Single and in Debt Part II

Lula-Hula

Happy holiday CaroleM :j

Thanks guys for all the nice things you said :A I have re read all your comments & as makeup so rightly pointed out, this is the thread where we have lives so I shall make a note not to stray too far from here in the future & not to take too seriously those who claim to live solely on fava beans & a nice chianti - not that I've read of anyone that does but I am constantly reading diaries where people seem to be making more [STRIKE]headway[/STRIKE] I mean effort than me.

I have been thinking that I need some way to officially allow for treats so that I can then splurge when the need takes me but within a specified limit.

Does anyone else allow themselves a set amount each month/week & if so what do you include/exclude under the 'treat' heading & how strict are you about sticking to it ? If you go over one month do you then reduce the allowance for the next month ?

I really need to redo my budget, but cant do that tonight as I'm going out for meal :rotfl:

bye for now
xx

Hollyberry

Fab place for hols, Carole, have a great time. A friend of mine went and came back with holiday photos you could look at for hours. It really does seem stunning.

Lula - I think I've mentioned before that I have a treats budget. I am not slavishly strict, as in I wouldn't worry too much about less than a fiver. I do allow myself to "bank" extra for next month if I know I will want to spend more - for example putting aside a spending budget for hols. The treats budget covers: clothes, shoes, toiletries over and above basics (shampoo/handwash etc comes out of the shopping budget, posh face cream is a treat), mags, CDs, books, days/nights out - all the good stuff really.

"People don't notice us, they never see. Under their noses a Womble may be."

Today I have:

• filled another two bin bags
• moved all my new or newish stuff to eBay into one wardrobe
• filled two more boxes (about twice photocopier paper size) of stuff ready for eBay
• Hoovered until the Hoover had a moment of pique :rolleyes: Have washed its filter and am waiting to see if it will decide to perform tomorrow.
• Brushed down the wooden bits of both flights of stairs
• Dusted & polished the other side of the bedroom
• Started a pile of CDs for eBay or Music Magpie
• Made a big pile of recycling on the top floor landing to go to the recycling centre tomorrow
• Had a long and fabulous shower
• Looked in my purse, and decided we are going out for dinner tonight, albeit a fairly modest one, as I reckon I deserve it!

Hollyberry

Lula-Hula wrote: »

I shall make a note not to stray too far from here in the future & not to take too seriously those who claim to live solely on fava beans & a nice chianti

That sounds a rather lethal combination (and not altogether good for the immediate environment...)

Lula-Hula

Hmmmm thanks for that insight into the Hollyberry treat budget :T

I think I could live with that kind of list & I do confess to having spent the last year trying to put my nice body lotions, potions, makeup etc under the 'toiletries' heading, which they blatantly arent unless I'm buying the Tatco range ... I'm not.

It sound as though you have done wonders with your time & space today & you definitely deserve a meal out :A.

I'm now all excited about having a new plan to plan

sarah - I think we can definitely work with this :j& that means the clothes challenge (for me anyway) can stay exactly as it is - I still have plenty of clothes that I still cant fit into :rolleyes:

ps - I remember going to the pantomime when I was about 6 & as we drove by Wimbledon Common my parents pretending that they could see wombles scurrying about ... I was so excited I told everyone at the theatre.

SunderlandBlackCat

Thanks to everyone who wished me luck for the interview.

On to some proper replies

Lula-Hula wrote: »

I am a spoiled fat old trout & thorougly ashamed of myself.

:mad: Stop that!

I've said it before but apparently a reminder is needed

CURVES ARE SEXY!

As for the budgeting thing, I don't have a set amounts for treats as such but I do have a standing order set up to transfer a set amount of money that goes into an account for "discretionary spending". Basically that covers my social activities & anything else that doesn't NEED to be bought, including treats.

If I spend it, that's it, its gone until next pay day. If I want something that I can't find within that months budget I have to save up.

Buffythedebtslayer

Lula-Hula wrote: »

Hmmmm thanks for that insight into the Hollyberry treat budget :T

I think I could live with that kind of list & I do confess to having spent the last year trying to put my nice body lotions, potions, makeup etc under the 'toiletries' heading, which they blatantly arent unless I'm buying the Tatco range ... I'm not.

