Raychee's DFW diary - cutting back to move forwards

clearmydebts

Hi Raychee,

I met you on a another thread. Have read your diary and it is very inspiring. Looking forward to reading about you tackling your debt.

Raychee

Thanks CMD - is good to meet you!

Raychee

Some blinking blooming woman and her car wandered infront of me 6 times on a short stretch of dual carriageway today. I was f-ing and blinding at her like nobody's business - but that's what happens after a day teaching 5 year olds, you have to left off steam somehow, and she couldn't hear me... :mad:

Anyways, I went to the shop to buy top-ups, and ended up spending £15 on stuff that could have waited till next week. This included chicken breasts, because I couldn't be bothered to defrost either chicken or leftover Christmas turkey that was already in the freezer, and £3.15 worth of nice ham for OH's sandwiches. (He's decided that he's not working away for the remainder of this week - at least I think that's what he's decided... he still wasn't sure at lunchtime - and again this annoys me, because as much as I miss him, I'd planned the rest of my week! :mad: )

Let's be honest, I managed to avoid magazines and chocolate, which has to be a good thing, and I do have an extra day's work this week, which more than makes up for a little tiny blip.

Also, I have my pub shift on Friday night, and I've been offered Saturday pm. I'm in 2 minds over Saturday afternoon. Firstly, it's a nice shift, as nobody comes in and I can just read for a couple of hours. BUT I will have done a full week's teaching (in 4 different schools), a 5 hour pub shift, and quite a bit of work booked for next week. Somewhere I need to stop and recharge my batteries.

As a DFW, I know what the right decision is. As a tired teacher, I know what the right decision is. I just don't know which to do!

Just found my opinion bar log in, and found out that I have over £15 sitting there, waiting for me to claim it. Does anyone have any experience of OpinionBar?

OH is now home... obviously is staying here this week! :T

Raychee

I'm tired!

It's been a hard week, and I still have 2 pub shifts to go.

On the bright side, next week I can pay an extra £75 off my CC (on top of the £60 I was going to spend). I may have some cash (if the pub FINALLY pays me) - which will let me have a good quality haircut AND an eyebrow wax. I have an extra pub shift, which is half a tank of fuel.

I have next week's menu planned, and all I really need to buy is fruit, veg and a nice joint of beef, or pork or something (depending on what OH would like.)

So, I'm going to stick my jacket potatoes in the microwave and go sleep for 20 mins, before going to work.

Have a good weekend.

Raychee

Still no pub wage. Getting a bit cross now. Also a little peeved at working without pay, for 2 months now. It's a good job that I have a regular income from my main job!

However... I have spent £322.77 in January, and am £350+ less in debt than I was 3 weeks ago. I have put nearly £100 in my school holidays fund (for when I don't get paid) and have over £20 in my sealed pot.

For February, I have adapted my spreadsheet to include direct debits (which are included in January's total too), how much I'm paying to my CC, and what money I have coming in. (some of these were on my OH's suggestion.) I think February is going to be much harder for me. Next weekend, I'm going to see Riverdance with OH's mum, and I need to pay for the ticket.
The week after that, my sister, hubby and their 3 children are coming to visit for a few days - that's 5 extra mouths to feed. (though they usually contribute a little to lunch.) On top of that, I have one day next week where I know I'm not teaching, AND there's a week's half term, where I don't get paid. With new budgeting way, I'm confident that I'll cope!

My OH is now more aware of what I'm trying to do over the next few months, and is very supportive. He has a CC bill around the same as mine, and is using money that we're currently saving on the mortgage (because of interest rates dropping) to pay off his. It has taken nearly 2 years for him to understand how much less than him I earn. (But he has never once moaned about how much more he pays towards household stuff than me, just that he didn't really understand when I said I couldn't afford things.)

I told him about my 100 day challenge. I said that even though I wasn't allowing myself to buy magazines, if someone bought one for me, that was fine! Anyways, last night, he walked into the pub whiere I working, clutching a HEAT magazine for me! lmao - I didn't know whether to impressed or embarassed! I made him put it in the car, and then had an enjoyable hour this morning catching up on my trashy gossip. AWWW bless him! :happyhear:

beanielou

Awww what a lovely OH .

Raychee

Yeah, I know! Still can't believe he got the hint!

Raychee

Off to the shops!

Will we stick to budget this week?

Do I have absolutely EVERYTHING on the shopping list?

Can I persuade OH not to put unnecessary extras into the trolley?

Only time will tell...

Raychee

Overspent by £4.19. OH was very restrained! He only put some mini chocolate brownies and some (half price) pringles in the trolley!

I let him put them in as he's off to snowy Norfolk tomorrow, and he needs something to sustain him and give him energy! (Well... that's his excuse anyway!)

Raychee

Well, OH has gone to work, but not sure if he'll get to Norfolk.

He's going to do some work on an airbase in the middle of nowhere, and with the current weather conditions, isn't sure whether it's a good idea to risk it. (He likes to think of himself as an intrepid explorer... Let's just hope he's a vaguely sensible one too!) Anyway, he's making no decisions until he can call them from work. I hope this week he lets me know earlier than 5.30pm, when he opens the front door!

In a way, I hope he goes - we've had to cancel a meeting with our social worker because of this - it's another non-move on the adoption front!

Looking for a NSD today. Do have a Christmas cheque for £50 to pay in though. (found it in my laptop bag... can't believe I'd forgotten about it!) That money will go straight into the savings account, as it's PLEASURE money, not general spend money.