The Final Push - Getting Rid of the Last Loan and CC

WelshWoofer

Well, Mother's Day weekend is over and I'm back from Wales - poorer and fatter no doubt!
Mum is a proper diet sabotager but she loves going out and eating and feeding me so anything to make her happy!
She paid for a curry on Saturday night and I paid half for the family's Sunday lunch out (sister paid the other half) so it could have been worse.
So the financial damge was...

• £40 petrol (£50 budgeted so this wasn't too bad)
• £30 Sunday lunch
• £15 ish on extra spends (drinks, raffle tickets etc)

All of this was planned, so not really a disaster.

I have £25 in my purse that's budgeted to last until Saturday (longer if possible). I need about £8 for SW tomorrow and about £10 for other bits and pieces so that should be plenty of cash - I have no plans to do much (on hols from school now).

Good news on the grocery front too - did a top up shop just to last until the weekend instead of a proper weekly shop as I've been away and it only cost £15 - I had budgeted £40 for the week so a good saving made there and we actually do have plenty of stuff in.

I've had a look at the finances to last until payday and after the last DD goes out and petrol and food shops clear there's £100 left in the current account (£150 savings money has already been transferred). This £100 needs to cover next week's food shop (about £45) and any spending money until Friday 15th when I'm paid.
Doesn't look too bad as long as there's nothing big thats unbudgeted for looming in the next week.

Will have a proper look at next months budgets tomorrow.

WelshWoofer

Just been looking at the internet bank and everything has cleared and my calculations were right I have £100 left untill payday with one shopping trip to go :T
Very good for me!

WelshWoofer

Just been trying to work out next months budget - its a bit difficult as I'm not exactly sure what I'll get paid as the student loan starts going out this month but I think I've got a fair idea.

So outgoings are...

Direct debits - £1179
Food = £45 x 4 = £180
Petrol = £40
Cash = £40 x 4 = £160
Total outgoings = £1179 + £380 = £1559
Incoming = £1865 (ish)
Surplus cash = £1865 - £1559 = £306

The cash outgoing of £160 is £40 a week for 4 weeks and this covers all extras that aren't food shopping, petrol etc.
Luckily, there aren't any birthdays, anniversaries, events etc this pay month so no additional expenses due out. I would hope to save £150 and spend about £100 on some new work clothes that are badly needed since losing weight. I have decided to not get a professional hair cut this month and to colour it myself saving the usual £50.
There's £50 wiggle room with this budget so hopefully it will all work out - famous last words........:o

WelshWoofer

Just popping in to say hello really....
I'm on holidays from school and getting a bit bored - marking doesn't really fill me with fascination.

I'm relaunching an exercise regime and have been looking on the internet for new trainers as mine both stink and are old and battered - too much dog walking in them.
But any decent ones seem to be £40 ish at least so not sure about whether to take the plunge or to hang on and save up at least half for them. Perhaps if I save £20 for them and then splurge £20 it'll be a good compromise?

I have been for a fast walk with the dog this morning already for about 20mins and am building up to doing an exercise video before lunch for 30 mins or so.

More dog walking will follow.....

Trying to kick start the diet again before I get complacent - getting very close to my target weight and its in danger of going off the rails and slowing down - hence the more activity pledge!


On a different note - I've done a shopping list and meal plan for tomorrow - really need to stick to the budget of £40 (normally £45 but am poor until payday on Friday). Will report in tomorrow with teh damage!

WelshWoofer

Just back from Mr T and after CC vouchers were taken off (£6.50) the total bill was £29.50. I had originally budgeted £40 so am well pleased with the result.
I have even (very hopefully) put the receipt into the price checker thing - got 18p back last time!

WelshWoofer

I am officially bored stiff!
Home from work until next Monday - I must be the only teacher that gets fed up with the holidays! I think its a combination of lack of "doesn't matter if I spend it money" and someone to do stuff with - everybody else is in work.

I do have some schoolwork to do but nothing very urgent and have had enough of Midsummer Murders!

I get paid on Friday and have done the budget for next month with a bit of room for saving and spending some money on new clothes, but I don't want to go spending it before I get paid it (oh, how things change!).

It's fat club tonight so I will get out for a bit and see people but at the moment its me and the dog and there's only so many walks you can go on!

Oh, to have money and just go and fritter it!

WelshWoofer

Well, I caved in and went to a few shops for a look and have splurged!!!!


:eek::eek::eek:



The princely sum of £2 on a pair of green ballet pumps reduced in the sale - the extravagance!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

WelshWoofer

Had a busy day today - had a smear test, been clothes shopping, been food shopping, dog walking, housework - the list is endless!

I get paid tomorrow so preempted it by doing the shopping today - naughty I know but I was stir crazy!

I bought a suit for work from Next for £75 but will try it on again before I decide whether to keep it. I resisted buying anything else although I did see a few nice summery things that in another life (and budget) I would have bought. But its only April and have decided to hang on for a month more.:A

I then popped to Asda and did the majority of the food shop that woud usually be done on Saturday - spent £38 including the toiletries but still need to get dog food, toilet paper and F&V and a few bits on the weekend.
Would hope to spend no more than £15 more but you never know!

Also put £25 petrol in the car to get me home again and remembered to use the Nectar card.

I'll update the budget etc tomorrow when I know exactly how much I've been paid.

WelshWoofer

Right, I have been paid but £40 less than I thought I'd get - grrr!!:mad:

I have put £150 into a savings account already to make sure I don't spend - I can transfer some back instantly if desperate but I really don't want to if I can avoid it.

The budget looks like this (for everything that isn't a direct debit)....

Food – (Budget £180) - £38 (15th April, Asda)
Cash – (Budget £160) - £20 (15th April)
Petrol – (Budget £40) - £25 (15th April)
Extras – (Budget £100) - £75 suit Next (15th April)

It's exactly a 4 week month for me so hopefully this will work out ok.
I received a dress from Next that wasn't due to arrive for another 3 weeks today. Its for a christening in May and is actually quite nice - makes me look quite thin! We're only normal guests so I'm not going overboard and the frock will be worn again in the summer and on holidays so I think I'll keep it.

I need to find £40 from somewhere - NOT from savings - from economising in other areas. Where from I'm not sure yet!

WelshWoofer

Morning all!
Just back from a lovely run around the park in the sun with a recovered doggy (poos back to normal thankfully!).

And some more good news ....... I HAVE NOW OFFICIALLY LOST A STONE!!!!!:j:j:j
That was my original target 7 weeks ago but I haven't found it too hard so and going to try to lose another 7 lbs and that will take me to just over 9 and a half stone - ( haven't been that since I left school! (I'm 39!) Was determined not to be fat and 40 (at Christmas) so doing ok so far.

Anyway other things...

• Popped to greengrocers on the way home from the park and spent a fiver on all of the fruit and veg needed for the week - bargain! Keep me out of Mr T's
• Go to Pets at Home later to stock up on dog food
• Maybe mow lawns if weather holds
• Tidy conservatory - its become a dumping ground for school work:o
• Do a load of washing and dry naturally
• Stick to diet all day - going out for meal with OH tonight to Malaysian/South Indian place so have to be good for the rest of the day
• Mark 10 books (20 left)
• Checked bank
• Sort through work clothes for next week - back to work:T

That's it for now - have a lovely day!