Hello Dear Reader,
Budgeting isn't boring; it's liberating! It means I can look at our finances for the year, months and weeks ahead and not have surprises. This does mean we make plans and regularly review them and that's exactly what we've done tonight.
Both our holidays have been saved for, budgeted for and months in advance paid in full. We bought our holiday and ferry crossing online and used the 'manage my booking' facility to pay for both in full.
Our bills, with the exception of our water bill (no discount for monthly payment) is also paid online with my banking app on my phone and I set the money aside to pay every quarter. My car insurance is due any day and we've put money aside to pay it in one go. I never automatically renew and simply use my renewals notice as proof of my ten years no claim discount and then search for the best price that also has the best cashback, either through Quidco or Top cashback. Each year, I get around £50 back which reduces my policy to around £120. I do te same with house and contents insurance.
As we're going on holiday (twice) this year, we need to do some planning and organising so we don't waste money when we get there. We're self-catering so, all bar a meal on the way there and one on the way home, I'll cook in the apartment which really keeps the cost down. We also save money by taking everything that you need self catering but isn't provided. Forgetting the odd items can soon lead to browsing, supermarket trips and spending knowing that 'I have that at home!'
So, we're making lists and beginning the prep early to spread the cost. We've broken the lists into: kitchen (from food, cleaning, sundries, equipment- no oven, so I actually take our toaster oven) cleaning/laundry, car requirements (hi-vis ect), toiletries, bedding, medicine and first aid and clothing. It sounds a lot but it all easily fits in the boot of our car in stacking boxes.
My financial plans for next month are to pay for: European breakdown cover for 12 months, dog sitting for second holiday, next quarter's water bill as it will arrive when I'm just about to go on holiday. No surprises and all budgeted for. I could bore you with all the planned spending and saving over the next few months but I'm sure you get it.
Budgeting and planning doesn't make me feel restricted but helps us relax knowing that bills are all covered and we can treat ourselves to holidays without a credit card in sight and can come home without rendering ourselves skint!
I'm back to writing my lists. Over to you Dear a Reader, what needs to go on my list for our self catering holiday so we don't run up expense by forgetting anything.
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxxx
I always take a flask bag for flasks filled with boiling water, a plastic bottle of milk (I once had some little pots of UHT from Approved Food - very useful) coffee/tea/sweeteners in little pots or bags, a spoon, kitchen roll, rubbish bag. Plus some biscuits for emergencies. Today we had to go to the next town and we were ready at lunchtime, so DH made sandwiches, cut up fruit and filled the flasks and milk bottle. We stopped somewhere scenic, had a picnic and then carried on.
ReplyDeleteClippits are useful for resealing food.
Wet wipes or, as my mother always did, a damp flannel in a plastic bag for clean ups.
Any sachets of ketchup, salad cream, brown sauce etc you might have from cafes (not grabbed by the handful of course, but when you are given too many.)
Extra loo roll; we always buy Lidl economy and I don't want to end up buying Andrex in a servce station or corner shop because we've run out.
Like you, we go to Brittany on holiday but usually on a daytime crossing on the way home. I cook a quiche and eat half on our last night on holiday and take the other half on board with us next day together with some salad. Then we go to the cafeteria and buy a plate of chips to share and have it with our quiche and salad. Saves us loads.
ReplyDeleteBudgeting liberates you from the tyranny of your money running your life. You become in charge of your money, telling it what to do and making your money do what you want it to.
ReplyDeleteWe go out in our camper-into the wilds. No stores there, so we plan carefully. I make my own mixes for pancakes, granola, biscuit mix and bring what I would need to make bread (usually buns, as the oven is small). I have a tiny pantry, so I bring salt and pepper, but make up a few spice mixtures for cooking and bbqing. Space is at a premium, so I am careful about what I bring and how much. Barb
ReplyDeleteOn holiday in Cesky Krumlov , I fell and twisted my ankle very badly. I don't travel without stretchy bandages now. And plasters, aspirin and prescription drugs. I don't want to take unnecessary paperwork but some is inevitable so I take photographs before I go. If you're flying, lay out the things going into your luggage and photograph it all in case it goes AWOL and you need to claim on the insurance.
ReplyDeleteWhen my husband and I fly from Canada to Florida we always stay in a condo so I can prepare most of our meals. I use the money I would spend on groceries at home to pay for the groceries there however I do take a few things from home so it makes working in a different kitchen easier. I always take my tea bags from home.( I can't always fine our brand there and I don't need a whole box for just a week or two. I always take my favorite vegetable peeler and paring knife, as well as kitchen clothes. I also pack small amounts of the spices I will use over our holiday to avoid buy a large container in Florida. I usually take a nylon pot scrubber and some small package of laundry soap in case I need to rinse out a few things while away.
