Keeping up appearances.......

HappyNow

Update time!

Yesterday I was late for a course at work and didn't have time for breakfast so needed to buy something from their vending machine (I know, I know... it won't happen again, I thought there'd be biscuits there and there weren't!). I caught myself deliberating over chocolate bars, not because I preferred the taste of certain ones, but because some were 55p and the others were 60p! At that point I realised I might be taking this too far (still chose a 55p one though!)! I will declare it on my grocery budget, but lunch was provided on the course so I'm sure that more than made up for it.

Anyway, whilst I was saving myself 5p, the postman was busily delivering Mr Happy a £60 speeding ticket! Grr, we're both so annoyed. He was caught on camera exceeding the limit at temporary motorway speed restrictions, doing 58 mph. He says he didn't even see any restriction sign. It's the first time either of us have ever had one so I suppose we shouldn't complain but WHAT A WASTE!

HappyNow

PloddingOn wrote: »

Wishing you the best on your debt free journey Happy!

*hits subscribe*

Hi PloddingOn, thanks for reading and subscribing.

I've just read your signature and you have done REALLY well with your debt-busting since 2007. Do feel free to share your tips on here, all advice gratefully received !! But if you've hit a bit of a dry spot and need encouragement yourself I would 100% recommend starting a diary - that's what has helped me the most. For me, my diary has turned my over-facing, seemingly-impossible DFW journey into a supported, cushioned, even bizarely enjoyable way of life. Blah, I've just read that back to myself and it sounds really corny and sickly, but it's true so I'm going to leave it! x

Hopelessly_Hopeful

HappyNow wrote: »

Update time!

Yesterday I was late for a course at work and didn't have time for breakfast so needed to buy something from their vending machine (I know, I know... it won't happen again, I thought there'd be biscuits there and there weren't!). I caught myself deliberating over chocolate bars, not because I preferred the taste of certain ones, but because some were 55p and the others were 60p! At that point I realised I might be taking this too far (still chose a 55p one though!)! I will declare it on my grocery budget, but lunch was provided on the course so I'm sure that more than made up for it.

Anyway, whilst I was saving myself 5p, the postman was busily delivering Mr Happy a £60 speeding ticket! Grr, we're both so annoyed. He was caught on camera exceeding the limit at temporary motorway speed restrictions, doing 58 mph. He says he didn't even see any restriction sign. It's the first time either of us have ever had one so I suppose we shouldn't complain but WHAT A WASTE!

Needs must on the chocolate. I try to keep something for emergencies in my bag these days if that helps.

Ouch re the speeding fine. Can you ask if you can do speed awareness course. Usually same price but no points so no cost increase on insurance?

Good luck.

HHx

PloddingOn

HappyNow wrote: »

Hi PloddingOn, thanks for reading and subscribing.

I've just read your signature and you have done REALLY well with your debt-busting since 2007. Do feel free to share your tips on here, all advice gratefully received !! But if you've hit a bit of a dry spot and need encouragement yourself I would 100% recommend starting a diary - that's what has helped me the most. For me, my diary has turned my over-facing, seemingly-impossible DFW journey into a supported, cushioned, even bizarely enjoyable way of life. Blah, I've just read that back to myself and it sounds really corny and sickly, but it's true so I'm going to leave it! x

There's no tips I would share to be honest Happy, until a year ago when i started lurking around MSE I had gone far too far the other way with the debt busting!! I had NO life, didnt eat properly (sandwiches and beans on toast etc to save money) obessessed about debt and made myself depressed.

Yes I got the debt down but I paid too high a price for it.

Now my debt free journey is about balance, family-life and debt busting with a smile on my face. Anything worth having doesn't happen overnight, took me long enough to learn that.

PinotGrigio41

HappyNow wrote: »

Noooo, I didn't tell him in case he refused to eat it, and I NEEDED him to eat it! Since starting the grocery budget I've become a bit obsessive! In fact he actually commented on how good it was :rotfl:

You do make me laugh !:rotfl:I have been the same, I think I get a slightly manic gleam in my eyes, willing them to eat and enjoy whatever delights they are faced with !!

HappyNow

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Ouch re the speeding fine. Can you ask if you can do speed awareness course. Usually same price but no points so no cost increase on insurance?

