docket helps tremendously, you can recognise frivolity and not necessary and you can also realise the costs of things.<br /><br />Essentially, by looking at my spendings, the savings follows through automatically. It may takes 3 to 6 months to get into a swing of things, but once established it is pretty smooth sailing from there.<br /><br />I dont begrudge car repairs and major'ish unexpected hits, as well, these things need to be done and gotten out of the way, and I have helped to place myself into a position to enable these things to be mere speedbumps now where of prior times they would have been brick walls.<br /><br />Thank you for your help in all of changing my way of thinking and assisting me in this journey from that of wasteful bachelor to a man learning the true value of money.<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />Graeme : )) : )) : ))Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com