Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat and my overdraft needs to go on a diet!

allybee101

Yikes, where have the last 19 days gone?!
It's been so busy I'm just catching up on everything, including budegting. Had a bit of a meltdown there and stopped recording for a while. I'm now back on track, and my end of month total was better than expected! (Helped by no Council Tax this month).

I have approx £140 due back to me for a returns - none of the tops I ordered were right, they've all gone back.
I also bought tickets for a show and should get the money back next weekend from all the people going so the budget will look a bit healthier.
I'm hoping that next month I can get the overdraft under £1000 at payday.

Will do a longer update later. Back to work now!

allybee101

The balance on my current account is looking quite healthy, although it might not be the same after Wednesday when the car goes for its service and MOT!
I am mentally expecting £400 and hoping it will come in under that. I looked at the last bill and it was £250, including replacing a tyre. I think it might be a bit more this time as there are a couple of things to be looked at - minor things but potentially costly. I.e the buzzer that lets you know if you've left the lights on. Not essential but v handy!
I figure if I overestimate it I'll be pleasantly surprised when it comes in under budget.
It'll go on my empty credit card and be paid off in several big chunks. I realised I have about £350 saved up, I will use half of this towards the bill and pay the remainder after pay day on the 20th.

The car tax is also due this month so it's an expensive month.

I also need two fancy dress outfits, but I think that I've managed to sort these out without spending any money so fingers crossed for minimal spending over the next 18 days!

allybee101

The car has passed its MOT and was far less than the anticipated total. Hurrah!

There is one small part to be replaced tomorrow whilst I wait (the parts is unusual so wasn't in stock).
In total it will be about £250.

When I've cleared the credit card I shall start saving money monthly towards the next service so that I can be in the position of paying it in one go.

allybee101

Payday today! My overdraft came down to £931 after wages had gone. It hasn't been under a grand in a long time so very pleased!

The NW CC is paid off and I have about £50 left on the Cap 1 after the payment goes through.

It finally feels like things are coming together. The £200 that's been going towards the CC can be targetted at reducing that overdraft even further. I'm also going to start putting some money away towards my car insurance in November so that when I pay it on my credit card I can immediately pay off a huge chunk.

Off to update my siggy now with the new stats!

allybee101

Yikes it's been a while since I've updated this.

This month has been a bit spendy with various birthdays to buy for, and a weekend away.
However by Monday I will have cleared the credit card (hurrah!) and I will be able to focus purely on overdraft bashing.
With a big money saving stick.

allybee101

Well the money saving is back on track. The budgetting is happening and I am making a clear plan for next month. Party times are planned for and will be carefully budgetted.
We've also got a singing gig that we're being paid for so there will be some cash from that.

I've also caved and ordered a new laptop. My current one is on it's last legs and I'm fairly sure it has a virus. Carp. It also has to be plugged in permanently as the battery is virtually dead. A replacement one is £113!.
I've avoided using it for online banking etc. I also haven't been able to sell anything on Ebay which I've been hoping to do.

I've got 3 years of security included with new laptop and I already have Office 2010 that I can transfer over (we have a Home User Programme where you can buy it through work for about £10).
The new laptop is costing £348 and I went through TopCashB8ck so I get £21 back, bringing the price down to £327.
I will pay this off in two installments on my CC so it will be gone by August. The TCB money will also be going towards the CC.
Hopefully the Making More Money schemes will help to pay it off even quicker!

allybee101

Yowzers.
Not sure where the last few months have gone but it's been busy and I've spent a bit more than I've saved. However there's been a lot of travelling round to weddings and events and it's been a lovely summer.

Sooooo...
Budget to be updated for 20th September pay day.

I read about 40 bags in 40 days - a decluttering trick. Alas my staying power is clearly not sufficient to manage 40 days (as evidenced by my inability to write on this diary daily!) so I decided on 5 bags, 5 days to start off.
Results - passed! I binned, recycled and passed on a decent amount of 'stuff' from the house and it definitely looks emptier. There was at least one bag a day.
I will be doing this again next week. I don't think I'll ever get to minimalist perfection but there are improvements to be made!

I also corralled all my paperwork into one mountain and will spend tonight/ tomorrow night sorting, filing and shredding. I really know how to live the high life. Having said that, last weekend involved plenty enough partying to last a month.

Next up will be tackling the wardrobe. So if it's not death by a thousand papercuts I might be smothered by the Mount Everest of fabrics.

Also need to

-reinstate the £10 a day allowance.
-do a price comparison on my contents insurance.
-find cheap Euros for a weekend trip to Holland (paid for in March).
- pay an extra £99 to the CC for the exhaust that decided to collapse last weekend.

allybee101

I implemented my revised budget last Thursday (pay day).

Amazing how much work this not spending money is. Managed one NSD so far. Alas this is unlikely to be repeated this week as I'm off on holiday tomorrow! I haven't had more than 2 days leave at a time since Christmas due to work demands so the thought of 5 days away is making me giddy. I'm just hoping I can stay within my planned budget on holiday.

I scored a refund on some jeans and a top I'd bought in Mr S which was a minin triumph as I thought I'd lost the receipt. I tried them on at home and the jeans were a bit too tight and the top didn't hang the way I hoped it would. So that's two items removed from the overflowing wardrobe. Really need to try and tackle that monster.

Unfortunately I've still not got the hang of the capsule wardrobe concept. My wardrobe looks more like a capsule that's exploded spilling its contents (or clothes) over the bedroom and bannister on the landing. Oops.
I have identified a few items for the charity shop box but it's still pretty darn small.

A couple of years ago I 'had my colours done'. Sounds a bit dodgy hair dye job, but it's where they help you discover what colours actually suit your skin complexion.
One of my mum's friends does it and she needed some willing [STRIKE]victims[/STRIKE] volunteers.
Despite my scepticism beforehand, I have to agree that it really does work.
I was a bit scared by the bright red lipstick that suddenly replaced the pale pink-brown I used to use (although now I sing in a show choir so red lipstick, false eyelashes, green eyeshadow and bronzer - yes all at the same time - makes that brick red lipstick look tame by comparison).
Have revamped wardrobe somewhat by adding new stuff in 'my colours', but failed to remove some of the old stuff. Need to implement one in one out style policy. Sigh