Good luck.

HHx

I will definitely check into that, thanks. His licence is completely clean so points shouldn't be too big a worry, it's much more the potential cost of the insurance renewal that made me want to chop his head off!:rotfl:

HappyNow

PloddingOn wrote: »

There's no tips I would share to be honest Happy, until a year ago when i started lurking around MSE I had gone far too far the other way with the debt busting!! I had NO life, didnt eat properly (sandwiches and beans on toast etc to save money) obessessed about debt and made myself depressed.

Yes I got the debt down but I paid too high a price for it.

Now my debt free journey is about balance, family-life and debt busting with a smile on my face. Anything worth having doesn't happen overnight, took me long enough to learn that.

Well that is a great tip in itself PloddingOn, thanks for sharing:)

You're so right about getting the balance right, in fact I've been thinking about this myself. By paying £1000 per month off our unsecured debt, it will take us about seven years to clear it. I'd been working out whether I could scrimp and scrape and increase the monthly amount to get it paid off quicker. And yes, I suppose I could. But on balance I think I would rather take a bit longer to repay the debts and have a small amount left over to enjoy ourselves.

Well said PloddingOn! x

HappyNow

Another update!

Had a trip to Lidl on Thursday night - the first ever. The fruit and veg was really cheap and I bought some of the nicest yogurts I have ever tasted. I will definitely go back there and also to Aldi and (my new favourite) Home Bargains. No more store loyalty for me - suck on that Mr Tesco! Then I called at Tesco to pick up some favourites (dog food etc that I don't want to swap), some reduced bread and a couple of their offers. So, spending now up at over £33 out of £100 and 15th Feb is still a loooong way off!

Yesterday I was in a shop near work browsing shoes reduced in the sale. And I spotted some brown Rieker ones. And I've wanted them for ages. And they were down from £57 to £34. And I tried them on. And they were a perfect fit. And the most comfortable shoes in the world. And I really DO need them, they're not just a 'want'. And when I tried to put them back on the shelf they ran after me, sobbing and begging me not to leave them there. SO I NOW HAVE SOME BEAUTIFUL NEW SHOES!! But I have spent £34 that I didn't intend to . But they have made me happy and will be worn nearly every day .

Honestly, I couldn't believe how much consideration I put into buying a pair of shoes! Just a few weeks ago I wouldn't have given it a second thought - in fact I'd have bought them whether they were reduced or not. Ah, I have come a long way.........!

poohbear59

You have come a long way happy. You are now thinking before you spend. And if the shoes are a pair you will wear every day then they are worth it.

I made a decision before Christmas not to just buy because something is cheap. I bought a cheap coat last year and just hate it. It isn't warm enough, doesn't fit properly etc. Instead, this time, I looked long and hard for something I really liked, could wear every day, and have a coat which I love. It was in the sale too. It isn't a bargain if you won't use it. no matter how cheap it is.

HappyNow

You're absolutely right Poohbear, thanks for helping me justify!

I rarely buy clothes (I don't often go anywhere and have a uniform for work) and when I do I prefer to go for practical, comfortable and warm stuff. I have a colleague who spends a fortune on clothes - and to be fair, she always looks gorgeous. In November she was complaining about how long it takes her to put away her summer clothes and get out her winter wardrobe. She was horrified when I explained that my winter wardrobe is just my summer wardrobe with a jumper on top!

This weekend has been a huge success. The tenants moved out of our rental house on Saturday so we've been over there cleaning, doing bits of repairs and decorating to get it ready for the new people. The work came in under-budget because the outgoing tenants had looked after it so well, and we've got it finished in under two days. Fingers crossed the new tenants will be moving in (with a month's rent paid - yay!) on Friday, so we will have only missed one week's rent.

It made me realise how unfit I'm getting though. I've been up and down ladders, stretching to reach the high bits and climbing under the bath etc and now I really ache. Must add 'get fit again' to my list of targets as soon as I get a bit of breathing space.

I have to confess that on Saturday night we called in Tesco on the way home from our day's DIYing and bought a £10 meal deal. A bit of a luxury but we were both knackered and just needed tasty, quick food and a bottle of wine! I will update my grocery challenge figure to tell the truth......