A few months and several questions

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Did get slightly narky comments from family, but am not bothered as really really needed the break. If I had spent the time trekking to the other end of the country with the other crowds I would just have ended up stressed all over again. I do know this doesn't sound very festive,

So for you being festive is running after other adults because they CBA to get off their backsides themselves?

Err...no...that's not being festive. It's OK as a turns-each thing, but not every year.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

and it's not how I normally am, but this year has been unusual and my health takes priority.

This year should not be unusual. At least not any more. Your health should always take priority.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Also thinking about how I want next year to be... and had already concluded I need a different way of approaching my debts than before. The usual approach has been feel guilty, pay huge chunk out of paycheque, get sideswiped by car bill/ wedding abroad/ getting fed up and depressed then buying something to cheer myself up, feel guilty again... repeat. In 2011 I managed to keep accounts for setting aside money for the car etc, and that really helped. It meant I was staying on an even keel and knew where I stood in terms of real debt and day-to-day stuff. So I think I'll do this more in 2012.

:T

RosaBernicia wrote: »

It will look like I'm paying off less,

Since what you pay off is a mere fact of income minus expenditure, you'll find you're paying off the same, but trying to fool yourself less.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

but hopefully will be more effective and less stressful overall.

It will be.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

The other conclusion I've come to in my ditherations took me a bit by surprise. I was playing with spreadsheets to look at the new potential amount of rent etc :eek:, and took out the holiday money I had told myself I'd put aside next year in order to keep my debt payments up. Well I'm not happy about that - not happy at all - which is very odd for someone who hasn't had a proper holiday in, well, ever actually. I've had short breaks, and a couple of weeks exploring when I had my gap year, but otherwise all my annual leave has always been used for studying or visiting family. This year that doesn't have to happen... and I WANT A HOLIDAY. One with flights and hotels and fun and everything .

So where do you want to go? And what do you want to do?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

So that money is staying in the budget and my debt payments are going down. I don't think it's realistic to pay off my debt in a year anyhow - not without making myself miserable, which I refuse to do any more. So am aiming to pay off 50% within 2012 and have a great time in the process.

That's the first step for the plan...

Good! The first step in changing things, is to make things different...

Lula-Hula

Hi Rosa

lovely to read that you had such a nice chilled, relaxed christmas :T.

Mine was similar & I still have another 6 days off ( possibly meant to go in to work tomorrow, but am pretending I didn't see the email & in the meatnime practising my "oh gosh no, I'm so awfully sorry, I'll just try to find childcare & then I'll be on my way " speech in a convincing way

Some good goals there & I'll be checking out that website later
xx

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

Since what you pay off is a mere fact of income minus expenditure, you'll find you're paying off the same, but trying to fool yourself less.

That's it! :D

ZTD wrote: »

So where do you want to go? And what do you want to do?

I don't really know yet! I'm still adjusting to the idea that it might be OK to spend hundreds of pounds on just having fun ... oh that sounds mad but it's true. I wouldn't think twice about paying it for a course or an object, but saving up £100 a month and spending it All On Me Doing Fun Stuff seems ridiculously naughty :rotfl: and fun :rotfl: . I think I might raid the travel agent and flick through for some ideas. I was thinking of going on a trip with a friend in early March, and I might go for that, but it will have to wait til I know what's going on with moving.

ZTD wrote: »

Good! The first step in changing things, is to make things different...

'tis true :T

Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Lula-Hula wrote: »

Hi Rosa

lovely to read that you had such a nice chilled, relaxed christmas :T.

Mine was similar & I still have another 6 days off ( possibly meant to go in to work tomorrow, but am pretending I didn't see the email & in the meatnime practising my "oh gosh no, I'm so awfully sorry, I'll just try to find childcare & then I'll be on my way " speech in a convincing way

Some good goals there & I'll be checking out that website later
xx

Hi Lula

Am glad you've had a good time and got to relax... and nobody should be checking their emails... so I entirely agree you should be spared

Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Hi Lula

Am glad you've had a good time and got to relax... and nobody should be checking their emails... so I entirely agree you should be spared

Rosa xx

There is a fightback.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16314901

I very rarely read mine out of work.

