London Socialite Sees The Light

LondonGirl252

Hello all!


Hope you all had nice weekends!


Mine was a mixture!!! Friday night with the BF was lovely, he cooked me dinner and we just chilled out for the night.


Up v early to fly to Frankfurt, we were slightly delayed due to storms in Germany but luckily we were already on the plane when this was announced so I just slept while we waited!


We had a nice brunch.... all you can eat buffet breakfast with Prosecco for €10 I was v impressed!


However, after this is where it gets interesting!


We went to a spa for the afternoon which cost €40 by the time I hired a towel and a robe. It was pretty big so we walked around to get our bearings before selecting our sunbeds by the indoor pool. Well. I've just eaten and I don't know if I can bring myself to think about it again without being ill! What the 2 of us naïve English girls weren't told by the rest of the party is that this spa was well naked. and mixed gender. Now, I am not a prude by any means BUT there are some things a girl just does not need to see. Oh how I wish you could un-see something.


Me and A kept our bikinis and robes on but just felt so uncomfortable and awkward laying by the pool with men's bits hanging out and let me tell you, none of them were any David Beckham. A few girls went into the saunas but we didn't as you couldn't wear swimwear in there, and the men just stare at you and I didn't feel comfortable sitting naked chatting to girls I have never met before!! Also, think of all the other nakedness that has sat in that spa before you, how gross, what if they have something?!?!




URGH!!! After a short while I just said I didn't feel comfortable and went to the hotel for a nap before dinner.


Dinner was OK and not too expensive but then we were wandering aimlessly around Frankfurt trying to find somewhere to drink but they don't seem to make such a deal of the bride over there, the wedding was hardly mentioned, no one got dressed up it was just a bit odd.


Luckily I had an early flight yesterday so I escaped and spent the rest of Sunday with M!








Payday tomorrow, Finishing the month with over £600 in the bank which I am delighted with, I think it is YEARS since this has happened. THANK YOU YNAB!






I don't know if I already mentioned about being given a work phone when I started this job? Well I'm allowed to use it for personal too and most people here just have the one phone for both. So, I am going to call up O2 once I have been paid and pay off my contract (about £500) then transfer my number to my work phone, switch everything over. Then sell my personal phone for hopefully around £500, it's an iphone6 and in great condition, only 6 months old. Then that will save me £40 a month on my phone bill!


LG x

LondonGirl252

Hi all,


Well the last day of June is here and I ended the month (pre pay day which is today) on £612 so I am very pleased. I honestly can't think of a time in the last 10 years when I have ended the month on such a large bank balance, I am very happy!


Next month hoping it will be almost a thousand!


So, highlights and low lights....


I saved £100 this month towards my USA hol in August (planning for £350 next month)


I paid £225 off my credit card, last month £525. The balance is now £675 at 0% which runs out in November. Planning for £150 next month.


My monthly grocery bill has stayed around the £200 mark, budgeted same for next month.


I spent £72.47 on petrol, last month £127.46. Budget £130 next month.


Here is the horrible bit... I spent £186.44 in restaurants this month, £114.69 last month. Now, I did have a few birthdays and remember that meal where I had fabulous intentions by ordering a burger and coke but we split the bill where everyone else had chataeubriand and wine?! Budgeted £100 this month.


Spent nil on clothes. Budget £40 next month as I need new work shoes for summer.


Spent £45.55 out drinking (when not eating) last month £40.00. Budgeted £30 next month.


Spent £108 on birthday gifts/father day and hen party gift. Next month budget £125 as I have 5 birthdays.


Spent £383.13 on flights/hotels/etc for the hen party. And flights and hotel for the resulting wedding in Sept. Now I only need to budget for the spending money that weekend which should be minimal.


Last month I spent £128 on horse riding. This month I spent £26 and I have budget £75 for this month as for a friend birthday I want to take her riding as a treat.


£40 on that parking fine. Defo not budgeting that again for this month!


Last month I reduced my emergency fund by £15.44. This month it is now back up to £51.68. Budgeted to add £37.43 for next month.


Last month I saved £214.04 towards annual bills (all car bill, phone line, TV licence, Insurances, Christmas etc) this month I saved another £239.04 giving me £453.08 and next month I have another £239.04 budgeted to add.


