3rd LBM!

penelopedee_2

Will I ever learn! After finally earning some proper money over the last month or so, I have slipped straight back into my old ways and am frittering money away again. Time to kick myself up the b*tt and the only way I can think of keeping on track to is start another diary and confess all on here. This will probably be very boring to everyone but I need to do something:o

So stage one is:

When I get paid at the end of the month I am going to clear my MBNA card in full. Then I will get rid of my two catalogues and finally smash the egg card.

Update 28.12.09 - HSBC Card - done, MBNA Card - done, Egg Card - done, Club Book 2 - done. Club book 1 - done.

I am currently blowing about £15 away lunchtimes just wandering around supermarkets and charity shops. So, from today its home made breakies and lunches for me. I've already made tomorrow's and have enough homemade sarnie mix left for Wednesday. Lunchtime spending - home made sarnies are the rule for 2010.

I will do my shopping fortnightly online to stop daily trips to the shops where I aways give into requests for magazines and the like. Forgot the teenager - this is going to take some practise.

I am also going to give up smoking for good. I've set myself limits for the next couple of weeks and by Christmas I want to give myself the pressie of giving up. (This is made easier by the cold weather now as I can't stand smoking indoors). Quit Smoking kit on order - aiming for Jan 1st.

I don't need any more clothes. I've just purchased some winter PJ's (the only thing that needed replacing). There are a few bits I fancy but they've gone on the Christmas list and that should help stop any silly gadget pressies or smellies that I don't need (or really want). And still no clothing purchases. OH got me some for Christmas and a new pair of jeans, so I should be sorted until the summer.

Most of the Christmas pressies have been bought and paid for. I've a bit stashed back for the rest and also for my car tax due in December. Luckily I've finally managed to convince everyone in the family to only buy for the children this year which has saved us loads already - our families are huge. Xmas was done without major overspend. My first aim of 2010 is to clear any outstanding bills.

Hope I haven't bored anyone to sleep yet - this is purely selfish for me, I need to see it in black and white (if you know what I mean).

I am concerned that I will loose one of my jobs around Christmas time as I've dropped my hours recently and its only on a temporary agreement. I don't think it really suits my role so I need to prepare for the worst and get used to a lot less money again. Both normal jobs still up in the air - done enough stressing so will just have to see how they go.

Will report back tomorrow - which should be a no spend day as we don't need anything here.

penelopedee_2

So far so good today. Despite a sulking teenager who wouldn't get out of bed, I remembered my sarnies and everyone got to the bus on time. I am staying in the office for lunch and think I will sort out my meal plans for next week before I start the grocery shop (to keep me from internet shopping).

Have paid off another £5 from my MBNA card which should leave me £114 left to go.

Now just need to come up with something exciting to go with the defrosting chicken for tea.:rolleyes:

penelopedee_2

Oh and I've managed to keep to my no smoking whilst at work plan - greatly helped by the fact its horrible outside.

LeeSouthEast

It's easy to slip isn't it! Good luck!

penelopedee_2

Thanks Lee. Your signature is looking good.

I need to get into my head that just because I've money coming in, it doesn't mean its more to spend. Its to be used to clear my debt quicker.

Managed a NSD and we had fun in the kitchen tonight devising a meal from what was there (for a change). Even had tin peaches and custard for desert, I hate to think how long they'd been sat there. But was told it tasted brill and can't see why we don't have it more often (pretty good as it was value tins!).

Have to get petrol tomorrow but that should be the only expenditure.

penelopedee_2

Just realised having a CC debt of £32 is plain dumb when I have money sat in my account - so CC3 is now cleared (good old on-line banking!).

penelopedee_2

Have grandparents on childcare duty as its half term for us, so this morning was much less of a rush than usual. Remembered to bring in my sandwiches again and have knocked another £5 of MBNA.

Went out lunchtime to purchase a bottle of white (for the grandparents) and didn't pick up anything else. Nearly got sidetracked by the 'reduced' counter but as I have a full freezer and cupboards I put it back again.

I think tomorrow will be more difficult though as I'll be home all day.

LeeSouthEast

You're heading the right direction Penelope - which is better than the other half of the nation

penelopedee_2

Thanks Lee, was a nice message to start my evening with.

I've just come home to a horrid CC bill where is the interest is way more than the minimum payment and its one of those amounts where I can only dream it gets paid off. So now I'm in debt stress mode, I've decided to break into the piggy bank and pay off the £109 remaining on my CC2. At least that's two less bills coming in next month and both of them had really evil rates.

Will be skint until payday though. Good job the family find eating out of the cupboards and freezer a novelty at the moment!

LeeSouthEast

The good thing is, once you've paid off the first, it becomes easier. It not only motivates but provides extra cash to 'snowball' the next target. Then the next and the next. It really works. The first debt, no matter how big or small, is the hardest.

penelopedee_2

Took the family to the cinema and for a burger today which was all budgeted for and we remembered to take in our own drinks and sweets. Managed not to go into the shops and the film was enjoyed by all - a good day I think.

Kids have a friend over tonight and tomorrow (crafty childcare swap) but the freezer and fridge is full of the bits they like and I will be sending them out and about round the village tomorrow so should be be a fairly cheap day too.

Might even stretch to a glass of wine for me later!:D