ReplyDeleteWe have done our road trips in much the same way, although with less detailed planning. I go to a supermarket along the way and try to buy bread, some filling for sandwiches, and whatever fruit is cheapest among the "ok to travel with" types. Apples, grapes--no soft berries (although we have bought berries to eat in a hotel.) We also take a jar of peanut butter and some kind of jam or jelly--and yes, I have made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while stuck in a traffic mess Easier than being patient when you're really hungry. . We used to carry sodas but now we stick mostly to water with an occasional soda as we get older. Once we unexpectedly got a kitchenette instead of a regular room, and I really spent some careful time considering what to buy without needing spices, condiments, etc. Sometimes something frozen that you wouldn't buy at home can still be a moneysaver while traveling. Plus, so many places have take away food that you can get almost anything these days. Since we are old enough to have diminished appetites, this comes in handy. We may order less than two full meals and still manage to have sufficient to eat.
ReplyDeleteAlso standard is a box of crackers and some kind of sweet--often chocolate, which serves as late night snacks or sometimes between meal snacks if one person is hungry early and the other is not. We have been across the US round trip at least 3 times, and across Canada once. There are lots of scenic picnic spots along the roads, and one stop at a supermarket might make lunch for 3 days. Ice is necessary but we use a small cooler (we own three different sized ones, as we used to camp when the girls were younger.) I don't know if Tupperware is as popular there as it was in my younger days, but they have some 2 oz containers with lids that stay on---perfect for salad dressings, grated cheese, or bringing small quantities of spices from home without taking up much space. (Foil packets that you make yourself and label might be even more convenient) Your own imagination is the only limit.
My biggest expense whilst on holiday in Italy was buying Ibuprofen (himself had a migraine). To my horror the cost was £7 for 8 tablets! Himself almost had a seizure when I told him of the cost back at the apartment!! It is so easy to forget that our supermarkets sell medicinal items quite cheaply but it is not always the case in Europe. Planning is one of the best parts of the holiday and list marking (and ticking off as you go) is my favourite thing (sad I know, I lead a simple life!)
ReplyDeleteOh boy , know the parecetamol/ ibuprofen regime well. Always take extra when go to stay with brother who lives abroad and leave everthing behind when we come home. Could almost pay for our stay with paracetamols because of the price over there! lol.
DeleteI've been thinking of changing my car insurance, I think I pay too much.
ReplyDeleteDo you have to pay any penalties for changing insurers or arrangement fees etc.,
We are having a weekend away in a few weeks to go house hunting, but I do not have to find any extra money for this, I will buying only the fresh food I need and going through the freezer and stores, thus saving money for the trip.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I recently returned from a 3 week car trip across country (for our 30th anniversary). We always stay in hotels that offer a free breakfast and coffee.Then we have some sort of healthy snacks in the car, bought at a grocery store, and have only one meal out per day. I wouldn't want to cook on my vacation, but that's a personal preference and treat. It just doesn't feel like a vacation (to me) if I have to cook and then wash dishes. I will recommend bringing a travel pack or two of disposable baby wipes, because public bathrooms can be awful and/or out of toilet paper. Also a purse sized hand sanitizer. Take you own pillows if they're more comfortable for you. Our bug surprise this trip was the variance of weather. When we headed out, there was an unusual "heat wave" with temps in the 90s. We did pack for warm weather, but we also hit rain and then cold... 19 degrees one morning!
ReplyDeletewe are having a 5 week holiday in Holland and Germany this year. Our biggest expense is the ferry crossing- paid for up front on line. We will take food to eat on board to save on costs. We will be cycling about 1000 - 1200 miles , camping in a tent. We have on occasion had to stay in a Band B or a hostel in really foul weather but have funds set aside if they are needed. We take herbs, spices and also have a couple of tins and packets to make a meal and buy food in supermarkets on a daily basis. we do sometimes have a take away or a meal out but usually cook on our petrol stove. My DH can even bake bread on it.
ReplyDeletewe are having a 5 weeks cycling holiday in Holland and Germany this June. We will cycle approx. 1000-1200 miles carrying all our camping kit . occasionally we have a meal out or a take away . My DH can even bake bread on our petrol camping stove. the funds are set aside for the eventuality of foul weather forcing us to B&B or a hostel. Its not everyone's idea of a holiday but we love it
ReplyDeleteWe have self catering holidays in the UK. After Christmas I try and buy 1 thing every couple of weeks to go in my holiday bag. It doesn't add much cost to the weekly shop so I don't notice it. By the time we go away I've collected toilet rolls, pasta, tea bags etc that we'll need so I don't have to do a big shop before we go or when we get there. I'm doubling my efforts this year as my daughter is off to Uni in September. There's a box in the loft with the same sort of things that I'm collecting to help spread the cost of her going away.
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent idea - a bag already to go on holiday.
DeleteI also think it is a brilliant idea to start a box for your daughter to begin at Uni.
I like to take basics on a self catering holiday, but part of the interest in going abroad is eating the different food available. So we will shop in local markets, supermarkets and small shops so we can try things that are available. Even in this country we will buy quite a bit of stuff locally.
ReplyDeleteJust as an example, when we had a camping holiday in Dorset and a couple of times in cottages in Cornwall, we bought local produce and really enjoyed it. We were also supporting the local economy! I hope that you would approve of that! It's cheaper than eating out, but we still have lots of things that we wouldn't have at home. Local cheeses and bakery items from the farmers' market, fish purchased off the quay, farm shops etc etc. OK , they cost a bit more than carting everything from home, but it gives us a lot of pleasure.