Ruby's "Stop Spending, Start Saving" Diary

ruby_eskimo

So it's been a while since I last posted and I have a lot to update with!

I paid off my overdraft finally last month. It feels really good to be back in the black!

I started my Masters in October and it's quite stressful really! I've paid half of the fees and I have next years fees all saved and ready to go. Being in London once a week isn't' too bad for my bank balance, I've managed to resist shopping which I'm severely surprised about being on Regent/Oxford street!

I've decided to give myself a savings break till December (well I get paid Christmas Eve so all my shopping will be done by then!). Then come January I will start driving lessons (that's all I've asked for as presents!). I've also decided to limit myself to a treat once a month to stave off the shopping beast, but other than that I will not buy anything I don't NEED.

Let's see if I can stick to it!

ruby_eskimo

Oh and I just got back from a trip to Prague where I did most of the Christmas shopping I had left. I've treated my parents to Billy Connolly tickets in January. I got my boyfriend's mum christmas decorations from Prague, his dad a beer tankard from Prague, his nan some other christmas decorations and a table cloth as a treat for my mum. I only have to get presents for my 2 best friends, my boyfriend and my nan. Oh and a secret santa gift for work. It's doable me thinks!

ruby_eskimo

Stayed home from uni today due a bit of a sickness bug I appear to have picked up from my Mum. But I managed to get a few things sorted today:

1) Online Scratchies done
2) Joined Weekly spend challenge
3) Joined Sealed Pot challenge 3
4) Bought Secret Santa Gift for work
5) Bought half of my best friends gift

Now I just need to get some Evening Primrose stuff from Boots for my nan and stuff for Le Boyfriend. He wants some aftershave and a Dutch cricket shirt. Then that's Christmas sorted!

gattina

hello! good luck with everything :-)

ruby_eskimo

gattina wrote: »

hello! good luck with everything :-)

Thanks! Just applied for some more BBC events thanks to the link you posted!

Swinstie73

Hi ruby_eskimo,

Just found your diary and thought I'd post since you popped into mines!

I took OH to see Billy Connolly in October and he was fab, sure your parents will enjoy it.

Hope you're feeling better soon, nothing worse than a bug at this time of year (or anytime)!

ruby_eskimo

Swinstie73 wrote: »

Hi ruby_eskimo,

Just found your diary and thought I'd post since you popped into mines!

I took OH to see Billy Connolly in October and he was fab, sure your parents will enjoy it.

Hope you're feeling better soon, nothing worse than a bug at this time of year (or anytime)!

Thanks Swinstie! Feeling a lot better today! Which is good because I have to go to work tonight!

Won a tenner on the lottery last night! My mum decided to just randomly buy me a ticket and it paid off. Also cashed in £7.50 from Fat Cheese and £13.43 from Butlins Bingo this morning. That will go straight into the savings account when I get the cash.

I've decided that the next big thing to do money wise is to try and save £10,000 by August 2011. By that time I will have finished my masters and be looking for a place with Le Boyfriend and a Phd to go into. That will at least give me some padding for a bit in case things don't quite go to plan!

Now just have to work out a budget for it all!

EssexHebridean

Looks like you're realy focused and have some good clear goals set there Ruby. Nice to have something to aim for and to be able to see the results. I'll cross my fingers that you get your driving lessons for christmas too!

InaPickle

:wave:Hi Ruby!

I've just found your diary and read a few messages. It's too late for me to read any more, but I look forward to reading the rest tomorrow and I have subscribed to see how things go for you. :cool: Best of luck! x

ruby_eskimo

Thanks EssexHebridean and InaPickle. (p.s EH, I'm in Essex too, near that Lakeside place )

My nan and aunt are a bit miffed at me asking for driving lessons for Christmas. They wanted to know what I did with the money they gave me for the same purpose on my 17th Birthday. When I explained that going to uni isn't cheap and I used that money to pay for rent in my first year, they got really annoyed! I've never asked them for anything ever and I really don't expect much. Oh well!

On a different note, had an awful night shift last night at work. Got left with an agency staff nurse with a big chip on her shoulder. There is no need to talk to me like I'm a piece of dirt. I just like to be treated with the same respect that I treat others with. I woke up this evening with a really dodgy hip, hope it relaxes after a bath later. One more night shift then I'm going to a secret Christmas party tomorrow night! Very excited about it