I'm a savings geek

I know that my updates have been non-existant lately but that's because 1) I'm in the final two weeks of the semester (why did I think a Summer semester was a great idea?!) and 2) I'm on a self-imposed shopping ban. I'm going to California in September so I'm obsessively saving to make sure I have enough $$ to do some serious shopping.

I have never saved in my life so this is all new to me and, weirdly enough, I kinda like it. I opened a high interest savings account tied to my regular chequing account to make it easier for transfers, withdrawals, etc. Then I started transferring everything into it that's left at the end of the pay period. I get paid every other Friday so on payday morning I check my account, whatever's in there other than my paycheque goes into savings. Next I cut out Starbucks. I was drinking one, sometimes two, Starbuck's coffees a day. There's no reason for me to drink them at all. I drink coffee at home in the morning before I leave for work so I didn't need that second, or sometimes third one. Now I rarely even want a SB anymore and the money that I saved goes straight into savings (I put $5 per day). After that I cut out going for lunch. I bring lunch now at least four days a week, most weeks every day. I figured that I don't even like anywhere around here for eating out so why was I bothering?! Lunch was costing me a good $7-9 per day, at five days per week so it wasn't worth it. Most people at here at work bring their lunch and I like how it gives me more control over what I'm eating. Coffee and lunch alone have saved me $65 per week, which all goes directly into my savings. It's sad that those two things total almost what my car payment is.

That wasn't enough for me so then I started putting away even more. I set up a Bank The Rest program at my bank so whenever I spend any money on my debit card it rounds it up to the nearest $5 and puts it in my savings account. Also, whenever I save any money I put the amount I save into my savings. The other day I got a pair of work out shorts for $12.50 were regular $35, so I put $22.50 into my savings as soon as I got home.

It doesn't sound like I'm doing much but trust me, those little things add up! I've been trying to think more abou what I buy too before I buy it. Until this summer I used to be a terrible impulse shopper, handing over my debit card before I even thought about buying something. I have so many things that still have tags on them because I've never worn them. Now I find when I think about things I either 1) decide that I don't really want/need it or 2) realise how much I do want/need it and feel satisfaction knowing that I will get use out of what I bought. This is working out well because I realised that if I want to go out and buy, say a new bag or something, I can afford to get it with one paycheque in cash, not credit, and still have money for living comfortably left over. It's a great feeling.

Honestly I don't even miss the money I'm saving and I get a little kick out of opening up my online banking and seeing that my savings account is more than double my chequing account (and I just got paid!). The best part? I've only been doing this since July 11th!! Right now I can shop pretty well in California and I can't wait! I have no doubt that I'll spend every last penny but who knows... maybe I'll start this up again when I get back after my trip and go on more frequent shopping binges, instead of getting one thing here and there.
I haven't been able to cut out makeup and magazine shopping but I see them as nessecites. Magazines for reading at the lake every weekend and makeup, well that's a given! ;)