Carpe Diem... My new aim in life!

elsiepac

Ok, bit of a blip on the old not smoking last night, also on the spends so now I have to watch it for the rest of the month. Only a couple of weeks though so could be worse. This is the plan:

Thu 17 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- AL, at home all day except flu jab 1813
- Pay £10.75 into Post Office to make up for overspend
[strike]- Make Leek and Parmesan Risotto for today lunch and Friday tea[/strike]
- Girls night, mum's turn to provide the wine, have Spicy Garlic Mushroom Spaghetti ready for tea as didn't have last night
[strike]- Make Sweet Potato and Chilli soup for Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon lunches[/strike]
- Do OU work!!!

Fri 18 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- Pay myself £20 to last until end Thu 24 Nov
- In work, leave 1630 for Dr
- Go to friends house after Dr
- Do weekly food shop on the way back from friends - list on phone

Sat 19 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, tell friends due to money
- Do OU work!!!
- Make Gnocchi and Tomato Bake for tonight and Sun tea

Sun 20 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3 or NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, if friends want to go for coffee then do but only if stayed at home on Sat (so only one journey down over the weekend)
- Also, do OU work!!!
- Prepare and assemble Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cottage Bake and get in fridge ready for Mon

Mon 21 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work
- Bake Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cottage Bake - for tea Mon, Tue, Wed and Thu
- Make Sweet Red Pepper and Tomato Soup for Tue and Wed lunches

Tue 22 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work

Wed 23 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work and girls night - my turn to provide wine
- Make Red Lentil, Chickpea and Chilli Soup for Thu, Fri and Sat lunches

Thu 24 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work

Fri 25 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- Pay myself £15 to last until end Tue 29 Nov
- Possibly go to friends after work
- Do food shop for rest of week after work or after leaving friends
- Make Mushroom and Potato Curry for Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon tea

Sat 26 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, tell friends due to money
- Do OU work!!!

Sun 27 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3 or NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, if friends want to go for coffee then do but only if stayed at home on Sat (so only one journey down over the weekend)
- Also, do OU work!!!
- Make Honeyed Carrot Soup for Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed lunches

Mon 28 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work

Tue 29 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- AL, at home all day
- Put shopping list on phone
- Do OU work!!!
- Make Spicy Root and Lentil Casserole for Tue, Wed, Thu and Fri tea

Wed 30 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- PAYDAY :j
- Pay myself £10 to last until end Thu 1 Dec
- Work normal hours
- Do Dec wine order, remember to use £5 off voucher!!!
- Get first lot of months cash out
- Do small food shop on way home from work to last till Fri, see meal plan
- Walk with mum
- Girls night - mum's turn to provide wine
- Make Speedy Broccoli soup for Thu, Fri and Sat lunches

Thu 1 Dec:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Get 2nd lot of of monthly cash out
- Put shopping list on phone
- Walk with mum after work

Fri 2 Dec:
- Planned Starbucks £3 and Focus £3.95
- Get last lot of monthly cash out
- Pay myself £50 to last until end Thu 8 Nov
- Buy Dec copy of Focus magazine!
- Possibly go to friends or to pub after work, maybe do food shop if go home

Sat 3 Dec:
- Planned NSD but unlikely!
- Work normal hours
- Do weekly food shop as per meal plan if didn't last night
- Make Squash and Coconut Curry for Sat, Sun and Mon tea

Phew! Ok, feel better now I have a plan. The midweek NSDs won't necessarily be, as I tend to buy milk in 2 pt batches or I don't seem to get through it quick enough and end up wasting it, so even though it's from food budget and not spends, I will end up getting milk in the week.

OCD moment over...

LC

elsiepac

Thu 17 Nov:
[STRIKE]- Planned NSD[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- AL, at home all day except flu jab 1813[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Pay £10.75 into Post Office to make up for overspend[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Make Leek and Parmesan Risotto for today lunch and Friday tea[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Girls night, mum's turn to provide the wine, have Spicy Garlic Mushroom Spaghetti ready for tea as didn't have last night[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Make Sweet Potato and Chilli soup for Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon lunches[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
- Do OU work!!! FAIL!!! :mad:

