The grand plan for Catzpaws ... can it be done?

Catzpaws

Dear Diary

Spent more than planned today

Went doggy training (humiliating, stressful and fun in equal measures) - £11 (£6 for 'life long registration' and £5 for class). Then went to pub afterwards - £7. After that, went to Sainsburys and got bits for dinner tonight - £8 for bottle of wine, Grazia mag and some cut price food stuff (bread rolls, quorn savoury eggs, etc.). Grand total = £26. Oops.

On a positive note, OH's bro has paid £50 that he owes OH - after gentle reminder by text.

Better still, I showed OH this diary (he thinks I'm obsessed with this now BTW ) and he agrees that he is not great with cash... hopefully he will understand more the importance of all of this by my 'public declaration' -ha!

Anyway, roll on payday, the weekend, and being a step closer to becoming debt free.

CP x

Catzpaws

I know I need to cut down on spending on [STRIKE]cr*p[/STRIKE] non-essentials. Yesterday was a case in point. Apart from doggy training, the other stuff was mainly non-essential. Based on the last few days, I'd say that half my income goes on wine :beer: :beer: :beer:. Not :money:is it?

NO!

At least, so far it's fitted under our grocery budget - so I suppose I should be cool with that.

Left my jacket spud at home so will be eating cereal at lunch. But, need to wash my car before it embarasses me any further (think bird poop and filthy windscreen).

CP x

Catzpaws

Aargh, how silly I've been! All week, I've had a feeling that the SOA seemed wrong. I've now realised that I entered £600 extra on OH's monthly salary. D'oh! Just a small difference then....(!)

I've now updated the SOA - which actually now reflects situation. Dammit - no oodles of surplus cash after all. (it does show £600-odd pound 'spare' but this does largely go towards debt repayments anyhow).

On the spending front, I had a mini celebration last night for passing my professional quals course (woo hoo!) - £15. Today, so far, I have spent £1.50 on soup and a packet of crisps. OH might be off for a night out tonight with work - work should be paying for this, he says.

Got paid today. Transferred £300 to savings account for hols. So, will soon be overdrawn again. This is really quite depressing.

Catzpaws

Feel like Money Hitler... it's not a good feeling

Here's how the phone conversation just now with OH and I went:

Me: Oh, I'm on lunch at the moment so on MSE
Him: I've just had lunch too. I had a nice sandwich
Me: ... (realising he must have been referring to a bought sandwich as his tone was more enthusisastic than normal) Oh, what sandwich was that?
Him: Cajun chicken on warm bread. It was very tasty!
Me: How much was that? (trying not to sound like I was interrogating)... Um, cos I need to record it.
Him: £2.50.... But, I normally do make them!
Me: I know, I know..... (goes back to MSE to record info)

Oh dear... this is exhausting me already!

Lemon_Tree

i feel that i have that conversation almost weekly with my OH, they just don't get it do they? good job we love them.

Catzpaws

Friday night - night out with OH and DVD - £20
Saturday - grocery shopping - £65 (including wine/beer for our little get together on Saturday night)
OH pub visit with boys - £12

Okay, so we don't do the big nights out anymore, but clearly still a fair bit money on alcohol!

Did more tinkering around with spreadsheets yesterday like a lady possessed. Worked out that if we cut back.... IF we're really MUCH MORE careful and throw all spare money on debt, then it may be possible to be debt-free in 18 months. Wowsers :cool:. God, that would be SO ama-aaa-aaa-zing!

Having said that though, while we're putting money towards our hols, we can't pay more than our minimum repayments on our cards. So, it will prob take a few more months in reality.

Planning on having a NSD (well, every little helps!)....

CP x

Catzpaws

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

i feel that i have that conversation almost weekly with my OH, they just don't get it do they? good job we love them.

Yeah, someone's got to, haven't they?

Catzpaws

Been fed up over the last few days over a number of things: over-indulgence on drink, eating too much junk, not enough exercise, etc. I feel really lethargic, bloated and blah.

So, instead of just moaning about it, I have some Bank Holiday Monday resolutions:

- Drink 8 glasses of water a day
- Eat healthy food - moderate portions
- Exercise 3 times a week
- Limit alcohol to weekends

I know I will feel better doing the above... so I AM GOING TO DO IT *look of grim determination on face*.

For anyone that has an iphone and wants to monitor their water intake, there is an excellent app that you can use to do that - it's free. *Goes off to get first glass of water of day*

honeybear_2

Hi Catz

If you want any help with the cutting down on the drinking then have a nosy over here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1821615

I'm not by any means saying you're an alcoholic or anything, it's just a really useful support thread. I need to cut back & it's helped me loads in just a few weeks

ps.I just love the name Catzpaws

Catzpaws

honeybear wrote: »

Hi Catz

If you want any help with the cutting down on the drinking then have a nosy over here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1821615

I'm not by any means saying you're an alcoholic or anything, it's just a really useful support thread. I need to cut back & it's helped me loads in just a few weeks

ps.I just love the name Catzpaws

Thanks Honeybear, I think I might just do that... definitely have noticed that I've been drinking more and more the last few months. Need to knock it on the head as it's not doing my health or sense of well-being much good.

I registered on mse before we adopted our dog... so now I feel I'm a bit biased towards moggy-features... ! But, I don't have favourites - I love both my cat and dog!