Finally coming to my senses.....

Keeping_Positive

Hi looks like things are going well and you're still focused.

frustrated12

Was working yesterday and today so another couple of NSD. I am now on holiday from work for a week so will be harder to control my spending, although I do have a meeting to go to in the week which I said I would attend, so means I won't be spending any money that day.

5 more days until payday and I am looking good money wise

Tomorrow looks like a spendy day:
- Go to the gym
- Post expenses
- Food shopping for the week
- Buy a couple of birthday cards

frustrated12

Yesterday wasn't as spendy as I thought it might have been. Didn't process expenses as I forgot it was bank holiday, will do that today.

Had a really good day yesterday in the sun, spent £3.20 on parking at the seafront and £3.77 for lunch, not too bad for a whole days entertainment. Put £10 of petrol into the car also.

Budget is still looking good for this week very happy about that.

frustrated12

Should have about £60 left over from this months budget, I really want to pay this off the cc, but I think it will be a better idea to save it for my trip next month. I am doing a charity walk but I will need to pay for the train to London, which looks like it will cost about £30 and a hotel for one night which is going to cost around £39.

I am hoping I can pay off the cc next month There is £480 left to pay, I usually pay £200 a month and I have just put in an expenses claim through work which comes to £280.

Keeping_Positive

Why not do 50 50

frustrated12

I made it to the end of the month with money left over :T

Payday has finally come and I am feeling a lot more relaxed. So today I paid £230 off the cc, only £250 left to pay which I should be able to pay in a couple of weeks when my expenses come through. If I manage that this month then my debt free date will be brought forward by one month to Sept 2014.

I have £204.54 left over this month for food, entertainment and anything else that pops up this month.

I am always really organised when I get paid and I set out my budget for the month but by the middle of the month I just lose track of where I am and end up spend money, I just need to find a way to keep myself motivated.

Keeping_Positive

I'm the same. Just remember how good you feel today. Congratulations

frustrated12

This month looks like it is going to be a tight one

This month just seems like it is full of one off expenses. Gym membership came out but I have now cancelled this, I have to give one months notice so will have to pay it next month but after that I will have an extra £20 a month. I paid just over £50 for a train ticket and hotel as I am doing a charity walk later on this month.
Also there is a staff meeting coming up at work and I buy everything we need for it, I think some of the expenses that I'm waiting to be paid will be used for the meeting.

I know that my Vodafone contract ends soon, either this month or next month, I will be £35 better off a month, must call them next week and find out when the contract ends.

[Deleted User]

You are doing really well. Do you keep a sheet for your food expenses...

I shop mainly at Aldi, things I cannot get there I know I can get from Tesco and there is the occasional extra expense, like this week when my son bought me 5kgs of chicken, turkey and stewing beef, 15kgs cost me £10 so that goes in the miscellaneous column, I keep it up to date each time I go shopping, put the receipts in my purse, at the end of each month I check I have entered them all up. I never go shopping without a list, I do a freezer and cupboard audit and then make my list from what I know I am going to need.

Another thing I do is do a rough menu list, it isn't set in stone and I do move meals about to suit us, I then do a shopping list for the whole month, just top up with fresh fruit and veg as I need them. (Use your freezer and cupboard audit for this)

At the end of the month, what ever cash I have left gets taken off the allowance I have for the months shop, and I pay that cash into one of the side accounts I have for holidays garden, car etc. It is surprising how soon a little mounts up. Something else I do is put 1, 2 and 5p's into a tin and empty it once a year.......lat year I had over £30 in the tin when it was emptied, it went straight into the bank.

Just a few things you might think about.

frustrated12

Have just sat down and worked out my debt, the figures haven't changed, but someone posted on here before about breaking down the amount you owe into 1% targets as this is more manageable. I hadn't done this previously as I thought I wouldn't be able to colour in many boxes. 1% of my debt is only £58.

I have just done it and so far I have paid off 29% of my debt! I hadn't realised how much I have paid off in just 6 months, I have paid of £1682 which is more than one months salary!