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

wantabetterlife

Munchin i have just finished reading your whole diary and wanted to post and say well done on all your progress. I really feel for you about the situation with your OH...its a difficult one and a call only you can make. I just hope that if things continue the way they are that you wont regret it as i am sure the desire to start a family must be huge. Goodluck with all your future plans and i have subscribed so i wont miss your updates

Munchin

Hi Wantabetterlife, thank you for reading and posting, it's good to have some company:). I going to pop over and read your diary this evening.

It's payday:j, thank goodness. I've set myself a challenge of only spending £45 per week but today I have to go buy my nephew a birthday present and I've set aside £20 for it.

My plan for this month is to stick with the budget but also to have some money left in my bank account at the end of the month. I literally had nothing in my current account. I know I had savings but I can't be coming to the end of the month with nothing knowing that some of my money was spent on things I "wanted rather than needed". I know it's nice to treat ourselves sometime but not when you have to hug your payslip when it finally lands on your desk:o

Today's plans - go to work and then buy a bottle of lidl cheapest sparkly wine and watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics - I know that I have set myself a goal of not buying papers etc but I need a schedule of all the games and I'll get that today.

Finally, I've put on an appointment with doctors for next Wed as my tummy isn't playing ball.

Have a great Friday everyone.

Munchin

List as at 11 August -.

Winter Checklist

Clothes
Wash all coats, scarves gloves -need to find them first:o
Repair or buy new socks - visit to Primark
Check Wellingtons - use Mum's
Polish all shoes and boots
Go back through clothing checking what you need and what you need to replace. Think - what will I wear - what do I need?
Put away all your summer clothes in either those vacuum bags or in a suitcase for the following year.

Car
Buy in screenwash now (either ready mixed or concentrate)
October make sure all fluid levels in cars are correct
Check tyre pressures and tread levels
Clean car inside and out making sure car has good amount of wax which protect it from harsh elements and salt and grit on the roads which will cause rust.
If possible make sure your car has rubber mats to catch wet and snow. Check Pound shops for cheap mats for £1.00 or so each.
If possible clean out your garage and put your car away each night. This will also help with insurance premiums as well and save you de-icing in the morning. - done 9 Aug :T

Food
Stock up on tinned products such as soup, rice pudding, baked beans and spaghetti. These items will keep as good store cupboard standbys.
Check and clean out your freezer, make a list of what you have and what you need to buy in. Keep at least two loaves of bread in the freezer. A clean frost free freezer will work better than a ice capped one!
If anything crops up on BOGOF and it will keep/freeze for winter buy it and store it.
Create a 'stash cupboard' or area where you can put all of your extra buys away safely.
Batch make homemade soups and freeze. Good idea to do this now while fresh veg is plentiful and it will save on condensation during the cooking/prep during the winter months.

House and garden
Snow Shovel - need new handle for ordinary shovel which will do.
Buy in your logs and coal now while cheap deals are on offer. - logs from OH if I help him chop them.
Clean your home - work in progress
Make door curtains to keep out draughts
Clean windows inside and out
Launder all your throws
Buy in cheap white candles in case of a power cut. Also keep a torch on standby and use in emergency.
If you have oil try to make sure that your tank is stocked up by the end of October - done in July - better last.
Buy in Flannelette sheets.
Decorating - do it before middle of October so that you can air the room and let the paint dry - kitchen needs painted
Cut back everything in the garden late October to give your garden a big boost the following Spring. Roses love this!
Wash curtains and cushion covers
Clean Your carpets on a good warm day so that they have a good chance of drying quickly
Drain any outside taps and protect and cover either with an old towel and then covered over with plastic or buy a proper outside tap cover.
If your interior doormats can be washed in the machine do them.
Re-silicone shower areas where the silicone has turned black or mouldy, take it out and redo it. Easy job but so often overlooked. Having the window open also allows the silicone to cure or go off better.
Check lightbulbs and outside security lighting if broken replace or repair. - got 4 free lightbulbs
Buy in batteries now.
Put food out for the birds they will so thank you for it. Buy in their food now while it is plentiful. - OH working on bird table for me but I have seeds already.
Get your paracetamol, throat lozengers and cough mixtures in now, when you are feeling ill the last thing you want to do is traipse down to Boots having to get it in.- check dates as I have some from last winter

Munchin

Hi MSE world,

I have the day to myself as OH is working so I'm just pottering about. Yesterday I went to Pilates in the morning and then spent the rest of the day stripping wallpaper. I was fed up by the end but quite pleased when it was all done. Today I've done my ironing, cleaned out my room, tidied the kitchen and made a big pasta bake which has done me for lunch today and should do me tomorrow and what is left I will freeze.

