LBM in 2003.. What have I been doing since??!

FlacosFloozie

We all do it at times Brizzle. We focus so hard on the little things to get the sebt down then along comes xyz that we'd totally forgotten about to mess things up. Long term I think it has to be trying to get a small savings stash built up but that's hard to do when you're trying to pay it all off the ccs.

brizzledfw

Thanks everyone. You are shining stars of support. I really appreciate it. Thanks for popping by, Flacos, as well.

Exhausting day today for lots of reasons but has ended with the nice..2 friends coming over for a glass of wine after work and the less good..OH having to issue a refund as a buyer of an expensive CD was arguing about the condition of the CD packaging. Aggh.

Anyway the answer lies with us. We will do this. I am determined.

Everyone has such wise words for us. Thank you. It is a question of making these lapses less and less (like I know why I bought those work clothes and boots..it's partly cos I needed flats as a result of my pending op but also as I had a key presentation and it was a confidence boost which really I didnt need.)... It's about not kidding myself I have a savings stash of £1400 odd when actually we have spent on the CCs for the same amount. It's about sticking to the budget but being realistic about a buffer of emergency savings but also those large spends i talked about. And yes, thanks Happy for agreeing I have had my LBM..that has been my issue of concern over the last few years but you're right I wouldnt be here 'fessing up if I hadn't. It just needs to shine more brightly!

I will have a plan soon. Watch this space!

Haven't caught up on diaries this eve but hope everyone is good.

brizzledfw

Hi all

Today I reflected and:
- posted on the small things thread
- started rereading some of my diary and especially my SOA and early goals
- looked again at the savings pots we have and am realising we are kidding ourselves at what we are saving..a near mirror amount is going onto the cards..so there needs to be a long term permanent change..not this mucking about!
- had a LSD
- did a few surveys but screened out of most of them
- had lovely quality time with DDs..each with their different successes..made me very proud and grateful
- did some more on the tax return. Hope I can crack it this weekend

Plan of action still in preparation..

Hope everyone is good..will be back to my usual bouncy self soon!!!

HappyNow

Hi brizzle, just checking in to make sure you're OK as you've gone very quiet. Maybe you're just thinking.........:)

I used a quiet few minutes to have a look back at the early days of your diary (which co-incidentally you started on my birthday!). You have done some very sensible things over the last 11 weeks and you should be proud of yourself.

Does the mortgage overpayment pot have a significant effect on your mortgage figures? If so, then the picture isn't as grim as you're thinking, because even though your credit card spending mirrors your overpayments, you are effectively reducing your mortage debt. However, if the overpayment pot has a minimal impact, then maybe psychologically you might be better using the funds to pay off your 0% credit cards a few months early? Financially that might be ludicruous (I genuinely don't know - my speciality is accruing debt, not saving!!), but taking away the 'crutch' of credit cards might really help your mindset?

My situation is very different (read worse!) to yours, but I do know that I have really developed an aversion to using credit cards recently, and that can only be a good thing !

Anyway, looking forward to hearing your plan of action when you've bounced back x

brizzledfw

Hi Happy and all those other folks who put up with me whinging!!

Thanks for the support. I have been glum but woke up this morning with a nil desperandum attitude..we will, we will be DEBT FREE and have a new permanent MSE way of life.

So today I have :

- posted on the small things thread and made some PADS to the dreaded V and BC CCs
- sent OH to the allotment..he is working hard it seems!
- had a LSD yesterday. OH spent on a trip to London with DD2.. They had a meal but got the offpeak train with our family railcard. She went for £6 return! I had a pizza at the pub with DD2 and a drink each. £11. Brought LOs home too! Haven't really done the envelope of spends this month so will kick that off next month in earnest.
- dinners and lunches this weekend will all be from stores. We have plenty on the fridge and larder.
- washing on line and washed on low. Will put another load on in a bit as the panels will be going full pelt then

So that's the small things!!:D

So the bigger things:

- have updated the Budget Brain SOA. I now have a buffer for big spends and have increased the OP pot. I will stick to paying off the cards at the end of the period as it gives me more satisfaction at the banks' expense but it's still only Q1 and I have these deals until the end of the year. I do know that I can cover it from my OP pot and that can only get better. Will try and post it here, but cant work out how to do it just at the moment
- I have built in a buffer for the big spends. not sure about this,will tracks and see how it goes as its a big sum
- some of our bills have been tweaked..childcare and newspapers etc..this is partly as the January one was more of an estimate but also some eg. Newspapers I have slashed and burned the spend on those. We are using friends and family more for ad hoc childcare which is helping a lot.
- we must keep to £400 for drink and groceries, including pet food. Should be a challenge but fine.

