Ruby's "Stop Spending, Start Saving" Diary

ruby_eskimo

The thing is Pickle, I sound organised and I am on paper, but actually BEING organised is a whole different thing!

InaPickle

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

The thing is Pickle, I sound organised and I am on paper, but actually BEING organised is a whole different thing!

I sympathise: that's where I keep going wrong in life!

ruby_eskimo

Wow it's been a long time since I posted here! It's like 3 months! So here's an update on what has been happening:

- Finished my first year of the Masters, just got to wait for the final results.
- Still working at the hospital, although trying to get out of there as soon as possible. Basically lots of trouble with one member of staff who has it in for me. Plus various changes in management have changed things so much that I don't want to work there anymore.
- Keeping my head above water money wise but need to reign in my spending a lot more.
- Still saving! Going off to update the sig now!

Can't wait to get back into the swing of things on here! I've missed you all!

InaPickle

ruby_eskimo wrote:

Can't wait to get back into the swing of things on here! I've missed you all!

We've missed you, too!

And cor, you're not joking - it has been a while! :eek:

Well done on the saving and here's hoping that you manage to get a new job and car. x

ruby_eskimo

ARRGGGHHH. This week is a bad week, and it's only Tuesday! Had the day from hell at work yesterday. Then today I check my online banking and find a payment for £498.02 to NPower...I live at home with my parents and they aren't even NPower customers...

It's taken 3 hours for NP to tell me it's a fraudulent payment and I should contact my bank...I already did that and they wanted me to see if NP could give me any more info. Apparently it was an internet payment to them for a NP account that previously has been accused of the same thing. I recently got a Visa Debit card from Natwest and haven't used it on any websites or in any new stores which is even more confusing as to how my card got cloned. So now it takes 10 days for them to sort it out. And now I have no card and no money for the rest of the week. I'm a bit annoyed at the way Natwest have handled this so I'm on the lookout for a new bank.

Feeling very tired and hungry.

InaPickle

Crikey, Ruby - that's awful (and very mysterious)!

Well done for informing the bank so quickly, and best of luck getting it sorted. x

ruby_eskimo

Well finally I have had my money refunded. It's taken a month and Shatwest were awful with me (losing forms etc...) So I am now the newest member of The Co-operative bank! I don't think I've ever been so excited about my finances! I have opted for the Privilege account for £9.50 a month; includes worldwide travel insurance, mobile phone insurance and other benefits. To be honest I'm really pleased already with the service and I only got all the paperwork yesterday!

As for other news, still looking for a new job and that's about it.

Oh I suppose I can post my new budget that I've got going on:

Bus Fare: £43.20
Phone: £35
Train: £47.20
Bank: £9.50
Driving: £80
Weekly Spend: £80
Gym: £30

Total = £324.90

Of course I don't always get the bus to work and at the moment I'm not going to uni so I'm not going on the train, therefore that money is going straight into the savings account on top of the £500 a month I'm saving automatically. Of course this is based on a 4 week month, i have an adjusted budget for a five week month. I've got it all written down in my filofax and it's starting to get to the point where it is automatic!

I'm really pleased that I am managing to stick to a budget and still do all the things I want to do. Now I just have to concentrate on losing the extra weight I'm carrying around with me and my life will be pretty good!

InaPickle

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

I'm really pleased that I am managing to stick to a budget and still do all the things I want to do. Now I just have to concentrate on losing the extra weight I'm carrying around with me and my life will be pretty good!

Ruby! :wave:

It's been a while again. Well done on the budgeting - I've been a bit pants lately - and as for the above, it's true for me, too.

Hope everything else is going well. x

ruby_eskimo

Thanks Pickle! Going to toodle off and read your diary now for a catch up!

InaPickle

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

Thanks Pickle! Going to toodle off and read your diary now for a catch up!

Not much has happened: I was broke, got paid, spent all my money on nail stuff, I whinge about work and and then it goes round in a circle again!