I think I could have lived in the 1940's

Sazdaz

Well things have been manic, and up and down. After realising that doing so many jobs I am burning myself out I decided that something had to give.
Nasty Mr Debt Collector came but paid him off and now have peace, yippee. So one bill down.
Have decided to ask for a bike for xmas (have found a great second hand one for family to buy me) so I can cut down on petrol costs.
Tonight is a sorting night for the weekend, so I can get everything ready so that the weekend is a bit more relaxed. Plan to lay on sofa tomorrow night with TV on, cheap pizza, and my book that I call my bible. I am going to plan the whole of xmas on a budget, presents, lunch everything.
I am also going to make a list of presents that I can make to keep costs down as well.

Hiddenidenity

Love your name I'm Saz too

*Subscribes* Look forward to reading

Sazdaz

Right now that Christmas is out of the way (quite relieved now) I have to get back on the DFW cycle.
Today dinner was a aim to use up a bag of rocket I had in the fridge, that I purchased for 25p. Made a fantastic meal of spaghetti, chilli, pesto and rocket. Now going to be on a look out reduced bags of rocket more often.
Need to pick my challenges for 2013 and get them set. I know I can do it this year as I started to tackle in 2012.
Going to try and spend A) some more time on me and more time on my crafting as it paid off at Christmas and I am going to see if my love of vintage can make me some extra cash in order to become DF quicker.
Right lets go find challenge No 1.

365days

hello!

I've been inspired after reading a book about the war to spend the year only buying needs not wants.

It is really amazing on how little they survived on. Society today has certainly become completely out of touch with what is important.

Good luck with your quest. I'm pants at keeping up with threads so will pop by when I see it!

Sazdaz

Ok after such a good day yesterday, I feel a bit today whilst out at work. Was determined today would be a no spend day, but parked outside a charity shop I really like as they dont overprice, and not normally open when I come past. but due to being a day behind this week on work I was a bit late and they were open. Deadly!!!!!! Saw a lovely Zara dress for work in the window and had to purchase for £3. Then felt guilty for the rest of the day. However I am now going to go and take out of my wardrobe the 5 dresses for work that I have had to wear even though too large as I have dropped three dress sizes in last year, and ebay them to cover cost. I have also repaired two pairs of leggings that I was planning on replacing at min of £4 a pair so dress is kind of instead of that as well, and I do have to look fairly respectable.

Decided that as I had ruined a NSD I would go and get the few bits I wanted from the supermarket today in order to make sure that I have another NSD this week when I would have gone to get these bits. They had loads of items in the reduced bits so once again spent a bit more than I planned but as extras got packet of mixed peppers which I can use tomorrow with tin tomatoes and use up left up olives to make a pasta sauce. I also got a pizza which was by a well known restaurant and going to have that on a Friday for a treat, a curry (I missed out on going to the Christmas Curry and have been craving one since so at £1 that is much cheaper than the meal,) Puff Pastry to make some pies. Job for tonight is to write a meal planner for the next two weeks so that I really use up what is in freezer, cupboards etc.

Have decided to go round turning off all switches tonight, keep to one room so to only have one light on in house, and to try to not turn on the heating as if in the Kitchen and cooking the cooker heats the room. Going to go to bed earlier tonight to watch a DVD on my laptop that a friend lent me so that I dont have the heating or lights on.

Tomorrow is money day so I can start my jar sorting which is where I have jars for my monthly bills and I put the money in there weekly. I think I am becoming strange as really looking forward to doing this tomorrow.

Sazdaz

Well put my dress on this morning and thought it looked a bit big from where I am dieting. Decided I could move the buttons as a wrap round dress in order to make it fit so it lasts longer.

Was so excited today as it was the first day of my new year plan of splitting my bill money weekly and taking it out of my money every week. So today put money into jars for Christmas, TV/Broadband/Phone Supplier, Council Tax. I then put an allowance of £20 for the week in my purse, the remaining change out of my purse in my change jar and the spare notes into my spare money jar which I am not going to touch. Felt so good to do it. I have a post it note on my calendar with the break down already worked out for each week this month so I could cross it off as I do it. I even managed to put an extra £2 in my christmas jar.
Out of my £20 in my purse I spend £10 on dog training (which was much needed tonight as the little monkey was like a naughty child) and £5 on diet club, so £5 left till next Thursday. Cant think of anything extra I need to buy as planning to have a quiet weekend.
Stopped at Supermarket on way home for tomatoes to make tomorrow pasta dish and got £14 worth of food for £1.47, and todays dinner was left in freezer for another night and tonights dinner cost 15p instead of its £3.49 price tag.

