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

Munchin

Evening all:)

I managed to get through all my jobs today - so feeling very content. I also went to my Dad's grave and weeded it and cleaned the headstone. I don't know where all my energy has come from but I'm very grateful that it is here at the minute.

• [STRIKE]go to beauticians and pick up contact lenses;[/STRIKE] - done
  
• [STRIKE]clear out my wardrobe;[/STRIKE] - done
  
• [STRIKE]wash bathroom door;[/STRIKE] - done
  
• [STRIKE]tidy up garden for the winter;[/STRIKE] - done
  
• [STRIKE]hoover out my car.[/STRIKE] - done
• & I cleaned 3 windows - feeling smug:D.

I will be at OHs tomorrow and it only needs a wee clean up and then I can put my feet up.

Overall my mood is pretty good which is great but I'm wary that I will then head down hill. I'm of out in about 10 mins to pick up nephew from his class - it's cold out there:).

Spends front - I picked up a new top for nephews class and paid his entry tonight so that was £16:eek: and I spent £18 at the beauticians.

Budget (Dec)

Purse - £30.72
Credit card - £202.92/£250

Food - ..............£141.06/£150
Entertainment - .£87.73/£240
Clothing - .........£83.25/£80
Exercise - .........£42.00/£60
Gifts - ..............£250/£250
Beauty - ..........£102.28/£120

Total - .............£672.32/£900

Alcohol days... 6/16

Greying_Pilgrim

Long may your abundant energy last Munchin You're moving mountains :T

Greying

Munchin

Hi all

Cheers Greying - energy is now gone but I'm a morning person I expect another wee boost tomorrow.

So on the budget front :o hmm least said probably. I spent some money (£60:o) on underwear & new jeans. I also had to get my car washed underneath £10:eek: as I have my MOT on Monday. I then went to Sainsburys and bought tea for tonight as well as wine and prosecco for Xmas £32.65.

So budgets are now on life support:o:D

Budget (Dec)

Purse - £37.01
Credit card - £202.92/£250

Food - ..............£173.71/£150
Entertainment - .£87.73/£240
Clothing - .........£83.25/£80
Exercise - .........£42.00/£60
Gifts - ..............£250/£250
Beauty - ..........£102.28/£120

So as my budgets are a bit carp I'm going to lump the remainder budgets together -

Purse................£37.01
Bank.................£177.80
Credit card.........£202.92/£250

I have a few spendy days that I need to factor in -

Sat 14th - Pilates, Xmas dinner & hair........£40
Mon 16th - Exercise...............................£8
Wed 18th - Xmas dinner ........................£30
Thurs 19th - Work present & dinner..........£30

I would guesstimate that will leave me £100 on food, entertainment and unexpected bits until the end of the month.

I still have to buy my Mum a small Xmas gift & a stocking filler for OH. I get paid on the 19th but I don't want to touch this money otherwise it will be an incredibly long January.

Munchin

Morning world

I was a bit disappointed with myself for frittering money away this month when I have so many other things to pay but I've turned it round this morning and I've decided that I need to focus on savings. I have been reading the forums from quite early and I've joined a few 2014 challenges ( I thought I'd beat the New Year's eve crowd:)).

I joined the "Frugal Living challenge" and I've set my budget at £4000 for the year. I haven't gone mad but I completed CWs spreadsheet of wonder and I've estimated my yearly spends to be £17,400 but the £4000 is to cover - Groceries, toiletries/Cleaning & Anything else. The rest of the £17,400 I have very little say over as it is for rates, rent etc but I've lumped holidays & exercise into the £17,400 and will not be taking it out of the £4000. Yes there's method in my madness:).

I've also joined "Save £12,000 in 2014" - the £12,000 is really ambitious but I just decided "Why not?" - if it isn't a challenge then I could keep frittering.

I will join the "NSD" challenge in January if they will have me:D.

I need to adopt Martin's mantra "Do I need it? Can I afford it? Check prices elsewhere" and determine what is a "need" rather than a "want". I am also going to brush of the old spending diary. I have an app version which is great but for some reason having the spends written down seems to be more accountable or maybe that is just me:).

2014 will be a time to batten down the hatches but hopefully I will start to enjoy saving and see my little nest egg grow:D

So for the rest of 2013 and 2014

• make lunch at home (unless meeting friends or claiming it back).
• free kindle books or use library.
• Continue to save £2 coins.
• No more impulse buying. Plan it!! - "See it, sleep twice, then decide whether you need it."
• Record all spends on here and in my diary.
• Enter free competitions and swagbucks.

OK that will do me for this morning:D

Munchin

Evening everyone,

I've just had a nice cup of tea and I'm ready for bed - exciting I know:D.

I was a bit slow on the motivation today but it kicked in eventually so another semi productive today and I found 16p roadkill. Apart from the usual cleaning and tidying - I popped round to my cousins for a chat. I took my nephew to his class and then my sister sorted out my tan for my Xmas dinner tomorrow night.

