Putting it down on paper...and making a plan (arrrghh!!)

skyvicky123

Hi LT, Thanks for my post it did make me chuckle. I suppose when you put it that way...

It's just that when you have done your payments for the month i feel like i'm kinda dragging my heels waiting for the next pay day!

For now I am concentrating is my diet. I am 3 days in and no cheating yet so that's good.

Still off the fags altogether!!

skyvicky123

Well....what a surprise. I am off the diet again. I do absolutely detest dieting. I have a 1000 excuses in my head for why I didn't keep it up/shouldn't start again but at the end of the day it just comes down to my lack of willpower.

I'm not sure what I will do next. The same diet, another diet, more exercise or what. I need some time to think about it.

In the meantime, still nothing new on the debt busting. Just waiting for payday now!

DebtFree2012

Have you tried Rosemary Connley?

She is the one working for me big time and I am practiced diet avoider.

x

Lemon_Tree

i'm not sticking to mine either i have to admit, i'm useless when it comes to diets. but at least i've reduced what i'm eating each day. guess that's a start

skyvicky123

The new diet is (drumroll please "The not a diet, diet" (self titled!)

I plan to eat healthily and in moderation most of the time and up my exercise. It will be slower but I don't think diets work for me.

Plus this way leaves more flexbility when it comes to moneysaving. Let me tell you people Atkins is the SO expensive!

Planning a busy weekend so can see not a lot of money will be in the bank account by the end of it, but still pay do in a week and a half! (ish)

skyvicky123

Diets are the least of my problems (or perhaps that should be the root of my problems this month anyway!!)

We have overspent this month on bits and pieces. With nights out we couldn't afford, too many takeaways, a new set of clothes and shoes for dd and expensive diet food for me we spent what i had overpaid on the credit card and then some (a lot some) The debt is higher now than it was at the start of the month.

I now need to use this month's extra to simply get us back on an even keel again.

We had talked about booking flights to Cyprus to see family in Sept/Oct but have just discussed with OH and we won't do this. We will try and take some time off and do something cheap. Perhaps a long weekend in this country or something. Not sure.

Slightly annoyed at ourselves for overspending but we did both enjoy it and there's no going back now.

Back to the envelope system on Monday so i can get back in control! OH started smoking again and think he is planning on giving up on Monday (I'm still off the fags...mostly)

skyvicky123

Right so I am back on track now. We were paid yesterday. Had to shell out for Christmas stuff already (shock horror) £52 for tickets to see Peppa Pig in the West End with all the little ones friends. Still we be a great day to look forward to.

Instead of flying to Cyprus we are crashing my friends holiday in Centerparcs for the day in November so that will be good.

Back to working in cash now. I have meal planned and written a list so am off to the shops soon. I WILL stick to it!!

One luxury we have agreed we can't do without is nice smelling washing powder. I had an enormous 400 wash tub of the Costco stuff but we just didn't like it. There's about 50 washes worth left now which has been relegated to the garage for cleaning the decking.

Lemon_Tree

hi glad to see you back and on track.
Have you thought about mixing the soap powder with some nice smelling one to extend the washes you get from it?
I've just filled up a hand wash bottle with shampoo and made some fabric conditioner from hair conditioner as i was out of the fabric conditioner and the shampoo didn't suit my hair. Just don't tell OH though as i'm sure he would get funny about it. He's happy using it though if he doesn't know. Men!
payday's coming up in the LT household and there's loads of money to spend out, but fingers crossed i should be clearing one of my debts

skyvicky123

Well the weekend threw us out of our budget again which is a pain but it was sort of expected as we had a friend over who built us an understairs cupboard. I estimate materials cost £80 but the labour was free which is good. On top we paid out £20 in sponsorship money for said friend and £20 to buy his old rotary lawn mower for our little bit of grass. Plus £20 to refill our gas bottle. I would have spent that money on food but had to pay out £60 on the debit card so all in all I think we are down around £140.

This weekend we are being pushed to use our gift voucher for a segway ride because OH's sister has a voucher to use too. Unfortunately we bought a voucher direct for my dad and his wife to go, but bought it direct with the people and they said they would take the payment once the date was booked so that's another £50!!

Following weekend is my birthday (so excited!) I have booked a hotel in Nottingham which was £15 and paid for ages ago, booked a table at Strada for a 2 course set meal @ £10.95 per person but we will be doing a little birthday pressie shopping which will add up i'm sure but we have money in the budget for this. (within reason)

I also have 3 girlie pressies to buy for August and September, 1 boy present and then my DD b'day in September too so lots of expenses coming up. Will get the girlies something from lush while i'm in Notts, the boy is a bottle of whisky so will keep my eye out for an offer. Won't thnk about DD until next pay-day!!

Lemon_Tree

sounds like you're having an expensive little time of it of late. Have you thought about setting yourself a budget for birthdays etc so that you can save up for them? Or even look in sales as you go through the year - there's always lots of sales on toiletries etc which can be kept to one side for when birthdays arrive.