Cup_Cake's Debt Free Journey...

Cup_Cake

Evening Guys and Gals,

So I managed another NSD today which is fab!
We went for a carvery but DB payed for it.

Today's To Do's:
- [STRIKE]Go out for carvery[/STRIKE].
- [STRIKE]Wash up yesterdays enchiladas[/STRIKE].
- [STRIKE]Iron shirts for work[/STRIKE].
- [STRIKE]Wash kitchen floor[/STRIKE].
- [STRIKE]Make lunch for work tomorrow[/STRIKE]

So I managed all my list which means I won't have to worry about doing anything after work tomorrow. I just need to take down the christmas decorations which i'll do tomorrow and shouldn't take long.

I've had a think about what I spend most of my weekly spends on. I am terrible for buying snacks at work, I normally buy a cup of soup, a packet of crisps and a can of coke. With me being on a diet I shouldn't be buying the packet of crisps or coke so thats ok but I might have to have the soup as my one weakness as I like to have something to warm the cockles at dinner time to keep me going through the day.
I'm going to make sure I take some dilute with me so that I don't get bored of drinking nothing but water.

Cup_Cake xx

Cup_Cake

Morning all,

It's my first day back today so today will be a real test as to whether I can have a NSD (probably my first ever whilst at work). I came in this morning armed with lunch and some dilute though so I shouldn't need to spend anything for dins.

Money as is:
Spends for this week - £45.20
Groceries for this week - £30
Money for Rest of Month - £200 (3 weeks)
17 days until payday!

Money sitaution hasn't changed as yesterday was a NSD.

Planned spends for today:
- Possibly something for tea.
- Some soup if I fancy it at lunch.

I'm making KFC style chicken for tea so may need something to go with it, it depends whether I can dig something out.

Today's To Do's:
- Work until 4pm.
- Make tea and go for a run.
- Take down xmas decorations.

Not too much to do but given that it's my first day back thats not a bad thing.

Have a fab and frugal day all,

Cup_Cake xx

Cup_Cake

Soo i've finished my first day back at work. It went ok, but im glad to have it over with.

So today was another NSD it was the most difficult thing I think i've ever done resisting both soup and snacks. I think being on a diet and money go hand in hand. Crisps are 55p a bag at the machine at work which I absolutely refuse to pay, why should I pay those prices only to get fatter from it?!?!
Tomorrow definately won't be a NSD as i'll need to buy something for tea.
I'm totally lacking inspiration lately and can never think of meals to cook, i'm bored of everything.

I didn't need to buy anything for tea because I put some chicken breasts in from the freezer and DB is going to make us a salad to go with them.

Today's To Do's:
- [STRIKE]Work until 4pm[/STRIKE].
- [STRIKE]Make tea[/STRIKE] and go for a run.
- [STRIKE]Take down xmas decorations[/STRIKE].

I've made the chicken for the tea and DB will be making the salad.
I have made a few dozen buns though so I will need to buy some more icing tomorrow as i'm terrible at making icing.
I also need to get the bus home tomorrow, I normally drive in when DB isn't working as it's cheaper than £4 per day on the bus. Tomorrow i'm lucky enough to get a lift into work from DB but I need to get myself home. I get a lift into work twice a week from my brother so bus fair is never more than £12 per week which is still cheaper than a bus pass.

I just need to get off my lazy ares and go for a jog!

Cup_Cake xx

Cup_Cake

Morning(ish),

So i've had a spendy morning already. I ended up having to get the bus into work which cost... wait for it... £4.20 :eek: honestly you'd think the seats were gold encrusted for that price. Of course that is also for the way home so no more travel spends today.
My friend left today so I went up for a drink with her and ended up getting a coffee which cost me £1.50.
I must have been so oblivious to the prices before my LBM but everything seems extortionate now! Ah well maybe that'll stop me spending so much on rubbish.

So after my morning spends:
Money as is:
Spends for this week - £40.05
I found 55p this morning in the bottom of my bag.
Groceries for this week - £30
Money for Rest of Month - £200 (2 weeks)
16 days until payday!

Moneys looking really healthy. I take my money out on Friday's so as long as i'm good again tomorrow i'll be in a really healthy position to pay some more off the dreaded debts.


Planned spends for today:
- Almost definately something for tea (haven't decided what though).

I'm going to resist the soup today after my expensive coffee.
Also i'm going to buy the icing tomorrow as I can't be bothered today.
Not decided whats for tea although I didn't get anything out of the freezer so may have to buy some meat. DB went out for his dinner today so he might not be very hungry later and if so we'll have a jacket potato or a salad which we have in the house already.

Today's To Do's:
- Work until 4:15pm.
- Actually go for a jog (I didn't go yesterday).
- Cook some tea.

I used to do pilates on a wednesday with a friend but it cost me £5 per session. I might take this up again as it was good for de-stressing but it's sooo expensive and jogging has the same effect. My friend used to push me to go though and I can never push myself to go jogging. Hmm decisions decisions.

