Muchin's diary of recover; becoming debt free and being happy

Munchin

Thanks greying - delighted to hear your baby news & I'm sure it won't be long until you get a good nights sleep once baby greying lets you .

I've been awake from 4.30am:eek:. Had a big event in work yesterday which went well but I have to prepare for 2 more events on thurs & Friday. Once this week is over then it's back to normality.

im still heartily sick of Brexit - i wonder if you could tune your TV/radio/social media/friends/colleagues so that if Brexit enters any of these mediums they automatically switch over:).

Spending front - Payday:D. July spends are like this - I'm going to buy Chocs for staff to say thanks for all their help this last while and I have high tea with my yoga class on Saturday. I've also planned a night out with my friends but that should be all the unusual spends.

Back to weekly spending tracking on here.

Munchin

Morning all

Another big event today and I was in work to 7.30 last night. It looks like it's going to rain so we are going for a wet weather programme. The band contacted me last night to say that some members had dropped out & they might not be able to split into 2 sections........I was so tired I didn't really panic & im hoping it will work out today....

Money front - I'm over the £1000 mark with emergency savings & I'm still debt free:j.

Spends yesterday - £11.45 in mr T on chocolates for work and 3 yoghurts.

Tonight I have to go buy food for a staff BBQ - tomorrow night I will relax or collapse but for now it's lots of :coffee:.

I need to get up - beautify & look calm on outside while inside is doing a jelly dance:)

Munchin

Morning all

I survived the busiest work week of the year . The final event and the staff BBQ went well and we have a roll up meeting on Wed so I'm sure that some things were not perfect and I will worry about it then.

Yesterday was great, I had physio in morning and then got dolled up and had afternoon tea with the yoga class I go to. I then went to a friends house last night for a family do and it was all great relaxed fun. Physio said no exercise yet... bored bored bored.

I won £25 on the Lotto last night as well . I know it's generally a waste of money but that and a glass of wine or 2 at the weekend are my vices.

Today's plans are pretty limited as TV & sofa feature high up the agenda but I do want to look for a holiday in Sept. I'm a bit like my Mum - I want something worth £100 for £5 . I also want to go see Absolutely Fabulous but OH hates the cinema...will see if I can twist his arm.

Weekly spends

Sun - ?

Munchin

Evening all,

I seem to be managing weekly updates at the moment but need to get into the habit of recording spends.

Today was fun as my sisters and I + their assorted kids headed to the Gruffalo trail. Ok it was pouring with rain but that didn't dampen their spirits and it was free . On Saturday we went to Costa for coffee and then that evening went out with our partners/hubbies, kids and Mum for a really lovely meal. Ok it was a bit spendy but it was worth it.

However it is time to get those purse strings and pull them so tight. I've noticed a strong exhaust smell in my car when driving and my sister noticed it on Saturday. OH is checking it out today while I scoot about in his jeep but my car is 10 years old with 155,000 on the clock so I've been saying I have to save up for a new car but have only got as far as £1300 which is also my Emergency fund. Hopefully OH will fix it today but I know that its starting to get old and tired especially as I can now only see part of the dials............but thankfully nothing critical. I'm going to put £350 into a car fund on top of my other savings so about 40% of my wages will be going into savings ..gulp!!. I'm aiming for £10000 but my old car according to Used Cars NI is worth £2000 but as I bumped the side I can knock £500 of that price. Aiming to save £10,000 but don't plan on spending all that on a car.

I'm setting myself a budget for food and living to £40 a week. I have a bad habit of going into shop for 1 or 2 things and spending £20 so that has to stop.

• Save £10,000 in 2 years.
• £40 per week budget
• Stick to list when shopping.
• No frittering
• 30 day calm period - if I want something wait 30 days

Ok that is enough to be getting on with today I think. I want a new to me car valued at £20,000 for £1000:o.

I'm hitting Asda today to get lasagne ingredients which will last me the next 2 days while on holiday. I've checked the cupboards and I only need mince, onion & mushrooms + salad.