It sound as though you have done wonders with your time & space today & you definitely deserve a meal out :A.

I'm now all excited about having a new plan to plan

sarah - I think we can definitely work with this :j& that means the clothes challenge (for me anyway) can stay exactly as it is - I still have plenty of clothes that I still cant fit into :rolleyes:

ps - I remember going to the pantomime when I was about 6 & as we drove by Wimbledon Common my parents pretending that they could see wombles scurrying about ... I was so excited I told everyone at the theatre.

SunderlandBlackCat wrote: »

Thanks to everyone who wished me luck for the interview.

On to some proper replies



:mad: Stop that!

I've said it before but apparently a reminder is needed

CURVES ARE SEXY!

As for the budgeting thing, I don't have a set amounts for treats as such but I do have a standing order set up to transfer a set amount of money that goes into an account for "discretionary spending". Basically that covers my social activities & anything else that doesn't NEED to be bought, including treats.

If I spend it, that's it, its gone until next pay day. If I want something that I can't find within that months budget I have to save up.

I need a new plan desperately. although the debt isn't going up the waistline is getting beyond curvy and credit card has seen the light of day far too often.

trouble is I have to work what I am doing wrong first! and I don't like doing that!!

xxx

SunderlandBlackCat

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

I need a new plan desperately. although the debt isn't going up the waistline is getting beyond curvy and credit card has seen the light of day far too often.

trouble is I have to work what I am doing wrong first! and I don't like doing that!!

xxx

Have you tried freezing it in the middle of a block of ice?

It's still there in case of emergencies but takes a while to defrost which can often get you past the impulse purchase stage.

makeup

Hey Lula

I can't believe you posted about treats budget-ting as I was going to post the very same thing today.

I had a nightmare yesterday, came home from work to find a £16 charge for an unpaid DD for my Egg card. I opened a new bank acc a couple of months ago and they moved my DD's including Egg and sent a letter confirming this.

I don't use my Egg but they had some kind of promo - spend £250 within a period and get 2 free flights to Europe so thought maybe worth trying out.

Anyway after a super frustrating conversation with them I had to pay up over £200 worth of shopping and I haven't that much in my bank accounta and I'm not paid til 20th. Normally I have a sizeable wodge and left over which goes towards my savings for my flat deposit but this month I'm gonna have nothing which is so annoying.

So I've come to the horrible conclusion that I must draw up a BUDGET :eek::eek:

I'm pretty good at sizing up things I want to buy, working out if good value, if I really need etc etc. I normally use vouchers etc to make sure good deals. However I never consider each purchase as part of the bigger picture, ie having a bargainous £15 meal out isn't so great if this is the 3rd one that week........or getting a work top in the Monsoon sale for £15 isn't that brillant when I've spent £25 in tesco on work clothes in the same week.

I think I need to have a set amount each week or month and work from that - I think per month would work better as some weekends are cheap and others are expensive and would balance out better.

I've quite a bit of free time this weekend so think might work out a budget for the month ready for next payday!!

:eek:

Dan29

Lula-Hula wrote: »

welcome to Dan29, I really wish I could get my head round the MB ... but am wise enough to realise that I would need to give up housechores, work & probably parenting too in order to succeed. Someone else mentioned it a while back & I have read donglemouse's thread & am awed at the success possible

Thank you

Yep I feel I should point out that matched betting is like a 2nd job, and like most jobs, is most suitable for people with a natural aptitude for it. It takes effort to learn and also requires some spare cash to get going, and not everyone has an in-built talent for it.

It can be tedious (although possibly not as tedious as daily cashback clicks or printing multiple vouchers to use in Tesco), has an element of risk if you make a mistake, and is time-consuming; I sometimes wonder whether it's a factor in why I ended up single..!

For the right sort of person though it can be a profitable additional income, but I agree that the time factor may involve sacrifices which are not appropriate for everyone.

Buffythedebtslayer

Right come on Singletons! where are the plans?

I sat and worked out all that is wrong with my life(!) hence not being round much but I am here now.

I have a plan, I finally feel free from work and am s l o w l y decluttering the house. I WILL NOT live in a place full of crap any more!!

so how are we all doing? what is happening? Any plans?

Love Buffy xxxx