Fri 18 Nov:
[STRIKE]- Planned Starbucks £3[/STRIKE] ACTUAL - £5.45
[STRIKE]- Pay myself £20 to last until end Thu 24 Nov[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
- In work, leave 1630 for Dr
- Go to friends house after Dr
- Do weekly food shop on the way back from friends - list on phone
- Get petrol after shop, £30 as have loads left - £15 to surplus pot :T

Sat 19 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, tell friends due to money
- Do OU work!!!
- Make Gnocchi and Tomato Bake for tonight and Sun tea

Sun 20 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3 or NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, if friends want to go for coffee then do but only if stayed at home on Sat (so only one journey down over the weekend)
- Also, do OU work!!!
- Prepare and assemble Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cottage Bake and get in fridge ready for Mon

Mon 21 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work
- Bake Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cottage Bake - for tea Mon, Tue, Wed and Thu
- Make Sweet Red Pepper and Tomato Soup for Tue and Wed lunches

Tue 22 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work

Wed 23 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work and girls night - my turn to provide wine
- Make Red Lentil, Chickpea and Chilli Soup for Thu, Fri and Sat lunches

Thu 24 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work

Fri 25 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- Pay myself £15 to last until end Tue 29 Nov
- Possibly go to friends after work
- Do food shop for rest of week after work or after leaving friends
- Make Mushroom and Potato Curry for Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon tea

Sat 26 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, tell friends due to money
- Do OU work!!!

Sun 27 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3 or NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, if friends want to go for coffee then do but only if stayed at home on Sat (so only one journey down over the weekend)
- Also, do OU work!!!
- Make Honeyed Carrot Soup for Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed lunches

Mon 28 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work

Tue 29 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- AL, at home all day except cinema with mum in evening, my turn to pay, use cash in surplus pot
- Put shopping list on phone
- Do OU work!!!
- Make Spicy Root and Lentil Casserole for Tue, Wed, Thu and Fri tea

Wed 30 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- PAYDAY :j
- Pay myself £10 to last until end Thu 1 Dec
- Work normal hours
- Do Dec wine order, remember to use £5 off voucher!!!
- Get first lot of months cash out
- Do small food shop on way home from work to last till Fri, see meal plan
- Walk with mum
- Girls night - mum's turn to provide wine
- Make Speedy Broccoli soup for Thu, Fri and Sat lunches

Thu 1 Dec:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Get 2nd lot of of monthly cash out
- Put shopping list on phone
- Walk with mum after work

Fri 2 Dec:
- Planned Starbucks £3 and Focus £3.95
- Get last lot of monthly cash out
- Pay myself £50 to last until end Thu 8 Nov
- Buy Dec copy of Focus magazine!
- Possibly go to friends or to pub after work, maybe do food shop if go home

Sat 3 Dec:
- Planned NSD but unlikely!
- Work normal hours
- Do weekly food shop as per meal plan if didn't last night
- Make Squash and Coconut Curry for Sat, Sun and Mon tea

elsiepac

Thu 17 Nov:
[STRIKE]- Planned NSD[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- AL, at home all day except flu jab 1813[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Pay £10.75 into Post Office to make up for overspend[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Make Leek and Parmesan Risotto for today lunch and Friday tea[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Girls night, mum's turn to provide the wine, have Spicy Garlic Mushroom Spaghetti ready for tea as didn't have last night[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Make Sweet Potato and Chilli soup for Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon lunches[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
- Do OU work!!! FAIL!!! :mad:

Fri 18 Nov:
[STRIKE]- Planned Starbucks £3[/STRIKE] ACTUAL - £9.70 so £9.70/£20
[STRIKE]- Pay myself £20 to last until end Thu 24 Nov[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[strike]- In work, leave 1630 for Dr[/strike] ACHEIVED
[strike]- Go to friends house after Dr[/strike] ACHEIVED
- Do weekly food shop on the way back from friends - list on phone MOVED TO SAT 19 NOV
- Get petrol after shop, £30 as have loads left - £15 to surplus pot :T MOVED TO SUN 20/MON 21 NOV

Sat 19 Nov:
[strike]- Planned NSD [/strike] ACTUAL - £7.30 (breakfast w/ T and ice cream on offer) so £17/£20
[strike]- Do weekly food shop on way home [/strike] ACHEIVED
[strike]- Try and stay at home all day, tell friends due to money[/strike] ACHEIVED
- Do OU work!!! FAIL!!! :mad:
[strike]- Make Gnocchi and Tomato Bake for tonight and Sun tea[/strike] ACHEIVED

