Time to make some changes . . . lots of changes!

ZTD

karmachilovething wrote: »

Turns out it's not rocket science (although as a friend of mine once pointed out, "Rocket science isn't actually difficult - it's just blowing things up with direction!":rotfl:)

I think my favourite quote for that came when they were de-commissioning the Mir Space station.

"It'll be no problem, it'll just drop into the south Indian Ocean. It's not rocket science. <Pause> Actually it is rocket science, but it's not difficult..."

karmachilovething

ZTD wrote: »

I think my favourite quote for that came when they were de-commissioning the Mir Space station.

"It'll be no problem, it'll just drop into the south Indian Ocean. It's not rocket science. <Pause> Actually it is rocket science, but it's not difficult..."

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
I love that! Amazing!

Nothing much to report - NSD today, although my new coffee grinder turned up which was quite exciting :T Didn't make it home from work though - too much to carry on my bike already.

karmachilovething

OK, third NSD in a row, which is good for the bank balance . . . and the debts.

Only little black cloud is I have been asked to visit Edinburgh on two separate occasions in April, both birthdays and one big 3-0. I just can't afford to go, to either of them, let alone two. Thing is the guilt - OK the 30th isn't a very close friend so probably won't be hugely missed :rotfl: but the other one is a good friend and a sensitive one at that. I'll get some passive aggressive treatment I suspect. So I've been putting off replying to her request for me to visit . . . can't do that forever though

karmachilovething

karmachilovething wrote: »

Only little black cloud is I have been asked to visit Edinburgh on two separate occasions in April, both birthdays and one big 3-0. I just can't afford to go, to either of them, let alone two. Thing is the guilt - OK the 30th isn't a very close friend so probably won't be hugely missed :rotfl: but the other one is a good friend and a sensitive one at that. I'll get some passive aggressive treatment I suspect. So I've been putting off replying to her request for me to visit . . . can't do that forever though

OK so again haven't been contientious with my diary again. *hangs head in shame* but *perking up* I have been very MSE and following other challenges, so just haven't had time to post.

I did tell both friends I wouldn't be able to come, and it was alltaken pretty well actually, so just need to be brave and say things it would seem.

Anyway, I am here (besides being on-line to do some CV research-horrible day at work on Friday, but that's another story) to share some momentous news - for the first time in my adult life (I'm fairly sure, though Saturday was my pocket money day, so it might have been long before that) I have had a NSD Weekend! :j This is momentous - a lovely weekend when I felt no need to spend money to have a good time. And I cleaned the oven, which is always a worthwhile (if not a fun) thing!

jwil

Well done on the NSD weekend, and for telling your friends that you can't make it.

Huge congratulations for cleaning the oven - that must have been the biggest challenge :rotfl:

karmachilovething

jwil wrote: »

Well done on the NSD weekend, and for telling your friends that you can't make it.

Huge congratulations for cleaning the oven - that must have been the biggest challenge :rotfl:

Thanks! And yes, the oven was a big challenge. We're moving out of this house in June, and I'm forward planning to ensure we get the deposit back. The oven hadn't been cleaned once in the 2 years I've been in that house, so you can imagine the state it was in :eek: My plan is if it gets cleaned now and then again in 3 months then we're in with a shot!

Had a very spendy day yesterday, but only because I gathered a lot of spending together to maximise my NSD (another today).

It looks like I'm ending the month in credit (well not credit credit you understand, but not having spent all my salary). Going to put the excess in my reserve account, as most of it is for medium term budgeting. The plan is once I have a lump in there I can start using actual excess to pay off debts, but it doesn't seem sensible to pay it in now and then possibly rack it up again later. Particularly now it's all on the 0% CC.

karmachilovething

So I have again reached the end of the month a little bit in credit (£79) but April has a number of big spends coming up (holiday accommodation balance, friend's 30th birthday, passport renewal), so I'm putting that into slush fund to spread costs rather than to paying off debt.

So I'm now getting to the point where I can live within my means, and it's not a fluke but and actual positive change to my habits and lifestyle :T The next step I'd like to take is to start making overpayments to my debts. So onwards and upwards.

karmachilovething

Gosh I'm getting very bad at keeping up with my diary! I have been keeping up with my other challenges though, and the weather has been so lovely I don't want to sit inside in front of my computer. And sunshine is free!

OK so what have I been up to? April has been as expensive as predicted, which gave me a little bit of a panic because I was getting close tot he wire with my wages. It's OK though, I knew it was going to be the case, and actually was kind of good to be reminded of that sick feeling from sinking into debt - it's given me a bit more motivation to keep going.

The other big thing I have going on is a house move. Our lease comes up in June so we're on the look out for things, but not seen much yet. I was discussing one option with my housemate this evening and he's got cold feet about it because the road it's in isn't pretty and the house is ugly, but it's a really good price! He even admitted he's being a snob :mad: Well we've got two months before we have to leave this place so we'll find somewhere that ticks all the boxes.

karmachilovething

My my, I have been completely slacking off on my diary. And this is going to be a quick on because I'm on the last of my battery power . . .

So I was away for the double bank holiday week, quite a MSE week at a family holiday cottage (apart from petrol - everytime I go to the pump it goes up!), and have lost track of my challenges.

Interestingly though not of the MSE approach though, I think I have actually effected a change in my thinking which is great.

I've also been given a copy of Microsoft Office by somebody at work and so now have a spread sheet going.

OK got to go, laptop about to die!

chevalier

nice to see you back. good luck with continued prudence planning and financial savvyness
chev