I actually found £25.02 + a £2 coin. When I was shopping with the money I had for presents I was using a second purse. I totally forgot about it and there was still £25.02 in it. I found the £2 coin in an old coat. Can you tell I was back on the NSD bandwagon and was searching every nook and cranny for pennies - so really delighted with my haul and today was an NSD:D

Purse................£62.53
Bank.................£174.82
Credit card.........£202.92/£250

I have my pilates class, hairdressers and my Xmas dinner tomorrow and I really want to do all that for less than £40 - so that is the challenge:).

Munchin

Morning world,

I woke up to "Fairytale of New York" playing on the radio.. bliss:xmassmile. OK my plans for today -

• Coffee:coffee:
• Write my Xmas and birthday cards & post them.
  
• Run a 5k race with my sister
• Pilates
• Pack everything for tonight's Xmas dinner
• Hairdresser
• Relax:D

I'm aiming for an NSD tomorrow but as I don't know what my plans are for tomorrow.

Munchin

Evening everyone

I was a bit panicky today as I felt that I didn't have enough time to do everything and it was all getting on top of me:( however I much more relaxed now and I got everything done.

Munchin wrote: »

• Coffee:coffee:
• [STRIKE]Write my Xmas and birthday cards & post them[/STRIKE] - I'm waiting for an address for 1 friend and that will be them all done.
  
• [STRIKE]Run a 5k race with my sister[/STRIKE] - sister beat me and the weather was awful - I still loved it though:D
  
• [STRIKE]Pilates[/STRIKE] - done & excellent.
  
• [STRIKE]Pack everything for tonight's Xmas dinner[/STRIKE] - done
  
• [STRIKE]Hairdresser[/STRIKE] - done & £10
  
• Relax:D

I did have a few spends but they were planned and needed.

Spends

• Pilates - £4
• Birthday card - £1.70
• Mints - 62p
• Chemist - £8.98
  
• Hairdresser - £10

Total - £25.30/£40


I honestly don't expect to have to pay much tonight as I'm not drinking and I bought wine for the tables so that is my contribution done with:).


Purse................£37.23
Bank.................£174.82
Credit card.........£202.92/£250

Munchin

Morning all

I went to my work Xmas dinner last night and it was ok but I was glad when we came home. I wasn't drinking and my colleagues were in the Xmas "spirit" well before they got to the party. One of the girls was drunk and in a foul mood and I had to listen to her and try to be sympathetic. However it's done and dusted and I didn't spend any money as OH had his wallet:D.

I bought 2 papers today and a bar of chocolate for myself and my Mum. OH and I are heading to the shops so that he can buy me my birthday present:D

Purse................£33.43
Bank.................£174.82
Credit card.........£202.92/£250

I don't have any other plans and am looking forward to sitting in front of my fire with the Xmas tree lit up and with a cup of tea.

Munchin

Planning for 2014

I'm just reading a few frugal blogs at the minute and they are talking about how much they save and why.

I have a bills savings account as 2013 was the first time I was able to pay my rates bill in full:). I have about £600 in that account at the minute but I need to get it up to £1280 by April.

Savings (bills)
Rates - £850
Car Insurance - £300
Car tax - £130

I need to keep putting £200 into that account each month as the rates will probably be around £1000 & car expenses £1000 (Tax £150 + Insurance £300 + Tyres £200 + Service £150)

I'm hoping that I should hear about my promotion in the next few weeks but I still wont get actually promoted for a few more months.

I was looking at the papers and they were showing a holiday in the Maldives which is my dream destination. I said to OH that I would love to go there but it is so expensive £1700. OH said "How many months wages is that?" - it got me thinking... not that I'm going to spend that amount but actually how much am I paid per hour and maybe this will keep my spends in focus. So I get paid approximately £12 per hour which is £87 per day. So next time I waste £12 - I know that it is an hours pay I've just thrown away. That jumper that I thought was a bargain at £30 is actually nearly half a days work etc etc:)

Munchin

Morning diaryland:),

Yesterday was good and bad. OH and I went to the shops for me to show him the type of bracelet I would like for my birthday. We pootled around a few shops and then we found a few examples of the bracelets I like. Of course the most perfect divine one was £500:eek:. In another life it could have been an option but it was nice to dream:).

Later on that evening OH suggested we invite my sister & her husband round for tea when they get home. However he ruined it by then ranting on about giving her husband one chance (they had a disagreement before). I just said that there was no point in inviting them if it involves a lot of rules. OH proceeded to rant on about how much he hates his work - he just wanted to rant. I burst into tears as nowhere in his ranting plans did I feature in them at all. We did manage to clear the air & at times a rant and tears are required:D but I don't think we are any further on with where this relationship is going - it's going in circles at the minute:D.

OK I need to get dressed as I have my MOT appointment at 8.30 - you would think it was me who was getting tested:)