Finally reaching out for some help...

kerri_dfw

Aw lovely to hear from you both I agree that budgeting is difficult, I don't think it helps that we weren't taught it by our parents, or at least I wasn't. But I think post-war babies loosened their belts a little and the media turned everyone into consumer monsters.

hadahardyear, glad to see you I've been wondering how you're doing. Well done on the budgeting this month, I defo think you deserve some entertainment money to treat your son with I wouldn't pay the c.c with the OD if it were me, as that'd be like robbing peter to pay paul, and the OD isn't your money it's the banks but it would depend on what the interest is IYSWIM.

I think I'm having a bit of a downer today, the euphoria of the new bed has worn off and I have nothing to buy so I don't know what to do with myself. I can't even buy fabric as that's in the post from the States as we speak. I bought 2yds each of two different H3nry Gl4ss fabrics and 2 yds x 118" of quilt backing in a lovely crimson satin type cotton. Including shipping it's come to £46.10, and I'm quite impressed. Over here if I were to buy a similar designer fabric it would cost me about £12/metre so I'm in effect getting the backing and shipping for free Although will have to wait and see whether I get charged by customs.

I think the problem might be that I've made everything perfect, I've got my bed, the room is immaculate, the job is great, but there's one thing missing...my OH, my partner, my lovely man

I am also getting fed up of 3cycle. I've had 2 no-shows for the mattress and futon base that I used to sleep on. I reckon if I left them out on the street I'd be more likely to get rid of them! This is London, things like that left out on the street disappear

Rosa, that's what I'd love to do but I don't have the discipline. So I'm going to save up the extra that I get for mileage (100 miles I spend £15 and get £25 back) so overtime this should build up to a nice expenses pot instead of being my own money. A little like my second purse where the bulk items now pay for themselves

danetastic

I know it's not the same but (((((hugs)))))

debtfreewannabe321

do you keep a spend diary kerri? i kept one for the first few months of budgeting then i could see where my spends needed to be budgeted for (&cut!) How lovely of your OH to do that for you

Oh and regarding the bed...i'd stick it outside i guarantee it will be gone in 24 hours or less lol. My mum always does this and she's never had nothing not taken lol even broken things ??? !!

xx

fallenwiccan

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

do you keep a spend diary kerri? i kept one for the first few months of budgeting then i could see where my spends needed to be budgeted for (&cut!) How lovely of your OH to do that for you

Oh and regarding the bed...i'd stick it outside i guarantee it will be gone in 24 hours or less lol. My mum always does this and she's never had nothing not taken lol even broken things ??? !!

xx

That's exactly how we got rid of our washer, fridge and dishwasher all at different times. They'll go don't you worry about it.

kerri_dfw

danetastic wrote: »

I know it's not the same but (((((hugs)))))

Thanks Dane really appreciate that

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

do you keep a spend diary kerri? i kept one for the first few months of budgeting then i could see where my spends needed to be budgeted for (&cut!) How lovely of your OH to do that for you

Oh and regarding the bed...i'd stick it outside i guarantee it will be gone in 24 hours or less lol. My mum always does this and she's never had nothing not taken lol even broken things ??? !!

xx

I really need to start keeping a spending diary. I have a lovely notebook my MIL bought me for Christmas, so I might start to use that. I try to write spends on here but I can never keep track. I did have a spreadsheet but that got confusing too.

fallenwiccan wrote: »

That's exactly how we got rid of our washer, fridge and dishwasher all at different times. They'll go don't you worry about it.

I've just had a lady come round to take it away but she can't fit it into her car, as she's only up the road I'm going to try to get it in mine and then drop it up to her

I think I've got more done today, but I'm not quite sure eep! I've at least got round to booking my hotels for next week in Linlithgow. I've made the most of company expenses and booked 2 of the 3 nights in the Marriott in Edinburgh, it's got a pool, spa, and a fitness centre. As I'm there until the Friday morning I'm going to see if I can see some of Edinburgh either on the Tuesday night, or the Thursday evening (shame to waste it), I would like to at least see Edinburgh Castle if I don't see anything else. Anyway, that's £190 of expenses gone onto my debit card eep! Then there's petrol and another night in a different hotel to take into account *gulp* thank goodness it's the company that will be paying for it.

One thing I have been very naughty and done is order my Dad and sister meat for the next few months. I've ordered them sausages to last until end of September, and chicken to last until the middle of June. They're really grateful that I did it, but I have used the c/c to pay for the online orders. Dad has asked how much it will cost and that he will pay me back straight away, my sister will pay me back when the orders arrive. I used TCB and a discount code of 10% so it makes the high quality meat an affordable price for them. When they pay me the money will go immediately back onto my c/c. So I'm not counting this as being one of my spends, it just happened to be that I had the money on my c/c to be able to do it. Yes I do know that that money was the banks, but but but oh I'm out of excuses

Todays things to do:
1. Finish patch assessment that needs to be done by today *gulp*
2. Put away clothes that I was meant to do yesterday
3. Sort out what to take to Cardiff tomorrow
4. Decide what time to leave for Cardiff tomorrow and check bus times

snailmail

I just found your diary this week, thought I'd pop on and say hi! I've really enjoyed reading your journey and seeing how much progress you've been making.

Your bed was definitely a neseccity. I splurged out on some expensive wool pillow last year because I kept getting too hot, had neck/back aches and couldn't sleep. Cheap pillows are too low for me, then if I double them up they're too high!

The woolen pillow has definitely helped, it's sooo comfy! If I had the money I'd have the whole set, not just the pillows!:)

kerri_dfw

Hi snailmail, thanks for stopping by there are many pages to read so don't feel obliged to read all of them. I'm definitely better with money now than I was back when I started, I actually have food in the house! But I've still a way to go

Your woolen pillows sound awesome, I've got one special pillow which has a bit cut out as I sleep on my side, and that'll do me for now I think

Just signed up to the hotel chain I'm staying in next weeks rewards scheme, and found if I stay in one of their hotels for 2 nights before end of March then I get a free nights stay So for my 2 company paid for nights next week, I get a free one for me and the OH to use I think a weekend away somewhere nice when he's back will be good for that one, maybe his birthday weekend that'll save us over £100.

elly68

kerri_dfw wrote: »

Aww I love my OH. I've just had it sprung on me that I need to go to Scotland for 2 days before I get paid, it's going to cost me over £300 for the hotel + travel, so he's put £500 into my account to cover me :happyhear:happyhear:happyhear
So, to stop me doing this again I definitely need to get a pot for expenses asap! I can't decide whether I should take the sleeper train or just drive up, I love driving and don't really trust people enough to fall asleep on the train, especially not with a laptop on me.

the london sleeper has offers at the minute think you can prebook for cheaper

kerri_dfw

elly68 wrote: »

the london sleeper has offers at the minute think you can prebook for cheaper

Aw thanks Elly, I'm going to drive up as I love driving to Scotland (did John O'Groats from Reading a few years back). It means I can stop as many times as I like and sing at the top of my voice to 80's classics without getting tooo embarrassed

hadahardyear

Where abouts in scotland are you off to Kerry x