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

Munchin

Morning all

MSE badger has left me a badge:D. Oh I'm quite chuffed and I don't want to lose it so have to stay debt free:).

I'm off to the doc at 9.30 this morning. I'm not quite sure what to tell the doctor as of course the pain and bloating has disappeared but it's been an on off thing for a few years now so it's best I get checked.

I got paid today:D. I am going to visit the bank and lift £50 for my Xmas savings but I'm determined to start my spends from 1st Nov. I don't need anything for lunch etc for the rest of the week as have plenty in the cupboards.

Money situation

Purse - £6.59
Credit card - £43.07

I know that I'm not going to England until Friday but I really need to start printing of boarding cards and packing. I'm the chief organiser for the family:). I feel sorry for those that were hit by that storm and grateful that it stayed away from N Ireland.

Greying_Pilgrim

Munchin wrote: »

I'm off to the doc at 9.30 this morning. I'm not quite sure what to tell the doctor as of course the pain and bloating has disappeared but it's been an on off thing for a few years now so it's best I get checked.

Well done and yes, checked out is good.

Greying

Munchin

Evening everyone:D

So I went to the doctor and he was fine - he is referring me to a gastroentrologist (probably spelt wrong) and i have to keep a food diary. As always with most things with the health service there is a bit of a waiting list but I don't mind:). The last doctor I saw sent me to a dietician and she was a fat lot of use.

Money front - good news . My phone contract is coming to an end so I e-mailed them and suggested I was looking at other options (I was;)). I've got a new contract & new phone which I didn't need but will keep as a spare. So my contract was £30 - £35 down to £8 from next month:T

Money situation

Purse - £6.59
Credit card - £43.07

I think in the New Year it will time to do a new SOA but I will wait and see how much my first new phone bill is.

Budget (Nov)

Food..............£xx/£150
Diesel.............£xx/£200
Odds..............£xx/£100
Clothing.........£xx/£50
Alcohol days... x/21
SFD................x/21
TLTW.............x/20

Munchin

Hi all

I popped over to the savings board as I really need to build up a rainy day nest egg - just in case. I was just thinking about when I had no money (university days & 1st job) and I remember wishing my lottery numbers would come up as I had literally no money to pay bills and I was panicking. As I'm now debt free it's time I got serious about saving.

I've stolen the tips from another thread. I do most of these already but it's a good reminder to have on here.

1. Save before you spend - plan it.
2. Save what's left when you've finished spending.
3. Save in an account that isn't your main transactional current account.
4. Save all £2 coins in a money box.
5. Cherish the gift of Topcashback.
6. Treat loyalty cards like savings accounts for specific reasons.
7. Never buy on impulse. See it, sleep twice, then decide whether you need it.
8. Love cashback credit cards for all spending, but don't allow non-essential spending.
9. Always compare prices online with at least three retailers.
10. Make lunches at home, don't buy out.
11. Socialise away from pubs and coffee shops!
12. Track spending daily with an aggressive "cut out waste" attitude.

One thing I've started doing is that if I want something I look it up on Amazon and add it to my wishlist. I go back to it a few days later and I usually (not always) think - Why? and delete from the list.

I sat up late last night reading so I really need to get on the go and have an extra large coffee:D

Munchin

Hi all

Quick update on money -

Money situation

Purse - 44p & a few moths:D
Credit card - £43.07

I spent £4 on nephew's karate class tonight and made the mistake of taking him to the shop afterwards (£2.15).

It is traditional for my family and my aunt's family all to congregate at my Uncles tomorrow night for apple tart and tea. I'm a bit old to bob for apples so I'll let the next generation take care of that:).

I hope the trick or treaters leave me a few sweets so I can have them with a cup of tea:) when they have all gone home.

Oh I made the most horrible dinner ever this evening - satay chicken - don't ask me where I went wrong but even the smell of the kitchen is turning my stomach. As dinner was so rank I didn't feel satisfied and have nibbled a bit too much. Will do better tmw.

Munchin

Morning world:D

Back again. I was away to England to visit my sister and I brought my Mum, sisters, nephews with me - bit mad:). I hired a car which was grand but a bit nerve racking and I managed to return it in 1 piece:).

We spent Sat at Alton towers. I'm not one for scary rides but I went on Oblivion with my oldest nephew and once my legs were moving in the same direction:D I stuck to the younger nephews sort of rides.

