Introduction - Part II

Hey!

Have you missed me? Sorry I've been away so long, time passes so quickly sometimes.

So, where are we now? Well, my original plan of saving £5k in the space of a year didn't work out. That said, I did manage to pay off my overdraft and credit cards and increase my salary. OK, so I guess I was a bit over ambitious with my original plan, but, on the plus side, progress has been made. Plus, I am just so much more frugal now - or stingy depending on your view of penny pinching.

I'm still renting with Love of my Life and we're hoping to buy a place of our own next year, if not sooner - cue more frantic saving! Basically whatever we have saved by April next year (if not before) we're going to go to the bank with. Ideally £12k, so £6k each. Although we might go and see Mr. Bank Manager a bit sooner depending on how the saving goes, and what happens with the supposed house price crash. Yes, we're in the midst of the credit crunch, cue even more attempts to save money. The price of everything is going up, yet salaries seem to be staying the same - how is that fair?

I'm also looking for permanent employment, as I'm doing a maternity cover contract at the moment. Obviously I need permanent employment so I can keep saving and so we'll be considered for a mortgage when we're ready to get one.

I know I deserted you for a while, but now I'm back and I hope you'll read about my penny pinching exploits (and occasional guilt ridden splurge) and support me in my mission to save.

Where am I now? I have £2238.08 in savings. I want to have £6k in savings by April 08 - so that's £3761.92 to save between now and then.

Check back regularly to see if it's possible, how I'm getting on and generally give me some moral support. Who knows, you might even find some of penny pinching tips useful?

I've missed you!

Babe xx