It's not rocket science, so why don't I get it?

Piquant_2

TMoose wrote: »

I also tried SJW and found it was helpful for short periods only - it seemed that my body slowly got used to it.

The other things that I investigated (and actually worked) were bananas and brocolli & avocado - apparently full of the same sort of chemical.

I actually suffered quite badly from depression in my uni-years, and it still haunts me now from time to time. Fortunately the OH is very supportive, and we've also come to the conclusion that it's SAD, which means that I've forked out £100 for a wake-up lamp. Which actually seems to work. That along with a holiday in the southern hemisphere last december (which may be slightly over budget:o

I only want it short term, just to get over this dip in the road! I did wonder about SAD, but think I'll try the cheaper remedy first!

Don't worry Fay, I'll keep an eye out for incipient madness or reactions to [STRIKE]alcohol[/STRIKE] medicine...

In summary - try having a banana a day, and upping the intake of brocolli & avocado

I only want it short term, just to get over this dip in the road! I did wonder about SAD, but think I'll try the cheaper remedy first!

Don't worry Fay, I'll keep an eye out for incipient madness or reactions to [STRIKE]alcohol[/STRIKE] medicine...

Will also put bananas on next weeks shopping list and maybe sneak in a calorie free avocado or two

Piquant_2

Six month review

I’m borrowing this idea from MrsA, seems motivational and all in all a great idea!! Thanks MrsA :T

I joined MSE in August 2008 with a total credit card debt of 24,534.37 it was a lot higher, but I had been plugging away at it on my own. Today it stands at 19,852.93 meaning I have cleared 4,681.44. Of that 1,813.76 is off my highest interest debt, all through additional payments each month.


I have also cleared 4,457.96 from my loans, this would have cleared anyway, but it’s phase 2 of the plan, so worth mentioning.

What have I learnt so far?

• PPI – I’ve cancelled this on one of my loans saving 22.23 a month and I’ve put in a claim for mis-selling
• Changed phone providers and saved 8.00 a month – this amount is religiously paid across to the debt each month
• Changed buildings and contents insurance and saved 28.00 a month – this amount is religiously paid across to the debt each month - and made 70.00 from Quidco by doing so!
• Set a petrol and grocery budget of 200.00 a month and stuck to it though meal planning and old lady driving!
• Seen my credit card minimum payments fall from 807.15 to 730.09 saving a difference of 77.06 – this amount is religiously paid across to the debt each month
• Stopped buying lunch and coffee on the way into work. Now do packed lunches and work coffee – this is the painful bit, work coffee is made from cigarette ends and mud, urg…
• Make my own bread in the breadmaker, takes 5 minutes and saves a fortune
• Stopped using the tumble dryer and converted my home into Widow Twanky’s laundry emporium
• Done the snowball thing – I now compete against myself to bring down my debt free date!
• Worked out the annual spends, divided by 12 and transfer this amount to another account running alongside my current account. So in theory I don’t need to panic about paying the car tax as it’s already budgeted for and the money is there

MrsAudus2b

Fantastic 6 month review Piq....and what a great amount to have paid off too! :T :T :T

Can't wait to do our yearly one now!

xxx

Pippilongstocking

Wll done Piq - amazing progress in only 6 months - x

Just working out which bits you can mentor me on - xx

Liking the move the annuals spends accross - seems really sensible - xxx

[Deleted User]

Well done Piq, you are doing so well. :beer:

lucielle

Fantastic totals Piq
L

hampsterpoo

Well done on the six month review :j :j :beer:

, we to are competing with the snowball date its great when it changes early.:beer:


The old lady driving , do they tip well ? :whistle:
Funny I cant remember you mentioning them before :rotfl:

Piquant_2

hampsterpoo wrote: »

Well done on the six month review :j :j :beer:

, we to are competing with the snowball date its great when it changes early.:beer:


The old lady driving , do they tip well ? :whistle:
Funny I cant remember you mentioning them before :rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl:what are you like?? old lady driving, you know keeping in the speed limit trying not to use too much petrol. Not using the rear view mirror...saves seeing people waving at you :rotfl::rotfl:

Piquant_2

fayjmck wrote: »

Wll done Piq - amazing progress in only 6 months - x

Just working out which bits you can mentor me on - xx

Liking the move the annuals spends accross - seems really sensible - xxx

I try to pay all the insurances in one annual amount. A lot of policies charge you extra for monthly payments. I'm fairly sure I've caught all the annual spends, I'm lucky, in that most of my spends are spread across the year rather than all in one month. Also if worst comes to worst there's a small emergency fund sitting in the account, normally amounts to a couple of hundred pounds.

I keep a little box of annual spends on my spreadsheet with the total amount and date due. I can't do complex I'm afraid...Although I have to admit I do have several worksheets on it now

Pippilongstocking

Confession

although I now have spreadsheets saved on my pc (ta sm and others) I haven't been brave enough to use one yet.

Walks off hanging head in shame, meal planning almost there with, scary spreadsheets um not quite yet.

Am using an online spending diary - pathetic attempt I know but a start.

After I stop getting excited about my microfibre cloths maybe I can think about spreadsheets.

I do the bigger things like you insurance etc all at once - having seen how much it costs to spread them. Trips etc are well enough in advance for me to know they are coming - so I do need to think quite seriously about stashing some money for the bigger things like trips, car tax & insurance etc