It is never too late to be what you might have been - George Eliot

Rainbow_Bridge

Thanks badger, It's very nice to meet you, another early bird, I need all the good luck I can get, so it's gratefully received!!

debtfreewannabe321

Hi rainbow sorry i haven't stopped by lately. I love the weekly breakdown. I ramble so much on my diary about anything and everything the MSE part becomes lost so i would be there forever looking for all the info to do a breakdown (although would love to see the progress in black and white!) so well done so far and i'm still following xx

Rainbow_Bridge

Hi debtfree,

I have a bit more time today, so I will hop along and read your diary. I appreciate your support x.

Another £52.00 in the pot yesterday and a NSD. I am becoming very organised, and planning things very carefully in the Filofax, for the next month.

I don't seem to be able to do things by half measures. I either track and organise religiously or I go with the flow completely, eating and spending on whatever takes my fancy. Must confess option 2 is the one that most appeals, but it takes its toll on the body and mind. Maybe there is a compromise in there, somewhere, which i'll find through this tracking.

Off today, so catching up with housework and studying. I was planning a picnic and cycle ride with DS, but it's pouring again..........

To keep up the £10.00 a day challenge, i'll stick a couple of DVD's on ebay and my food will look like this.

All bran with skimmed milk - 300 calories
Baked Potato and tuna salad - 450 calories
Salmon with rice and peas - 500 calories
Apple - 80 calories
cereal bar - 100 calories

bast

I had a look at my body when I got home and decided to love it a lot more. It has served me well, and in 10 years time I will look at photographs of how I am now and wish that I was 10 years younger.

I must learn to live and love in the NOW, while setting up good habits for my future good health.


Thank you for the above that is so true and your statement hit me like a brick. Four years ago I lost just over 2.5 stone and went down to 8.7 stone. I loved my body. I weigh a stone heavier now, am menopausal, constantly at the gym and dieting. Constantly comparing myself to other slimmer friends of my age group, who actually dont eat properly, look gaunt and really are doing themselves harm.
So from today I will live in the now, not look back. And in actual fact people are telling me I look so much healthier so much happier and better. (I had just had a breakdown). I will never stop at trying to maintain a healthy weight, but today is important, Living for the now is paramount as who knows what tomorrow brings.... Thank you for that excellent post.


I am also so sorry to hear about your friends daughter, that is so sad...

debtfreewannabe321

morning RB well done for posting your soa :T the only places that could be cut i reckon are :
* the landline, I am with Talktalk and pay £30 tops for unlimited calls, broadband(with free internet security)
*also perhaps the sky, i would be tempted to call them and suggest leaving and say you can't afford the package. I did this and have all channels except movies & sports (not sure what package is called) and only have paid £16 a month for the year. When this is up in November I will call again and if no joy with reducing the package am cancelling
*groceries could be cut quite easily by meal planning, buying when on offer, using un-branded products etc
*child related expenses- is this for child care? if so could you claim anything?
*haircuts- is this 45x3 a month? Have you tried eeking it out a week or two longer before you go for your appointment so costs are spread a little more?

all the rest are luxuries, gym, entertainment, holiday etc but i say if you can afford to pay the debt and still have these then do it because let's face it we need a bit of 'me' time and a few luxuries! But you said in your first post you had a deficit of £100 i reckon by cutting the grocery budget you could easily make this £100 up right in that one place. Check out the OS boards for a bit of inspiration and join the grocery challenge it really helped me in the early days :A xx

Rainbow_Bridge

Reply to quintwins on MFW -

Thanks quintwins for your very helpful comments. We have 19 years left on our mortgage.

We have had the critical illness and life cover running for ten years with Prudential and it is a term cover, so you are right, I will look into this and see if we can get a better deal.

I am constantly amazed by how people manage to have such low grocery bills, I don't think I am extravagant. This is definitely an area I will focus on. Next month I will join a grocery challenge.

I know the holiday is expensive. We are holidaying with family in a luxury villa in Spain, next year. Expensive holidays are a throw back to a wealthier past, and something I am going to have to re-assess.

I suppose I am trying to work out a balance, and typing these posts and hearing other people's view points is helping me to do this.

The reality of the situation is that since 2008 the offset savings part of the mortgage has gone down £7,000.00, so we are living beyond our means, and I need to track things to figure out where.

This is what stresses DH out, as he projects this into the future. We have had a tough couple of years, so I tend to project a much more positive outcome, thinking things can only get better .........

Time will tell x.

Thanks.

debtfreewannabe321

glad to see you got some more solid advice over there i don't know too much about mortgages and insurances so couldn't advise, for that matter I know nothing about holidays as i can't remember the last time i went on one lol x

bast

I think once you have a breakdown there is a little fear that you might fall in that abyss again. As a very strong person I have never understood those with depression or mental health problems, I have been sympathetic but never realised what it is like. Once you have seen that darkness you know how scary it is. Anyway I think you have to face your fears and work hard at staying healthy, at enjoying life, money is important and we all need to recognise that ... but you also need to have a little fun. Stave yourself too much of fun and life becomes a rut. We take out 60 pounds a week for food and entertainment... The fun part is how to we make it last.. if we have to take out an extra 10 pounds then so be it... but although it sounds boring we have so much fun together, cooking, shopping, bargain hunting, eating out cheaply and glasses of the old nectar... wine:rotfl: I forgot until I read your post how much fun we have in the now... I am fortunate to be semi-retired.. Husband retired due to ill health...

I think you do really well with your money. Occasionally you do need to have a little splurge just to remind yourself that you are alive..:)

Rainbow_Bridge

Day 10/365 - 2.7%

Morning world,

Well I found yesterday very stressful, but I handled it pretty well. I went for a long walk (got drowned, but hey ho), then had a heart to heart with DH, which was very helpful.

SOA brought up old issues:-

1. Still take on too many problems that are not my own. Will set a limit on how much time/money I spend in this area each month. I will focus more attention on helping people to help themselves. I said to DH that I would love to have a completely carefree, happy go lucky friend with no issues or problems ...... is there anybody out there??

2. I have entered the second half of my innings here on earth, kicking and screaming, and rebelling all the way. The SOA was a breakthrough, I am beginning to accept reality. Like it or not I have moved to the front row of the funeral parlour and I am old enough to be a granny, in fact many of my friends are. I don't want to grow old gracefully, but perhaps a little less disgracefully.

3. Time to count my blessings:- Good physical health, (if the mental health has been a bit shakey), great husband and son, close extended family and friends (even if they drive me nuts at times), financial situation that is salvagable. We live in a nice house in a lovely area and I am generally pretty happy. That is not bad going.

I managed another NSD yesterday, by raiding the store cupboard, so I am pleased about that.

Working today, changing the books at Mr T. It's been twice the work recently, because of the massive volume of 50 Shades of Grey and sequels that have been selling.

Talking about getting old disgracefully, I have had some great laughs with pensioners, in the stores, who are buying the books with a twinkle in their eye and a spring in their steps. Apparently it's the hottest topic of conversation in local clubs, and none of them want to miss out :rotfl:

badger_

Hi Rainbow Bridge

Here's the link to the app with the free mars bar (hope there's still some left) http://www.shopscansave.co.uk/

and the Quidco app http://www.quidco.com/app/

Will have a proper catch up when I get up this afternoon.