Only Dull Girls Write Diaries...Myth Broken!

savingholmes

Hi Rainy

With regard to the magazines - it is cheaper to subscribe than buy weekly. Could you use tesco clubcard points for a subscription - that's what I do.

Rainy_2

You’re right savingholmes, I will look into a subscription. I keep telling myself that I don’t need one every week which is why I haven’t subscribed in the past but I end up buying one every week anyway! *Insert Ms Shruggy Shoulders* Bit of a false economy really! Thanks for the clubcard points tip too, I will look into that. I have just signed up to numerous magazine email newsletters too so I get a free read over my lunch breaks

No news on the F&F, but it is obviously still quite early yet! I am a little impatient

Just been comparing my budgets and spending to last years and have discovered that my grocery spending has decreased month on month since last July, where it peaked at £145 but this year so far I’m down to £76, so almost halved. And funnily enough, I have been buying more really as I have religiously been taking my own lunch to work every day this year, saving money that way too in the process. I do plan every meal for the week though which really has helped and have made an effort to cook more from scratch (harnessing OH’s enthusiasm to try new dishes and help me out in the kitchen!) Plus I hardly ever have any food wasted which is a real pet hate of mine!

I am still slightly over my monthly spending budget overall though so I’m on a mission to discover the overspending areas and see how I can improve them. I’m sad to say that it looks to be the misc/luxury area

It has become difficult to control this area recently due to OH’s lack of understanding of how much I want to put towards my debts and him currently earning more money than he has before and wanting to enjoy his ‘spare’ cash.

He wants to go out and do things and I feel a bit under pressure to join him. Although he is earning a bit more, it’s not enough to pay for me too-but I wouldn’t feel comfortable with that anyway. He thinks that now I am in agreements with creditors that that’s all I need to pay them and can’t see the value in building a debt pot to get them paid off sooner. :mad:

He needs educating the MSE DFW way but my lessons aren’t sinking in at the moment :rotfl:

Bad_Weather

Ohhh MY! Tesco club card for a mag subscription!!!! Its amazing what you learn on MSE! Thats what ill be doing! More inspiration to take my recycling to tesco aswell

Woowoo

I have spent the entire afternoon reading your diary, it is truly inspirational.

I can't believe how upbeat you have remained overall throughout your journey and you really made me smile.

I have subscriped to your thread and will continue to follow your progress.

Thanks

savingholmes

hi rainy - sorry your OH still doesn't really get it....

Back to mags - I subscribe to woman and home and pscyhologies via Tesco clubcard guilt free!

mrs_robinson_3

Yes, I get Red and Lonely Planet and Good Food via Clubcard points. Normal subscriptions are cheaper than buying off the shelf, but from memory, if you use Tesco vouchers they're something like £11.50 per sub (depending on the precise title, natch)

And well done Rainy, I read your diary and you're doing soooo well - from scary debts to more manageable levels in a year - fantastic...

Mrs R

Rainy_2

Woowoo wrote: »

I have spent the entire afternoon reading your diary, it is truly inspirational.

That's time you'll never get back you know! :rotfl:

I try and stay as positive as possible-can be hard when dealing with creditors and their computers though!

Well well, Barclaycard have cashed ONE of the cheques I have sent through to them. Maybe, just maybe...daren't think that it's a step forward, that would be just too much after 9 months :cool:

I have also got a pretty new spare bedroom after a weekend of decorating :j Unfortunately it has an ugly great weight bench in the middle of it but I'm trying to look past that! All in all it has cost me just under £50, including new carpet, paint, rugs, pictures, curtains, curtain pole, tie backs etc :money:I keep poking my head around the door to bask in it's de-cluttered beauty! I know I have spent some money on it but it has really lifted my spirits in terms of seeing light at the end of the tunnel to getting the house and garden sorted.

I'm hoping to curb our spending much more this month too-OH is now on a saving spree to pay off his own overdraft (could be I'm rubbing off on him slightly?!) and save for a holiday he is going on with friends in June (I declined the offer of going on the holiday, which is a shame but I just couldn't justify it. Plus I'm thinking of all the things I could get done around the house and garden with him away for a whole week! :rotfl:)

Rainy_2

Ooh, just to add...no news from Wescot re: the F&F Settlement, they must still be laughing at it! :rotfl:

Also in more favour of Mr T, they are starting free eye tests :j great news for me as my old 'free eye test' opticians (only because I knew the owner through our common alliance as business owners) has now closed down. Free prescription and cheap glasses online should help even further with cutting back on the spends.

savingholmes

I need to sort out an eye test - I am scared tho that I can't afford it if they say I need to change my glasses!

Woowoo

I had my eye's lasered last September - best thing I ever did. Although, I would be in £4k less debt if I'd stuck with the contact lenses!