NTBY's sensible living and debt busting adventure

Nottoobadyet

So here I am! After much pattering around I've decided to get on my own diary to try and set myself up properly. Like my name says, its not too bad yet, but I could definetly see it getting worse! All of you on this site have been hugely helpful and inspiring, and I hope I can do half as well as many of you. My story so far:

I started working when I was 17 and paid my way through univeristy, including fees, from 18 onwards. The thing was that I worked nights and had a very good job managing a call centre, so I always had lots of leftover cash. Since I didnt go out at night and I was living in Israel at the time, I didnt have many outgoings and was able to save easily. So far so good.

Then I came to the UK to do my MSc in 2007. My savings were worth next to nothing in pounds :eek:, and though I managed to have a part time job alongside my studies, I definetly couldnt afford everything this time. My mum, who lives in America, lent me the money for tuition, which I am paying back now. After my MSc was over, my partner joined me in the UK and I took on some of the extra expenses while he was studying. Since I was working and no debtors were knocking at the door, I wasted far more dosh than I'd care to admit! Not having a credit card saved me from going in deeper, but it meant I was slower than I should have been on paying back what I owe.

So at the moment I have a decent salary, partner is done studying and is working nearly full time and looking for better, and I've paid my mum back about a third of what I owe. This diary will be all about pumping up the vollume on how fast I can pay it back.

The good - I live in London but have very reasonable rent, and can walk to work so low transport costs, and there are enough cheap / free things to do so that I dont spend much on entertainment. I've taught myself to cook a bit in true OS manner:rotfl:and can now cut back those restaurant / grocery bills! I already buy all my clothes in charity shops / when abroad in developing countries for work.

The bad - Well, I live in london:rotfl: and loads of money seems to go from the cashpoint to no where in particular! The other big killer is travel - I'm good at traveling on a tight budget, but Im absolutely addicted to getting out of town, and just do it too much. In the last year I've gone away on little trips (most quite cheaply - staying with friends or in hostels, ryanair, etc...) nearly every month, on top of the traveling I do for work. I've really been spoiling myself and need to get this under control!

I've signed up for the 10K in 2010 challenge. Glad to have you all along for the ride!

I'll post an SOA in the near future - need to keep a spending diary for a bit first to see where that cash disapears to!

Nottoobadyet

Well might as well start off right away -

Today was the last day of one of those very non-DFW holidays! Spent the weekend in Bath and though we were quite MSE about it (meal vouchers, free tours, etc) its left me skint for the rest of the month. Oh well, it was a holiday present for OH so at least Im good there.

On the train finished crocheting a hat, which is an x-mas gift for a friend and was made from yarn which I got for free, so good on there. Made muffins when I got home, which will save me from buying nibbles for a committee meeting I'll be holding at my house tomorrow. No chance of a NSD tomorrow as we'll need to do a big food shop, but slowly slowly...

Nottoobadyet

Had our meeting, to which only one person showed up :mad:, who happened to be allergic to wheat, so more muffins for me! I'll bring them in to work tomorrow to share.

Day wasn't great MSE wise - spent 54 quid on groceries for the OH and me, which hopefully will last us until the end of the month, except for Christmas if we have people over. Not too bad really, but not great either. Also spent 5 quid on a diary for next year, which I really should have waited to get discounted after the new year. Meh. Also stupidly took the bus to work so thats money spent for no good reason.

Now at home making Butternut Squash soup, which is as cheap as you like and will last several meals. I'm a bit of a failure in OS terms, partially because I only have a tiny fridge and hence tinier freezer. I may bring in a tub to freeze at the fridges at work, I just hope they don't throw it out when its been there a while! Any tips from anyone on batch cooking without freezing space?

Nottoobadyet

Today was a mixed bag on MSE ways.

The good -
Went to a really lovely free Christmas concert at a university near work. It was amazing - full orchestra and choir, including soloists.
A friend came round for dinner and was happy with soup, of which I had plenty! She also bought a bottle of wine, which is only half empty, so will go into risotto later in the week...

The bad -
Works Christmas lunch, for which funding was pulled at the last minute so we all had to contribute £10 each, for a ruddy ASK lunch! Unhappy.

Going to the Dr tomorrow because of a miserable lingering cough that Ive had nearly 3 weeks now. Maybe she'll decide that its an infection and that I need antibiotics that will prevent me from drinking the rest of the Christmas season :rotfl: wouldn't that save a bundle!

Nottoobadyet

Well, doctor wasn't very helpful, just told me to drink liquids and stay home from work. Meh.

Felt awful the rest of the day and didn't get much work done from home, and had to cancel on a friends leaving drinks. Oh well, at least that will save me a few quid. I'm unable to find an emoticon that fully describes how I feel at the moment, but I bet some of you lovely folk can visualize it :-)

Almost had an NSD, but spent about 1.25 on cute little Christmas-y bags which will be filled with gingerbread cookies as presents. Ive made one up for the landlady, which will be going to her tonight when she gets in.

Nottoobadyet

Quick update - Landlady, who is very elderly, went absolutely bonkers at sight of the gift. Clearly not expecting it at all, gave us big hugs and Christmas wishes! Bless.

Nottoobadyet

Anyone reading? Yoooohoooo?

Today was an NSD as I was feeling far too rubbish to leave the house and spent most of it on the sofa. If only I could work out how to keep my money in my pocket when I do get out the door! If it does bog down snow tomorrow I'll have every reason not to get out and spend, so I guess this is one way of going about it...

Good night all, nearly the weekend, eh?

coldstreamalways

The bank of mum and dad, yes I don't know a single person who doesn't have an account there! Including me but I'm paying it back slowly and they offered it to me to help me get a better mortgage rate on my btl, that's how I justify it! Keep going though, new year, new habits, new start etc.

Best of luck

Nottoobadyet

Thanks for the good wishes, CSA! My loan from the bank of mum was for something productive (a masters which lead to a "real" job), and since they have pay exponentially more for my sisters schooling, traveling and day to day spending, I really don't feel like a complete spooge! Paying it back has been a bit of a right of passage, and is very grown up feeling indeed!

best of luck on yours, sounds like your parents jumped in at just the right time!

gardis

I'm reading, Nottoobadyet, keep 'em coming

Nottoobadyet

gardis wrote: »

I'm reading, Nottoobadyet, keep 'em coming

hooray!! :j