Sun 20 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3 or NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, if friends want to go for coffee then do but only if stayed at home on Sat (so only one journey down over the weekend)
- If go out then get petrol, if not get petrol on Mon 21 Nov
- Also, do OU work!!!
- Prepare and assemble Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cottage Bake and get in fridge ready for Mon

Mon 21 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Get petrol if didn't on Sun 20 Nov
- Walk with mum after work
- Bake Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cottage Bake - for tea Mon, Tue, Wed and Thu
- Make Sweet Red Pepper and Tomato Soup for Wed and Thu lunches

Tue 22 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work

Wed 23 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work and girls night - my turn to provide wine
- Make Red Lentil, Chickpea and Chilli Soup for Thu, Fri and Sat lunches

Thu 24 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work

Fri 25 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- Pay myself £15 to last until end Tue 29 Nov
- Possibly go to friends after work
- Do food shop for rest of week after work or after leaving friends
- Make Mushroom and Potato Curry for Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon tea

Sat 26 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, tell friends due to money
- Do OU work!!!

Sun 27 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3 or NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, if friends want to go for coffee then do but only if stayed at home on Sat (so only one journey down over the weekend)
- Also, do OU work!!!
- Make Honeyed Carrot Soup for Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed lunches

Mon 28 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work

Tue 29 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- AL, at home all day except cinema with mum in evening, my turn to pay, use cash in surplus pot
- Put shopping list on phone
- Do OU work!!!
- Make Spicy Root and Lentil Casserole for Tue, Wed, Thu and Fri tea

Wed 30 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- PAYDAY :j
- Pay myself £10 to last until end Thu 1 Dec
- Work normal hours
- Do Dec wine order, remember to use £5 off voucher!!!
- Get first lot of months cash out
- Do small food shop on way home from work to last till Fri, see meal plan
- Walk with mum
- Girls night - mum's turn to provide wine
- Make Speedy Broccoli soup for Thu, Fri and Sat lunches

Thu 1 Dec:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Get 2nd lot of of monthly cash out
- Put shopping list on phone
- Walk with mum after work

Fri 2 Dec:
- Planned Starbucks £3 and Focus £3.95
- Get last lot of monthly cash out
- Pay myself £50 to last until end Thu 8 Nov
- Buy Dec copy of Focus magazine!
- Possibly go to friends or to pub after work, maybe do food shop if go home

Sat 3 Dec:
- Planned NSD but unlikely!
- Work normal hours
- Do weekly food shop as per meal plan if didn't last night
- Make Squash and Coconut Curry for Sat, Sun and Mon tea

debtfreewannabe321

Hi elsie, i love the plans right up to the end of the month! I should take a leaf out of your book

Regarding milk can you not freeze it, or do you not have the space? I buy 16-20 pints a time and freeze what i don't need, it only take a night to defrost a 4pt bottle..

I am also waiting on payday of the 30th............it can't come quick enough this month!!!

keep up the good work x

elsiepac

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Hi elsie, i love the plans right up to the end of the month! I should take a leaf out of your book

Hi dfw! :hello:

I don't know if it's a good thing...my OCD tendencies seem to have gone supersonic lately!!! :rotfl:still, better to use them for good, eh...?!

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Regarding milk can you not freeze it, or do you not have the space? I buy 16-20 pints a time and freeze what i don't need, it only take a night to defrost a 4pt bottle..

Unfortunately I only have one shelf on mum and dad's freezer and they have one of the American style fridge/freezers so double doors... trouble is the shelves are actually smaller than normal freezers and go at these weird angles at the back, so I can only get a few tubs (batch cooking) and some rolls and packs of 2 bread slices in there... I use the principle for my bread as you can see! But don't have the option of only buying say 4 slices, of course!

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

I am also waiting on payday of the 30th............it can't come quick enough this month!!!

