6 months to freedom / Race against the bank

littleweasel

I got the quiz date wrong - it's actually next week! Duh.

Bad news yesterday - didn't make my Swagbucks target as our internet was down at home because we've just changed broadband provider. Also couldn't do more Slice the Pie catwalk although I have about $12 in there currently. Going to resist withdrawing it for the moment.

Good news yesterday - I think the bank might have relented so I can pay things off more slowly (still clearing by January, but not quite so tight in November). £1183 across three paydays is £400 a month, which is totally doable - other than Xmas pressies, December shouldn't be too expensive as I'll be staying in Hotel Parental for two weeks of it!

Egg mayo sandwich today, and had a bagel for breakfast which cost 8p (reduced in Sainsbos). I used to spend £10 a day on breakfast and lunch - today it's more like:

Bagel 8p (and a bit of butter -call it 10p)

Sandwich:
Egg mayo filling 40p
Slices of bread 15p

Options hot chocolate 20p (half price)
Orange 8p (basics, 45p a pack)
Mini maltesers 11p (12 bags in a pack, on offer at £1.34 in tesco)

= £1.02 :-) Amazing! I might do these calculations more often to keep me motivated.

HeadAboveWater

Me and OH often laugh coz we eat like kings and queens for pittance!! I love it!

littleweasel

It is pretty amazing! In future (post DFD) I might have the occasional luxury, like sushi for lunch now and then (can't make that at home) but I'm never buying another prepackaged sandwich if I can help it...such a waste of money!!

I think I had a sort of prejudice about bringing lunch in because I was actually brought up very very frugally - my parents paid their mortgage off early, and retired early, but there were a few bits where I was growing up that money was tight. I had weird sandwiches like coleslaw or baked beans and I hated them I think a lot of my tendencies to spend like crazy are actually a reaction against that super frugality. I got teased quite a bit for it. Of course it's ridiculous as I have a great education and a pretty great job now (which will be even better if I manage to get one of the two promotions I've recently applied for), and I wouldn't swap my life with any of the people that teased me...but it's difficult to change old habits. I started spending loads as soon as I got my first job aged 16 - blew every bit of income that could be considered disposable, really. I've been lucky in that I've worked pretty much constantly through school and uni and then afterwards, and my debt isn't massive, but I think if I'd applied for more credit I would be in a lot more trouble. I have wasted tens of thousands of pounds. Sorry, that turned a bit introspective!

Scuff

Little weasel I know exactly what you mean (in a roundabout fashion). My Dad was always really good with his money, and had to be because he was a single parent, but I never really understood at the time. He cant have been on more than 15k but he managed to pay me through private school, because he wanted the best for me. But obviously with the school it's not just about the fees, pretty much everyone who went there had mega rich parents, with horses and 3 foreign holidays a year, and brand new cars and designer clothes. I used to (shamedly) feel embarrassed that I was in essence this 'poor kid' (and they knew I was). So as soon as I got my weekend job I did the same, blew everything! And now I know that it doesn't really matter at all, and that my Dad's attitude is the right one after all! At least you've addressed it rather than let it get really out of control!

littleweasel

That's exactly it, Scuff, I'm the same (another private schooler here!)

The broadband just crashed and I lost my long post, grr. Anyway, the gist was that I've eased off a bit as the bank are no longer breathing down my neck - still planning to clear it all by Xmas 2012 though. Had some boring spends on:

- contact lenses
- 2 bottles of beer at Borough Market (ha)
- A Groupon haircut

and did some OKish MSE things including
-hardly spending anything else
-redeeming £5 of Nectar points
-earning another Swagbucks voucher
-reaching $15 on Slice the Pie

Will be back tomorrow with the rest of my reflections (mainly on decluttering)

littleweasel

A new week!

Didn't manage a NSD today as I bought coffee (£1.40) and a pound of fresh dates (£1.80). Did bring lunch in though - hummus and cucumber on wholemeal bread, an orange and a mini Mars bar :-) The next week will be a bit pricey - quiz tomorrow, dinner with a friend on Weds, someone's leaving drinks on Thursday, and a possible piano lesson on Friday. Erp! Will have to try hard not to let the costs spiral.

littleweasel

Almost a week to payday! The last week usually goes quickly.

Today's lunch is:
2 fresh dates (20p, possibly less)
Orange (8p)
2 slices lovely wholemeal seed bread (15p)
Piri piri Hummus (25p)
Cucumber (15p)
Mini mars bar (8p)

=66p. Unbelievable! I think it's a load of cobblers to say you can't eat well on a budget - basics fruit like the orange is really cheap, and wholemeal bread is healthy and filling. It's not even a super cheap brand. OK, the mini mars bar is not healthy, but it is a small, yummy, cheap treat :rotfl:

Had porridge for breakfast and spent £1.40 on a coffee. Quiz after work tonight - hopefully I can keep it cheap! I have been slacking on the 5:2 diet as it doesn't fit very well with my plans this week - might do a fast day on Friday.

littleweasel

Phew, it's been a busy week.

Tuesday (quiz) was cheap - only spent a tenner.
Weds (dinner out) not quite so cheap - £30, which I credit carded (eep), plus £2 on a beer after. I need to update my signature!
Thursday (work drinks) was free as the person who was leaving bought drinks and pizza for us all.

Almost at another voucher with Swagbucks, which will be £15 in total in October :-) I cancelled my piano lesson, as I haven't had time to practice and it will be a waste of everyone's time. Looking forward to a quiet weekend of studying, piano practice, and a walk with a friend on Saturday. Just the afternoon at work to get through!

littleweasel

Ha, this is hilarious. A couple of weeks ago (when I was in a total panic about the bank overdraft and thought I had to prioritise that above everything else) I applied for an 0% card to transfer the balances of my Bcard and store card so I could actually pay off the balance rather than just ticking over the interest. Of course it doesn't really matter now as the bank have stopped being so stinky and I can clear the whole lot by Christmas - so had forgotten about this card application, until an acceptance letter and a PIN number dropped through the letter box. The really hilarious thing is that in the same pile of mail there was a letter from Barclaycard doubling (!) my credit limit. Barclaycard have made a fair bit of money out of me because I previously tended to carry a balance on the card and the interest rate is rubbish, around 25% APR - they must be getting scared now there's only £150 on there!

On the negative side that's now a load of available credit, not all of which I want. I think I will transfer the remaining Bcard balance and the store card balance (may as well while it's interest free), close the store card and aim to have a zero balance on everything by Christmas!

Cheap day planned today - a walk with a friend this afternoon, and studying. Expenses will be travel and maybe a coffee (one day I might wean myself off...)

littleweasel

Monday again, and 2 days til payday. As I suspected the last week went really fast!

Used the last of my nectar points to top up groceries. Have a Tesco delivery on Wednesday (if they bother to show up this time) and looking forward to making some good inroads on the debt. I'm not exactly sure what my pay next month will be although should be in the region of £1700 - anything over £1700 I am going to spend on some sushi as I've been missing the occasional Itsu indulgence!

Sandwich today is egg mayo :-)