Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

newgirly

Well if it's it's medicinal GG.....

CathT

I'm tempted by a l@keland airer too!

I wasn't doing dry January but we had fallen into the habit of wine on a Friday and Saturday so wanted to cut that back to a Friday. Dh finished off the wine last night and I had cordial and didn't feel deprived at all. I think for me it's definitely a habit of 'it's Friday, let's have wine!' if I broke that habit I don't think it would bother me not drinking, habits aren't so easy to break though!

Don't beat yourself up newgirly, just be consistent the rest of the time and you'll find a balance.

newgirly

Give in to temptation cath - with the airer not the wine

newgirly

£10.66 / £100 of everything else budget left, it's due to vast petrol spending so far this month, extra visits to cinema and hospital and extra work days

Food budget £89.98 left from £300 Budget.

Personal spends £21.68 of £50 left.

I will go over this month as I have a meal out on Thursday this week as it's best friends birthday and also a farewell for our good friend who is moving back to Thailand permenatly at the end of the month, some things are more important that sticking to budget!

Credit card budget for usual expenses is not being used as we are living off Xmas cash instead this month, I put on a few bits that I bought now to make the conservatory warmer/more usable but we should end up with a surplus of £500 hopefully, depends on the petrol situation too I guess.

So bad points- had alcohol this weekend

won't stick exactly to January budget challenge




Good points- diet is going well and feeling healthier

mortgage ops will be paid in full January ( it's going to be tough sticking to the high amount every month)

I have added a whopping £10 to isa and have not spent £400 premium bonds saved for cruise - it was touch and go before Xmas

Surplus saved by not using this months budget and spending Xmas gifts in the region of £500 :T

Not sure why I am updating mid month as it could all go down the pan by the end of the month :rotfl:

CathT

January's OP brings you one month closer to your goal. Good to hear you're feeling healthier from eating better. I'm trying to drink more water but only managing a litre!

newgirly

Hi cath, i bought myself a bobble bottle after Xmas have you tried one? I used to drink just tap water straight from the tap , but this filters it as you drink and it is tastes a bit better, I take it everywhere now so it kind of forces you to drink more

I have splashed out! Also added to the cc I am trying not to use this month- £30 petrol as I ran out of budget money, plus £75 on candles :eek: it sounds worse than it is!
I received a lovely candle for Xmas from a friend which you burn and inside is a piece of (usually silver) or gold jewellery valued between £10-£2000 ( I got a silver diamant! necklace with a tag saying worth £25 - probably a generous estimate but I like it!) I looked it up and they are £26+ each not including delivery. I've been on the look out daily for discounts and codes, and yesterday they reduced a pack of two small ones to £15 from £30, so I ordered 5 and got free delivery, they will make nice Xmas presents for friends and family

I'm currently budgeting for birthdays but not Xmas as there hopefully is only one more before we are mf , so this year I am taking the whole amount from octobers mortgage payment to cover it, however if I can get presents or save in vouchers through he year I wont have to take as much.

I Saw la la land last night, took the lady at work who has just lost her mum, my great aunt and ds2 , 4 of us and it only cost me £9 for one ticket after cards and codes :money: stunning looking film and everyone loved it 9.5 /10 :T

CathT

Very organised Newgirly!

newgirly

I have had another spend up on the cc bought myself a long warm padded coat in the sale for £30 (I don't have a warm one , just nice looking ones :rotfl:) and a couple of pairs of jeans and a t shirt for ds1.

The worst news of the day is I've lost my favourite boots I wore then Xmas day to mums but not home , I think they got put in a bag of Xmas junk and now they are missing! A quick google shows they have changed the style (they are irregular choice and have cats faces on them) and they are £115 to replace anyway, it's like losing a friend, now I have to go out in "normal" boots, life can be so cruel!

Other news today is I've found my dream house - in his town, 4 bed grade 2 listed and made of black wood - and looks like it should star in its own spooky film, unfortunately it's offers over £670k which would be about £300k over budget :rotfl: I have asked my parents to do the decent thing and treat me to it but they have selfishly declined :mad:

Also applied to the council for a garage, didn't even know they existed until I googled garages for rent, it takes 10 days to let me know but there are some about a 2 min walk from my house :T it's probably a 50 year waiting list situation, but worth a try. You are only supposed to store your car in it , but how would hey know if a few other bits worked their way in there? Parking restrictions have got worse here last week too , in future we may have a big problem with only 2 drive spaces, that's my excuse anyway. It in no way has anything to do with ever buying a classic car and storing it there.

Off out in an hour for my girls night out which has been arranged to pass by a pub where dds boyfriend is entering a singing competition tonight, it's a rowdy Essex pub with bouncers in the door so I hope he will be ok , he's singing hallelujah :eek:

newgirly

Great night out, dds boyfriend went through to the semi final but then got knocked out, it seems the bar staff knew the winner though he is trying again at another pub in a few weeks time after being asked by the manager there. Way too much wine and a non diet friendly quesadilla

Today's plans

Washing

Iron what's already in basket

Check damage to cc and bank account

Chase up m and s for voucher

newgirly

Oh dear, my great aunt (the carer who is visiting uncle daily in hospital) has broken her arm they had said yesterday he may be let out soon which no way can happen, I guess he will go elsewhere as he can't take up a bed indefinitely, I feel so sorry for her.

I've been through the accounts yesterday and have spent more on the cc than I thought this month (not ideal as the point was to NOT use it !) food spends still under the £300 budget - £60 something spent at ald* yesterday, will update later.

Dh at work with dd and ds2 this morning, I might get the diary out and pencil in a few ideas for the year, having stuff to look forward to later in the year helps get you through the winter