I'm not desperate technically, my food and petrol money are covered, I have a little bit for spends as you can see, and in my surplus pot, which, as you may guess from the name, is where I put any surplus change from my various weekly budgets, currently has about £27 in it, so if I was desperate I could dip into that, although I'd really love not to. It's never been this high before!!! And I've had a tenner this week!!! :rotfl:

I'd be lying if i said I wasn't looking forward to payday though... mostly because I have one Christmas present left to buy from Dec budget, plus cards and wrap, which means I can then use Dec to get on and wrap the mountain of presents I have taking up a corner of my room (I didn't go mad...set budgets, am under them, just got really good deals)! Also Dec is paying for my mum's birthday present (I'm thinking a hedgehog house but my budget was £30 and I've already spent £6 of it, and the proper houses are £40 cheapest I've found them ) also it's covering their anniversary card and maybe token present, and my friend's birthday which is the same day as my mum's! Once I havestuff planned to spend I like to do it so I know exactly where I am and if I have any surplus! :cool:

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

keep up the good work x

Will do my best! take care, LC x

elsiepac

Thu 17 Nov:
[STRIKE]- Planned NSD[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- AL, at home all day except flu jab 1813[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Pay £10.75 into Post Office to make up for overspend[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Make Leek and Parmesan Risotto for today lunch and Friday tea[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Girls night, mum's turn to provide the wine, have Spicy Garlic Mushroom Spaghetti ready for tea as didn't have last night[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Make Sweet Potato and Chilli soup for Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon lunches[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
- Do OU work!!! FAIL!!! :mad:

Fri 18 Nov:
[STRIKE]- Planned Starbucks £3[/STRIKE] ACTUAL - £9.70 so £9.70/£20
[STRIKE]- Pay myself £20 to last until end Thu 24 Nov[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[strike]- In work, leave 1630 for Dr[/strike] ACHEIVED
[strike]- Go to friends house after Dr[/strike]ACHEIVED
- Do weekly food shop on the way back from friends - list on phone MOVED TO SAT 19 NOV
- Get petrol after shop, £30 as have loads left - £15 to surplus pot :T MOVED TO SUN 20/MON 21 NOV

Sat 19 Nov:
[strike]- Planned NSD [/strike] ACTUAL - £7.30 (breakfast w/ T and ice cream on offer) so £17/£20
[strike]- Do weekly food shop on way home [/strike] ACHEIVED
[strike]- Try and stay at home all day, tell friends due to money[/strike] ACHEIVED
- Do OU work!!! FAIL!!! :mad:
[strike]- Make Gnocchi and Tomato Bake for tonight and Sun tea[/strike]ACHEIVED

Sun 20 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- Home all day except for coffee at 1630
- Get petrol while out at the big petrol station
- Also, do OU work!!!
- Prepare and assemble Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cottage Bake and get in fridge ready for Mon

Mon 21 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work
- Bake Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cottage Bake - for tea Mon, Tue, Wed and Thu

Tue 22 Nov:
- Planned milk 89p (food budget)
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work
- Make Sweet Red Pepper and Tomato Soup for Wed and Thu lunches

Wed 23 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work and girls night - my turn to provide wine
- Make Red Lentil, Chickpea and Chilli Soup for Thu, Fri and Sat lunches

Thu 24 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with A after work

Fri 25 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- Pay myself £15 to last until end Tue 29 Nov
- Check DMP statement for rough idea of final payment
- Possibly go to friends after work
- Do food shop for rest of week after work or after leaving friends
- Make Mushroom and Potato Curry for Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon tea

Sat 26 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, tell friends due to money
- Do OU work!!!

Sun 27 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3 or NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, if friends want to go for coffee then do but only if stayed at home on Sat (so only one journey down over the weekend)
- Also, do OU work!!!
- Make Honeyed Carrot Soup for Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed lunches

Mon 28 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Ring all creditors to get final balances
- Amend CCCS balances accordingly
- Change SO at bank to reflect final payment
- Amend Dec budget accordingly
- Walk with mum after work

Tue 29 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- AL, at home all day except cinema with mum in evening, my turn to pay, use cash in surplus pot
- Put shopping list on phone
- Do OU work!!!
- Make Spicy Root and Lentil Casserole for Tue, Wed, Thu and Fri tea

Wed 30 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- PAYDAY :j
- Check overtime amount and amend Dec budget accordingly
- Pay myself £10 to last until end Thu 1 Dec
- Work normal hours
- Do Dec wine order, remember to use £5 off voucher!!!
- Get first lot of months cash out
- Do small food shop on way home from work to last till Fri, see meal plan
- Walk with mum
- Girls night - mum's turn to provide wine
- Make Speedy Broccoli soup for Thu, Fri and Sat lunches

Thu 1 Dec:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Get 2nd lot of of monthly cash out
- Put shopping list on phone
- Walk with mum after work

