Getting shut!

DD265

Ok, I've worked out that I need about £500 to last me until the next pay day. Now, how to go about that.

I already have £150 of it. Mom owes me £20 on top. I have just relisted my not-sold items and I'm about to check the balance of my paypal account to make sure I'm up to date.

I'm relisting my unsold items on ebay, and I've just added another which is at a BIN of £175. I'd really rather keep that, but I'm not using it right now and the money will really help. I am telling myself that I can always replace it, but I know that I won't be able to do that for quite some time. I still have lots of other items to list, so that's what I'll be doing this weekend and probably for a few evenings next week as well.

I keep reminding myself that every bit of overtime is good - hopefully I won't find myself in this position this time next month.

DD265

Today was a spend day, my last of the month! I desperately needed petrol. However, I managed 18 no spend days out of a possible 31 and that puts me at 56% for the month, which I think is quite good given I wasn't really in the mindset at the beginning and also had a weekend away.

I've just sold an item on ebay for £160 which is a huge help. I have decided to ask my OH if I can borrow a bit of money off him for a couple of weeks and pay him back from the ebay proceeds. It just means that I have the money to pay the expenses quicker, rather than waiting for things to sell.

I need to sit down and work out exactly how much I raised through online sales this month, but I'm sure it's over £300.

chevalier

Just in case you thought no one was reading. welcome to the boards. You have worked really hard this month on the nsd's well done. With regards to things being tight in November, just think how much tighter they would have been if you hadn't had the NSD's, so your hard work is making a difference. With regards to your essential spends, are you not paying rent? Just wondered as I would class this as essential.

I love the idea of financial fasting. I have a nasty habit of having a nice coffee or a nice cake, cos i have done some exercise so i 'deserve it' I should really stop this:)

Good luck with the rest of the year
chev

DD265

Thanks.

I don't pay rent - for me anyway! I do have the horse's rent to pay though, plus his various costs and keeping my car going. Eventually my parents want me to take over the full costs of the horse (they contribute around £200 a month, including his insurance), and probably pay them some rent too. I'm thinking maybe in the new year - for the horse costs at least - as hopefully I'll be a bit less dire by then.

Really I shouldn't have a problem given my income vs outgoings, but over the last couple of years it seems like horse/car problems, and then unemployment, have stopped me getting back on track.

I figure all I need to do is keep myself in this (minimal spending) mindset and everything will work out. :cool:

I asked about December's wages today and apparently we get them early - around the 21st or so. I haven't decided what the implications of this is yet, as I'm kind of focused on what I need to pay for in November, and then car tax/MOT in December - presumably before I get paid!

DD265

Life is never easy, is it?

My horse is being referred to the veterinary hospital at Liverpool (that's 70 miles away) because the facilities needed to hopefully diagnose his problems aren't available locally. I'd feel better if I knew I had lots of money to throw at this, but the insurance covers £5000 of vets bills and it's amazing how quickly you can go through that. I believe - although this will need confirming - that I will have to pay the transport cost (guessing £150 each way..) and also a deposit to the veterinary hospital of another £150. This can be claimed back from the insurance - but I have to pay it out first.

Will I go into more debt for this? If needs be, absolutely. I don't like the only alternative I can think of.

DD265

It's funny how easy it is to get into the routine of not spending money. Ok we're only on the third day of the month but I'm at 100% no spend days thus far.

I may be craving chocolate but I'm ignoring those cravings. If I'm lucky, my parents will bring me some back from the theatre. If I'm not, then in a couple of days, assuming nobody has provided me with chocolate in the mean time, the cravings will cease.

Cravings like this are really my downfall, because I go to the supermarket (it's cheaper than One Stop and easier to park, although both equal distance away) and not only do I get chocolate, I probably buy biscuits or crisps, maybe some white bread (almost a banned substance in our house!), probably something for tea the next day when we already have plenty in and often I'll impulse buy Daffy a swede as a present. Nothing ultra expensive there, but it usually adds up to £15ish.

I do have a supermarket shopping list building up though. I'm running out of conditioner and because it's expensive, I look for it on special offer. I've also switched to using rechargeable batteries but only have one pair, and it's a £10 initial outlay for some new ones. I'm hoping to last until the 26th (pay day), but we'll see how things go.

I have asked work if I can do the next three Saturdays - the last one I want to keep free so I can see my OH. It's about £25 a Saturday (half days) so if I do all three it'll be a nice boost to my wages.

[Deleted User]

Hi DD265, sounds like you are doing really well. I too have a love of chocolate and I sympathise with you about the cravings.

Well done on the resisting spending.

Keep going you're doing really well. xx

DD265

Unfortunately today will have to be a spend day!

Noticed last night that I have a rear light out on my car, so I'm going to have to go to Halfords after work and get a new bulb. Whether I can fit it myself I don't know - last time I tried (different car) I couldn't and even the guy at Halfords struggled! I just object to paying their fitting charges.

Anyway, better get ready for work, I want to go in early today as the amount of traffic I have to get through in a morning seems to get worse each day.

DD265

Today was a spend day too.

I needed some protective boots for the horse and whilst I could have bought them through work (and got a discount) we only do mail order; don't keep a lot of stock, and I felt like I needed to see the sizing on these before I bought them. Unfortunately the opening hours on this shop aren't great for my working hours, so it really had to be today that I went.

Last night I ended up getting some anti-freeze too (had run out) and also new batteries for my key fob as it's something I've been meaning to do since I bought the car in April, but keep forgetting about. I also paid the fitting fee for the bulb - but at least I know how to do it next time now.

Unfortunately, I had a few problems with my car today. There is a leak into the driver footwell. We don't know where it comes from (a few mechanics checked it out when my Auntie had it) and there's a hole in the bottom to drain it out. It was obviously parked in a sunny spot whilst I was at work this morning because I came out to a lot of condensation on the inside windows, and I noticed that there's mould growing in the footwell - gross! :eek: I'm not entirely sure what to do about it right now, but at the very least I'm going to stick a towel in the car so I can wipe the windows next time.

DD265

I've not been very good at keeping my Quicken accounts up to date the last week or so. I need to get back on top of that, but I think it'll have to wait until the weekend. Not so much because there's a lot to input, but because it takes a lot of time to double check everything and make sure I have it right.

I'm pleased with how well I'm doing at the financial fasting - really only sticking to essentials! I am almost out of conditioner and deodorant though and I do class those as essentials. I think I'll have to get some more next week.