In the numbers above for July's budget they are reasonably generous and should come in lower in a few areas! I find YNAB works better for me when I am realistic about my budget given what I have going on in the month and then allow myself to beat it, rather than being too tight and finding I struggle at the end of the month.


My grocery spend is quite high for one person. Mon-Thurs is always really low as I am really good now at bulk cooking, freezing and bulking meals out with veg. But its more expensive at the weekend when M comes to stay as we treat ourselves more although he does contribute so I need to look at how it is so much. This month groceries should be lower as M is away for two weekends so I will just eat from the freezer and this weekend coming I am going to stay with him in Windsor so he'll cook for me


LG x

LondonGirl252

Bonjour, happy July!


A new budget is open to me this month, lets see how much I can nail it!


I have a fitness budget each month of £25 and this month decided to spend it on an ebook I have been followed on instagram which is a 28day kickstart programme including a meal plan and exercise plan. I wanted to give it a go this month so I can be bikini ready in time for the USA trip! Only, I have to go into hospital for a day on Tuesday (nothing too serious ) and following my treatment I can't exercise strenuously for three weeks!! Oops! I'll have to do the food and replace the workouts with low impact Pilates or yoga and see how I get on!


The BF is coming into London tonight which is a treat so we get to have a mid-week date night! Not sure what we'll do but prob just grab a bite to eat and a drink in the sun somewhere!


LG x

Brightspark87

happy July! For your date night a London park or garden is a great venue and cheaper than eating out eating out... especially in this weather. either way though enjoy your mid week date night xx

LondonGirl252

Thanks! Yes that is what I was thinking too, maybe grab something from the supermarket and take it outside! xx

Erme

Sorry life has had lots of curveballs this week LG (it's on page 26 of payment a day thread) so not been catching up with you

you are doing so well and yes even if you don't nail it it's the effort and the lessons learnt that's the bonus....

One of my furries died at the weekend. I had no idea about small furry resuscitation. did mouth to mouth but forgot to rub her chest (as when I found her she still had a heart beat)

Remember - home made frappe's in this heat. - just needs espresso/strong coffee shot, ice cream and milk. ?sugar?....whizz in blender - da dah!!!! Cheap frappè!

and forecast to be 26˚c today here....so glad I don't live south of the border LOL

E

LondonGirl252

Hope you're OK Erme, i'm really sorry about your furry


Hope you are all well


I have some good news, M and I viewed 3 apartments at the weekend, we fell in love with the first one and made an offer which was accepted!


We had a bit of a drama with it over the weekend, after our offer was accepted I requested for the property to be taken off the market, the vendor refused.


Turns out it has sold twice already and fallen through - once because the buyers Dad was funding the deposit and once Dad saw the place he decided his son should find somewhere cheaper and secondly the buyers deposits were in shares and couldn't liquidate.


So we have some nervous sellers on our hands. In the end I managed to negotiate that when we pay the solicitors to do the searches they will stop any further viewings and when the mortgage valuation is done it will be officially off the market.


I instructed solicitors this morning and have received in writing that there will be no more viewings on it.


I am just waiting for the estate agent to confirm the ground rent and service charge on it then I can complete the mortgage application.


Exciting! But Stressful!!!


M is away in Cyrpus this week with work so I am in charge! haha! I am quite enjoying having something to focus on!


Wish us luck!!!


LG x

Gretchen2012

Good luck LG. It's so exciting getting your own place isnt it. I'm back to renting now but wouldn't have it any other way.

Hope you are keeping well xx

LondonGirl252

Thanks!!!! Renting is definitely less stressful that is for sure!!! I just can't wait to be out of flatshares, I want to get to the part where we can pick furniture and furnishings! (in an MSE fashion of course!)


Just had a call to say that TSB are happy with our mortgage application


Now to get the valuations underway! x

Erme

Any move is stressful LG...hence I haven't done it for about 14 years - choosing to redecorate instead LOL

Sounds exciting and fun

Of course I know you'll be MSE in furniture etc. Is there a communal bin area by any chance for furniture? Both my sofa (leather) and chair came from the bin room

Och well...I'm still sore after falling over the other day (call me the resident daftie - and no I wasn't drunk!!!) and I got new ratties on Friday.....though now I've spied a new cage I want for them as well - £100-130 :eek!!!!

E