Not put heating on when I got home as only an hour or so between getting in and going to bed, so put hoody and extra socks on.

I wonder what fun tomorrow will hold. I cant stop thinking about money saving.

Sazdaz

well today has been a success!!!! WOOOO HOOOO

After finishing work I went to help a friend with some work and in return she made me lunch so that is one meal I didnt need to cover.
I then popped into town and managed to avoid buying a lovely vintage dress is the charity shop sale, and I am so proud of myself. Whoever thought that not buying something would feel so good. I used to think that if I did not buy something then I would go home feeling awful but I felt amazing.
Whilst in town paid the mortgage and paid ex OH bill as I have offered to help him get sorted and in return he is going to give me a little bit of cash to assist me.
Came home and spoke to my nice debt collector man - yes they really do exist believe it or not. Got my outstanding balance and was shocked it was a bit lower than I thought. At the current rate it will take me 13 months to clear it but if I can keep this up with the cut backs I may be able to clear it quicker which will allow me to pay more off another bill.

Havent put the heating on yet today so just filled the log fire and started that so should be really nice and warm in there in about half an hour so when finished my paperwork I can relax on the sofa. The good thing is the log burner also really heats up my bedroom which is great.

Dinner tonight is a pasta dish using up left over veg in the fridge. Really looking forward to it and its great for my diet as i can eat as much as I like. Even though I still have drink left from Christmas I am still trying not to touch it as long as possible during this month.

Well today has been a NSD and hoping tomorrow will be the same.

Right off now to do some more paperwork, then my dinner. Hope everyone has a great day like I have.

Sazdaz

Well yesterday was a successful, fun and relaxing NSD - and on a saturday which rarely happens. I still have the £5 note in my purse that has been in there since thursday which is the last of my £20 a week budget. I hoping to keep it there till Thursday and then be able to bank it in my savings.
Yesterday went to my local dog sanctuary to help out for a couple of hours which I really enjoyed. I had to use a little bit of petrol to get there but it hasnt really dented my petrol so for a free morning of fun it was fine. I like it there as everyone is so friendly and really enjoy the socialising as well as helping out people who are making a real difference. My dog came back limping a bit as went over playing but just going to keep an eye on it as he is still bouncing so think he may have just strained it a little.

Came back and was driven to visit some friends new baby with another friend. Had a lovely couple of hours of cuddles, now you cant buy that feeling with money.

Came home and friend came round to watch TV, and treated me to a chinese which was great as saved another meal on my planner and have enough left over for dinner tonight. Also brought me a can of coke so could have a sneaky drink with some of the spirits left over.

All in all a great NSD.

Today planning to take the dog without the limp out for a long walk, and then been invited to family for lunch so another meal saved. Will then come back and try to sort some of my work so I am little bit advanced for the week before chilling out in front of sunday night tv. Fingers crossed it should be another NSD.

Sazdaz

oh my god I am getting so addicted to money saving that I think it is taking over my life. I laid in bed last night thinking about it, and how long would I be able to keep away from a supermarket etc.

Well today hasnt been too bad but I did spend a couple of pound.

Started the morning with my to do lists that I wrote last night, one for work and one for the house which I am quite a way through on both. Going to finish the rest of the list this evening before relaxing reading my book.

Popped into Mr S after my mum phoned to say they had lots of their gift items reduced to silly money. My local one didnt have much left but got two owl hat and scarf gift sets reduced from £10 to £1, matching purse and keyring set reduced from £6 to 80p and a packet of cards for 25p. As I am putting money away each week for christmas and am actually ahead of myself I am going to take the money out of the pot and replace. I am amazed I went into a Supermarket got those bits and was not even tempted to buy any food or anything extra. Just proved to myself I can do it.

Emailed one of the debt companies who have come back to me offering to set up a payment scheme so hopefully I will be able to get something agreed.

Looked at some college courses as I want to get trained in an area that I enjoy so I can work a couple of extra days a week and earn some money from it. I will have to save up to pay for it but was surprised that the courses were not as much as I thought they were, and in the long run they will be financially beneficial.

Its amazing I have spent years thinking that spending money made me happy, and feeling I needed the financial support of a man in my life but I was just oh so wrong. I am feeling so much more positive saving money and not spending it. I really love this new me.

365days

Way to go! You sound so positive. Are you writing to your creditors yourself or through a DMP? I am not in arrears or anything but the monthly interest is crippling me.