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

Snowdonlily

Hi Maman, and everyone else.

Yes, the notepad is filling up nicely. Went to T's for some shopping on Friday and spent £45.42 which brings my total for the month up to £157.95. I won't have to shop now for about 10 days, so it looks like I'll be close to my target spend for October.....unless I have unexpected guests which is what usually happens!

I'm at home today, its a lovely day, I have two loads of washing drying outside (who needs a tumble dryer!) and I've just watched the Hollyoaks Omnibus. I've photographed a load of clothes ready to ebay, I just need to get cracking and list them. If all goes according to plan, I should make enough to cover Christmas

Yesterday was my birthday, and I was taken out to dinner. I had a lovely night and wasn't allowed to spend a penny!! I can't remember the last time I had such a good laugh :rotfl:

I 'spose I'd better go and do some work. I still have some apples left, so I think I'll make a crumble (again!).

Have a good weekend........what's left of it x

maman

Belated happy returns for yesterday snowdonlily, good to hear that you were treated royally.

Glorious day here too. Washing on line, shame ironing follows:(

Is your challenge for the calendar month (from October 1st)? And is liquid refreshment included? Just curious because I like to keep a check on how much I'm spending too. I just started Slimming World (finding it good so far) but I'm wondering whether it's going to prove more expensive than our 'normal' diet.

Snowdonlily

Hi Maman, yes liquid refreshment is included, but its mostly a bottle of wine now and then to drink at home.

I started slimming world just before I left my H and it really did work. I didn't find it expensive at all really. It was mainly what we were already eating, except you cook it differently. I was eating a lot of chicken and bananas!

Good Luck x

Snowdonlily

Here we are again! Three weeks since my last post ......... and three weeks closer to Christmas :eek:

Things are much better here these days and I'm glad to say that I'm managing to stay within my budget, so na, na, na, nana to the ex who said I couldn't stick to a budget if my life depended on it

I've started divorce proceedings. He's being uncharacteristically reasonable at the moment, but that will probably change once we start talking money. I've even been on a couple of dates!

I've been busily listing on ebay this week. Storage space is pretty sparse in the cottage so I can't really keep all the stuff I've amassed over the years, and anyway, I don't want to keep it. All that stuff was purchased during a time when I was really unhappy.

I wonder if I could sell enough on ebay to pay for my divorce with the poceeds? I wonder if someone else has done it? That sounds like a good challenge to me :rotfl:

Right, I'm off to update my totals. Have a good weekend and Happy Halloween x

Snowdonlily

This independence lark is all very well, but my legs and back are killing me tonight!

I had a pick-up full of logs delivered yesterday (£50, I don't know if that's expensive or not!) and I had to carry them all from the gate, round to the back of the cottage.

I don't have a wheelbarrow, so I used two of my large Mr T's blue bags for life. I hope nobody was watching me, cos it took me all morning, but it was really satisfying to see them all neatly stacked after I'd finished. I'm hoping they'll last all Winter, but I don't know .........this is all new to me

maman

Good to see you back snowdonlily. You sound in fine form!

Well done on sticking to your budget and just think of the log-carrying as really cheap exercise!

I don't know how long divorce proceedings take but it will be good to get everything sorted, especially separating the finances, then you can have a truly fresh start. I'm sure ebaying is good therapy too. It's like clearing clutter from your head as well as the wardrobes.

Enjoy your weekend.

Snowdonlily

Hi all, hi Maman!

Good day at work today. Some days everything just goes like clockwork and you feel totally on top of everything........today was one of those days. Tomorrow probably won't be so organised, but since deciding to just go with the flow and not stress about things you can't change I'm feeling much more positive

Just lit the log burner in the cottage for the first time. Never used one before and one of my co-workers said they were difficult to light. It was easy...........who needs men :rotfl:

maman

Just noticed that you came in under target on the grocery challenge, well done:T You're really getting the hang of budgetting!

Hope you had a nice, cosy evening. You must use the logs after all the work you put in.

Snowdonlily

Hello everyone, hi Maman!

I hope everyone had a good Wednesday.

Quiet day at work today and I've been doing a LOT of thinking (yes it really was that quiet!!).

The title "my life beings at 40..better late than never diary" was meant to show my determination to start from scratch financially, clear my debts and never go down that road again, but in the last three months, my life really has begun again in a way I never expected.

I started here in January owing just over £26k and by the end of the month I'll be down to just under £19k which is still a huge sum but it shows that I can do anything when I put my mind to it.

So I think its time for a new diary full of positives and new experiences, learning more about thrift and of course keeping an eagle eye on every penny.

Thanks to everyone who read and commented and I hope you'll keep reading and joining in on the new one x