Slashing Travel Costs

One of my colleagues has been wittering on about doing a car share for months! I’ve dismissed this over and over based on the fact that I like to get into the office early, and leave the office late – and my colleague – doesn’t.

However, whilst discussing this with my Wife the other day we made some startling calculations that have lead to the conclusion that the car share is infact, a great idea.

1 – Monthly Cost saving: £250 (should be enough in itself)
2 – Improved Work Life Balance: Less time travelling, more time with family
3 – Improved Productivity: I reckon my concentration will improve meaning my work productivity should improve

There is one major sacrifice:

1 – Loss of freedom & reliance on someone else: I don’t like to be dictated on how and when I arrive somewhere, which is why I like to travel by myself, it’ll take a bit of getting used to!

So, hmmmm, I have to wonder why I’ve been protesting so much. I’ve got the opportunity to slash my travel costs and I’m going to take it. That’s an extra £3000 in the back burner over the year!!!

It’s been a while

Every now and again I look back at dailyspends and realise that I’m not doing a great job of tracking my actual spending. I’ve also been a bit naughty and neglected the blog slightly over the last few weeks.

The thing about DailySpends is that I enjoy writing it and when I do write it, it actually makes me think about what I’m spending.

This weekend we’ve been a bit short on the readies because we’ve had to spend a few quid on the car (£270 to be precise on MOT, TAX & a new tyre). So it’s been back to basics with some old skool (yes! with a K) thrifty tricks:

1 – Nice cheap dinners: Home made pizza (50p per head) , Nachos (30p per head), Cheap Sunday Roast (£1.00 per head)

2 – Cheap weekend drinks: 20 bottles Becks (£7.59 on sale at Tesco), 4 litres Cider (£3.00)

3 – Family fun: Dog show (free), Craft (free), Park & Walk (free)

Money you never thought you had…

Short on cash? Looking for ways to generate extra income? There could be money right under your nose!!! It was right under mine…

I went out for a drink last night & was excited to find £5 in the pocket of my jeans (a pair I haven’t worn for a while). It’s not exactly a fortune but it paid for my 1st two drinks to I was happy 🙂

When you next get a few minutes, have a look in the pockets of your old jeans & jackets, behind the sofa & in the car. You may be surprised to find the odd £5 or £10 notes, in amongst all the coppers.

Of course, this is no long term solution. If you are regularly short on money, you will need to find a more reliable & consistant way of earning more, but it’s a bit fun & you can even get the family involved; ‘Finders – Keepers…!’

Pizza Price Index – First Registered Rise

Roll up! Roll up! A very exciting thing has happened! the PIZZA PRICE INDEX has increased for its time ever! Oh yes indeedy . . . in a shock movement the index has increased by a whopping 8.4 pence:

Ingredient Prices at 03.06.08:
T Healthy Living Italian Mozzarella – £0.236 (down)
Tesco Value Ham – £0.615 (up)
Tesco Value Mild White Cheese Small – £1.344
Tesco Value Plain Flour – £0.12
Tesco Value Plum Tomatoes – £0.095
My Pizza Price Index at 03.06.08 = £2.41

I’m urging all fellow PPIers to recalculate their index immediately.

Travel Allowance: May Results Are In

May has been the first month in which I’ve tried to save money against my travel allowance. I’m pleased to report that it’s been quite successful in that I have managed to come in under budget by about £90.00! I am very, very pleased . . . not just because I’ve saved a few quid but because I’m starting to see how keeping such a tight reign on my finances is starting to have a positive impact! So here’s the results:

Budget = £384.00
Month to date (total spend) = £287.00
Surplus/(Deficit) = £96.05