Fri 2 Dec:
- Planned Starbucks £3 and Focus £3.95
- Get last lot of monthly cash out
- Pay myself £45 to last until end Thu 8 Nov
- Buy Dec copy of Focus magazine!
- Possibly go to friends or to pub after work, maybe do food shop if go home

Sat 3 Dec:
- Planned NSD but unlikely!
- Work normal hours
- Do weekly food shop as per meal plan if didn't last night
- Make Squash and Coconut Curry for Sat, Sun and Mon tea

elsiepac

Thu 17 Nov:
[STRIKE]- Planned NSD[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- AL, at home all day except flu jab 1813[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Pay £10.75 into Post Office to make up for overspend[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Make Leek and Parmesan Risotto for today lunch and Friday tea[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Girls night, mum's turn to provide the wine, have Spicy Garlic Mushroom Spaghetti ready for tea as didn't have last night[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[STRIKE]- Make Sweet Potato and Chilli soup for Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon lunches[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
- Do OU work!!! FAIL!!! :mad:

Fri 18 Nov:
[STRIKE]- Planned Starbucks £3[/STRIKE] ACTUAL - £9.70 so £9.70/£20
[STRIKE]- Pay myself £20 to last until end Thu 24 Nov[/STRIKE] ACHEIVED
[strike]- In work, leave 1630 for Dr[/strike] ACHEIVED
[strike]- Go to friends house after Dr[/strike]ACHEIVED
- Do weekly food shop on the way back from friends - list on phone MOVED TO SAT 19 NOV
- Get petrol after shop, £30 as have loads left - £15 to surplus pot :T MOVED TO SUN 20/MON 21 NOV

Sat 19 Nov:
[strike]- Planned NSD [/strike] ACTUAL - £7.30 (breakfast w/ T and ice cream on offer) so £17/£20
[strike]- Do weekly food shop on way home [/strike] ACHEIVED
[strike]- Try and stay at home all day, tell friends due to money[/strike] ACHEIVED
- Do OU work!!! FAIL!!! :mad:
[strike]- Make Gnocchi and Tomato Bake for tonight and Sun tea[/strike]ACHEIVED

Sun 20 Nov:
[strike]- Planned Starbucks £3 [/strike] ACTUAL £6.80 from surplus pot so still £17/£20
[strike]- Home all day except for coffee at 1630[/strike] ACHEIVED - actually had roast at theirs instead of going out
- Also, do OU work!!! FAIL!!! :mad:

Mon 21 Nov:
- Planned petrol £20 (petrol budget)
- Work normal hours
- Get petrol
- Walk with mum after work
- Prepare and assemble Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cottage Bake and get in fridge ready for Tue

Tue 22 Nov:
- Planned milk 89p (food budget)
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work
- Make Sweet Red Pepper and Tomato Soup for Wed and Thu lunches
- Bake Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cottage Bake - for tea Tue, Wed, Thu and Fri

Wed 23 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with mum after work and girls night - my turn to provide wine
- Make Red Lentil, Chickpea and Chilli Soup for Thu, Fri and Sat lunches

Thu 24 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Walk with A after work

Fri 25 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- Pay myself £15 to last until end Tue 29 Nov
- Check DMP statement for rough idea of final payment
- Possibly go to friends after work
- Do food shop for rest of week after work or after leaving friends
- Make Mushroom and Potato Curry for Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon tea

Sat 26 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, tell friends due to money
- Do OU work!!!

Sun 27 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3 or NSD
- Try and stay at home all day, if friends want to go for coffee then do but only if stayed at home on Sat (so only one journey down over the weekend)
- Also, do OU work!!!
- Make Honeyed Carrot Soup for Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed lunches

Mon 28 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Ring all creditors to get final balances
- Amend CCCS balances accordingly
- Change SO at bank to reflect final payment
- Amend Dec budget accordingly
- Walk with mum after work

Tue 29 Nov:
- Planned NSD
- AL, at home all day except cinema with mum in evening, my turn to pay, use cash in surplus pot
- Put shopping list on phone
- Do OU work!!!
- Make Spicy Root and Lentil Casserole for Tue, Wed, Thu and Fri tea

