Save $1000

It is quite easy to save in some respect. I had a giant cash tin money box – the kind you can’t actually get into without using a tin opener. So, for the past few months, I’ve been putting in all my small change. All 20c, 10c and 5c pieces, sometimes 50’s and dollars. It was all going so well, then my company got bought out, and new management came. So practically all the employees got their hours reduced to next to nothing, and a bunch of Juniors got the positions. I am not angry at the juniors, they’re just trying to earn a crust like the rest of us, I’m furious at management. They already had perfectly capable staff, now they have to train new ones, all for they sake of $4.50 an hour each. We are all looking for new jobs.

Anyway, the moral of the story is that it’s GOOD to have savings! I was forced to crack open my tin, and I found $142.75 – enough for my rent deficit ($80) and bills ($57). And I could buy a cappucino. HOORAY FOR SAVINGS!!!!!!!

I am pretty happy because I’ve been gradually paying off my debt. I paid $525 to a friends Mum for a bond agreement, $700 to my Mum for money I borrowed over a period of four years, and $77 to my flatmate to fix his computer. (I broke it). I am still saving all 5c, 10c, and 20c, with some fifty cents, and some gold occasionally. My moneybox is about a third full. I put my savings in a high interest bank account, and have made $10 in interest so far. It’s SLOWLY increasing, I guess that’s the important thing. Then again, I read about a guy who started saving one dollar coins when his daughter was born. The day she turned 8, he had $13 000 in savings. So I suppose it does matter.

I got a credit card with a long interest free period, but I won’t use it unless it’s an absolute emergency. (Like my whole family is starving kind of thing). With god as my witness, I shall not spend…

Oh I am so relieved – I have great news. After two months of being an unemployed welfare bogan, I finally got a job!!! I now work for Apple Marketing as a fundraiser for large Australian charities. It pays $18.40 an hour, so I’m going to REALLY enjoy putting money in savings again. It’s about twice as much as I’m on now from our generous government! Ha ha.

Also, I found out that my superannuation (41k or whatever the american term is) account has $831.27 in there for me to retire on. Wish I could count that towards my $1000!!! Total saved to $1000 – $87.65. I was forced to dip severely into my savings for things like bus fare. But now I hope it will go up. After $1000 I’m setting my sights on $5000. Lol. Good Luck to everyone else completing this goal.

I was talking to a friend the other day, and she said most of us go about our savings in completely the worng way. (She’s one of those people who earns minimum wage but still drives a nice car. So I trust her advice) She said that what everyone forgets is that a) every little bit counts and b) saving should not be a chore. Apparently most of us adopt an “all or nothing” attitude to saving. ie “That little 5c piece won’t add up” I might have a coffee. etc. But you don’t have to stop doing really anything.

She asked me first what I wanted to save for. If what you want to save for is more important than your daily starbucks fix, then you’ll do it. If you’re just doing it to say you did it, no wonder none of us reach our goals. Once you know why you want to save $1000, stick pictures or reminders about how great it’s going to be when you get to own it/do it. I’ll use myself as an example. I want to save $1000 to go to England and see relatives I haven’t seen since I was three, and to see Paul. I want to stay at least a month. It’ll cost way more than a grand, but that’s my visa, passport and health insurance. So I stuck pictures of my relatives on the firdge, started using the mugs they gave me, and stuck a picture of a mini plane on my wallet, so every time open it I think “This isn’t helping me save” It’s worked. But she says the main thing is, when you don’t spend the money, you have to save it.

Secondly, get automatic deductions from your account, and save change at home in a place where you CANNOT PHYSICALLY GET INTO IT. I agree with this, cos if I have money, I’ll spend it. I got a moneybox which is tough. I either have to try and get my change back through the slot, or use an industrail tin opener to crack into it. So I can get into it, I just think It’s too much effort.

Lastly, she said saving shouldn’t be a chore at all. Like turning off the power to save 2cents is too much effort. But doing minor things adds up. For instance, if you drink a coffee a day, and you buy a Large cappucino for $2.95, try ordering a regular or small for $2.10 just three times a week, and put the money in your tin. 0.85×3 = $2.55 times 52 weeks in a year equals $132.60 saved this year BY DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!! Amazing isn’t it. And if you downsize your coffee every day and save the difference, you get $309.40 And if you downsize everything and skip a coffee occassionally, we should all get to our goal within a year (assuming we all eat out regularly.)

My mate gave me hundreds of tips. Pages, but I’ll only write the rest if anyone wants me too. (Stuff like resale values etc.) Too indepth for me.

My email is natascha.grasby@student.gu.edu.au or I’ll post here if anyone wants to know. I should be able to save a grand easier than I thought.

I completely forgot about this website. I worked for Myer, and managed to save very little, but it was still worthwhile. And I should get a fat refund cheque this July, so I should be able to save quite a bit of that. Saving is so easy, but yet so hard too. It is easy if you do it automatically. You don’t even notice your money gone. It’s just unfortunate that the only thing easier than saving money is spending! Ha ha.

My job contract ended, and I am now back searching for work and on social security pension. However, I have still managed to save a tiny bit of money since I’ve been unemployed. I bought a massive moneybox, and I put every 5, 10 and 20c piece I get in change in there (or just the 5c if I’m REALLY STRAPPED). It’s getting quite heavy, so it’s adding up. It’s going to be a slow way to save a grand, but heck, there’s probably $40 in there without me even missing it. I put in $1 or $2 a day when I’m working. And my savings are still on the rise! (Yes)

Got a job today – for Myer/Grace Bros. Yay. Should help me save at least some of my goal money, start November 1.