At christmas I get paid a week early making December/January a 5 week month. I normally get into my overdraft in a 4 week month and this month was the first month that DB's didn't have his half to cover the bills. I'm really happy that even after having to cover all bills and food etc and a 5 week month and christmas I haven't gotten myself into any more debt, in fact ive managed to pay some off .

Have a fab day all,

Cup_Cake xx

Keeping_Positive

Good progress Cupcake

Ref pilates I think if you go regularly and you benefit from it than its worth adding to the budget.

Cup_Cake

Thanks Keeping Positive, i'll definately have a think about that. Thank you!

So i've only spent a little more today:
Spends today:
£1.35 Loaf of bread
84p Reduced cheese
£1.36 2 bottles of V water for DB (they were half price)
Total £3.55

So for tea I just bought some bread and had a fish finger sandwich, we already had the fish fingers in the freezer too .
The cheese was reduced from £2.50 so it was a steal. It was needed too as we have a lot of jacket potato with cheese.
DB requested some V water and we're on a diet so it's better and cheaper than chocolate.

So after my morning spends:
Money as is:
Spends for this week - £39.45
I shamelessly bought a 60p bag of crisps
Groceries for this week - £26.45
Money for Rest of Month - £200 (2 weeks)
16 days until payday!

I never actually withdrew the further £50 needed as this £50 and the remaining £200 for the month are actually included in the £527 debt on OD2 (does that make sense). I left it in the account so that the account OD stood at less than £300 for longer and then I can pay less interest next month.

So in my actual purse (without having withdrawn the £50):
Spends for this week - £9.45
£20 was due to go into this.
Groceries for this week - £6.45
£30 was due to go into this. I moved £10 from my spends into groceries.

I will need to buy tea again tomorrow but shouldn't be spending all of the above and if so I can pay the £50 that I didn't withdraw towards the debts.

Today's To Do's:
- [STRIKE]Work until 4:15pm[/STRIKE].
- [STRIKE]Actually go for a jog (I didn't go yesterday).
[/STRIKE]
I actually went yey!
- [STRIKE]Cook some tea[/STRIKE].

I hope everyones had a fab day,

Cup_Cake xx

Cup_Cake

Forgot to add, DB gave me another £2 coin and 68p in 1p's and 2p's

Cup_Cake xx

Kayleighpea

Looks like you are doing really well so far - keep it up!

Cup_Cake

Thanks Kayleighpea, things seem to be going a little too well so far. I guess I still have the LBM determination, I just hope it lasts .

DB has an overdraft which we had forgotten about. He had £250 on this card and it's charged at £5 per day if he goes over his overdraft. Last time he was close to his overdraft he got a letter so he could pay some off but that was 6 months ago. I remembered the account yesterday so he rang for a check up on the account only to be told it had gone overdrawn (even though we hadn't received a letter:mad:). Luckily it had only been overdrawn 3 days so the account stood at £265.
He spoke to them and ended up tranferring the balance on to his current account overdraft as this is charged at a tiny amount of interest. This means he's paying less interest and has one less bank to worry about . With every negative there is a positive I guess.

So in my actual purse (without having withdrawn the £50):
Spends for this week - £9.45
Groceries for this week - £6.45

I haven't spent anything this morning, I got a lift into work and have resisted coffee.

Planned spends for today:
- Something for tea.

Although I might just have something simple like a jacket potato or scrambled egg on toast and I already have this in the house. Depends whether I fancy cooking later on.
I've brought lunch in with me every day this week and have done today as well.

Today's To Do's:
- Work until 4:30pm.
- Wash up.
- Go for a jog and make some grub.
- Make lunch for work tomorrow.

I was supposed to be going out tonight just for a look around the shops but i'm sooo tired that i'm just going to stay home and chill out tonight.
I have a mountain of washing up to do tonight alongside making tea and lunch for tomorrow so i'll be in the kitchen for most of tonight.
I'm going to make sure I go for a jog straight after work because it seems to wake me up a little and give me some energy for the evening.

Because i'm sure that I won't spend the rest of my groceries and spends before tomorrow i'm going to take the £50 that I didn't withdraw off my overdraft in my sig .
I don't think i'll manage to be as frugal next week with the groceries but if I make nice quick meals on a night it shouldn't be too bad.

Gosh my posts get longer and longer.
Have a good day all,

Cup_Cake xx

Cup_Cake

I gave in and bought some soup but it was disgusting!
It was £1 so not a massive amount but I couldn't drink it. It might encourage me not to buy it again though!

I think i'm going to pop to the pound shop tonight and get a sealed jar for my £2 coins so that I can't sneak into the money box that they're in now.
I'm also going to buy a bigger box for my 1p's and 2p's as they're in a tiny box at the moment and it will be full before long.
Finally, any loose change that I have at the end of each week I will put in a money box just so that I have some loose change around the house for just in case I need some milk and don't have any change. If it gathers a fair bit i'll add to the debts.
The money boxes should only cost £2 but I think it's a worthy purchase given that it will (hopefully) stop me spending my change.

Cup_Cake xx