Ten months ago I sat down with one of my closest friends and organized her finances, it was no easy feat! With an income of £12,000 a year and a mortgage, she was struggling and never seemed to have any money left. When I asked her what her financial goal was, she shared that she desperately wanted a holiday – she had been waiting for 5 long years! It was not an easy task, it involved re-jigging and re-jigging, moving money into different jars and a whole lot of sacrifice. She went from saving nothing each month to saving £200 a month, spending £40 a week on food to slashing it to £20 a week (and most weeks she had change left over) while still eating 3 veg a day and 3 fruits a day! On top of that she begun giving to charity (finally seeing/feeling she can afford to) and has been able to not only help friends in need, but start saving for her future too!
And today? Well she flies off for 2 weeks in the US, fully paid for, in cash! Yes budgeting and frugal living is wonderful and marvelous, and as my friend said to me last night – it changed my life!
So I wasn’t imagining things! Lovely post. Please do share more details if you can on how all of this was accomplished. I always love to learn from others. And I surely hope your friend has a wonderful time.
Oh hurray, well done her that’s so inspiring. I would love to go over to America to see my friends again but always tell myself I’ll never be able to do it – there is hope!
How brilliant! What wonderful outcome. She must be thrilled!
That’s great!! It’s very nice of you to help your friend & it takes a lot of effort for her to stick to such a tight budget.
How wonderful for your friend! And how nice of you to help her!
Wow! How wonderful!
I also would love to hear more about your friend’s journey to financial balance.
Wow, how exciting is that!!! Yes, l echo the others, would love the hear the process you took her through. Well done, you gave her hope.
Oh, that’s great news! Sometimes I hate how money can hold us back, but then it’s so great to hear these stories of people learning to control their finances rather than let their finances (and consumerism/materialism/etc.) control them. I’m glad that she is treating herself. Vacationing is one of my favorite things!
Well done to your friend! I can only imagine how much less relaxing a holiday would be if you knew you still had to pay for it when you got back.
I hope she has a lovely break!
And well done you for encouraging her and helping her along the way- you’ve made a real difference in her life!
How great for your friend (and you, knowing that you’ve helped her achieve her goal) and I hope she thoroughly enjoys her trip.
Me again. Meant to say I hope your poor cat is more settled.
HOORAY!! That’s so fantastic!
I’m learning, learning, ever so slowly, but still learning. I LOVE the glorious freedom of paying CASH for something. It makes me smile so big. 
I’ll swap ya – soap making lesson for budgeting help!
Wow! How rewarding for her, and how rewarding that must be for YOU as well! I’m impressed.
That is awesome!!
this is so wonderful to read!! what an inspiration. welcome here to the states, dear ft’s friend!!
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That’s really great!!! I’m happy for her.