New year, New me (finally)

thrifty_fifty

Just having my last artery busting cheese and onion pasty, diet coke (buy 2 at Boots and get Nails Inc polish free-my favourite colour happened to be called Paris-yay), and thorntons choccy for pud.

Now I don't normally eat all of these bad things in one day, in fact I rarely eat chocolate, it's just the crisps and the cola.

Got some low fat recipes, 1tsp this, 1tsp that. Oh my lord I'm going to be permanently starving. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

thrifty_fifty

Oooh can I not wait for payday? I hate being right down to my last pennies. Hoping that some ebay sales go through to top me up. Although I have nothing to spend on for the next week and a bit, being £40 from the limit of the overdraft as of next monday, is an uncomfortable place to be. Still haven't touched that credit card, thank goodness.

Oh hurry up payday.

thrifty_fifty

Right, a bit of re-evaluation here, because this diary has been swaying towards the negative for far too long now.

Ok so things are a bit lean, and sailling close to the wind in terms of overdraft, and general cash to hand.

Anyway, enough! At the start of the year I would use one credit card and when that was getting close to its limit, use the other, so making no headway with the debt, because whatever I paid off it, I put right back on there again. In the last 3 months, which isn't a significant amount of time really, I have stopped using both cards (one enforced), although I could have kept spending on it, but paying twice the interest rate.

I hate being into my overdraft now, it is no longer the norm. I hate especially only having £40 of it left until 25th. But hey lets look at it this way, I have nothing else to buy until payday, so that amount won't go down.

Re the diet, I was blowing things out of proportion. The change in diet is a precautionary measure. I could get the cholesterol down, just by swapping my 2-3 bags of crisps a day (yeah work is that bad, I comfort eat), for 1 bag of snack a jacks, and chocolate for go ahead biscuits.

The upshot of all this is, I'm reacting because it is change, and this year was going to be the year for change with the 30th birthday looming in November. It is all change for the better though, change the diet my clothes will fit, and all those lovely dresses will look stunning. I won't have to sit sweating in the summer because I wear a cardi to cover up my flabby arms (two fat seal pups)

Clearing the debt makes room for saving, which makes room for an owned house, that awesome cocktail ring I look at every lunch in the jewellers (£2,500). One of a kind and just a little too much, just like me! I'll have a lovely pot of cash to buy a car, a ring, some lovely garments from net a porter, and all the things I love.

So enough moaning. This is going to be an awesome year-although not for MBNA, previously Ricardo Branso, hey RMC? Their pocket money is dwindling all the time, as I pay off the card.

Any who gives a crap about a credit report, if I don't need credit, what does it matter? If I can't get a mortgage, I'll save until I'm 50 for a 1 bed caravan paid in full, in cash if that's what it takes. These beggars are not going to get us down. Yeah!

mrs_robinson_3

That's the spirit thrifty!

Mrs R

thrifty_fifty

Other good news (because we're not doing the negative anymore)

In August, I will only have 1 year left on the loan, and this will be paid off early. 4 years hard slog going at that, just 1 more to go. Yess!

Other good news is that a process that I suggested and was implemented where I used to work, is now being rolled out to all departments (I have my spies). Something good I can put on the CV.

Almost finished the ILM, and the folks are treating us both to going out for a sunday roast this weekend. Have to say it's something I love, and especially when we haven't been able to go for ages, due to cutting back on spending.

Oh and Yay! It's the weekend.

xx

thrifty_fifty

Right, need to take a trip into town today to get veg from market. Big test spending wise. Have had breakfast before I go, so I don't get tempted to buy.

Must do cleaning and list more things on ebay this weekend. Busy, busy, busy.

See you later

xx

thrifty_fifty

Back from town and amazingly I didn't buy anything. Had to buy cereal at £2 as it was high fibre and good for the healthy living.

I even managed to resist buying toiletries that I don't need in Wilkinsons. They have some real bargains in there at the mo. vaseline lip pots 82p, palmers body lotion £1.97, palmolive purple bath foam at 87p, and all manner of other lovely things.

thrifty_fifty

How sad am I? I'm actually excited for dinner because I have a quality piece of cod. Something I haven't had in ages. I usually have Coley because Mr cod is a bit endangered, and I do feel guilty. But this is the first time in ages (well since leaving home, oh mummy!!) that I have had 'real' food.

Oooh delicious. Also got rather squiffy on a bottle of red this afternoon. Mmmmm

xx

mrs_robinson_3

Glad you've had a good day thrifty. I was rather squiffy last night - that "Ah, Friday" kind of drinking that I should stop doing now I have no job and therefore no real need for a Friday feeling! And thanks for your comments on my diary - as I know you like such things I'd have posted a link to the tunic if I could find one, but it's not featured on the Debenham's site or Apricot, the concession it comes from. But anyway, it's A line, just about knee length on me, and is kind of black and greyish, whhich I generally don't like much for summer, but it has a gold peacock feather design, and is a generally summer kind of piece. It's actually really nice and looks like it cost more than the £20 it originally was. It's great with leggings or skinnies.

Enough of me - boring - enjoy your roast tomorrow

Mrs R

thrifty_fifty

Good morning!

Bet I'm the first one on here on a sunday? Not the most restful nights sleep, think it was a combination of being too hot, neighbours having a party in their garden, and having consumed alchohol (always wake up early after).

Really looking forward to the roast today, especially as it is a treat and involves no washing up at the end. I'm worrying now that the folks will have enough money for it, as we can't contribute a penny. Still I had given them the option of bringing food round here (yeah we can't even afford to have extra people round because the food budget only caters for us two at £20 a week).

My worry is that mother will have in her mind that the carvery is £8 each, but on a sunday it is a fixed 2 course or 3 course menu at £15 plus, per head, add on drinks. Then she wants to get there early so that we can have drinks. Lovely idea, but now we feel obliged to by a round of drinks in. We've managed to squeeze £10 out of the budget, but that leaves us short for food.

I just know what she's expecting it to come to, and what it will actually be are two different things. I hate being in this situation, especially with your folks. I think they forget that it is a struggle when you're younger, as they have paid their mortgage off and have more disposable income.

Why do I worry? Surely she has planned for these things and thought ahead. Not so bad with OH parents (they are taking us to the same place the following sunday), as they have not yet retired and have a really good income, so we know everything will be paid for and that they can more than afford it.

Mum and dad on the other hand paid their mortgage off about two years ago. Retired about 6 months ago, and are living on state pension with no savings. They get the odd bit of cash from dad doing gardening for neighbours and mum doing some cleaning. So although I'm looking forward to the meal, I'll be glad when it's done and paid for.

I know I'm a misery, but if they don't have enough money, what are we going to do? We can't pick up the shortfall.

Also feel guilty as I feel like this should be the other way round, me treating them. But I guess being the younger sibling I can get away with that a bit. I'm in debt, and trying to clear that and save for a house.