Champagne Lifestyle Lemonade Budget (My attempts to get debt free by April 2010)

Claw_back_money

I suppose you'll get used to the trays in your mouth ?? - although it all sounds very uncomfortable at the moment. I hope it will be worth it (big white smile smilie seems v appropriate!).

I just wondered, now you are debt free, do you spend the same amount of time doing bank accounts / spreadsheets etc that you did before? I'm aware that my friends don't look at their bank accounts daily, but at the mo I can't imagine not checking daily or even twice daily!

Cbm

Sun_Addict

Cbm - I'm in and out of spreadsheets all the time. Check bank once a week. Still have to be on the ball with OH's wages being so erratic. Have made a new spreadsheet that tells me how much I can afford to spend (or not) in each area; may not always stick 100% to this but it will give me a guide. It will be so brilliant at the end of this month to finally be able to say this is how much I really have to spend and have the cash up front. Very fortunately the money from the endowment goes into the bank the day before the next CC bill is due to be paid out. Will finally be straight!!! Must work hard to keep it this way!

Rang dentist today about tray for bottom teeth as gums are quite sore in places. I've to go back on Monday and he'll trim the tray. Apparently this is quite common. To be honest last night I felt like taking the scissors to it myself. In the meantime I've to carry on using the top teeth tray which fits perfectly. Can already see a bit of difference so am determined to persevere. I'm hoping the final result will be that I will look better without anyone really knowing why. What I don't want is for people to say oh you've had your teeth whitened. Dentist reckons it knocks years off you but he would say that wouldn't he? Don't worry I won't be going in for a boob job or face lift next (although come to think of it....:rotfl:).

Claw_back_money

Hi SA
If its quite common that the plates are uncomfortable I wonder why they don't routinely book people in for an appointment after 3 or 4 days so they can get it trimmed and cancel if they don't need the appointment. Maybe that would put people off. Its really good that you can see an improvement already.
Thanks for saying what you do with the spreadsheets etc.
We had onion & mushroom lasagna again yesterday, it was really scrummy but I cooked the mushrooms just a little too long so they went down to not a lot - I must remember they need the shortest time!

Cheers
Cbm

Swinstie73

Oh SA, sorry to hear about the bracelet, for me it's the thought of someone being through my things! I'd be so angry too.

As for teeth-whitening, this is something I could never get done. I got a gum shield from the dentist last year or was it two years ago, to stop me grinding my teeth in my sleep, couldn't wear is as gagged everytime I tried. Waste of money for me. Now if they could knock me out, that would be a different story!

Sun_Addict

Hi all

Swinstie - I'm not keen on wearing the trays but will tolerate it until the 3 weeks is up (only 2 weeks to go and counting). I think if it needs doing again at some point in the future I'll save up and have laser whitening (price is coming down all the time now anyway) at least that's over in around an hour. I just keep saying to myself it had better be worth it.

Decided that this will be the last week of my diary. Will finish it at the end of the month on Friday. Have achieved what I set out to do last April and become debt free by April 2010 and thanks to the endowment payout will finally be independent of my credit card. Whatever the CC bill is on 30 April will pay off and start afresh. Will also be paying off my holiday out of it as that will be a big weight off my mind and also set something aside for an emergency fund so that's another target hit. In future at the end of every month I will set out a budget for the coming month and spend only that and nothing else. OH's work situation is still the same but he actually did a full week last week and has the aches and pains to prove it! Hopefully things will start to pick up for him soon and we can get back to normal. I will still be poking my nose in other people's diaries though so don't think you've got rid of me that easily!

Claw_back_money

I hope you had a more comfortable night after the dentist trimmed the tray.

I had a video game 'professor Layton' given to me for a present back along. When you get to the end of a 'mystery' it gets stamped on the title screen, and you know that mystery completed. It sort of feels like this diary could be stamped 'completed' as like you've said you have done what you set out to do. Brilliant timing on the endowment BTW.

Cbm

Kiwisaver_2

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Decided that this will be the last week of my diary. Will finish it at the end of the month on Friday. Have achieved what I set out to do last April and become debt free by April 2010 and thanks to the endowment payout will finally be independent of my credit card. Whatever the CC bill is on 30 April will pay off and start afresh. Will also be paying off my holiday out of it as that will be a big weight off my mind and also set something aside for an emergency fund so that's another target hit.

Ahh, I love a story with a happy ending. I've read your diary from start to finish this past week and hope you continue to remain debt free and have lots of happy holidays. Well done, you did a terrific job under some very testing circumstances. You should be very proud of yourself!! :T

Sun_Addict

Hi everyone

This will be my final diary instalment and as I have the day off work I feel I'm able to think about what I'm typing instead of rushing wondering if anyone can see my computer screen at work.

Hi Cbm - trays are a much better fit now and can see quite an improvement. Although teeth aren't dazzling white they are a lot brighter. Am halfway through the vials of solution now so not much longer to go. Love the idea of the stamp at the end of my diary.

Kiwisaver - thanks for reading my diary and your lovely comments. We're still not out of the woods yet with OH's work but he can see things are picking up albeit slowly. As he's a roofer he was one of the last to lose work when the recession started but obviously also the last to see work picking up as the houses have to be built first before he can do his bit. It's been hard but we've survived and one good thing is that I know we can manage on a lot less money.

The last two days at work have been awful as we have had two colleagues die in as many days. One was expected - he had cancer and we knew it would happen sooner or later but very sad all the same and he was such a nice person. The other was totally unexpected - he hadn't been in work and no one knew where he was so two of the managers went to his house and the police had to break the door down and they found his body. He had probably been dead a few days - they say natural causes. It was so sad and such a shock for everyone as he was well liked. There have been a lot of tears shed in our office as it is quite a close knit team despite there being around 80 of us.

Anyway enough of the morbid stuff. I will miss doing my diary but will still be lurking on MSE. Looking back I'm pleased at what I've achieved, I know I never had a vast amount of debt to clear like a lot of people but I've amazed myself by paying it off with a much reduced income. I've learnt my lesson and will now live within my means and SAVE!!

Thanks to everyone who has read and posted on my diary. :T

beanielou

Thank you for letting us share your journey.

Swinstie73

Oh Sun Addict, will be sad to see you diary end! I've enjoyed reading and you've inspired me on the holidays etc., I think I am addicted now too..... Pop in from time to time to see me! x