New and scared but so determined

freebyfifty

Good Morning

Back to work today but at least it is another short week.

Managed to get through a whole day without spending yesterday and I am determined to do the same today There's not that much cash left in the bank anyway Never mind, only 3 days to payday and I can start afresh with new budgets and new focus :j

Paid another little bit towards the Carp 1 card this morning and that always makes me feel as if I am getting somewhere. Not long now until it is 3 figures instead of 4 and that will be a real milestone reached, for me anyway. I'm not sure that any of my cc's are below the 4 figure mark

I've also got to go to fat club tonight :eek: I'm kinda stuck and have been at 1 stone lost for the past couple of weeks. My scales at home show a loss but they are old and inaccurate so who knows what the scales of terror will tell me later :eek:

Today I will start my Mr A home delivery order for the weekend for all the usual fresh stuff, bread, milk, yogurts etc. I am going to try not go to the supermarket myself :eek: but I'll be lucky (unlucky) if my shopping reaches the minimum £25 order for home delivery so then I'll have to pay a visit myself :eek: I'll just have to walk around with my eyes shut :rotfl:



I hope everyone has a fantastic day x x

MuffinTops

Freeby, I tell you what, you come and check my loft for beasties and I'll be your shopping runner!!!

miggy

freebyfifty wrote: »

I have not gone out and splurged all my money on clothes and jewelery and unnecessary stuff but I do have way too much food for 3 people. I can't remember the last time I bought myself something to wear or something frivolous and am quite disciplined in that respect so why do I feel the need to stuff my fridge (and cupboards) full and end up wasting food????

That's a very very good question and I wish I knew the answer...

Is it time to try the 'shop at home first' thing? Pretend you are buying for the next meal and your fridge is the shop? http://cannywomen.com/?p=134

I think I am going to have to be inventive with odds and ends of fresh stuff that aren't going to last another day.

I admit I've treated myself to a few new things to wear recently, as I noticed most of my tops are wearing out, and feeling better about how I'm dressed has helped me. I have discovered an obsession with buying a certain design of mugs though - I must have bought 6 in the past three months (broke 2) and we really haven't the storage space. It's odd what people feel the 'need' to buy, isn't it?

MuffinTops

freebyfifty wrote: »

I can't remember the last time I bought myself something to wear or something frivolous and am quite disciplined in that respect so why do I feel the need to stuff my fridge (and cupboards) full and end up wasting food????


Answers on a postcard please because I burgered if I know

To me, money and food are very closely linked and food is a visual representation of how well off others perception could be of me.

I'm listing this all from my own point of view of what food in cupboards means to me. I now whittle down to empty cupboards and fridge which can be a little disconcerting at times. I often have to remind myself that I've deliberately run out as I waste too much when I hoard as I can't see what I have in. But, in the past, I've always felt I'm doing ok if I have lots of food in. If I'm skint and stuck at home with full cupboards then at least I won't want for anything.

When people talk about money I find that it's often the case that food will be added to that. The "I've got £3 to last me the week, but I have food in the cupboards so we won't starve". The food counteracts the harsh money situation or it can emphasise it if they say they have £3 to last and no food. Having £3 to last a week sounds doable. Having £3 and no food sounds horrendous.

So, to me, as a loving mother you may have felt a need to be sure you're providing for your children, and a cupboard full of food, more than you'll need, is a cupboard full of providing and support and love as that could represent to you how well you're doing for them?

Or;

That could be total hollyhooks and the actual reason is that after a run of frugality you needed to spend money and went for the unselfish option, but I'm just listing this from my own point of view of how I believe food and money are linked to others perception of a person's financial situation. :cool:

miggy

MuffinTops wrote: »

When people talk about money I find that it's often the case that food will be added to that. The "I've got £3 to last me the week, but I have food in the cupboards so we won't starve". The food counteracts the harsh money situation or it can emphasise it if they say they have £3 to last and no food. Having £3 to last a week sounds doable. Having £3 and no food sounds horrendous.

So, to me, as a loving mother you may have felt a need to be sure you're providing for your children, and a cupboard full of food, more than you'll need, is a cupboard full of providing and support and love as that could represent to you how well you're doing for them?

Or;

That could be total hollyhooks and the actual reason is that after a run of frugality you needed to spend money and went for the unselfish option, but I'm just listing this from my own point of view of how I believe food and money are linked to others perception of a person's financial situation. :cool:

While option 2 is I suppose a possibility, I for one think option 1 is a very powerful argument. Maslow's 'Hierarchy of needs'... food is a basic and arguably the only basic that is almost always closely linked with money. In fact, the two are in many ways interchangeable, though when it comes to the crunch (;)), I would rather not eat money.

