Handbags & Gladrags – Confessions of a Recovering Spendaholic

savingholmes

Can you give the yellow one to someone for xmas?

Kerfuffle

Swinstie73 wrote: »

Spent all afternoon going through my finances, think it might be a bit tight to pay by next Sept, so might have to extend to next Christmas, so I can at least have a bit of a life - decided on hols, that need to do more activities rather than just going to the pub on a Saturday night (inexpensive activities I hope).
Catch you later x

Hey Swinstie,

That sounds like a good plan, small steps are much more achievable and more quickly, which give a great feel-good-factor pretty quickly too.

Well done on the NSD too.

Kerfuf (Sounds like a sneeze):rotfl:

Karen_30

Hey Swinstie,

Love the bags!! Very jealous!!

Totally agree with the need to do things (as inexpensive as possible) good luck with that! xx

Swinstie73

Hi all,

Not been too bad a weekend money-wise (or other), only spent £34 since Friday and nothing at all today, yeah! That included a bottle of wine, some food, parking and out last night, thought that was ok for me. Have £58 (cash) left so going to try and make that do me til payday without lifting anymore from the cashline (about 12 days til payday), should be doable although need to think up something for OH's birthday next week. It's on the 21st but will do something on the Sat (19th). Any ideas (cheap ones, ha)!?

I have got him a ticket for Billy Connolly, so including his card will have spent £35 (plus a ticket for me obviously, but will be a night out so don't mind), thought about going out for dinner then thought could make something, but sometimes that's more trouble (and can be more expensive). Got a few days to decide.

Was feeling a bit down this weekend as a few people have asked where the engagement ring is (cos just been on hols) and it's annoying me as OH just laughs it off! I don't WANT or NEED to get engaged but sometimes it feels like it is never even going to be an option. Everything is fab as it is and sometimes you wonder if changing it will have an impact or not. There was a house for sale near him and I looked it up and text him to say it was lovely and I wanted one, fancy it?! and he replied with a joke as usual, but he realised he boobed when we spoke later. We had this conversation at New Year (about living together) but nothing has been mentioned since. I said I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page and he replied saying we shall live together cos he wants to be with me always, how nice is that!

It has made me happier knowing we will do it, not too bothered about when now, I just wanted to know it is going to happen. Ideally I want to be debt free so if we're still in 'talking' stages by Sept 2010 that suits me fine.

Well going to have a wee cuppa then get something to wear for work tomorrow, look at me trying to get organised, ha! Nite all x

P.S. SH, I've used the yellow bag so can't give it to me sis's or pal, might try and ebay it though if it doesn't grow on me before then.

laura2481

hey Swinstie- glad you're feeling better after chatting things through with OH

Swinstie73

1) Pay off credit cards and only keep one for essentials
2) Pay off loan (has three years to run, hoping to pay off early)
3) Keep up with savings
4) De-clutter house (incase OH moves in). House is tiny and I have so many shoes/bags/clothes/general cr*p, have already started clearing out for a boot sale – only made £16 at the last one and ended up buying stuff!
5) Lose some weight (not really overweight but cholesterol is quite high – 6.1) so can only help with that!
6) In general, continue to have a happy life, just without the debts.

Forgot to post this earlier so just another wee update from me on the challenges I set myself when I started this diary, sure I have others somewhere (just need to find them, ha)!

1) Had 3 credit cards, now down to two! A success there I think :j
2) Pay off loan - Have £1K saved up so far towards paying it off, only another £1.5K to go!
3) Have £1K but this is for my loan, planning to open another savings account for 'proper' savings i.e. holiday/new tv etc.
4) De-clutter - ahem! Getting there slowly but surely, bought my new desk and chair for laptop, it's lovely and getting house in order - it's the clothes/shoes (and handbags of course) that's my downfall.
5) Lose weight - ok have NOT succeeded with this, nor have I been back for a check-up for cholesterol, haven't increased weight though (by much) - currently at 142lbs, 32.1% body fat and 25.1 BMI - shocking but I am working on it
6) Still happy (for now), can't ask for anything more than that!

Ok off to bed this time, nite xx

Kerfuffle

Hey Swinstie,

I hope you're ok. You sound like you're at an 'ok' place with your targets. It looks like it's all coming together nicely.

I'm sure you and OH are on the same page, some people just can't be rushed, I'd be inclined to take each day as it comes.

Have a good one.

Sun_Addict

Hi Swinstie

Sneakily looking at the forums when I should be working naughty me! I can totally empathise with you over OH engagement issues as I have been with my OH since 1983, we've lived together since 1985 and have 2 sprogs aged 22 and 24. All I ever get is when are you going to tie the knot type questions. We are very happy as we are, nothing would change if we got married except a load of paperwork changing my surname and I would have a much shorter surname (which would come in handy when signing things). Some days I think I would really like to get married and think "oh my god I'm nearly 50 and I'm still officially a Miss" and have a panic attack and other days I don't care because we are together for life. OH sometimes hints he'll arrange something for a surprise. I'm sure we'll get round to it someday but you know how time just goes by!

You're doing well with your targets - they're all sensible and doable. No point setting yourself mad targets you can't achieve.

Re the yellow bag - they're all over the magazines and on the arms of celebs at the moment so you're on trend. I have an emerald green bag which I go off and then go back onto but everyone admires it when I use it.

Have a great Monday!

Swinstie73

Hi all :wave:

Just been lurking cos still had the holiday blues, but for some reason tonight, I am mega hyper and chirpy! OH has just been for our Wednesday 'date' and we had a look at holidays for next year! What am I like, I know I'm just back but if we can get something booked it will be something to look forward too. Not booking anything just now but have a few ideas and a limited budget cos spent waaayyyy too much this year.

Anyway, Canada was fab, we did Toronto, Niagara, New York, Ottawa then back to Toronto for the last nite. OH loved every minute of it and was like a Cheshire cat, couldn't get the grin off his face. My BIL was thrilled to have another bloke to hang out with and they got on great, OH met more people than I did, he was fishing, going to Ice Hockey, the casino, racetrack etc., whilst I SHOPPED! Actually I wasn't as bad as usual, just the bags and some maple syrup and a few odds and sods. Didn't see too much of New York, simply not enough time, but we decided we could always go back in a few years.

Nothing else much on the money front, have still being doing good taking my lunches in, spent 60p yesterday and £1.50 today on a lottery syndicate in work, can't be the only person sitting in work on Monday now can I?!

Sun Addict re: engagements, I totally think I will be like you, as I'm really not THAT bothered about getting engaged/married, it's just that other people are! We're very happy right now and I'd hate for that to change, although I think living together feels right. Been looking at houses though and they are way expensive and probably going to get dearer. Plenty of time and all that.

Well peeps, I have worn myself out 'talking' so gonna have a cuppa and head to bed, actually might watch Ugly Betty, or maybe not. Anyway, nite all xx

savingholmes

Swinstie I always get the post holiday blues too. Glad you had such a good time and hope you cheer up soon!