Hello, DFW Newbie here :)

itsmylife_2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrapbook

Much better than any definition I could give

dancingfairy

Could you use some of your scrapbook making material to make cards and sell them on ebay/at a craft fair etc?

lazy_daisy

Hi Miss-Sixty, and well done for posting!
It looks like you will be able to get yourself back on track soon with a few adjustments to your budgeting.
Are either of you in a position to cycle or walk to work? It could kill two birds with one stone- the gym/ keeping fit problem and the petrol/ car running costs one. Cycling is not as painful as you think, especially if you have some decent warm + waterproof clothes
Best of luck - and remember something that a lot of people here have found out for themselves - after a while being thrifty (OK, in my case as tight as a duck's bum!) stops being a chore and becomes a challenge. I get much more pleasure now from saving a few quid than I ever got in my easy spending youth from buying all manner of unnecessaries!


love, daisy xxx

Rgc_3

dancingfairy wrote:

It's what it sounds like collecting bits and bobs in a scrap book with all your memories in - framing nice photos well with images,art work - whatever you fancy really. Did you never do a scrapbook when you went on holiday as a kid and stuck in postcards/foreign stamps/photos/ coins etc?

Anyway the new version is a similar thing but on a much grander/stylish scale -think layout for magazine features etc There are lots of magazines out there telling you what lettering to buy, what little bits to stick on eg charms/etc , what background paper to buy -expensive of course, etc,etc.

Thanks:beer:

yes i kept scrapbooks as a kid but just could nt figure why everyone was saying it was expensive so wondered if it was something different....thanks for explaining:T

miss-sixty_2

Thanks for explaining scrapbooking on my behalf

Dancing Fairy - definitely not, I am in no way a card maker; I attempted Christmas cards last year but they were awful! LOL

Daisy - my DH cycles to work. Unfortunately my office is about 15 miles away from home so I have to drive, but I only work there a max of twice a week, otherwise I'm at home. We are trying to work out how we can cut down on the amount the car gets used though. Also, as my car park has just increased their prices I've been racking my brains trying to think of somewhere else, but unfortunately I think it's still the cheapest place

KittyKate - I'm sorry for getting the hump yesterday. At the time I did feel you were being harsh, but having slept on it, you are totally right and I will be making a few more cutbacks.

After discussing with DH I've decided not to move the loan for the time being as there's a 30 day interest charge to add on if I repay early, but will re-assess after a couple of months.

miss-sixty_2

I'm sitting here staring at my bank account online, grinning like a loon because I got through the month without hitting my overdraft! It's pay day and all of it is showing in my account! Will post updated info in a few minutes

miss-sixty_2

Okay, so here is my SOA for October. Please remember that my lightbulb moment was on the 10th, so my moneysaving didn't kick in straight away.

Income - £1065.67

Outgoings

Transfer to Joint a/c for bills etc - £600
Phone Bill - £20.33
Parking - £4 (this was actually higher but is covered in other odds & sodds)
Loan Payment - £177.67
Credit Card Payment - £193.09
Hobbies - £-95.06 (I sold some stuff that I wasn't using)
Gym Membership - £67.35 (I joined this month so this covers October and my final month)
CD - £8.99
New Clothes - £8
Other Odds & Sods - £177.50 (this is mainly cash withdrawals; covers some theatre tickets, parking, eating at work)

Total Expenses - £1265.67

So my expenses outweighed my income by £191.26. But DH loaned me £600 which has covered that and cleared my overdraft.

My situation seemed a lot better before I analysed it properly like that. I'm still spending a lot on not a lot, so I need to look at that further, but this month already looks better. I have cancelled my gym membership already. Okay, I've wasted £67 signing up, but at least I'm not now wasting £36 a month.

Payday today - £1141.46

Fixed payments for the rest of the month are

Transfer to joint account - £600
Repay DH loan - £50
Loan - £177.67
Hobbies - £30
Phone - £18.99

This leaves me with almost £265 to get me through the month which is plenty. We're off on holiday in 3 weeks, so I'll need that (we're going to America and will be buying Christmas presents) and I'll need the spare money next month aswell for Christmas, but from January I will start repaying DH more.

I know this all still looks pretty frivolous, but I feel I've come a long way and am really trying now and am feeling very determined.

dinkylou

Miss-Sixty,

It sounds like you are on the right road and have been taking positive steps.

Can I suggest something else which I dont think you are doing yet. Keep a spending diary, whether in paper form or in excel.

Similar to a budget but whenever you spend anything, no matter how small, add it in and you'll soon see exactly where it goes.

I started this over a year ago and it really helps to reign you in, even in the bad times. Many other DFW's do them and most say they are addicted and it helps them think twice when looking to buy anything.

I think it will really help you and you get used to the habit of doing it, even if its at the end of everyday or so.

Try it, it ll help push you that bit further.

miss-sixty_2

Thanks for the tip. I have always keet track of every account transaction in Microsoft Money, but I am declaring my daily spends in Moozie's thread and in my sig too and it's already helping loads.