Living life, loving life.......hypno's having a ball!

hypno06

baby steps, chev, remember.

So, payday today - meaning another month has been survived, financially, so all is well.

When I get to work I will get the calculator and the envelopes out and plan for the next month - plenty of stuff going on so I need to make my money stretch a long way. Ski races, and social stuff doesn't get any cheaper!

Have a good day x

hypno06

Ok, so calculator and diary have been working overtime, and I have allocated appropriate amounts, virtually at least, to the various pots and envelopes.

This month is going to be tight - as I think it is throughout the summer, with extra spending on social stuff and holiday purchases, but if I can get through until the kids go back to school in September without too much stress, then I will consider that a big bonus.

One of my "new" expenses is the cost of lunches and dinners, where we always (more or less) take turns to pay - it is absolutely lovely for me to be in a relationship where I am on an equal footing, financially, but it does need to be budgeted for in a way that doesn't impede on other areas of the family finances.

So, having done my list for June/July, I am making the decision to reduce the visits to caffe nero on the way to the office each day. This alone costs me £11 a week (more if I seccumb to a pastry) which will go some way to paying for a lunch instead. I won't cut them out completely - I know that won't work, but will do one or two a week rather than the every day visit I make at the moment.

Also, many of my lunch dates are impromptu (those lovely phone calls that say I'm close to your office, shall we grab a bite to eat ) so I have taken to not bringing in food from home. This means on the days I don't eat out, I am buying expensive sandwiches etc, so I need to be more prepared for eating at work by having a stash of soups/noodles/cereals etc at work that won't perish, but will save me spending £3 or more on sandwiches etc.

This month, too, I have a couple of concerts to go to, several ski races to travel to, pay entry for, and provide food etc for, and our county show, which not only costs a ridiculous amount to get in, but where I always seem to spend more than I budget for when I am there.....

So, I really do need to make the effort this month with reducing the coffee/sandwich "frittering" to make sure that I don't end up putting some of the concert/show spends on the CC on a "what the heck" basis!

Having said all that, the car has 12 months MOT, new brakes and a new battery, DD has the money put aside for her driving lessons, and the holiday has been paid for (just spending money and petrol to cover).....and I still have some savings building up slowly but surely, so I am feeling pretty good about things.

Souk08

Sounding ace lady, get some tins of soup in your desk drawer and then you are covered. Or maybe cous cous in a pouch or I have found these fabby John West tuna sachets that dont go out of date quickly. That way you can keep cash but also be free to pop your lippy on and go out for a spot of lunch. Great to see you sounding so happy, and still keeping at it X

hypno06

Thanks souk - they were the sorts of things I was thinking of too. Anything instant, cheap and filling......and of course if it is yummy too, then it will be a bonus

Funnily enough, I always have my lippy and handbag sized bottle of Chanel to hand.....just on the offchance you understand :rotfl:

Life is good, and I am wanting it to stay that way!!

Verbatim

All sounding good there Hypno.

redsquirrel80

I've learned many things from Hypno's threads in the past -today I have learned you can get tuna in a sachet! I've had a tin of tuna in my drawer at work for months because I can never find a tin opener

It all sounds great Hypno - and seeing what you did with your debt, a bit of a tight budget month should be no problem for you

lionheartedgirl

love, love, loving today's posts hypno.

life is good here too, and a lot of that can be attributed to yours and Souk's and a few others' posts about finding their way through and keeping sight of what is important to them.

thank you! x

PS and I didn't know about the tuna sachets either but will def. be checking them out! Not much chance of a lippy/chanel moment for me right now but never say never! :rotfl:

Minimoo24

WELL DONE!

I wish i could do as well as you all, I read about it but i jsut dont understand it all. I wish Martin was my mate lol x

hypno06

Mandymoo - anything we can help with in particular, just shout and we will see what bits of wisdom we can throw your way! Remember, however tough it is for you now, and however long that dark tunnel seems, we have, between us, been there at some point in our own journeys!

No need for tuna sachets today - had a lovely free lunch with some fund managers. Accompanied by a glass or two of Sancerre. :cool:

beanielou

Sounding so good hun xx