I better get ready for work and I'm probably the only person at work today but at least we have 2 public holidays on Tues & Wed.

Money front - £40 a week challenge.

Mon - £
Tues -
Total = £xx/£40

Munchin

I'm trying to update my spends with 2 dogs via for my attention and only 1 is mine:)

Money - £40 a week challenge.

Mon - £9.26 Asda + £2.50 Airport parking
Tues -
Wed -
Thurs -
Fri -
Sat -
Sun -
Total = £11.76/£[STRIKE]40[/STRIKE]

Munchin

Morning all

I am embracing my thread again big style and I've been reading other saving threads and blogs.

I spent time reading Blond on a Budget which is now www.caitflanders.com and she is the girl who did a 2 year shopping ban. I dug around my old posts and found my post about what I can't buy and my 100 day ban which lasted about a week:o. I'm going to go for broke and do a spending fast for a year...woooo.

Rules

• 30 day cooling off period for big purchase or out of the ordinary.
• No fun beauty items ie nail varnish, new smellies (but I can buy when I run out).
• No accessories.
• No clothes (except underwear/socks/replacement).
• No shoes (except 1 pair of work shoes).
• No books, magazines or papers (free kindle books & library will do).
• & other items that I know are not essentials (coffee out, treats etc).

I'm trying to stick to this as my car is on it's last legs and I want a good healthy emergency fund . If I don't fritter I could have £6000 for my car and £2000 in my emergency fund.

Munchin

Hi

Today was pretty productive around the house. I weeded the garden, cut the hedge & then cleaned the kitchen and hoovered throughout. I now have lasagne in the oven & a glass of wine in my hand - public hols are good:).

Money - £40 a week challenge.

Mon - £9.26 Asda + £2.50 Airport parking
Tues - NSD
Wed -
Thurs -
Fri -
Sat -
Sun -
Total = £11.76/£[STRIKE]40[/STRIKE]

Munchin

Hi all

Spent money today, not much but it could have been avoided if I also avoided my Mum

I owed £5 to a nephew which Mum had paid and that was before my purse strings were tightened. My sister texted to say that there was a great sale on in M&S but I wasn't tempted however she also sent a text to my Mum who rang me about going over. Anyway over we went and the purse stayed shut in M&S - go me, however nephew wanted a top which Mum was buying. I gave Mum the £5 I owed + 50p for nephews top.

We then went to Lidl and all I needed was chips & milk and after nephew put in his sweets (bad Aunty) and drink it came to £5.45 so total spends today are £10.95. I think "the not venturing out at all" is the only way to go with no spending.

I will need to get diesel tomorrow but not counting this in spending challenge because it is a necessity.

Money - £40 a week challenge.

Mon - £9.26 Asda + £2.50 Airport parking
Tues - NSD
Wed - £10.95 (£5 owed + 50p nephew + £5.45 Lidl
Thurs -
Fri -
Sat -
Sun -
Total = £21.71/£40

in_need_of_direction

I see buying diesel to be on a par with paying taxes. It's just a necessary evil dictated by my job.

Munchin

Hi INOD - Evil it is but as you say it's necessary. I have great plans to cycle to work, which would probably take me an hour but I could be called to a meeting 50 miles away and by the time I would get there on the bike it would be dark .

Yesterday wasn't as productive as Tuesday but we ate leftovers so saved a few pennies. Today is a boringly quiet day in work as 3/4 of the country are still on holiday so at least I will get things tidied up without interruption. I have no need to go to the shop apart from buying diesel and other than that I have my packed lunch ready and I'm good to go.

If I get a chance I'm going to print 100 square grid (tip borrowed from another thread) and borrow a pink highlighter in work so that I can break my savings down into saving squares. OH has identified car problem yet but for once he agrees there is a problem. It will be fixed an hopefully by the time the car keels over I will have savings to get a pre loved one.

Have a good day all:)