At one end of the scale food can be conspicuous consumption, like that chappy who spent £100,000 on a bottle of champers. At the other end, if we ain't got it, we don't last long. We're demonstrating our security to ourselves and possibly those around us. A full fridge is evidence we aren't going to starve, we're doing okay, we're winning.

I seem to remember Memory Girl had or has an amazing store of food, though she's long since pulled her situation around from the point where she was down to less than a pound and couldn't get any more nappies for the baby. She knows that she can't be put in that situation again and the food is proof of that.

And you're right - food buying is a 'legitimate' spend and when we're being careful in other areas, it's one we still have to have so maybe that's why we go overboard.

I've gone all sociological... better go and do something else for a while till it passes. :rotfl:

freebyfifty

Good Morning


Oh heck, did I fall into the wrong diary???? This one is way too deep and meaningful for me Thank you for your comments though (even if I don't quite understand them ) I have, however, heard of Maslow and his Hierachy of Needs triangle thingy :T so maybe I'm not as daft as I make out

Having my cupboards full is definitely a comfort thing. I like to know that I can feed myself and the kids and we won't starve. I also agree that it is a status thing, I am always envious when someone opens their fridge door and it's full of food and I think I like people to feel that when I open my one too. I also think I like to think that when the kids open the cupboard doors they are comforted too - hope that makes sense.

Anyway, enough of that

Snaffled another NSD yesterday which is just what the bank account needed :T and I am determined to do the same again today. With only 2 days to payday I need to keep all the cash I've got (not a lot) in the bank account to give me a head start for the next month.

I have made another little payment to the card and I think this will be the last one before payday when I will make the big monthly overpayment and then I am hoping I'll be able to see a real difference :T

Went to fat club last night and I lost another 2lbs :j Only half a stone to go now. That'll probably take me a while but at least I know I am in my healthy weight range now as well as being much fitter (well maybe much is too strong a word :rotfl:) Speaking of which I'll have to get on and get ready for work and pack my bag for gym afterwards :eek:

Have a great Wednesday x x

freebyfifty

Good Morning


Not much to report this morning, which is a very good thing
My day yesterday went to plan and I went to work and the gym and did not spend any money :j

I am looking forward to payday tomorrow, not that there will be much left after the bills have been paid but at least the bills will be paid and I can budget accordingly for the rest of the month. My budget forecasts another tight month but then I only have myself to blame for that so I'll just have to suck it up and get on with it

Meal plan is all made for next week and the Mr A order has been placed but I am going to tweak it today to see if I can bring it down by a couple of quid. It's better in my pocket than in theirs

It feels nice to be in control again.

Have a great Thursday x x

freebyfifty

Good Morning

It's payday :j at last. I shall now begin wishing my life away until the next one (32 days to go ) It's nice to see it in my account even if it's only for a little while

I have spent much of the morning looking at and tweaking my budgets and I am gearing myself up for a very frugal month to try and get me back on track again. I sent a massive payment to the Carp one card and it looks like it has come down loads :T It's down to 3 figures at long last and I am actually feeling quite positive and determined to get that one gone as soon as I can. Spreadsheet says October but I am going to put all my efforts into getting rid of it at least a month before that

In the interests of being frugal and tight fisted this month I cancelled my Mr A order. I spent an hour or two yesterday pricing the shopping I need and all the various offers between Mr T and Mr A and wonder of wonders Mr T will come in about £11 cheaper :T That includes Mr A's delivery charge but it is still a massive difference. It means I will have to go into the supermarket :eek: but I am hoping this focused mood stays with me and I can go in with my list and come out with what's on my list and nothing else. I will, I will, I will :mad:

I had another NSD yesterday and I am determined to get another one today. I will spend no unnecessary cash Then tomorrow will be 'spendy saturday' and I'll be prepared for the week ahead


Here's hoping this excellent mood continues. I need to get back on track and back in control.

Have an excellent Friday x x

Knitting_Nora

Morning Missus F.

:jPayday! :j

:T:T:TBut even more exciting - OMG, check out your signature...that's a huge chunk off your cc balance!! How fab are you?! Wow, just wow! You're wonderful and just a bit amazing....:T:T:T

Enjoy your day.

Nora.x

freebyfifty

Thank you Missus Knitty. :A

I can look at that balance now and think 'I am getting there, slowly but surely' It's a nice feeling. :T

And I am throwing modesty out the window *heaves*

I am feeling just a little bit amazing at the moment :rotfl: