surviving recession!

tasha-debt

I think finally taking control of my finances and life is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

xx

robsmum_2

Hi Tash, Couldn't agree more! Does this mean we have finally grown up?:eek:
What a horrible thought.:rotfl:

robsmum_2

;)Been very remiss and missed doing my diary last week but am back now and hopefully going to get better at this MSE lark!
The spending diary idea is brilliant and is an eye watering eye opener. Have just totalled up Mays figures and am shocked:
Ciggies £155.45
Papers 2.90
Petrol 18.00
Postage . 68
Haircut 2.00
Grocery 92.63
Garden 19.37
Magazine 2.70
Entertain 4.70
Cards 2.27
Misc 6.49
OH B/Day 62.39
Total: £369.56 Total Minus Grocery : £276.93
NSD 10

This weeks challenges are:
1) plan budget for June
2) Meal plan for week doing 2 store/freezer meals
3)Do a grocery shop for store/freezer
4)Really try to cut smoking down to 15 a day (keep looking at spends for May)
5) 2 NSD
6)Save 20p's and reach £3 this week (there does seem to be a shortage).

Have discovered the benefits of Stardrops this week, so can shave even more off my cleaning bill for the month. DMP starts on the 1st, so things should start to improve. I must check job sites and see if there's anything else I can apply for.
Still haven't got new bank account open, hope its soon as it's been nearly a month and COOP are closing mine soon.
More later.

tasha-debt

Wow £155.45 a month on smoking is a lot, think of all the nice things you could do with that money.

I would write that amount down on a very bright post it note and stick loads of them all over your house to help you quit.

Where did you get a £2.00 haircut from, thats amazing?
x

P.S I dont want to grow up!! LOL

robsmum_2

Hi Tash, I was horrified about the smoking, particularly as I have cut down', but has given me a good incentive to cut down and eventually quit.
The haircut - I go to our best hairdressers in town for model night. It's actually free so I give the girl who does it £2. Very MSE but can be very time consuming, the longest being 4 hours for a cut and blow dry. The girls are so supervised and I'm a great beliver in encouragement.
Good tip about the post its.

angie_baby

Hi robsmum,

just thought id pop by and say hi :hello:

must admit, im scared to add up what i actualy spend on smoking

thats good way of getting a cheap/free haircut too, make have to find a local college or something.

hope you have a good weekend

angie x

Sun_Addict

Hi robsmum

Been catching up with your diary - you're doing very well :j

Like you my problem is trying to get my spending down as at the moment I'm spending money I can't really afford to spend. I joined the Weekly Spending Challenge for my day to day spends - which I have actually been sticking to - but it's the other things such as stuff for the house and garden I need to cut down on.

I agree with both you and tasha-debt I don't want to grow up either! I'm 48 and love trance and dance music (much to the embarrassment of DS and DD), make up, clothes, shoes, magazines, etc. I still feel young inside!

Good luck with cutting down on ciggies - just think of all that extra money if you quit! I almost wish I smoked so I could stop and save the extra money - I'm struggling to find anything else to cut down on at the moment (LOL).

Have a great weekend!:beer:

rupe34

hey Robsmum :hello:

You are a braver woman than I - I daren't total up what we've been spending these past few months - it would be a shocker. I was SO sorted before Christmas - but now... well lets just say I take 'an extra tenner' everytime I'm at the cashpoint, so does OH - and it burns a hole in BOTH our pockets!

I got this really nifty thing from CreditAction called the Spendometer - its a spending diary on your phone - but I lie to it:rotfl:

robsmum_2

Have been very remiss with filling in my diary due to work, family committments and generally being under the weather, but after a week off work as holiday I am back.
The week off gave me chance to reflect on what I really wanted to do with my life, andto think properly not just debt. Have created a life plan and broken it down into 3 month sections which is more do-able.
The 1st 3 months are:
1) Change my job
2) Get money under control
3) Use my brain!
4) Reduce smoking by half
5) Save for holiday
6) Redecorate kitchen
7) Re vamp wardrobe
8) Finish upstairs odd jobs

Lemon_Tree

hi and welcome back, you've picked a good mix of challenges for the next three months.