I absolutely loved the opening ceremony of the Olympics. I bought myself sparkling wine from Lidl (nothing but the best for me:D) and then OH and I sat in front of a fire watching the ceremony.

I also went shopping yesterday as it was my nephew's birthday. I budgeted £20 for him but spent £21.06 which wasn't sooo bad. I spent £1.50 in Boots but that was a necessity. I spent £17.20 in sainsburys on sat with OH so I have just over £25 to last me to Friday. This should cover 2 pilates classes, swimming with nephews & any odds and sods that crop up.

I've updated my winter list and will keep adding to it. There isn't a lot I need to buy but plenty of things I need to do.

I went for a run this morning in my local forest. It was my first run outside since the physio agreed I could run again. It was fantastic and I saw deer running between the trees. My knee is on the mend but I have to take it slow for now:D

No real plans for the rest of the day. I will watch the F1 at 5 and maybe some more of the Olympics.

Munchin

Hello again,

I've just totted up my totals and with the usual payments going out this week my loan has dipped below 2 grand and my total debt is just under £3000 - getting there slowly but surely.

5 more paydays (Jan pay comes early) until the end of the year and I need to find £2975. After normal payments go out I need another £1100. Mmmm not sure about that one but you never know:D.

Munchin

Hi all

I need to be hitting the shower but catching up on diaries first and the Olympics so nice leisurely start to the day

I need to list my spends this week but not doing bad so far. I was at a new pilates class last night which was a lot more gentle than the other class I'm going to.

Ok enough of this procrastinating and time to take on the day

Munchin

Evening all,

Sitting here with swimming on and willing the GB swimmers do their bit. By the end of this e-mail they could have another medal:). Yeah silver:D

Spends this week are grand but I bought a sarnie for lunch yesterday and it would have been cheaper to make my own but it was worth it.

Sun - NSD
Mon - £2.65 Mr T
Tue - £2.50 (lunch) + £5.00 Pilates
Wed - 50p scone - it was gorgeous

Tomorrow night I'm taking nephews swimming and it should cost me £6 but I need to buy nephew no 2 new armbands, so I'll budget a £10 in all.

I went and saw a lovely doctor today for my tummy trouble and she has made me an appointment with a dietitian and some pills to stop the tummy spasms and I'm to have a blood test next week. She also pointed out that the pill I'm on isn't recommended for ladies past a certain age so she has that changed. All in all I'm pretty good:)

My plans tonight involve watching the Olympics and reading people's diaries - perfect:)

Munchin

Aaaah budget blown again at swimming. I've had at least a month off from taking the n&ns swimming. Well it was £6ish to pay for 2 of them (1 gets free) and then I had to buy verucca socks for 1 and armbands for the other = £12!!!!!!!! and then £5 on icecream. It is such a rip off. Next week better be back to the usual £6.

I'm feeling really panicked and I don't know why. I think it's time I went to bed and hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

Munchin

Hi all

Yeah I've been good and made it to Pilates this morning. OH is just away to get parts for his jeep so I have the Olympics all to myself:) Hope he comes back soon as I'm starving.

I met an old friend for a run yesterday and we managed 3.5 miles. I've been injured for a long time so really pleased. I sat last night with a glass of wine in one hand and an icepack stuck to my hip - just in case it flares up.

Money front not doing so bad. I think (fingers & toes crossed) I might make it to the end of the month without having to live on fresh air.

OH is making mutterings along the lines of going out for dinner tonight but I'll not get my hopes up as usually we decide to stay in. We're both as bad as each other but I think I'd enjoy a meal out tonight.

I've got another list of things I would like to buy but can't as money needs to go to Mr T -

• new workout clothes (t-shirts are fine but bottoms have seen better days)
• a watch (OH wont buy me a watch as a present as it signals the end of the relationship!!!!!!! I'm not supersticious so buy me the watch and if we break up I have a watch:rotfl:)
• some nice winter clothes - I don't need boots but I would love a new pair of skinny jeans and some jumpers.

Got to run as OH is just home:)

Munchin

Morning all

Not feeling 100% today and it's not drink related. I was speaking to my brother yesterday and he's a bit poorly so guess what I think he's smit me:(.

OH is working on his jeep now and I'm bored. I can't do much round the house as it looks like a builders yard. I'm waiting for the shops to open at 1 to return some of his stuff to B&Q and pick up some salmon for tea in Sainsburys. It comes to something when B&Q is the highlight of my weekend.

Unsurprisingly we didn't venture out for dinner last night. OH was wiring in the electrics so I was busy shouting out live or not live until past 10. We have a decorator coming tomorrow so trying to get as much done as possible.

I'm only in work 3 days this week:D. I plan to spend Thurs clearing out the shed so that I can get my car into it over winter. I'm also hoping to get a dry day to poison a ton of weeds. Mon - Wed are just getting in my way:)