My "life begins at 40....better late than never diary!!"

Snowdonlily

Just been updating my totals, I've sold a couple more items on ebay.

Had quite a busy day today at work, not so much with customers, but I've been reorganising the whole place........it makes more sense now, but I did have a moment yesterday when I was sorry I'd started, it just looked like one big mess.

Haven't spent anything today, but will be going shopping with SIL and DH tomorrow, so I'll probably buy a couple of things. They won't be going on the card though cos I've given that to DH so he can keep it out of my reach!!

DS1 phoned yesterday, he and his friends have been looking at new houses for next year, so he'll probably be after a loan when he has to pay the deposit. I think its really unfair that he won't get his deposit on this house back till Sept even though he has to pay the new landlord a deposit asap. I know thats how it works though.

The diet is going ok so far, but for the second time running now....after I've eaten WW chicken tikka masala I've come out in red blotches, so I must be allergic to something in the recipe!!

Hope everyone is having a good week so far :j

Snowdonlily

Its been a really nice day today, I had the day off so DH and I went shopping.

I was a good girl, I bought a pair of jeans for £25 in Next (a really nice pair of dark blue bootcut jeans) to wear to wear in Cardiff and a nice everyday top from DP for £14. I paid cash for everything and never used my card once (I can't anyway, I've given it to DH to guard!!). We both had a coffee in Costa Coffee (DH had a muffin) and then we had lunch in Asda (last of the big spenders!!)....I had a JP with tuna........so I didn't break my diet!

This sounds really sad, but it was nice to be able to spend some time together just the two of us.

It feels like the weight is coming off really slowly this time around (I wonder if its cos I'm 40 now?)...........but I am starting to feel the difference in my clothes, they're definitely getting looser. I have a lovely tunic I bought from Warehouse before Christmas which I've never worn, but I may be able to wear it to Cardiff if I can be good for the next two weeks. I have another top I can wear if all else fails!

Its DH's birthday on Saturday so I'm taking him out for a meal. We know the restaurant manager.....and I might have let it slip that its his b'day, so they promised to embarass him as much as possible........:rotfl:

I've just done half an hour on the exercise bike...............I wish they came with cushioned saddles!!

Its weigh in day tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed x

Snowdonlily

Another week almost gone, just tomorrow left to work...............then Sunday off yippeeeee!

Had my weekly weigh in today and have lost 3lbs yayyyyyyyyyy! I have to admit to weighing myself in between weigh days tho, in fact I weigh myself before I go to bed and when I get up in the morning.........even though I know I shouldn't! This brings my total lost up to now to 8 1/2 lbs. I've been in a good mood all day today cos I wore a pair of black linen trousers that I bought from Next to work today..........I couldn't fasten them just after Christmas.

Haven't spent anything today other than the usual 45p for a newspaper.......oh yes, I forgot I spent £51 on petrol, which should last for about 10 days.......I'm trying not to think about how much I spend in a year

I'm starting to think about food again..........so I'm going for a long soak using some of the lovely Lush goodies I got for Christmas

Snowdonlily

I've just got home and I'm a little fed up! Took DH to the pub for a birthday meal........we got home about half an hour ago. I thought we could share a nice bottle of wine, but he's gone straight back out to the pub! (only five minutes walk from our house!).

So........I'm doing what any sensible woman would do.......drinking the wine myself :beer: .

The diet can go on the back burner for tonight......I'm not working tomorrow so I don't have to get up quite so early. I have to work weekends in my job, so its nice to have time off when my boys are home too. I have to make the most of it.......DS2 will be going to Uni in Sept, then it'll just be me, DH and DS1.

Haven't spent anything today other than the bill for this evening which was about £50 so that leaves me more or less skint till payday on the 24th. I've budgeted for the essentials, but there's not much spare cash left unless I can root out a few more things to list on ebay.

To be honest, once I've cleared most of the clutter, I probably won't ebay much .....I seem to be coming across a lot more "problem" buyers than I used to!

Snowdonlily

Another NSD today, but I haven't been anywhere so that was quite easy!

Its been snowing on and off all day, I've taken DS2 and DS3 to work. I really hope I'll be able to go and fetch them later, or they're going to have a long walk home.

I've had a very productive day today, I've cleaned the house from top to bottom, done all the washing and cleared the ironing mountain that was lurking in my utility room. I really try to keep on top of it, but when I get home from work, I don't always feel like it. Its extremely satisfying to finally sit down in a tidy house tho !