Lula-Hula

Love that Rosa,

although, in truth I actually received the email while at work before I finished but we'll just keep that between us

I don't have access to work emails from home (hurray) & always make sure I set up my out of office message, directing people to Gropey in my absence ...

Grumpy is in regular contact with me, we have a very important scrabble tournament in progress Although, I'm not sure some of his messages are entirely work appropriate

RosaBernicia

Well the impending move is helping me behave myself, money-wise.

Today was paying in Christmas cheques - two of these are to repay December spends as one will cover a plant I bought and the other is because I, er, ended up actually buying my own Christmas pressie from parents because I could get £25 off it The other money can stay in an 'extra special treats' account til I figure out what I really want to do with it. (This is a very odd sensation as normally I have stuff in mind.)

Managed to go in Lush and only buy the scrub bar I went in for plus a piece of the soap I've wanted for ages as it matches one of the perfumes. But also got dusting powder freebie probably because all their Saturday staff know me by now. And also managed to exit Boots without buying a thing as couldn't decide whether to spend £32 and get three lots of eye cream at once... so will use up another one first and then see. It would knock them down to £10 each from £16 but relies on me remembering I have them :rotfl: ... or might see if a friend wants any No7 and would split the discount. Was also quite well behaved in Waitrose as decided to stop off there instead of making separate trip to Sainsbugs. Oh and that's quite apart from not buying anything in the clothes shop sales - debated a bag, and may go back for another look at some leather gloves, but did exit without actually buying anything.

Still have decent amount of budget left to payday but will be trying to spend as little as possible til I know what's going on with the move.

But am getting a few messages through from the dating website free profile I had been ignoring... so wondering whether to pay the subs and see what happens.

Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Well the impending move is helping me behave myself, money-wise.

It's amazing what that sensation of "Impending Doom" (TM) can do...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Today was paying in Christmas cheques - two of these are to repay December spends as one will cover a plant I bought and the other is because I, er, ended up actually buying my own Christmas pressie from parents because I could get £25 off it The other money can stay in an 'extra special treats' account til I figure out what I really want to do with it. (This is a very odd sensation as normally I have stuff in mind.)

House warming gift to yourself?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Managed to go in Lush and only buy the scrub bar I went in for

A what? :eek:

Is that a bar with scrubbers?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Was also quite well behaved in Waitrose as decided to stop off there instead of making separate trip to Sainsbugs.

Quite well behaved?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

But am getting a few messages through from the dating website free profile I had been ignoring... so wondering whether to pay the subs and see what happens.

Which site is that one? I take it there's no detail with the messages?

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

It's amazing what that sensation of "Impending Doom" (TM) can do...

yeeesss... we won't discuss the actual packing and moving doom, I am playing ostrich on that one.

ZTD wrote: »

House warming gift to yourself?

Might well be.

ZTD wrote: »

A what? :eek:

Is that a bar with scrubbers?

Yer cheeky get. 'Tis a bar of oils etc with scrubby bits in.

ZTD wrote: »

Which site is that one? I take it there's no detail with the messages?

It's the harmonious one. Wasn't very impressed earlier but some of the profiles are better matches than before. You basically get notification of a message or communication request, and outline info on their profile, but to respond or see photos needs membership.


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

yeeesss... we won't discuss the actual packing and moving doom, I am playing ostrich on that one.

Have you started collecting boxes and bags yet?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Yer cheeky get. 'Tis a bar of oils etc with scrubby bits in.

How can you have a bar of oils? Given that they're liquid.

I take it that it's not a bar kind of bar then?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

It's the harmonious one. Wasn't very impressed earlier but some of the profiles are better matches than before. You basically get notification of a message or communication request, and outline info on their profile, but to respond or see photos needs membership.

Don't be looking at photos of members, you'll get a reputation...

What are you looking for in the profiles then?