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

stepuptothepl8

Hi Munchin
Didn't want to read and run.. You've got a lot going on. But however your OH is feeling, you can't help him unless you're at full strength yourself.. It's like they say on planes, fit your own oxygen mask on first. Take care of you.

in_need_of_direction

Wise words above, you should take heed. Change is always stressful and can bring up bad habits but you've recognised that and are addressing it. Hang in there, you're doing good.

Munchin

Thanks Stepup & INOD,

It is very frustrating how quickly I can revert to stress behaviours which are not helpful but at least I'm coming out the other end . I hope you are both doing well.

Yesterday I had a few spends - £7.99 in total on Amazon - I can't find my fit bit charger and now that I have ordered a replacement it is guaranteed to turn up:o. Nephew no 1 rang as he was dying of starvation - well that's what it sounded like so I met him and got him lunch and a few groceries for myself & gave him money for chippy later on. I can't believe how much he has grown in the last few months and is now towering over me. I also ordered a birthday card for brother but I have 2 nieces cards to buy as well. Total spends - £25.48.

Yesterday I downloaded a free trial of Amazon Prime - which will be cancelled within 30 days and I got to watch the new series of Top gear. I felt like Friday & Saturday I just wanted to curl up in a ball and be left alone but today I'm starting to feel like me:). I have 4 days in work this week and then I'm on leave Fri & Mon and will be spending the long weekend celebrating my brother's birthday and hopefully relaxing.

Plans this week- nothing out of the ordinary.

Munchin

Morning all

Beautiful weekend and I'm back in better form:D

My account is looking a wee bit squeaky clean at the moment and I need pay day to roll on quickly. I paid out a bit of money yesterday - 3 x birthdays + £1200 on an annual travel card but I should get most of the travel card back from work.

I'm having work problems - absolutely nothing wrong with the job or the travel but we outsource our HR services and I've fallen into a black hole somewhere between the 2 Depts, so it means that I will not get my increase in salary this month or possibly next but I will get it. My excess fares can't be approved as there is no record that I've been sitting in my new job since Feb. Of course 2 sides are disagreeing to who made the mistake and I'm left in limbo while they argue it out. If it carries on I will raise an official complaint but at least I will get a nice lump sum come the end of May....hopefully.

My gifts & birthdays account is now empty but I have money set aside for flights to do with celebrations so I'm going to combine the 2 budgets on my YNAB. It is a chance to look at plans I made on Xmas Eve.

Munchin wrote: »

Plans for 2017

Spends - Birthdays & events

• General £200
• [STRIKE]Brother (40) - Hotel + Pressie - £250[/STRIKE] - paid (this weekend )
• [STRIKE]Sister visit - Hotel - £200[/STRIKE] - was a tiny bit less than this but paid and was a fabulous event.
• Sister baby - Hotel + flight - £350
• Nephew (16) - £50
• OH birthday - £250
• 2 x communions - £100
• 1 x confirmation - £20
• 1 x baptism - £20

Total - £1440

* all estimates

Savings Goals

Birthdays & family events - £1500 (v v v spendy year)
Holiday - £1000
Xmas 2017 - £600

I think that for the rest of the year I would need to set aside £900 for Birthdays & family events. I have £600 saved towards the £1000 holiday budget but OH is so upset about his brother that there will be no holiday until we know he is on the mend. The Xmas savings are ticking along automatically .

Plans today - meet with sisters & families and go for a nice walk and feed the ducks and then after that meet all the clan for brothers birthday. Plans tomorrow, run, mass & lunch with sisters & family before I take them back to the airport & then rest rest rest

Munchin

Morning all,

I've been awake 1/2 the night with sickness/sore throat etc:( - not a good start to my day. I think I need to spend money on lockets to get me through the day.

Pay day today so hopefully will stick to my budget in April and very little frittering. Still no sign in increase in salary or that I've moved to my new place.

I have 35 mins to get ready for the train so I better get a scoot on.

Plans

Work
Bed (exciting I know:o)

Munchin

Afternoon all,

I still have a cold which is sitting in my chest & ears but apart from that, all is good.

