Not so much debt, but lifestyle!

MessyMare

Well, things have slowed right down due to a spendfest yesterday I'm so disappointed in myself, but oh well, onwards and upwards...Just have to be stricter with myself for the rest of the next couple of weeks.

Going out tomorrow for a drive with an old friend, I'm hoping he remembers that it's his turn to buy lunch!

Withdrew £39 ish from my paypal account the other day, it's not in the bank account yet and I wasn't going to, but I have used that and some other money that I had from selling stuff to offset yesterday's spends. Should also be getting another £38 or so tomorrow in payment for a ticket I bought for someone else, so that should bring my spends balance up a little.

I've also just found out that it's possible to track a CRB application! So I can guesstimate when I should get the start date for my new job through. I'm hoping it wont be a huge gap between my notice at work finishing (and my last paypacket from Waitrose) and the job starting. Really worried about budgeting for that month, most of it's going to have to be used for petrol. Trying to keep an eye on my phone bill so that cost doesn't rocket (with any luck it should be down to about £45 for next month, which makes me feel better).

Also today bought some castor oil to have a crack at the oil cleansing method...would be brilliant if this worked, would save an absolute fortune on various cleansers, astringents, facepacks...the list goes on (and hopefully I can say goodbye to my annoyingly teenage skin )

I don't really know what I'm rambling about to be honest....just a confessional about my spends. Although one of them is very MSE in the long term- bought my sister a Christmas present of a Radley purse that was not only in the sale, but I got my 25% staff discount on top of that! (I wont mention that mum very kindly lent me the money in an interest free fashion to buy myself a Radley handbag- I've decided that buying cheap handbags is definitely a false economy!)

david_hellier

ColleenPamela wrote: »

Just a little bit about my budget and spending diary...these have gone through some reforms!

My spending diary I've had for a while, but let lapse. I was writing down everything I spent, but not keeping a running total of it, so was left to guesstimate...usually generously! Last month I restarted it from my payday. I wrote down what I had left after paying bills, and what I spent each day. Everything I spent I deducted from my balance, and thus had a running total of what I had to spend. It really made me open my eyes for what I was doing! At the moment I only work part time, with a basic wage of £314 per month. I've had to face up to the fact that on that wage, I only have enough for my bills and petrol, with very little left over for spends. Luckily I worked my butt off doing overtime, so raked in £550 this month (it was actually £570, but as I hadn't realised I would get the extra £20 I'm ignoring it ). Signed up to online billing with vodafone- what a palaver that was! I had signed up years ago but forgot all my details, so had to ring up and blah blah blah. Anyway, that meant I could properly budget for my phone bill, so with that, CC payment (which still isn't showing on the account, sigh), monies for Yoga class and repayment to my mother out of the way, I've got a much better idea of what I've got.

So the target for this month is to come in under budget, even though it's an expensive month! Going away for the weekend to a vw show with a friend, so just got to get the money off him for his ticket, he'll help with petrol and then all I've got to find for that weekend is money for food and probs £50 extra should sort that.

Got my birthday too, but as I never go out for it, that should be nice and cheap!

New job starts next month. I'm a little worried at having to find the money to work a whole month in hand...anyone have any advice? Hopefully my last month's wages from work should cover petrol...fingers crossed!

Keep it up with the spending diary. It really is the only way.

Intergalactic_Floozie

ColleenPamela wrote: »

When I first started out on this plan to not only be debt free, but to also curb my "I want it, I'm buying it habit", I was really miserable about it. I was on a diet too, and I tend to find that if I'm dieting, my spending goes up, and if I'm trying to not spent, I eat for five!

Ohmy goodness, I could have written this. I constantly have an angel on one side, and a devil on the other bickering none-stop but just lately the devil always seems to win the argument. It's really getting me down. Good look for taming your demons, you sound really level headed and I wish I had been more like that at your age and I wouldn't be in this position now.

MessyMare

Intergalactic_Floozie wrote: »

Ohmy goodness, I could have written this. I constantly have an angel on one side, and a devil on the other bickering none-stop but just lately the devil always seems to win the argument. It's really getting me down. Good look for taming your demons, you sound really level headed and I wish I had been more like that at your age and I wouldn't be in this position now.

I know what you mean! The weekly spend challenge has been a godsent...although now I only have £4 left for the rest of the week :rotfl:hey ho, I had a lovely day with a lovely friend, which I don't have very often! Just be a hermit for the rest of the week Hopefully get some stuff done at home and ebay stuff that I've been humming and harring about

The only reason that I'm level headed (I think you'd be the only one to say so, I just asked my mother and she said "well...at a push...depends what you're talking about" :rotfl:) is because when I got dumped in a really mean way it was a turning point in my life, and I just decided to sort myself out! To be honest if my ex hadn't dumped me like that and had done it in a nicer way, my life wouldn't have changed at all. I should thank him really.

Don't let the devil win! The angel is your friend :A

MessyMare

Nothing much to report except:

NSD! Woohoo!
Birkenstocks are SO worth the money. Walking round all day and no hurty between toe blister. Cheap sandals=false economy.
14 days til payday!

I'm just really happy and optimistic today...even spoke to Mr Delivery on the phone last night, a rare occurence to be sure!

Just wanted to spread some good karma around

westiedog

Hi there

I agree with you about the sandals and bags. Dont know if you have a Boundary Mill near you because you can get last seasons Radley bags, umbrellas, purse, passport holders etc at a discount price.

Also I get my Birkenstocks on line or from Costco if you have one near you.

You have made me want to buy a new bag now xxx :eek:

westiedog

Im not going to get a bag, im not going to get a bag, im not going to get a bag !!! xx

MessyMare

You're not going to get a bag! Look how well you're doing! Thanks for popping over Westie

I got my birkenstocks from John Lewis, as they selling them there for RRP, and then I get 25% staff discount on top

westiedog

Thats a really good discount. You are right though I think cheaper bags and shoes are a waste as Birkenstocks and Radleys last for ever xxx:T

MessyMare

Woohoo! Been waiting for aaages to get another free postage and packaging offer with truprint, had some credits on there for aaages, so just ordered the prints that I wanted...for freeee