In the words of Yazz...

*Robin*

:easter_os

Hello Fudgie, just caught up on your last few weeks' - sorry to read you too haven't had an easy time of it lately, but very well done indeed on managing to zilch your CC while battling adversity. :T
Completely understand how you feel about parties - hope Easter with the in-laws isn't being too stressful right now; bet you make the excuse of kids to entertain when the grown-ups get too intense / loud / sozzled (latter is so hard when you don't want to drink).
(Sometimes wonder if my own insistence on taking our dogs everywhere, comes from a subconscious need for an excuse to escape from 'company' at regular intervals? ).

Good luck with the interview, if it hasn't happened yet.

debtfreewannabe321

Hello! Just popping in to see how you are? Hope all is well xx

Fudgefund

I am back... Sorry for disappearing to everyone who wondered where I went. I've had a busy few months since I was last here and there's been some tough stuff.

I've spent a fortune on weddings/birthdays/travel this summer. I did try to keep myself in check but it was hard. I'm hoping coming back to my diary will be really helpful in getting me to finally reach my goals. My step father has been very ill for the past two months, and my sister has too, which has meant a lot of travelling home which was expensive. My money problems really kicked off the last time my sister was ill, and it was also the catalyst to the nervous breakdown which led to this diary so I've had to be really careful not to go down the same paths again. My step dad is still in hospital, but I've drawn a line under visiting again until October (already booked). I know this may seem awful, but having already spent over £200 in trains in the last two months there's not much else I can do. I did exactly the same thing as last time with regards my Mum, albeit on a smaller scale, when it came to money. I spent £200 on her birthday present, and I've wasted a lot more money in other places buying her wine/chocolate etc. This is another good reason to keep my behind firmly in the north for a while!

Moneywise, there's been a big change in the landscape - my credit card is back again! After Barclays :mad: announced they were putting the squeeze on overdrafts with really high fees I decided to pay it off and get a 0% advance from Barclaycard. I think this offer expires in November, so not long off, and I still owe £1580. I also owe DB £300 so all together I'm really not a lot better off than I was four months ago (although I suppose it's better than being worse off). I would love to get rid of £1880 by Christmas, so that's my plan. After Christmas I'd like to finally start addressing the money my Dad loaned me but first things first.

My plan is to pay £520 off next month bringing me down to £1060 to Barclaycard, and then do the same the following month. I did get a payrise, but last month I couldn't really tell how much because it was backdated and this month coming I'll have strike pay docked so I still won't know. I'm really hoping it won't be less than my previous pay, because I won't miss what I never had.

Healthwise, I did finally shake off fears that I had early onset dementia, but in the past week I have had such terrible anxiety about Iraq it's been crippling. I just seem to replace one thing with another (in the interim there was obviously the health of the family and my Mother). I still need to lose weight, I'm heavier than ever. I've decided to try and lose 24lbs by Christmas, and I've added it to my signature to give myself a bit of motivation.

Right, off to watch a film with popcorn from the cupboard. I have £35 to last me this week, should be okay, then £113 for the following two weeks. If I can do this then I think I'm back on track.

*Robin*

Great to see you posting again, Fudgie, although sorry to read your absence was caused by testing times (-that's such a Dickensian phrase, but perhaps even more apt today ).

Good luck with your new financial goals, and well done on the pay-rise which will make achieving 'em a bit easier; am sure it's well-deserved! :T

Sorry no time to write more - RL calling..

Fudgefund

Thanks for the reply Robin, I really appreciate seeing a friendly post.

I've had a good day, made it to work which is always a start, and stayed there for the allotted time (flexi time means leaving early is a constant temptation). I also managed to not spend any money but this was at least in part due to laziness, I really need a razor after breaking my last one dropping it in the shower but I couldn't be bothered to venture forth at lunch. I will just have to remain a hairy Mary for one more day.

I was also saintly with the eating today, until I got home. Then in the space of about three minutes I undid most of my hard work. I made a lovely apple and rosemary cake at the weekend (if I do say so myself ) and had a wodge when I got in. I think next time I get the urge to be a domestic goddess I'll have to take the results to work, or just sit on the urge and channel it into housework. No doubt that will pass quickly enough.

Fudgefund

Quick update before the weekend - I have been off sick with the flu for most of the week so I haven't spent anything! I was supposed to go out on Wednesday but was too ill, so I can roll the money to the weekend. I am feeling a bit better now but I was absolutely convinced I was suffering from sepsis at one point and I swear my hypochondria is getting worse.

I've had a broken tooth for ages, but not done anything about it due to my crippling fear of dentists (nothing ever goes right for me in the chair!). I thought some of the bacteria may have got into my blood stream so I was really panicking. Now I've accepted that probably isn't the case, it has given me the push I needed to call the dentist. I hate phoning people, so ringing and asking if various surgeries were accepting NHS fee paying patients was hard, but eventually someone said yes! I'm going to register this week. I think treatment will cost about £60 which isn't ideal, but it's better than the alternative. I don't think I dare leave it to January.

In other news, a lot of time at home has given me the opportunity to think about things, and I've decided it's time to leave Barclays, whom I genuinely loathe, particularly after the overdraft fee debacle. Once I've been paid and my DDs have gone out, I'm going to close the account and switch to First Direct and they will hopefully give me £100, that would be magic.

I also book all my travel home through Virgin trains, and they have teamed up with the Nectar Card scheme. I don't have a Nectar Card so I've applied for one to get all the points. :T

Food wise I've been immaculate, thanks flu. :A I think my weigh in on Monday will be pretty meaningless but hey ho.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Nice to see you again Fudgie. Sorry things have been tough.

Get well soonXx

Fudgefund

Thanks for popping in PLMBL.

I am feeling a bit better but I've now got a new problem - earache! I feel like the left side of my head is under water, it's very annoying. I looked on the NHS website, they recommend leaving it two days to see if it clears up by itself. I might try pouring some oil down there and see what happens, I've heard (:p) that that can help.

A quick weekend round up:

Saturday was quite not the sterling money saving exercise I had hoped for. I set off for town with good intentions and then:

I spent £5.50 on a much needed new razor, which I was pleased with as it was half price and I really wanted one of the 'best a man can get' variety.

I also spent £3.77 in A1di on cooking ingredients for some cookies. I'm sure this tip has been shared more times than I've had hot dinners but their 50% dark chocolate at £1.39 for 200g is such good value when making chocolate cakes. I know the recipes specify 70% but I honestly can't tell the difference. And I've had more bars of chocolate than that tip has been shared. :rotfl:

The killer blow was spending £20 on a birthday present when I had budgeted £10. It was the perfect present, so I'm not going to beat myself up too much.

I also recklessly blew £3.65 in M&S's cafe staying out of the rain.

On Sunday I met up with friends for a pub lunch. The mains were all £10+ so I had a sticky toffee pudding instead! I probably looked quite strange but I don't really care, my pudding was only £5 and much nicer than anything else on the menu. We then went for a walk for free, that was really nice and surprisingly warm.

Soo... after the weekly shop and my spending spree I only have £68.50 to last me the next 13 days. Many NSDs are going to be needed and some quiet weekends in (fine by me). I've been in worse financial situations by this time in the month so I just need to be very careful.

The good news is I weighed myself this morning and I've lost 3.5 pounds! This could well be due to the flu but hopefully it'll stay off, I'm changing my signature anyway.

I have had an alcohol free week. This is always good news. Hoping to go two in a row, so much cheaper.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Yay to Lbs lost and ££s saved :j.

Double yay to being alcohol free, well done Xx

beanielou

Yah to weight loss.
&0 quid is doable for two weeks I think.