So goals for the rest of this month and April are :

- don't use OD and CCs..if work expenses are paid using a 0% CC then a full bank transfer has to be done when I am paid back
- use DW and WM during daylight hours
- keep heating off
- OH to use euros in house for trip. Should cover most of it as they will take all own food and have no accommodation costs to pay
- use OH's freelance money for the ski passes
- use envelope for entertainment spends and a budget so that we stick to it
- properly plan and use allotment


Oh, and I have chased the motorhome hire people again for an info pack. I will post my income generation ideas soonish.

Hmm. Still work in progress but will keep on keeping on. Will pop into diaries this weekend! I have missed you all!!

Brizzle x

brizzledfw

Hiya peeps

Well today I had a NSD.. Altho doesn't count by 'my' rules as OH has gone out for a work meal. But at least I didn't spend a bean!:)

Great progress on the allotment.. Some salad planted out under plastic and the first earlies are in. Rest of weekend seemed to be supervising DD1 ..making sure she did all her HW..she's more like OH than I..his motto is never do anything today that could be put off until tomorrow!!! I on the other hand am a real planner!! (Maybe opposites attract??!)

We also sold our shelves for £25.. Hmm the buyer got a steal but they have already paid and it's a pick up so can't fault that. £43 from Amazon sales also landed in the current account so that's good!

Haven't really caught up on diaries..but I will as soon as I can!

Laters

Brizzle

PinotGrigio41

Wow !! Mrs B, now I'm the one worn out reading all your lists, goals, plans etc. Well Done !! I am glad to see you are feeling a little better , its so tough at times isnt it ?! I think I need to scuttle off in a corner and hang my head in shame, as my plans for getting sorted arent nearly as organised as yours !:o

Your DD and OH sound just like my DD1 and Mr Pinot !! Myself and DD2 on the other hand love plans and lists and hate it when things dont go just so !! I even need a plan when going to the shopping centre. Which shop to go in and in which order ! If anyone strays off of the route I get very narky !! Could just be that I want to get the hell out of there before I spend any mopney though !

Anyway just wanted to say , that your whinging is fine, goodness knows youve suffered enough of mine these last few weeks, but its good to see you getting back to your usual jolly self !

Take Care

x

brizzledfw

Aah Mrs PG..you and i need a real natter!! I give my OH a real hard time for not prioritising. He goes off and does worthwhile things, chores and stuff ....but as they are not the right things at the right time and IN THE RIGHT ORDER...it drives me mad......

Hmmm..now I have written that I feel a tiny ( but only a tiny!) bit sorry for him:rotfl:

I do love a list..there will be more....!!:D


And well done on your NSDs...that's an amazing tally for March given how busy everyone is in the PG household

PinotGrigio41

brizzledfw wrote: »

Aah Mrs PG..you and i need a real natter!! I give my OH a real hard time for not prioritising. He goes off and does worthwhile things, chores and stuff ....but as they are not the right things at the right time and IN THE RIGHT ORDER...it drives me mad......

Hmmm..now I have written that I feel a tiny ( but only a tiny!) bit sorry for him:rotfl:

I do love a list..there will be more....!!:D


And well done on your NSDs...that's an amazing tally for March given how busy everyone is in the PG household

I always feel like that if I have written something a teeny weeny bit uncomplimentary about Mr Pinot !! Not for long though !!

Poor Mr Pinot also gets a flea in his ear ( infact he recieved a large one this morning !) for not prioritising, well not in the order I think things should be done, but in his world all is good !! Maybe Mr Pinot and your OH could do with a natter as well !! Do you think our ears would be burning ?!! :rotfl:

kerri_dfw

Sorry brizzled I didn't realise you had a diary, subscribing and will try to catch up over the next few days xx