I want to break free........

gilligansyle

Just make sure that in your plan you allow for some spends for yourself.

Do you read Firewalkers diary. She has a blog about money, but one of the things she does is allocate earnings on a percentage basis, x% for essentials (mortgage, CT etc) and has a 'you're so worth it' account, which is just for personal guilt free spends.

BADPENNY_2

:wave::wave: hello, i've been AWOL for quite some time and i've decided to return to mse as i've quite missed it. Don't know why i've stopped but i think life has just got in the way a bit but i'm going to attemt to revive my diary and get some much needed motivation from the forums. i'll repost a update on finances (not much change) later but i'm off for my breakfast now and a browse on some diarys and will be back later.

BADPENNY_2

Hey Diary,

Well its time for a full financial update - Last time I was truly honest with myself was on 4/2/11 and our debts stood at a combined £25,877.
Well I am ashamed to say that they have increased somewhat so here is the breakdown ..................

OVERDRAFT - £400
BARCLAYCARD - £4439
MBNA - £4434
OPUS - £1202
BARCAYCARD 2 - £3104
VIRGIN - £853
CAPITAL 1 - £478
HALIFAX - £6814
POST OFFICE - £2034
TESCO - £853
SANTANDER LOAN - £8387.
TOTAL DEBTS - 32,978.

the debts have increased i know but this has the santander loan added to it which it didn't when i last updated and was for our new kitchen which we needed and is now installed and looks fab so i don't regret this. we have also taken 2 holidays over the last 6 months which I don't regret in the least as we have really enjoyed them and have already paid back almost £1.5k last month alone which is still to show on next months statements so figures will come down next month. Also on the financial front our BIG loan of £20k finished last month so we are £408 better off each month and i've also just been promoted at work which has given me quite a good payrise so also freeing up more money to start tackling these debts.

One thing i'm not going to go without is my holidays- I work hard and don't have much of a social life outide of going to the gym/work so i am determined to have my hols and not feel guilty and i'm already planning my next one for MAY, this will be paid for upfront it just means that any overpayments will be lower than usual. Right enough waffling for now - need to make a move or else i'll still be on here 3 hours later....................

will update tonight on any mse activity.

BADPENNY_2

Back again....

moneysaving activity for today - 1 load of washing line dried.
- homemade porridge for breakfast using oatbran bought 6months ago, trying to give up oat so simple as it seems to go up in price every week. added some blueberrys and some honey.
- tuna saled and feta cheese for lunch using up leftovers that would of gone into bin otherwise.
- 55p into loose change jar - its getting quite full now but will be saved towards holiday spends.
- a nsd day (so far) but don't envisage any spends now
-heating off all day - just put on now as getting a bit chilly.
-taken some pork ribs out of freezer for tea tommorrow night just need to find a recipe for a marinade as i don't want to buy one.
- gym later to use membership.

spent a few hours this afternoon bowsing mse and reading a few diarys for insperation had forgotton how much i love this site and i am determined to keep updating my diary to keep me on the straight and narrow. I have also read my diary from start to finish and i can definatly see a change in my way of thinking from when i 1st started out ( just a pity my debt has increased) prehaps i havn't really had my REAL lightbulb moment just yet.

bp.

gilligansyle

:wave:

Pops in and says hello

BADPENNY_2

Hi Gill, thanks for popping by.

yesterday I decided to work to a meal plan for the following week, something that I very rarely do as our diet seems to consist of 3 staple foods 1 of them being ready prepared oven chips but i am getting a bit sick of the lack of variation in our diets and the oven chips are now nearly £3 a bag so they have to go. I want to start preparing all meals from scratch however i am a bit sort on time as i don't get home most evenings untill gone 7pm and am then out to the gym on 3 of those evenings so it will be tricky but i'm planning on getting my slow cooker out a bit more. So if anybodys still reading here is my plan for the following week.

sunday - slowrosted lamb shank with new pototoes and veg (never made before) might do a apple pie for desert (never made before)

monday - chicken catticore - will make in slow cooker tonight to be reheated tom. again never made before.

tuesday - chicken and chorizo jambalya - never made before
weds - homemade pizza with homemade wedges
thursday - chicken curry with rice and garlic bread
friday - i am going out so oh can fend for himself
sat - vegetable lasange.

Just reading that back its very meat heavy.......... that would account for me going over my budget this week. maybe need to start intoducing a few vegertarian meals next week !!!!

plans for today don't consist of very much - may go for a drive out somewhere a bit later. Lost 3lbs last week so thats good just need to lose 2lbs this week and i am back to my pre christmas weight of 10st 7lbs. then i need to attack this last 14lbs once and for all.