Mental Health Nurse in need of a cure for spending!!

rachyroo1985

Well I am going to PAD into Next as it is the highest interest and smallest amount.

Balance in account was £22.76 so paid £2.76 - every little helps as they say!!

I can see how it could get addictive but better to be addicted to paying off debt than addicted to T*sco hey! :rotfl:

rachyroo1985

Here's hoping for another NSD as I'm at work and leaving the purse and cards at home. Yesterday was nearly a NSD but needed milk and cat food. A small victory though as instead of taking my card and buying extras, I drew £10 out and brought £3.10 home which is now stashed in my room for milk later in the week. Usually I would've spend loads in store or frittered the change away on rubbish. So in all another small step towards my goal. Hope evreyone has a good day.

HeadAboveWater

That's great. the more the merrier!!

Always

I'm on a 24 month contract which ends in April next year

That's good. You'll be able to at least half this, if not more! I went from £30 a month to £10.50 sim only (I didn't need nor want a phone), and I'm getting more minutes and data!!

One of my bugbears. I work long shifts so am hardly ever in to watch TV. I do "sleep ins" at work 3 nights a week too which means my partner is home alone. He argues that sports and film packages are his friend whilst I'm out and that if he went to the pub etc it would cost us more each month. I'm still chipping away but at the moment its here to stay!

Hmmmmm... Maybe. Do you have unlimited internet access?? Try LoveFilm online for a while (£4.99 a month). Our internet is only 5gb so no good for us, but we still use it for dvd's. Saves a fortune!!
We're not sports fans at all so can't comment on that bit!

This is an area I want to concentrate on. I take food to work and i can cook there too. Me and a friend who work the same shifts at least once a week have started to take it in turns to bring in a meal to cook so this is saving a bit as they are all cheapish to prepare. My partner takes packed lunches too. A lot of this figure is on things like wine/beer and unneccessary treats which I am going to reduce. I cook a lot and have also started to give us a litlle bit smaller portion so I have one portion to freeze for another time. I am a big reduced aisle fan and scour regularly. I think I am doing some of the right things but just not planning/ being savvy enough. For example, ending up with things that don't 'go' together.

Ah very good. You're already thinking outside the box and at the bigger picture!
LOVE the reduced section ourselves Eat like royalty for peanuts!! :rotfl:

This definitely needs looking at. It was quite difficult to estimate as we often have months where we spend less than half of that. We like going out for meals and going to concerts but don't really go out to pubs and clubs that much. We also like going away for the weekend too. I have started using groupon and also suggesting people going to each others house for meals etc instead of going out. As I often have days off in the week, lunches out are quite common too. I should have been out for lunch with a friend today and out shopping on Thursday, but my friend came to me for a cheap meal today which she will do at hers next week and i have just cancelled shopping so feel a little better!

Your own version of Come Dine With Me! I like it

We're diner-outers as well! We love our cafes too!! Trying to get one coffee at the weekend instead of 2, and meals out to once every 6 weeks instead of every month. We don't drink much. A 12 box of beer will easily last over a month!! :eek: lol

Thanks for your advice. It's little tips that get you thinking about how to make changes.

Welcome!! It does! It helps when someone else looks at your spending habits as they can often pick on something you can't see!

Good luck with your PAD too

rachyroo1985

Well I have managed a NSD today!! :T:T

Hopefully another one tomorrow as I am off work. Tomorrow I want to count my change jar in order to make PAD, list some ebay items and also write my xmas gift list and find out all the leftover wrapping paper etc from last year to use this time. Hopefully I will also clean the house and maybe squeeze in some 'me' time too. Its amazing how much more relaxed I feel knowing I'm doing something productive about my debts.

Well hope everyone has had a good day and good luck to everyone that's busy beavering away at the same goal as me.

rachyroo1985

So.......

Plan for today:
[STRIKE]1/ Send off form for £120 car tax refund after buying new car.[/STRIKE]Done
[STRIKE]2/ Send off letter to RBS to find out loan history and if i have any PPI from old loans[/STRIKE]Done
[STRIKE]3/ Collect change bags from PO ready for changing coins[/STRIKE]Done
[STRIKE]4/ Check bank balance and make PAD [/STRIKE]Done - £3.03 paid to Next

So all in all, a productive day and also a NSD as I already had stamps to post letters.

Tomorrow we are off out for mother in law's birthday but only a 2 for £10 meal so shouldn't spend too much. Usually it would probably run to about £40, but we are motivated to stay on budget.

HeadAboveWater

Well done today so far - and it's not even 10am!!

rachyroo1985

I know HAW and I feel so motivated. Normally on a day off I would probably be lounging on the sofa watching TV but here I am buzzing with money making/ saving ideas to increase my payments this month.

Its amazing how much more in control i feel already and it's making it almost like a game working out how to pay that little bit more off by earning a bit here and shaving a bit off there.

Just hope this feeling lasts!!!:think:

HeadAboveWater

It'll likely not last forever, but I do suggest making the most of it until it such time as it does wear off

Igamogam

rachyroo1985 wrote: »

I know HAW and I feel so motivated. Normally on a day off I would probably be lounging on the sofa watching TV but here I am buzzing with money making/ saving ideas to increase my payments this month.

Its amazing how much more in control i feel already and it's making it almost like a game working out how to pay that little bit more off by earning a bit here and shaving a bit off there.

Just hope this feeling lasts!!!:think:

Keep going it will become a habit - but a habit takes time to form - anything from 2 - 4 weeks. After that it becomes the norm:D But if you fall off the debt free wagon dont worry there will be someone along to pick you up and help you back on;) There are some very inspiring diaries out there..........some dont post any more and have moved on but have a trawl round and you will find some jaw dropping stuff and some great hints tips and ideas:D

rachyroo1985

Well it did end up being a NSD for me yesterday.

Today is not the same story unfortunately.

I am having my nails done for free by a trainee in my friend's salon which is good.

I'm also going to pay £2 in coppers to my bank so I can have a £2 PAD later.

However it's my MIL's 50Th meal tonight so spendy spendy!! But it's only at a 2 for £10 place and we have a £5 voucher to use so food should only be £5 for 2 of us. Setting a budget of £20 for the whole night so we shall see how we go and we may even have change.

Hope everyone has a good day today and spends wisely.

xxxx