#MySaverStory

Today I’m joining in with Natwest’s #MySaverStory campaign, as they promote their fairer savings policy. It has been interesting to write, as it has really made me stop and think about my savings goals over time. So I’ll take you on my savings journey, from when I first earned my own money, until now and how I see things changing in the future….

The Past:

I got my first full time job when I was 18. It was to be a year out before going off to read History at university, where I had my place all ready, so I was just going to get some work experience behind me and some savings. Hmm, well I never got to that course as the working life seemed to agree with me and as I was doing OK, I stuck with it and continued to save. Just a little each month from my salary, to get into the habit of doing so.

Then I met the Husband and before long, savings became all about our first home. We saved hard for that one! Putting money aside for the deposit, the fees and for actually furnishing the place. Once we’d done that and wiped our accounts out, we were saving again, albeit on a smaller scale as we had less spare money, but just so we’d have a little something to fall back on.

After that, to be honest, life got a whole lot easier with money. We continued to save regularly for a rainy day, paid the bills and then enjoyed the freedom of shopping trips, eating out and holidays as and when we wanted them. We spent a fair bit of money on holidays, and that tended to be where most of our savings were headed.

holidays

If we needed big things, like house extensions and renovations, we added them to the mortgage, rather than saved for them. Then I had Boo, gave up work, and savings ceased as we concentrated on just getting by on a sole wage. I suppose if I could go back now, I should tell myself to save a little more, so that we wouldn’t have had the lean years when I  gave up work (though that was never in the plan, so I did not see that coming!) But then, if I’m honest, I liked blowing our money on amazing holidays, and we still have those memories to treasure.

The Present: 

Right now is quite a nice place to be compared to the last few years. The Husband has been in his new job for nearly a year now, and finally money’s becoming a bit more comfortable for us. I’ve also started earning a little part time income from blogging, and so we have started saving again. It’s handy to use tools like the Natwest’s budget calculator to figure out what can be saved, and we’ve got a standing order running again to do so. As well as having a little set aside for emergencies, it’ll be going towards the children’s birthdays towards the end of this year, Christmas presents, and Little Man will be starting nursery in September, so we’ll need to find the fees for that, too. And so we are saving again, a little bit each week.

piggy banks

The Future:

The next biggest spend that we see on the horizon is Disneyworld. We want to take the children whilst they’re still fairly young, but then old enough to remember it for years to come, so we’re thinking in two or three years time from now. We’ve been before, back in our early twenties, so we know that it’s a costly trip, even without small ones begging us for things! It’s a nice goal to have, though, and we are so looking forward to seeing their little faces when we are there. Beyond that, I’d want us to get back to being able to save more money for bigger projects around the house. Redecorating, new driveway, redoing Boo’s bedroom in a couple of years time. There’s always something, isn’t there?!

If you’re a Natwest customer, you can also use their nifty Savings Goal tool to help you work towards filling that savings pot. What about you? How much have your savings goals changed over time?

Disclosure: Written in collaboration with Natwest

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4 thoughts on “#MySaverStory”

  1. My savings goals have definitely changed in the last 5 years! From living in a rented house and having a runaround car, to living in a house of our own, new car and 3 year old son! Responsibility ensures changes to priorities x

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