London Socialite Sees The Light

LondonGirl252

miggy wrote: »

I actually put in a lots of work about a year and a half ago, got the gear and circuit trained some weight away, so don't worry, the jeans don't have to jog!

It would definitely be joggers this time of year though - anything less reminds me of horrendous hockey lessons in a sports field specially organised to get the maximum freezing wind off the Irish Sea. Oh that was cold! Eventually they decided to get with the times and allow us a fairly new invention - track suits! :rotfl:Mine was royal blue with a couple of 'go faster' stripes down the side, and in those days that's what trackies looked like! (Suddenly I feel old! ) They were so new on the market there wasn't even a uniform version for school!

Oops, digression, sorry!

And footwear - I'm okay there thanks - two new gorgeous pairs of really good trainers courtesy of T K Maxx. I wear them all the time - apart from in bed I suppose... I'm a jeans and trainers person and as I do support work it's ideal for work too.

And LG - Olympia! Please tell! I couldn't find it anywhere on TV but I seem to remember it isn't any more. Shame. Maybe one year I will treat myself.

I go to TKMaxx for all my running gear!!

I think the FEI televised it on their website, it may be on you tube now. The highlights for me were the Flying Frenchman, and the dressage finalists, the best rounds were Carl Hester, Laura B and Charlotte Dujardin who did come in the top 3, the others were good but not worth sitting down to watch them online!

miggy

I go to TKMaxx for all my running gear!!

TKMaxx rocks! :rotfl:

I think the FEI televised it on their website, it may be on you tube now. The highlights for me were the Flying Frenchman, and the dressage finalists, the best rounds were Carl Hester, Laura B and Charlotte Dujardin who did come in the top 3, the others were good but not worth sitting down to watch them online!

Ooh thank you! Lots of treats for me to watch.

miggy

Olympia sounds amazing, so glad you went even if it is an expensive hobby!

Your second light bulb moment seems to home in on some specifics and some general trends... I spend a bit on piano lessons for me which are an indulgence but it matters a lot, so I do understand. Thankfully pianos don't require feeding though! I know the Irish riding holiday was a big spend but I can also understand why you don't regret it. It was really good experience and nothing can take that away.

Keeping taking your own sausage rolls and you'll be able to keep enjoying the important things!

LondonGirl252

miggy wrote: »

Olympia sounds amazing, so glad you went even if it is an expensive hobby!

Your second light bulb moment seems to home in on some specifics and some general trends... I spend a bit on piano lessons for me which are an indulgence but it matters a lot, so I do understand. Thankfully pianos don't require feeding though! I know the Irish riding holiday was a big spend but I can also understand why you don't regret it. It was really good experience and nothing can take that away.

Keeping taking your own sausage rolls and you'll be able to keep enjoying the important things!

Thanks, you're right. It's the experience that counts not all the expensive trimmings. I'm glad I went too, it was a lovely day. I'd struggle through all this if i couldn't do anything like that

Can't go wrong with a sausage roll!!

LondonGirl252

To make myself feel better about the disaster that has been this month, I made a list of things that need saving up ahead for... Christmas, birthdays, holidays, clothes etc

The last two are obviously luxuries and not priorities.

In a normal month my budget includes a £100 transfer to my parents for emergencies xmas etc but I'd only started that when I started my diary and xmas and the new phone cleared out what I had. So, from January's payday I am going to re-instate this and break it down so I have a little savings for each:

Christmas £25 per month
Holiday/trips £50 per month
Birthdays £15 per month
Clothes and essentials £20 per month

So that's £110 per month, which is just a tenner more than before and I was managing OK before xmas and the fluff up! I know every penny should go towards debt but I think it's important to plan ahead for these things and the holiday figure looks large but if anything happens that's the first one to go and will double up as the emergency fund I guess.

So, hopefully this will build up small savings for things that crop up in life and hopefully make Christmas a lot easier next year.

The £10 a day budget will still be used to have NSD's and save up for social stuff, I don't wanna waste the savings on that and any spare ££ in NSD's will go towards paying more debt.

Roll on the new year and new start!

Rashboots

Hey LG!

Just read through your diary, well, not just... It took me hours yesterday and some time today. I'm absolutely hooked

I've subscribed, so will be popping in daily to check whats new x

LondonGirl252

Rashboots wrote: »

Hey LG!

Just read through your diary, well, not just... It took me hours yesterday and some time today. I'm absolutely hooked

I've subscribed, so will be popping in daily to check whats new x

Hi Rashboots!

Haha thanks, thats a pretty impressive effort. Thanks for subscribing, welcome to the gang! x

LondonGirl252

Morning all,

Just got into work, should really still be resting as not feeling well but got deadlines to meet so gonna try and plough through as much as possible and get away on time.

Money wise - no change really. Hoping to have a NSD but depending on what happens for my colleagues last day it probably wont be..

LondonGirl252

Actually,

Just checked all the online banking. The last bit of interest has all been charged, just an extra £4.70 onto the Halifax credit card. So on Tuesday I can pay £151.64 and clear it and close the account!! Woop!!

Then, the priority debt to clear is the Nationwide credit card. Currently with a balance of £2,239.82. Based on the current plan this should be gone in Sept 2012 but I'm going to aim for July.

happihorse

LondonGirl252 wrote: »

On the way home I got to think about debt etc and the only thing I remember spending on that I don't regret was my riding holiday to Ireland a couple of years ago. At that point the debt wasn't too bad, it was a last minute arrangement but I had a bit of savings to put towards it so i thought only a couple of hundred would go on the card. But it ended up being about £1000, as the place we stayed was so extortionate to eat and drink and we were in the middle of nowhere so there really was no where else. Well, at the time I didn't think twice of course. That holiday is the only big thing I got from this mess. It made me a much more confident rider and I took a lot from it, I just wish I'd stuck to paying it off back then.

I also identified how my debt went to its highest earlier this year. A friend who I ride with was going to this lovely private riding school and getting taught by some semi-pro dressage riders, she took me along one weekend and I totally got hooked, the yard was amazing, the horses were just beautiful and the teachers took me right back to basics and improved my riding tenfold. Only rather than going once a month like I could afford I was trying to keep up with my friend and went a few times a month at nearly £70 a go plus train tickets. Mental. Then, on top of that I let myself be convinced that I should join in with her other lessons in London at £54 a week. I'm writing all this down as yesterday I started getting the itch to try harder with my riding again and thank god I immediately felt mega stupid, then on the long journey home I got to thinking and I realised that this is why this year in particular my debts just got higher and higher and higher as before they'd plateaued at a few grand less. Knowing what I know now and having listened to all of your advice I just feel so stupid. I am so lucky to still be able to ride as I do as I don't think I'll be falling off that wagon anytime soon. I love horses and they're so addictive but can also be bl00dy expensive and aren't worth getting into debt over. It will be the hugest acheivement for me, if one day Im in the position to save up and have my own.

Like you say, horses are just such an expensive hobby. I think it is fantastic that you are able to ride good horses, regularly and free of charge (especially in London) and it is great to have a something to aim for once you have you financial situation sorted out. The only reason I have been able to keep doing it is because I have made compromises elsewhere in my life (but not going to go on about that here). I'm sure that once you have your debt sorted out and have got into good financial habits you will have no problem fulfilling this dream. Good luck with it.

Your plans for 2012 sound good. I always think that looking forward is so important. Have you got any plans for upping your income? Although it may be difficult with working full time and your professional qualifications to be done.