I had a set amount for spending in England and hoped to come under it but I was £8 over which wasn't so bad. My family & I had a fantastic time which is all that mattered and I'm not broke which helps. I laughed at my Mum as my sister's partner was saying how amazing she was as we had been in Alton Towers for hours and she was still walking. Mum said "Oh it's getting harder as I find it difficult getting in and out of the roller coasters" - how many 70 year olds would say that:rotfl:.

Ok the budgets are looking a bit like this (but might need to tweak if I remember anything else from the weekend)-

Budget (Nov)

Food..............£xx/£150
Diesel.............£86.94/£200
Odds..............£19.12/£100
Clothing.........£xx/£50
Alcohol days... 1/21
SFD................2/21

I'm on leave today but I have a physio appointment at 8.30am and I need to buy car de-icer - I got back from England last night and my car was frozen solid and I had an empty can of de-icer in the boot:o Have a great day everyone.

Greying_Pilgrim

Looking good Munchin and the memories will be priceless!

Greying

Munchin

Evening everyone

Thanks Greying - popping over to your thread now to see if I can have some of that ginger cake:D.

I have had a very busy day and am now sitting here in front of a roaring fire. I'm kind of hoping dinner will jump from the fridge via the cooker onto my plate without me having to move:D.

I made it to physio - traffic was a total nightmare and I was a wee bit late:o.

I went to Mr T to stock up on supplies as the cupboard was empty. Weird thing - I was shopping with my Mum and we were both sticking to our shopping lists. I put our stuff through the till and there was 2 loaves of bread (only lifted 1), a large tray of eggs (I can't eat eggs & Mum would only buy a small section), a packet of sweets and a multi pack of chocs. Mum is on a health kick & I joked with her about sneaking the stuff into our trolley. As we were walking to the exit Mum asked me why I was buying a large tray of eggs. Basically some random person had put stuff in our trolley but we thought it was each other. Mum was all for just forgetting about it but I took it to customer services and got our money back (wish I'd kept the chocolate:D).

I also spent today cleaning the house from top to bottom. I think I will have to take a days leave (or 2) to give the house a proper clean before Xmas. Is it just me or have we fallen straight into Xmas??? I can't believe how quickly the ads have appeared.

So on the spending front -

Budget (Nov)

Food..............£40/£150
Diesel.............£86.94/£200
Odds..............£19.12/£100
Clothing.........£xx/£50
Alcohol days... 2/21
SFD................2/21

Munchin

Hi all

Sitting here in front of fire watching Poirot:).

I had a Xmas idea today - OH gets really stressed out at Xmas not knowing what to get me and I never know what to get him but I don't stress about it. Anyhow I had a thought today that as neither of us really need anything we should set ourselves a budget of no more than £50 each. I would be happy with perfume and some chocs. I suggested it to him tonight and even though he thinks I'm mad planning so far ahead he thought it was a good idea.

Budget (Nov)

Food..............£40/£150
Diesel.............£131.94/£200
Odds..............£23.11/£100
Clothing.........£15/£50
Alcohol days... 4/21
SFD................2/21

I spent some money today:o - £15 on underwear and £4.99 on a music download. I thought they were both good deals and I thought about them for a while before I ordered them. I can't buy cheap bras for myself as they don't have the support so quite happy with £15 and I'm really getting back into running and I need some new music as my current music is starting to annoy me - well that is my excuse:D.

I'm out and about all day tomorrow (I love it) and lunch is being provided for me. As I'm going to my first meeting at a later time I'm going to go for a run first thing. I've seen the "run 10 miles by Xmas" program in Women's running (5 issues for £5 deal) and I'm going to try and stick to it up to Xmas.

Ok time to toodle on:D

Munchin

Evening world,

I made it out for a run today:A and I've already booked in a run with my sister for Sat morning.

I was sooo busy today but I enjoyed it. However I now have tons of work to do tomorrow.

I spent £45 on diesel yesterday which I forgot to add to my spends but it is a necessary spend. I also spent £30.50 to book my MOT test in Dec. OH will have a look over the car and hopefully it will pass.

Budget (Nov)

Food..............£40/£150
Diesel.............£176.94/£200
Odds..............£23.11/£100
Clothing.........£15/£50
Alcohol days... 5/21
SFD................3/21
Purse........... £96.66