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

Munchin

Morning all

I see winter has landed on us with a vengeance and I'm dosed with the cold.

I have 3.5 days left in my old job and am looking forward to starting the new job:). I was a wee bit 'off' there recently but I think it was because of the cold building on me and coming back from Amsterdam but feel much better and more positive today.

My credit card is at £2700:o but that is as high as I plan to let it get and am going to chip away at it so I'm debt free by July 2016. My Rome holiday next year is fully paid and part was card and part was savings.

I have to be frugal this month because I was very short of money in Oct and Xmas is peeping it's wee head round the corner. I've gone through my winter clothes and I have enough day clothes to do me but I wish I could do a capsule wardrobe but just cant quite manage it.

Munchin

Morning all

I joined the NST thread this morning so that I can try and stop this spending thing I'm so fond of . I've set out the challenge below and we'll see how I do-

• The challenge runs from 1st to 30th November 2015.
• You will set your budgets for everything by planning ahead. You will then reduce your food budget by £10. Eat simply. Get your veggies in you. - Budget set at £200 for everything.
  
• You will pay to your debt or savings first - always do this
  
• At least 15 NSDs
  
• You will not go to any chain coffee shops or use vending machines or corner shops.
  
• Take your lunch to work every single day.
• You will remove 80 items from your house – recycle them, give them to charity…- don't know if I have 80 things left after kondoing the place.
  
• You will use up your toiletries and household cleaners before buying any more.
• You will hone and tone your food cupboards by meal planning and batch cooking.
  
• You will go on 2 outings.
  
• You will tread lightly on our planet – get out there and enjoy fresh air every day: breathe it in slowly and deeply and energise your body.
• You will donate £5 or time to a charity you support - my brother's shop is raising money for a defibrilator and that is where my money will go.
  
• You will come on here every day and post three things you are grateful for.
• You will reach out to help other people.
• The hardcore among you will aim to make £80.
• You will also START 3 new habits this month, ones that are simple and will make you feel better (eg: drink a glass of water on waking)

I took out £200 from my bank yesterday and am aiming to budget £50 a week from now until the end of the month. This first £50 has to go from today to next Friday 6th - oops.

in_need_of_direction

That's a really inspirational list. Shades of ninja saving Kat. Can't wait to see how you progress. One question though, if you see a vfm Christmas present, can you fund it from a present pot?

Munchin

HI INOD,


I would hope I could take it out of my present pot - I could pop over and ask on the challenge thread but am a bit scared . I don't have a lot of pressies to buy for people as we're all trying to save money.


I think its good that they are carrying on NSK challenge & hopefully I will stay focused ...this time

Munchin

Morning all

A week has almost skipped past since I was last on here. I've been very busy in my new job which has been brilliant. I started on Tues and I've been on the go ever since, the grounds are gorgeous and there is a wonderful community feel about the place and the work seems to be ok but it will take a wee while to get on top of it.

On the MSE front I have a work pass which you load credit on for any food you wish to purchase from canteen, yes I know I'm bringing my lunch to work but it is a novelty. Yesterday I attended a money management course put on by a charity and it was such an eye opener.

First of all she recommended this website:), she said that not everyone manages to save 3 - 6 month salary but we should aim to have £1500 in savings for emergencies. She suggested having 2 bank accounts and one should be for direct debits and the other would be your living expense. The biggest thing I took out of it was the changes to pensions next year. Firstly from next year if you die your pension doesn't go to your partner and as a civil servant because we were opted out of paying the full rate contribution we have to opt back in again so yet another increase to NI contributions (between £21 - £46) a month:). I was also given a spending diary, I thought I was pretty much on top of budgeting but it's great to know that yes I'm doing a lot but I could do better. I was really surprised when my colleagues said they didn't have time to check for cheapest rates of car insurance etc ...I mean it only takes 10 mins for the initial search but they still thought it was too much of a pain. Seriously I wanted to shake them.

Ok the pup is letting me know in a not so subtle way that it is time to get up and take on the world

Munchin

Hi all

I see I've got new badges under my signature - .

Work is still going brilliantly and I'm so happy to have made the move. It also means that I don't have a chance to pop to the shop so I'm saving the pennies.

Eating front - going ok. I was very stressed/nervous before I started the job and my eating was out the window but it's all calmed down now. I have 1 more therapist appointment tomorrow and that is me done. I can't recommend therapy enough because sometimes you know what you should do but it takes a therapist to help you implement it and see the difficult things you are avoiding.

Money - doing fine. Would love to put more into savings but realistically I have to live.

My diary is getting quite busy in Nov/Dec - I have my first dinner on 26th Nov and 2 AGMs & my MOT w/c 30 Nov. I'm hoping that people don't remember what I wore last year:).

Munchin

Afternoon

I finally managed to take a morning in my new office and try to make it my own as I'm basically working out of a box. It's still not ideal as the previous incumbent is still here with loads of large stands & charts balancing in the corner but its starting to feel more like my office now.