I've been reading a few of the diaries here tonight and have decided to follow suit and open up a savings account to save for unexpected bills. A lot of my debt came about by living beyond my means (buying lots of sparkly nice things), but a huge chunk of it came about when my little car died on me! I'm not saying I could have saved enough to pay for a new car, but it could have contributed.

I can't wait for January to end, its a really "bleurgh" month........with no money, excess weight since Christmas, and cold weather! Tomorrow is the start of a brand new month.....and its one month closer to Summer :j (its also my brother's b'day!).

Hope everyone has a great week x

spendtoomuch

Hi Snowdonlily, no update for a while, is all ok? x

Primula

Hiya
Just catching up on all the diaries. You've been doing really well, will wait for the most recent update
P

Snowdonlily

Hello, Spendtoomuch, Primula and everyone..................I've been neglecting my diary a bit this week Life has just been a bit hectic! We've had a few ups and downs but we're all ok!

The main thing this week has been DS1. At the moment he's on his third year of an Beng degree. He was hoping to be able to switch courses this year and transfer onto an Meng degree course. His tutors seem to think he'll be better off if he graduates this year with a Beng and then studies for an Msc next year. This would have to be self-funded, so he needs to find approximately £3,400 for his tuition fees and a year's living expenses on top. Of course, we can help him with some of this, but he'll have to take out a Career Development Loan, which he'll have to start paying back two months after the course ends. I really don't like the idea of him taking out another loan, but he's 21 in May, so we'll just have to let him get on with it I spose.

The other thing going on is that I'm thinking of trying for a new job. I wasn't really seriously looking for anything else, but I always keep an eye on local vacancies and I spotted an ad for a job in purchasing ..............(if there's anything I can do really well, that would be purchasing.............imagine being paid to shop!!). I'm not unhappy where I am at the moment (I suppose if I was really happy I probably wouldn't keep checking the situations vacant pages, would I?!), I work with some really great people, its just not much of a challenge at the moment, and there are some issues with job security (my present job is publicly funded). I didn't go back to work until DS3 was about 18 months and was a legal sec for about 10 years, I decided it was time for a change and then got a job as an estate agent, which was really not for me and lasted for a whole 2 months....(I loved nosing around people's houses, but I wasn't pushy enough!!) I've been in my present job for approx 3 years...............might this be the change I need, or am I doing myself more harm than good by changing jobs too often? If I was successful, it would mean half the amount of driving....and of course half the travelling expenses.

My diet hasn't been particularly good for the last couple of days..........I'll just have to try hard to get myself back on track. We went to a friend's daughter's 18th birthday party last night..........I think I may have over indulged slightly! I'm starting to feel a bit more human now........(it must have been something I ate!!) :beer:

The walk from the pub is quite a long one, so we decided to take a shortcut across FIL's field, which means stepping over a little ditch which fills with water when its been raining. Killer heels aren't made for walking across fields, so of course I slipped, ended up in the water, and pulled DH down too...........I just started to giggle, and laughed so much I couldn't get up.........it was so slippery!! I just hope nobody saw us.............we were both absolutely covered in mud :rotfl:

I have to go on a training course tomorrow. Its absolutely ridiculous, we'll be there all day for something that's just a matter of using common sense.

I think that's all my news for the moment...........ooh, yes, I forgot, my friend just found out that she's going to be a grandma for the first time. Her son is the same age as my DS1. I hope it happens to me one day too!!

Have a fab week everyone xx

Snowdonlily

I very nearly managed a no spend day today, but succumbed to my sweet tooth and bought a pack of Love Hearts............yummy!!

Still can't make up my mind whether or not to try for that new job. CV's have to be in by Friday, so I'll have to make up my mind pretty soon. I know I'm lucky to be in a job, but I don't feel very secure there. I'm also worried I may be a bit old to be chopping and changing careers. I know I'm jumping the gun...........I probably won't even get an interview..............I guess I've got a bad case of itchy feet.........if I'm honest, I've had itchy feet for a few years, I'm 40 and still have no idea what I'd like to be doing with my life!!

Haven't really done much moneysaving this week, I need some motivation. I haven't added to my debt, but I've spent about £50 of the money I had saved in my paypal account.

Sorry to keep boring you all, I'm trying very hard to stay on the straight and narrow.

Have a good Weds x

spendtoomuch

go for the job I say!! You have nothing to lose and you will be sorry if you don't. Of course you are not too old to change jobs, you are in the prime of your life! I have worked for the same firm for 16 years and moved jobs (same company) after 16 years in May last year - I was out of my comfort zone and yes its been hard but I have learnt so much and I am soooo glad I did it.

You are not boring us either, I love catching up with your diary! XX