Operation Sort Stuff Out

clippy_girl

Smilerwoman wrote: »

Also, got my quarterly bank statement today and was askanced at the amount of money I was spending prior to my LBM (no 2).

A flavour: Wagamama for lunch, Caffe Nero, Tesco, EAT (£9.48 :eek:) Starbucks(£3.30). Disgusted with myself. Easily £30 on absolutely nothing. Blah. Feel sick just looking at it.

I suppose it's positive because there is not a snowball's chance in hell that I would ever ever spend that sort of money again. But FRIGHTENING.

o dear i hardly ever bought stuff on my card even when i spent loads so it is difficult for me to work out what i actually spent it on! is a shame as if i had it on a statement i could at least refer to it and think never again!

Smilerwoman

Ah. Today my MSE efforts have been thwarted somewhat. By buying a bike. I wanted to cycle to work to get fit for my holiday in October. Need to shift half a stone. So need to get on it. Exercise exercise exercise.



Cost me £27. Not much. But I still feel bad because today was supposed to be a NSD. Oh dear

If_My_Pennies_Were_Pounds

£27 isn't too much, and just think how much it'll be worth it when you've lost that half stone...or more?!

Smilerwoman

Oh dear

Things were looking very good and now they are not. Feeling a bit down in the dumps but hope it's a momentary blip.

So last night, I went to pick up my bike. I had a low spend day yesterday, came under budget with the big shop and didn't spend anything else. So was feeling v positive.

Until two things. Firstly, I bought a basket, seat cover and lock for my new bike, as well as a backpack so I could cycle to work. This cost me about £25 in total - quite a bargain. But on top of my £27 bike, it's almost £60. Now I know it will pay for itself within a few weeks and I know that it saves money on weightwatchers/slimming world and on exercise classes. And petrol too. But naturally, a spend of £60 makes me feel very nervous now.

On top of that, I realised that I forgot about my breakdown renewal, which is due in September. Not a huge problem - the AA wanted £52 but I've got it for £34 plus £10 cashback with RAC. So money saving done there. :money:

But the fact is that I totally forgot about it so I'm going to have to rejig my budget quite a lot. It was already quite tight. So this is not a smiley smilerwoman

clippy_girl

chin up just think how well you were doing before the bike and breakdown cover. as yopu say, bike will pay for itself and cheaper than going to the gym (esp when you dont go! oops )

Smilerwoman

Thanks Clippy :j.

Feeling a bit more like myself tonight. Trying not to think about the AA/RAC thing and just trying to focus on not spending money.

And actually, I've found out how easy it can be when you put your mind to it. Sometimes, like the other day, I felt really bad because I realised what a mountain I had to climb. I've got all this debt, and I'm going on holiday, and I've got my MOT, then Christmas etc etc :eek:

But if you break it down into manageable chunks, I'm actually doing ok. Like today, I managed NSD no 4. And I haven't had a shop-bought coffee in ages.

It's just been a bit weird lately, because I've been battling work (which was horrendous and now is a little bit better) and money problems and I didn't think I could do it. I saw each little setback as an absolute disaster rather than an inconvenience.

But feeling happy and positive today. :beer:

Smilerwoman

Fantastic news today :j

Got a payrise for about £1,500. Won't get it til September but backdated to July. Happy Smilerwoman.

Celebrated a bit too much tonight though :beer: So NSD out the window. Still, enjoyed myself LOTS and lots more money to throw at my debts. Woo :j

clippy_girl

yey well done! :beer::j that is fantastic news :j

Smilerwoman

Thanks Clippy!

Things are both good and bad today. Good because, when I work out my budget with my new pay rise, it means that October's shortfall because of my MOT will be resolved. So that's ok. And naturally, it means after my holiday and after all the ridiculous car spends, I'll have around £100 a month more to throw at my debt. :j Hurrahs all round.

BUT. Big but. I spent a lot celebrating last night. When I say a lot, it wasn't a lot by my previous standards - only a tenner in the pub - but I hadn't budgeted for it and now things are v tight. And secondly. I had a mild hangover this morning. . Which meant I bought a coffee to spur me on and a bun from the shop at lunch time. No great crisis, but really needed to be saving, not spending.

Also, because I've had serious case of eat-everything-in-sight-itis, it's not done a great deal for my diet. Boo.:o

Smilerwoman

Ok, so things are a bit fraught at the minute.

I've really been trying to keep to my NSD challenge and to keep myself on the straight and narrow, but it seems to be hitting a brick wall.

I know it's only temporary, but it's incredibly demoralising. It just seems like events are conspiring against me and I can't really do anything about it. :mad:

Like this morning, for example. I started work later, had a lovely lie in and decided to cycle to work. Fit fit fit. But then I was outside in the garden and realised I would actually DIE if I tried to cycle in that heat. Maybe that was a mistake and maybe I should've tried it anyway. I feel bad that I didn't. Because it cost me £2 on the bus there and £1.60 back - I walked a bit to the next stop to save some dough.

The good thing is that I've got this pay rise and that I've sold some books - made £15 on Amazon, so minus costs, it'lll work out at about £10 profit. Which will go some way to sorting out a few things. I HATE selling books, but I know it's good in the long term.

But I'm just in a bit of a bad place