My Survive the Recession Diary

beanielou

Looking good

Sun_Addict

Hi everyone - thanks for all your comments

My spreadsheets are safe from prying eyes as at work we have a special drive where we can store anything personal and no one but you can get into it - but to be on the safe side I've password protected my stuff as well. Memory stick is unfortunately not an option as I work with highly sensitive and confidential information and if I was seen with a memory stick it would probably be instant dismissal. It's just not worth the risk. I tend to do my spreadsheets when hardly anyone's about like at lunchtime or after 4pm when most people have gone home. I also have a very fast finger on the mouse to click onto something else if someone passes my desk and I happen to have my spreadsheet open - I'm a crafty little so and so!!!!

OH's birthday today and we're going out for a meal tonight. Not all night though as I have to get up for work at 05.40. Hopefully he will be back at work tomorrow too so no wild celebrations!!! This is sad I know but I would like to be back home before Gok's programme is on!

Walked to work today and am planning to walk up to Aldi at lunchtime to hopefully pick up a few bargains.

Have a great day everyone!!!

Swinstie73

Ah crafty Sun Addict! I do that too but have been caught trying to click onto something else, probably think I'm doing something dodgy, ha!

Hope enjoyed meal for OH's birthday, hope got home for Gok, watching him as I type!x

shaggydoo

well done sun addict on all your progress in April

Sun_Addict

Have finally got around to sorting out my plans for May. The first goals I set myself were far too scary so I've set myself some more achievable challenges:

1. Lose 3lbs by the end of May

As there are five weigh in days in May surely this can't be too difficult

2. Pay £232 off debt

This will bring it down to the magical under £2k!!

3. Save at least £300 towards holiday spending money

This is a very scary one as I have worked out how much we will probably need to spend for the two weeks we are away, bearing in mind the poor state of the £ versus €. We used to allow €100 per day, which was £70 a year or so ago so have cut allowance to €70 per day, which works out at a very scary £1000 for the two weeks (exchange rates permitting):eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:. WE ARE GOING IN JUST 9 WEEKS :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
However, OH should be due a decent tax rebate this year as he is self employed and hasn't had a lot of work but has paid plenty of tax, so I need to get my a** in gear and get his books off to his accountant.

4. Stick to £10 Weekly Spending Challenge

5. £290 for May Grocery Challenge

6. Ebay at least 5 items

Another scary challenge as I have never sold on ebay before but bought plenty!!

I am going to print off this list and keep looking at it every time I feel the urge to splurge. (Don't tell anyone but I bought a new handbag yesterday, from TK Maxx mind so virtually free . I had got it into my head I had to have a new bag for summer and when I get something in my head I'm like a dog with a bone. Still it's done now and have said bag happily tucked under my desk at work where I can keep looking at it.)

Will keep diary up to date with my progress.

Sun_Addict

Well it's 1 May and Friday!!:j

New month and time to start afresh. I love the first day of the month as everything seems so fresh and hopeful - this feeling has usually worn off by the second week!

Managed to break four cereal/soup bowls last night. Now only have three left -did originally have eight but one seems to have disappeared (not in DD's bedroom either which is the usual place for missing items).

Better start to today - have walked to work in the sunshine listening to Ministry of Sound Ibiza album on Ipod so feeling very summery now! Needed some things from Boots today so popped in on my way to work (good old Boots opening at 7.30) and paid for them with my Advantage Card points.

I've had porridge for breakfast, lunch is pasta and veg in pesto sauce (the other half of last night's dinner) and have four pieces of fruit for snacks. Tonight I will be having salmon fish fingers (not tried these before and as they were half price in Tesco I thought I'd give them a go), sweet potato wedges and veg. As it's Friday I will be allowing myself a couple of glasses of the old vino tinto;). I'll also be going in the gym for half an hour of toning exercises with weights and the step.

OH has actually done 1½ days work this week :rolleyes:. He should have a big job to start next Wednesday so hopefully he will keep going throughout May and we can get something saved for the holiday. I am so sick of this recession. I daren't add up how much money it's cost OH in lost work. At least we are surviving and still managing to go on holiday but that's down to me working full time.

Anyway have a great Friday everyone. New month new start :beer:

Sun_Addict

Quick update -

Positive vibes didn't last long - disappeared the next day when I received my gas statement. They owed us over £200 just last October so reduced payments by half. Six months later we owe them £429!!:eek: I rang them to sort it out and they are upping payments over the next 12 months to clear it. We must have used some gas in that six months!! I think I am officially now in fuel poverty!!

OH has no work for this week but is back on Monday for a few weeks (hopefully as jobs seem to keep falling through just lately). He is so fed up.

I've decided to prioritise saving spending money for holiday for the next two months and just try and pay as much as I can over the minimum payment on the debt. After the holiday I can concentrate paying more off the debt. I think I'm trying to do too much with too little at the moment.

Seem to have fallen off the waggon a bit over the bank holiday. Have had far too much to drink and have spent more than I should have done so I'm trying to get back into it now. I hate it when this happens as I've been quite good for a while and it just takes one little 20% off all clothes at Tesco and the lure of bank holiday alcohol to scupper all my good intentions. It stops here though I'm back on track now.

Swinstie73

Don't panic Sun Addict, I fell off the wagon as well. Have eaten enough biccies to scupper my detox but gonna be good the rest of the week. You can't be good all the time and it's good to blow off some steam once in a while. You at least have your hols to look forward too as well x

Sun_Addict

Thanks for your kind words Swinstie. It feels better knowing I'm not the only one. Just felt like a moan as I was feeling fed up (could also have a lot to do with Time of the Month!). Trying to feel more positive now and need to get a grip on myself before I get the spending bug again. I go off like this now and again - only human I suppose.

I suppose the same principle applies to both diets and budgets - you've got to stop yourself before you go on a binge and do a lot of damage! :rolleyes:

Good luck with the last few days of your detox - at least you've been good most of the time!

Swinstie73

Hi Sun Addict,

Hope you are back on the wagon again! I am doing soooo bad, had a bacon roll this morning and it was the most delicious thing ever! Only 4 days of the detox to go so gonna make the effort but if being honest, I think I have done great considering I eat everything in sight, ha!

As for the budget, hahahaha - my budget is way off this month, hope yours is much better!