Work related - I got an email on Tues from HR confirming I have moved departments which should mean I get my new salary & arrears. Still no word on excess fares but at least that will gather up.

Health - I did a 5k run this morning and I loved it but my bad chest really didn't help. Eating is a bit pants & I so wish I didn't obsess so much but that is a hangover of my ED.

Money - I have plans again - I always have plans but don't always stick to them. Savings going well & I read a baby steps savings plan recently. 1) £1,000 emergency fund (done); 2) clear debts - (in progress); 3) 3 - 6 months expenses saved - £9,000 to find - can't remember 4 but the first 3 & a 1 month buffer is enough to keep me busy .

I'm on leave good Friday & Monday + tues and in total I only have 7 working days left in April

Munchin

Morning all,

I was away in Dublin this weekend with my voluntary org (all expenses paid). I also found it really informative and will help with my progress in the org.

I'v been tweaking the budgets this morning and thank goodness it is pay day tomorrow. I am ok with my budgets but I want to get my buffer (1 month salary) in place and that will take a while to get established.

I'm on leave this week but I have so many things in diary that I'm not sure if I can class it as a relaxing break but I'm fortunate enough to have a good job with lots of leave to use up . I'm taking my Mum and her friends to Dublin in the early hours of tomorrow morning. I will drop her off about 4am and then drive straight back up to Belfast - it will be all picture no sound tomorrow:o.

My plans today are to go to the gym later on, voluntary meeting this evening and I'm almost out of dog food so I will have to pop to pet shop.

Munchin

April Budget update


Groceries & Eating out - £51.46 (left)

T 25 April - £11.45 (Sainsbury)
W 26 April - £23 (dinner out)
Th 27 April - NSD
F 28 April - £5.45 (butter & coffee)
Sa 29 April - £
Su 30 April - £

Total - £16.90

Munchin

Hi all

A bit missing in action this last month or 2 but life just gets in the way . I've been busy with work & family and hopefully it's all back on an even keel again.

Sister in England had a baby so making plans to go visit her & I'm away next weekend with my cousins so I guess things haven't quite settled yet.

Work ...what can I say...still bored to tears but hey ho not much I can do without a government so I've put myself down for loads of courses to fill my time. I had the opportunity of going to lunch and having a tour of Parliament Buildings (Stormont) last week which was really interesting (yes I'm a nerd ).

Money front - ok - still frittering:o. I know that because I have the money I can spend it as I can always 'borrow' from another pot. I have to stop doing that and try to live one month in advance.

June Spends

Thurs 1st - £
Fri 2nd - £
Sat 3rd - £
Sun 4th - £
Mon 5th - £
Tues 6th - £
Wed 7th - £

Munchin

Morning all,

I've signed up for a 4 week bootcamp starting tomorrow morning at 6am!!!. It will be 2 days per week for an hour at a time and works out cheaper than doing my personal training sessions with the instructor. The only problem is that I have to get train to work immediately after session and will have to make sure I'm super organised to get showered and changed at work. I still remember the time I forgot my bra when I thought I had everything packed and had to wear smelly sports bra all day:o.

Weekend has been quite, OH was working Saturday and I picked up Mum from airport (plane was delayed by an hour) and then tidied up house and pootered about in the garden.

I'm delighted today is a bank holiday but the rain has started so it kind of limits the nice sunny plans I had. I have a little mountain of ironing to sort, clothes & lunch to pack for tomorrow and will visit Mum to catch up on any news.

Money front - committing to 15 NSDs in June but the weekend ahead will cost me at least £60 so that will hit the NSDs.

ED front - wobble - I've asked to be referred back to counsellor but there is a waiting list. Just finding it harder than I thought with work changes. No work and they have now given me a militant Union staff member and a poor guy who is an alcoholic....it isn't what was in the job spec and with me trying to learn a new job in a new place, the extra changes havn't helped. I know they are dumping their problem children on the new person which isn't fair. Sorry I sound like a petulant child .

Plans today

• sort out budget & pay bills;
• tackle ironing mountain;
• prepare for tomorrow;
• catch up political news (work related);
• visit Mum.