Wed 30 Nov:
- Planned Starbucks £3
- PAYDAY :j
- Check overtime amount and amend Dec budget accordingly
- Pay myself £10 to last until end Thu 1 Dec
- Work normal hours
- Do Dec wine order, remember to use £5 off voucher!!!
- Get first lot of months cash out
- Do small food shop on way home from work to last till Fri, see meal plan
- Walk with mum
- Girls night - mum's turn to provide wine
- Make Speedy Broccoli soup for Thu, Fri and Sat lunches

Thu 1 Dec:
- Planned NSD
- Work normal hours
- Get 2nd lot of of monthly cash out
- Put shopping list on phone
- Walk with mum after work

Fri 2 Dec:
- Planned Starbucks £3 and Focus £3.95
- Get last lot of monthly cash out
- Pay myself £45 to last until end Thu 8 Nov
- Buy Dec copy of Focus magazine!
- Possibly go to friends or to pub after work, maybe do food shop if go home

Sat 3 Dec:
- Planned NSD but unlikely!
- Work normal hours
- Do weekly food shop as per meal plan if didn't last night
- Make Squash and Coconut Curry for Sat, Sun and Mon tea

elsiepac

Well. I've not updated here for a while!

Brief rundown:

- Diagnosed with severe depression in September, been on Fluoxetine since then, dose was doubled after 8 weeks. Waiting for "talk therapy" on NHS... first thing I have is Anxiety Management workshop for 6 weeks on Weds evenings, unsure how relevant to me this is, however had first one last week and it was quite interesting. After that they will put me onto the Depression workshop (these are group learning things by the way, not counselling, but they are free as NHS). After that they will put me on for 121 counselling type thing, I think CBT. Still, taking it's time and I do not feel like my normal self lately!!!

- Work terrible, boss knows about depression/stress thing but the workload keeps getting bigger, too big for me and my colleague to cope with. Boss said refer people to him if they chase me and I am only to prioritise, however easier said than done, specially when he's not in the office too much. Currently having a week of annual leave as he said I should have a block of time off work, but yesterday and today I've had texts from my colleague asking about work stuff. So haven't relaxed yet to be honest. Seeing Dr on Friday so will discuss.

- Money doing ok. Current budgets allow me to move out 31 August onwards however they are very tight so will see how I do. Best thing would be to try and get extra money from somewhere as don't think I'll be able to save any extra as budgets so skimpy!

- South Africa on 30 March, budgeted for this and looking good

Not in a good mood, just want to be in my own place and happy. Still, I got debt free in December, before turning 28, so all good really.

LC

elsiepac

Huh.

So, one of my good friends - male - has just got a job in London. He'll move end of Feb.

He currently lives near the centre of Bristol, and only 10 minutes drive/ 40 minutes walk from work (I'd prob drive - it's a fair trek and don't want to arrive sweaty!).

He lives in a shared house in a very "up and coming" area.

Parking is an issue.

He needs to find someone to fill the room.

I'd be sharing with 2 people, one who I've met a few times and one who I've met once who is the guy. He is who I'd be sharing a bathroom with.

Rent for the room is £275 and bills per month about £150 (slightly less, I'm overestimating).

I've done the sums and I can afford it, and still go to South Africa and then I'll be saving money. Yes, I've factored in the deposit.

Pros:
Cheap
Can save up
Still go to SA
Close to work so more time for me
Good pubs
Cheap taxis to town
Interesting area
Have met the people who live there
Less petrol

Cons:
Shared house (more pertinently shared bathroom, with a guy!)
Unclean house - I'd have to scrub sooooooooo much, believe me I know it well
Shared kitchen
Storage space - lack of (although have similar now)
Few more months till can get my own place
PARKING - hellish if you hit it wrong
My friends aren't there

Hmm. Food for thought. Sure I've missed a couple off each list.

Insights?

LC

scotmumof3

Mmmm that.s a tough one. You would have to be clear to the other gut that you're NOT a cleaner and would expect him to take his turn at the cleaning. It's going to save you money so more for you to put away for SA. I think it all comes down to how much you want to move from home My son moved into his own place a couple of years ago with a friend who then lost her job and had to move home it took him a few weeks to find someone else to share and he had to use his savings to make up the shortfall. this happened twice and at that point after being away for two years on his own he moved back home. He left here with £5000 in savings and came home with £400. If you are doing alright where you are and saving for a place of your own I would stick with it sometimes the saying is true "better the devil you know". Hope this helps a little.