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

Munchin

Morning all

I'm on leave today . I'm using my last day of leave before the new leave year starts on Monday and I'm also going to a schools quiz this morning. I'm still dosed with cold but I need to show my face or they will think I just didn't want to go (they are right but I'm going:)).

I had another bad day at work yesterday - I was going to put down details here but then I thought even reading the problem would get my blood boiling so in the words of Elsa - "Let it go" or my favourite "This too shall pass".

Money - I have booked the flights for our family holiday in August - £1200 but that is for 6 of us. I checked the flights and they had gone up £15 for each us and I didn't want to risk them going up any further. I put them on a 0% card and have 24 months to pay it of but my plan is to pay it off by our holiday - so that gives me to the end of August.

I'm marshaling at a running event on Sat and on Sun I'm refereeing my nephews birthday party with my sister - it is all go and I'm so looking forward to it:D

Munchin

Hi all

Still dosed with the cold and it didn't help that I was marshalling at running event and it was absolutely freezing outside. I didn't think my hands have ever been as numb, after a hot chocolate they started to defrost.:coffee:

It is officially the end of Jan and I have coppers left . I love YNAB as it is really helping me have a little bit of money left over. It also helps me keep track of money I'm building up to pay my rates, insurance etc.

February budget

Everything - £244.26
Beauty - £35
Gifts - £80

February is going to be tight again but it is a short month so it is doable. I have £80 in the gift budget as it is my brothers big birthday and I think we are going out and I also have a nephew's birthday.

debtfreeoneday

I'm a big believer in 'this too shall pass' - so much so, I would love a tattoo of it one day! Random comment.

Hope work gets better and you feel better soon as well. Well done for having money left at the end of January!

Munchin

Hi Debtfree - it is a great phrase and one a lot of people should remember as it would make their lives a bit less stressful.

Yesterday I went to a kids birthday party and it was madness but it made me feel good as they were so excited. I was also glad that once it was over I was able to head home to peace and quiet.

I'm still dosed with the cold and it is very frustrating as I usually set myself a deadline - "I might feel bad now but it should pass by xx". It's annoying that I still have my cold and multiple coldsores but at least the pain has left the sores and they just look unsighlty. I'm getting my photo taken for a work publication on Wed.....a lot of makeup is going to be required.:)

I spent some money today as I got some groceries and then went to chemist to get Compeed coldsore stuff to see if that would hide them from the camera.

I've joined the Take lunch to work thread - I'm pretty good at it anyway though some days I just can't be bothered. As it is so cold at the moment I'm just craving soup and a sandwich so that shouldn't be too hard to make.

Tonight I'm volunteering again and I really just want to stay in and watch Getaways which is a holiday programme and tonight they are in Majorca. I will record it and watch it with lemsip later.

February budget

Everything - £[STRIKE]244.26[/STRIKE] - £190.95
Beauty - £35
Gifts - £80

Munchin

Morning all

The week has gone by so quickly and I'm glad to see the weekend. Work was fine this week but I'm still not over the cold and it is now in my sinuses so I'm looking forward to a nice weekend inside in the heat but hopefully the cold will tire itself out tomorrow.

As this weekend has involved going to work and coming home and not much else I have managed to not spend much money. I have manged to go up in everything spends as OH gave me a few coins:).

February budget

Everything - £[STRIKE]244.26[/STRIKE] - £192.43
Beauty - £35
Gifts - £80

Munchin

Morning all

I took a hatchet to my signature this morning as it was a bit cluttered and decided to do a virtual clear out and move my savings and plans into my diary.

So I split my savings into long term and short term because the short term savings give an inaccurate figure on my savings challenge. It is lovely to be in the position of saving . Yes I have my holiday to pay of but I don't see that as a debt and I also want to buy a new sofa but it can wait until I have a pot of money and closer to Xmas when the sale starts but that is why I have a pot for it too. I'm sorry it's a bit boring but I'm putting it here to keep me on track. I've signed up to save £5000 this year but I hope to be nearer £6000. I don't want to move to the savings part of the thread as I'm at home here and I still have [STRIKE]debts[/STRIKE] commitments to pay.

Savings 2015 - (Feb)

Long term

Credit Union - £140 (no plans for this but mainly security)
Zopa savings - £100 (started this in July 2014 and pay £50 monthly for 5 years)
£2 coins - £66 (started as a challenge and now it's an addiction:D)
£1 a day #69 - £31/£365 (another challenge - my treat money at end of year)
Xmas (2015) - £60 (joined this 4 years ago in work - best thing ever:))
Xmas groc - £50 (£20 a month & money is to cover groceries over long month of January after Xmas - friends idea)
Safety net - £x (it's aspiration at the moment which is why it is empty:o)

Total - £447.

