Stop press: my DFW diary

rainbow81

Pamela1705 wrote: »

It's just that sometimes I feel ecstatic about my progress and want to jump around telling people how wonderful I am, and others I feel really impatient and annoyed with myself because it's taking so long. From reading other people's threads, I know this is a common feeling, but I wondered if anyone had worked out what triggers certain feelings.

For example, about this time next year (hopefully!!) I'll be debt free. It's just that sometimes I think - I'll be debt-free in a year, hurrah!! :j and other times I think, it's going to take a WHOLE year, humph :mad:.

I'm generally a very positive person, and the grumpy moments are usually rare, but I'm just trying to work out what triggers them and wondered if anyone else had a similar thing going on? x

Hi

Well done on how far you have come.

My theory is that the grumpy feelings have always been there but maybe you (well, me) used to spend at those times because it cheered you (ok, me again) up?

Yesterday I read something interesting on a weightloss website - and I think food dieting is a lot like money dieting - and it said never ever think of the big lump that you have to lose (what? me again!! :rotfl:) because it feels impossible. Think of how you will FEEL when you reach your goal. Also look back a year/month/week and just remember how much progress you have made and congratulate yourself for that. Also, don't forget to measure yourself when the lbs won't shift. OK, maybe that's just the weightloss thing. :rolleyes:

With the impatience, I can't help you. Maybe that's how we are all where we are, something in the learning of patience gor missed and we want it all now!

Good luck on your DF journey.

Rainbow x

Pamela1705

Hiya Sun Addict - I know what you mean. It seems like yesterday that I had my LBM and started my DFW journey, and when I look at how far I've come, I'm chuffed to bits. I think it might be tiredness and lack of focus, but I just need to concentrate on the positives :beer:

Rainbow, interesting food analogy. Part of my problem is that the two are totally interlinked - most of the money I spend unnecessarily is on going out for meals with friends, family and the OH. Which is why I'm considerably porkier than I want to be :rotfl:

I definitely think that the grumpiness and impatience comes from a lack of focus - too many things to think about at once. So today is a 'get head sorted' day. Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel a bit more together

PS - the bloody builders have still not come and I could have had my lie in by now...:mad:

Pamela1705

Is it not the weekend yet??

Didn't sleep v well last night and lay in a heap on the sofa so did NOT make my lunch for today so I'll have to buy it at work. Bad me. :mad:

So looking forward to tomorrow morning - get a lie in and chill out, sort my head out and actually try not to spend money!! :j

zigmeister

Hi Pam!

How are you getting on? I'm feeling quite good today - it finally feels like the end may be in sight! But I'm sure it won't go as smoothly as I hope!

Hope everything is going well for you at the moment

x

Pamela1705

Hello all,

Feeling v chipper today :j. Just got back from a whirlwind week of travelling to Ireland and then Madrid (which was GORGEOUS) and realised that I actually underspent quite considerably

Am now having a debate with myself about what to do with the extra money. It's only £65, so I'm hardly rolling in it, but I'm just not sure what the best options are...

Basically, I've been sticking quite tightly to my budget for this month, and I knew that it would be a bit tight because I had three trips to factor in - some from work, some from home. I kicked myself initially when I realised they all fell within the same month, but when I rejigged my budget a bit, it seemed to go ok, it just means that between now and payday (usually 21st) it's going to be quite tight.

I don't know whether to stick the £65 straight in the bank and rejig my spreadsheet so it gives me a bit more freedom, or to stick to my original plan and pay off some debts. Or worse. Buy shoes.:rotfl:

Still, I'm aware that it's a good predicament to be in, and I'm feeling quite good about my progress so far. Small steps seem to be paying off! :beer:

zigmeister

Well done on underspending! What a nice position to be in, especially after a holiday where it's so easy to overspend!

Hmm, what to do with the extra money tho! :think:

I would pay it off the debts I think, but only if I was sure that my budget would be fine until payday. Usually I tell myself I need a treat if I have had a bad day, so a treat wouldn't be needed after a holiday! That's my logic anyway

Glad you're feeling positive, small steps all the way! :T

Pamela1705

I decided what to do with the money in the end...

I put £10 towards my credit card bill and put the rest in my account as a back up. I've got one more trip planned for next weekend, to see two very old friends, and it was always going to be right to the wire until payday. It makes more sense to have the money just in case, to give me a wee bit of freedom. If there is any money left over, I'll put it towards my debt :beer:

I'm trying to take a "small steps is best" kind of approach. Now going to pamper myself, take a nice hot bath and a nice glass of wine

Pamela1705

Hello lovely MSE-ers,

Filled myself a bit too full of caffeine this evening (was working v v late) and now I can't sleep and am full of beans :j. Not so good because I have a v v early start tomorrow because I'm on a course with work, so this could get messy :eek:!

Finding money saving a bit mixed this week. Mon and Tues were ace - literally did not spend a penny, so two NSDs under my belt. I'm not actually taking part in this month's challenge, because I find it v difficult with my work, because sometimes I have to drop everything and go somewhere, which usually involves spending money, but I still do count NSDs in my head!

Today has been quite horrendous, spending lots and lots of money. I had to go out with my job today, so had to pay travel expenses, food, and general frittery money. I will be reimbursed on the travel, but that usually takes a while and you can't really budget for it. Still, I'm feeling quite positive, because it was all going v well so I'm going to be happy about it .

Took advantage of Martin's MSE email and booked a £1 flight back to Ireland in August. Going to see the folks. Had to pay a wee bit more for the return, but still, a trip across the water for £23 is not bad at all. Quite tired now so going to cut my losses and hit the sack. V bright and early alarm clock, even though it was SUPPOSED to be my day off tomorrow, so I'm feeling quite forlorn! :rotfl:

zigmeister

Hey

That seems like a good idea in regards to the extra money after your trip. Well done on the NSDs! It's nice knowing you've managed to not spend anything for a while! :T

Budgetting must be tricky when you travel for work and stuff. It'd mess me right up so at least you're still going in the right direction

£23 is v good for a return flight to Ireland!

Hope you have a good, moneysaving, weekend!

Pamela1705

SOOO excited. Came home from work today to find a letter from my CC company, closing the account I've had since I was a student. I'd paid the CC off at my last payday, but it was such a nice feeling to see the official confirmation in black and white! :j

Have spent a fortune in the latter part of this week, which I'm a bit peeved about. Still, none of it was spending on me, it was all travel and work expenses, which I can claim back. Even so, it was a bit of a knock, especially as my budget was v tight and I'm supposed to be travelling to Ipswich tomorrow to see a very very old friend. I'm going to go and enjoy myself, but I'm thinking next week will be a beans-on-toast week!

In a way, it's a good savings technique, because I'll forget about the money then get the reimbursement all at once and can throw it at my debts. Payday seems a long long way away now though :mad: