New Year. New House. New Budget

Lurker1972

I may have made a mistake - overtime without the flask of tea....not sure i will make it to 4 hours.....that was my secret weapon!!

Lurker1972

Despite the lack of flask, I made it to 4 hours. Actually thanks to a change of MrLs plans, I end up with 5&1/2. So that's be at target to have 2 days off flexitime with MrL next week for project bathroom phase 3.

I need to update spreadsheets, but am fairly sure I actually came in under budget (by pennies) on groceries. All thanks to losts of vouchers worth £6 off each £30 spend.

Think I will make it until Thursday without spending! and that will just be bread.

I am going to have a review of our spending, make sure that the budgets are realistic, that way I'll be able to make the most of the pay rise if hope to get in April.....nothing like a bit of forward planning eh?

The_Golden_Goose

Hey Lurker excellent effort on the overtime. Very impressed. Bathroom sounds a bit of a mare. Stick with it. You can sort it out. Swimming is horrible. Jacuzzis are a different kettle of fish. I'd rather have me chunky bits battered around by a jacuzzi than by dive bombing idiots in the pool.

Lurker1972

well, I am armed with my flask of tea & in work with a plan for 4 hours overtime. Computer is running s l o w l y which may test may patience, but I can cope.

Not much progress to report, its Christmas central chez Lurks this weekend (for me at least) and the tree should be sparkly & pretty by the end of tomorrow. No idea what Mr L will have achieved on project bathroom, i suspect he may get hijacked by sport:mad:.

will be leaving work at 12.15, then going home for lunch, sorting meal plan (around what is in fridge & freezer) and shopping list & subjecting myself to the pleasures of MrT..luckily our local one doesnt get too manic & I have a voucher to ease the pain,

Moos jambayala is on the menu for tonight.....wish me luck

Lurker1972

House has not been smothered in tinsel as I ran out of time at the weekend. On the plus side, jambalaya was yummy and the 2nd new recipe of the weekend was also tasty (slow cooker sausage n bacon casserole) and most importantly, used up some bits from the fridge.

Progress on bathroom is very slow and I don't totally understand why MrL is doing things in the order he is, but I can't ask him as it's bound to end up with another heated discussion (aka row!)

NSD today by luck not self control - was so close to getting chocolate today, but went for the banana option instead. It's not comfort eating, it's eating to stop my brain hurting from over thinking. Work has a lot to answer for.

Enough rambling, the basket of ironing won't do itself!

Lurker1972

Well absolutely everything went out of the window due to unexpected family bereavement.

It's safe to say that we have stumbled through December, no real clue of anything so am nervous of the state of the bank account....but that can wait until January!

Today I have made £10 selling something I've not used for 2 years. Fb selling sites are so handy! Am sort of expecting something else to be collected, but it's not confirmed. The 10 is destined for cc

Have made sausage rolls n mince pies. Cheated with bought pastry as knew time was an issue. Need to strip the bed & remake it & also have some lunch.....

Am thinking about action plan for 2014. Just need to make sure it's not all thought and there is some action!

Lurker1972

And that's the first 2 days work of 2014 completed......and I am regretting taking time off before Christmas! If I am lucky and the brain works, I may catch up with my work by Wednesday .....

Saved about £170 on the house insurance, and have most of it saved. And eeeek, just remembered we need to book my car in for MOT. Yikes, it's due at end of next week.

Did a budget check at the weekend, and it was an eye opener. I have therefore increased some of the pot payments so they should be more realistic. The grocery spends are not under control as I thought, so that's the first one to tackle.

We are thinking about trying online shopping, fortnightly so we can get free delivery. It appeals in some ways, but then again means missing out on reduced items and vouchers for in store only use ( which have saved us lots over 2013).

This month we hear the outcome of pay review which should mean payrise. It's hard not to think about it, and make plans for the extra.....but need to concentrate on the now......

Lurker1972

Suppose I ought to make a note somewhere of my action plan for 2014.

Reduce debt balance by a minimum of 25%.
Take lunch to work everyday bar 1, each month. On payday, I will permit myself a 'treat'.
Continue to work at meal planning and reduce what gets wasted. (Really need to do the old freezer/cupboard inventory)
Use up toiletries collection (recently added to, due to clearing family members flat)
Declutter one item per day (minimum)
One new recipe per month ( I'd prefer one a week, but am setting a realistic target rather than setting myself up to fail)

Lurker1972

Note to self. Do not eat bread when stress levels are raised - it does not agree with tummy.

However, nice lazy morning (thanks in part to the interrupted sleep) and a day at home to do some sorting out.

Will start my declutter list so I don't forget what's already gone. Need to nip to supermarket but will keep spends low. Or at least try to.

Few bits of research needed too, the part of my action plan I didn't post last night.....

Should really go get dressed....

Lurker1972

Had caught up with work by Wednesday as hoped, but took Thursday off and came back to huge pile again! Hey ho, it's better than twiddling thumbs I guess.

Have now complete 6/6 days of taking lunch to work. Will not be having a bought one on payday as I treated me yesterday to a bacon roll for breakfast - it was very much needed but sadly regretted later as the stress/bread thang raised it's ugly head again.

Car failed mot yesterday but has new boots now and is legal again. Car pot should have sufficient funds in it, but we now need to top that up again.

Grocery shopping is doing my head in, but that seems to be a general theme on diaries. I can't decide if I dislike shopping or the other customers! Meal planned and bought (mostly) from the list, yet spent more than I anticipated.

I want a nap, but think I should delay that until I have completed inventory ....... Something I have been talking about doing for a while, but not actually done.

2014 is the year of action, am getting off my butt this instant and inventoryising. Now.