I'm reading 2 books at the moment and they are both feel good books about taking on challenges. The first one is about money and how to be more frugal. It's a 30 day challenge so you read/do a challenge and don't move on until the next day. Today's challenge was to just pick my main money goal. I have lots of goals - clear debt, save for emergency/holiday/help my sister/car. If I narrow it down to my one main goal that would make life easier and which is causing me stress then I want to clear my debt. I know I can pay it off monthly and I have a good salary but it is hanging over me, so the plan is to concentrate on that first.

The second book is about doing regular 30 day challenges. The challenges can be anything I want such as giving up sugar, alcohol, or to do more such as read each day etc. I'm not sure what will be my first challenge but I plan on starting it on the 1st Dec.

Thank crunchie it is Friday as it has been a busy week. I have lots on my desk to sort and a 'To Do' list which I am steadily working my way through.

Munchin

Afternoon ,

Yeah pay day has arrived and I've shifted money to savings and to my credit card debt - my new debt free date is now May 2016. It's only 6 months away but I wish it was gone now.

I have been so busy this week that my mojo has deserted me today. I was out 4 nights this week and the earliest to bed was 11pm, which I know isn't late for most people but if you are like me and you get up at 5 or 6 each morning it soon adds up.

Money front - I'm doing fine. I got my Xmas savings from the work club and hopefully if I pass my MOT on Monday then I can use that money for pressies and for all the Xmas bits and bobs. I spent £120 on 2 new tyres last week and am secretly hoping that will get me through the MOT. OH is checking my car out now - so fingers and toes crossed it is all fine. My car is 8 years old so its doing fine and hasn't needed much work so far.

I have lots of plans for tomorrow. I'm stepping down as secretary for my fitness club so I have lots of papers and bits and bobs to sort out to pass on to the new victim:). My sister is coming home on 10th Dec so I need to clear out the spare room again - it's amazing how quickly it turns into a dumping ground. I've also signed up for a 5k race in the morning and I have a Xmas fair in the afternoon. The week ahead isn't as manic as last week as I'm only out on Wed afternoon at an AGM and then I have another AGM Friday night. I'm meeting up with my friends on Sat night to celebrate birthdays and put the world to rights.

I haven't started my Xmas shopping but the plan is as follows -

• OH - not a clue
• Mum - gave £40 & Asda shopping card
• Sister - £20 + chocs
  
• Sister - £20 + chocs + £20 b'day present
• Brothers 1, 2 + 3 - chocs & wine x3
  
• Uncle - jumper
• Aunt - flowers.
• Work - chocolates x 5
  
• Niece - ??
• Xmas decorations.

Munchin

Back again

I'm going to keep a spending diary on here which starts tomorrow for 1 month. I'm hoping it will reduce frittering . I have an awful notion for a iphone6s which when you owe £2200 on a credit card is a ridiculous notion.

Sun 29th Nov - £13 Christmas fair
Mon 30th - £84.17 - Mr T groceries + wine & chocs for xmas.
Tues 01st Dec - NSD (1)
Wed 02nd -NSD (2)
Thurs 03rd -NSD (3)
Fri 04th - £10.40 poundland.
Sat 05th - £25 beauticians
Total - £132.57

Sun 06th - £7 charity & £16 groceries
Mon 07th - NSD (4)
Tues 08th - NSD (5)
Wed 09th -£11 (Chemist & some groceries)
Thurs 10th -£43.50 (gift & odds)
Fri 11th - £37.50 (dinner out)
Sat 12th - £NSD (6)
Total £115

Sun 13th - £70.76 (groceries & gift)
Mon 14th - £NSD (7)
Tues 15th - £40 (Xmas dinner & pet grooming)
Wed 16th -NSD (8) + £110 gift work
Thurs 17th -£54 Xmas dinner + birthday gift
Fri 18th - +£100 cashback for changing bank accounts
Sat 19th - £244.84 (Xmas shopping - gifts and food)
Total - £409.60 :eek: + £210 income

Sun 20th - NSD (9)
Mon 21th - NSD (10)
Tues 22nd - NSD (11)
Wed 23rd -£44.06 (lunch & odd)
Thurs 24th -NSD (12)
Fri 25th - NSD (13)
Sat 26th - £6.49 (Amazon)

Sun 27th - NSD (14)
Mon 28th - £53 groceries
Tues 29th - NSD (15)
Wed 30th -NSD (16)
Thurs 31th -£29.67 Tesco
Fri 01 Jan - NSD (1)
Sat 02 Jan - £12.51 cinema

Total - £592.90

Munchin

Evening world,

It is ridiculously cold this evening and I have a lovely fire going. It does look like it will snow so I'm not planning on venturing too far now.

I ran a 5k race this morning and the only downside was that we were soaked before we started. The rain was lashing and the winds were really against us but it was great to be out with a group of people early in the morning.

I spent this afternoon clearing out lots of papers and stuff I've accumulated from work. I also sorted out athletics clothes and junk which I'm passing on to other people. I have to admit I was surprised how shattered I was by the end of my clearing out but at least I will sleep well.