Short term

Holidays - £9 (I love my holidays:D)
Rates/Car insurance/Car tax - £525 (I prefer to pay rates in 1 go as I get a discount - last year was the first year I could do this as I was debt free thanks to MSE)

Munchin

I spent money last night on wine and take away - ok not very MSE but it was Friday night. OH is in charge of dinner tonight -

February budget

Everything - [STRIKE]£244.26[/STRIKE] - £178.53
Beauty - £35
Gifts - £80

I have a birthday card and present to get today so I will have to dip into the gifts account. I've not spent much on exercise or going out as I didn't feel up to it with the cold which is 1 advantage

Munchin

Morning all

I finally got back to my circuits class last night after being ill and stomach is protesting this morning - at least I know it worked.

I have been reading the KoniMarie thread about tidying and I can't wait to get stuck into my carp. I haven't started the full tidy up but it is starting to creep in:). I have ornaments which were gifts and they are not really me but I've held on to them but now they are heading to ebay. I always wear black trousers to work and some of them are past their best. Yesterday when I was getting dressed I thought "does this give me joy" and the answer was nope so I pulled out some brown trousers (ok not exciting I know), a smart top and heels. I got so many compliments which was lovely. I think sticking with the principle "Does this give me joy?" could be the way forward.

I got nephew's birthday gift sorted and now it is just my brother who thankfully has decided he would rather have a lunch or nothing for his birthday. Don't get me wrong I love him but as it is a big birthday it could have got very expensive.

February budget

Everything - [STRIKE]£244.26[/STRIKE] - £160.03
Beauty - £35
Gifts - £[STRIKE]80[/STRIKE]/£68.11

I need to get my skates on as I have lunch to make and we're a bit short on the management side again.

Munchin

Hi all

This week has been so busy so I've not been near MSE.

Work has been busy but bearable and I've almost finished my assignments for a course I'm doing. I'm going to a birthday lunch this afternoon and I'm secretly hoping OH picks up the bill for that .

I had a bit of a blip last weekend on the eating front. I just had a real panic on Sunday and I couldn't rationalise the feeling. I think because I was so busy with so many demands on me this last month that I freaked (medical term I'm sure:)). I ate loads & had ED thoughts but I know through lots of CBT and reading that I'm trying to squish down my feelings. On the postive side I've not had an episode like that for a while and it was only thoughts not action.

My sister and baby came to visit on Wednesday and it has been wonderful seeing her and having lots of cuddles with my niece.

Money front - all ok I think. I should have enough to last me to 1st March if I'm careful. I heard on the news this week that my rates shouldn't be going up too much, but it is still expensive.

February budget

Everything - £244.26 - £65.02
Beauty - £0
Gifts - £80/£26.62

Munchin

Hi all

I know my posts are a bit hit and miss but I'm sure I'm like everyone else - things are just a bit busy. Today I had a 220 mile round trip to do for work and it fairly drains you. I got paid yesterday ...yeah:D and I've moved money into my savings. I'm pretty sure I have enough saved to pay the rates which are due in April. I need to save enough for car insurance and tax (May).

I'm on leave tomorrow as I have my final assignments to finish and I will be glad to see the back of them. I have minutes of a meeting to do and then finally I'm going to tidy my room and Kon Marie it ....is it sad to be excited about that . I know it will not be done in 1 day but I have all weekend and I have a stack of bin bags and I hope to make some pennies on ebay.

OH is working loads and loads of overtime as he will be made redundant next year and I totally understand but it would be nice to see him at the weekends. We're thinking about going to our favourite hotel in April and at least we will spend time together hiking and relaxing in the spa. I had hoped to go in March but more overtime came up. It is really frustrating that they are shutting his factory to move it abroad but the factory here is still profitable.....I know it will be the best thing to happen to OH as he hates the place but a lot of other people have big mortgages and debts on the strength of the wages they hoped to get. Ok rant over.

Hope you are all well:D

Savings 2015 - (March)

Long term

Credit Union - ............£190
Zopa savings - ...........£150
£2 coins - ................. £70
£1 a day (£365) #69 - £58
Xmas (2015) - ...........£120
Xmas groc - ..............£70
Safety net - ............. £x

Total - £658

Short term

Holidays - £179
Rates/Car insurance/Car tax - £805