Im slowly improving

The other day I decided to spend some quality time with myself before a dentist appointment. I went to Starbucks and then stopped at Topshop... - Oh oh!

When I arrived on the second floor I saw these flat shoes which I saw for £15! from the sale area and walked around the store with it in my hands. I've honestly had my eyes on these shoes for a longggg while but never had the chance to ever see them. So this was my chance; my size, half priced and the last pair! I walked to the counter, whilst I was on the counter, I inserted my card in the reader and then decided to tell the woman to cancel my transaction just when my pin got asked to be entered... she even had the shoes ready in its plastic bag! Hoowaaay!

I was sad that I had to leave these shoes but was extremely happy for not spending that amount on another pair of black flats for work - this is also a big thank you for being on the phone to Celeste who was telling me not to purchase the pair of shoes!


Money saved! Phew!


Try to ask yourself question before impulse spending... Did I need another pair of black shoes... Yes! Im kidding! No!! However in the end I was happy enough that I managed to defeat that impulse temptation! So do the same....

How to save

So we have reached January, so many have come up to me and asked me how to save.
It's extremely EASY! I joke.

It is easy once you get the jig of it, difficult when you don't have a clue on where to start or with no guidance.


How I started...


BE PREPARED... Your preparation starts here...
This takes dedication and it is time consuming, and this journey with money and saving isn't going to be an easy lifestyle to follow. With money driving the world crazy, we're driven in to constant spending. I started this journey once God gave me the insight that I wasted money on things which I honestly never needed and worked hard to see money never well spent. So I urge and encourage you to take lead and to focus on great riches towards your finances!

Review

- I took time and looked at my financial spending, (at this point I had to look and examine carefully where my money went). You can do this by checking your bank statements 1 or 2 is enough or receipts ect. This helped to see where I stood financially too.

Note down

- Got a note book! With this notebook note down any spending, calculations, even early calculations on where your money is going (when you receive your monthly income and also check how much you would be left with). If you hit minus you will need to amend certain outgoings.
From this TRY to save your first 10% of that income and see how it works for you. On this point, this notebook is yours, yours personally, jot down advance calculations, important due payments ect. review it when needed. However I guarantee this book will save you MILLIONS!

Needs & Wants

- Know your NEEDS and WANTS!
Do you need that amazing leather jacket and those new pair of trainers/shoes? No! But hands up. I still disobey this rule but it will get you far. I have an extra small notebook and write anything I "need", little bit like a wishlist. I can review and see if I really need these things. Discipline yourself. Look around you and divide your habits from useless spendings and take time to write it down before
spending.

Goal

- To save you'll have to come up with realist goal. If you have a specific amount to save... keep that number in mind and give yourself a time frame to when you would want to finish it by. At first I never had a goal, I mainly got started with the process of just having to save whatever I could, within time I realised that to keep myself motivated I had to come up with a goal. Should your goal take 6months to a year it is entirely up to you. Should your goal be £12,000 by the end of the year?... try it!

Save it to know it

- Obvious one but sometimes its not so obvious. Use a saving account and DO NOT use it for outgoings. Big NO NO. If it helps, try to open up a different account where you cannot see or get direct access. Transfer a small fee so it can grow. Agree with yourself on a minimum to put in there each week/month ect.

Debt free

- This should be rule number 2 but I wanted this bit to be a caught up rule. Listen hard! THIS-IS VITAL! Pay any debts and any overdue payment but expect to be a little bit broke at the start. Let this be your main and your far most important duty, even before saving. If you leave this to the last minute your life will live on the minimal for a long timeeee.

 Keep to change

- Save your change! WOW! I can't emphasise how cool this is. I've saved all of my change and this has added up to great numbers. What to do? Get a jar and start with a penny or two, let this grow till the end of the year. It's never too late and see what you come up with. 

Priorities

- Plan! Plan ahead and tell your money where to go. Categorise the important things to the smallest utility bills.
Have a list of things which needs to be paid off, these are known as your priorities. Break them into months if it helps. I plan well in advance mainly with monthly set dates so I am aware of my outgoings the following month. This helps me to look out for what's coming ahead too, rather than freaking out because of an unexpected bill which needs to be paid on top. On the other hand, planning like this helps and makes you more organised.


Small points... Have monthly money allowance too... this will helps you on not spending money you clearly don't have. Start small so you can budget correctly and see if you can live beyond your means.