Sparkerly's SOA

CH27

Cool the wine & go for a walk on the beach or in the park & sit drinking the wine there.

JLL

make a picnic with the wine and sit in the park for a few hours, that's what we do

Tebheag

Well done sparkerly have just finished reading your threads which i read all of them and can see you have done so well. You will find that job soon, I have been looking for ages for a good steady job to fit around kids. Wish i could be like some people but am to honest and there is no way I could take advantage of people. Even cut my hourly rate for an ex boss who i do subcontract work as I was sending DH down in the company car to collect work to bring home. so was saving about £30 a week then he got a new job with no car and they would not allow me to put up my wages my ex boss would but other partners said no i am sure i am my own worst enemy !!!

Sparkerly

I have a confession to make. After deciding not to go to the pub the other night we strayed big time and went out for a meal.

The day started early as OH was off to our neighbour island for the day and had to get to the airport, so I was left to deal with the kids. Normally this is a two person job as although they are teenagers and are ok getting up in the morning, getting them to do their morning jobs before leaving can be a hassle. My DS prefers watching tv so the job gets left to the last minute and then he complains he will be late for school.

I made sure that our e-bay sales were packed and posted and then had DS phone to ask to sleep over at a friends. So there was just the 3 of us for tea.

we always try to eat together so I had to wait for OH to get back and my planned meal was just chicken dippers and it really didn't hit the mark. So I suggested going out for tea and instead of going somewhere cheap, I really wanted a pick me up so we went to a nice restaurant.

Two bottles of wine :eek: and three courses later we had spent nearly £100 (including a tip) but on the positive side it was off the early bird menu so was cheaper than it could have been. To make things worse I put in on my CC

But onwards and upwards, there is no point in letting it get me down and fall off the track completely. I know why we did it - I was tired and felt like with the succeses we have had so far and the money made at the car boot and on ebay sales that we deserved a treat. Not the right way of thinking I know and knowing the guilt I now feel I am sure we will not do that again. Its just not worth feeling like I have let myself and my family down.

On a positive note, my OH is out tonight with work so I have been meaning to go out with my sister and when we get together the drinks start to flow and we have a nice meal. So I have invited her to mine and asked her to bring a bottle of wine - never normally do this as I would supply all the drinks myself - and we were going to get a takeaway, but I am going to cook instead. So a night that would have cost me around £40 will not even cost £10. And I get to watch some chick flicks that I never normally get a chance to see as not really my OH cup of tea.

I'm focusing on all the positives and going find some more things to sell so that last nights meal is paid for.

CH27

You need to acccept you will have blips. Some big & some small.

They key is to get straight back on track & try not to repeat the blip.

[Deleted User]

As CH27 has mentioned, blips are part of the course. And the main thing to focus on here is that you have learnt from the mistake.

You are still doing well, and keep focusing on the positives.

D9

*zippy*

Just think a few weeks ago you would have done it without a second thought and as you say you can sell a few things now to pay it off quickly. Keep positive and enjoy your evening

mum2one

*zippy* wrote: »

Just think a few weeks ago you would have done it without a second thought and as you say you can sell a few things now to pay it off quickly. Keep positive and enjoy your evening

Ditto to that, sometimes we all need a treat, but at least youve realised it was a treat, whereas maybe 6 months ago you wouldn't have given it a 2nd thought. xx

Sparkerly

Thanks all.

I'm learning that the path to being debt free is gonna be bumpy and learning from the downs is as important as saving money. I have no intention of getting back into debt when I am debt free so learning to have the odd treat but cutting back elsewhere is an important lesson.

Looking back on the last few months of spending I'm ashamed to admit the amount of money we wasted on late night takeaways after drinking wine. We had got into a terrible routine of drinking every night and it would often be 2 bottles between the two of us a night After that the munchies would take hold and OH would be sent to get takeaways - we would regularly have 4 or 5 a week :eek: So the bank balance was going down as the waistlien went up. Since coming here we have cut right back on the wine, but we still probably drink too much, but now I see what the pattern was, its going be easier to break it. Now wine will be saved for weekends only.

Had a great night last night with my sis, watched dvds, talk and laughed so much. It has been a difficult year in my family and especially for my sis, so it was great to here her laughing and having fun. There were serious moments and we even had a talk about money. I passed on a few tips I've learnt here as she was saying how short of money she was aswell. I always knew she was, but I was actually able to tell her that we were having to watch our spending, but didn't go into all the details. So we have agreed that nights out will now be nights in with one of us cooking :j

I may not have made as much inroads in my debts this month as I would have liked, but I know that the changes in me and my attitude to money has changed big time

elaine12022

How great to be able to get together with your sister, don't see mine often enough:( (too far away)