Getting a grip!

nicp60

Wo-hoo!!! Water meter being fitted next week! Operation Cheapskate is underway!

Operation Fritterati is slightly less successful. Although I've taken my lunch for 2 days this week, I find that I'm scoffing it at 11am, starving by lunchtime so still buying a few bits! Granted, it's not the £4-5+ that I would spend last year, but it's still annoying.:mad:

pantherchick

Hi nicp60,
Happy newyear to you babes,
Ive just read your diary and think how positive you have started off on your journey, well done for that. I have been doing a diary for around 6 months now, i was so positive at the start but recent things have got me to the cant be botherd stage, when i know i need to be botherd, Theses last few days im starting to get back on track, I dont know about you but i like to read other diarys to see where i can change things im doing to help my motorvation and finances.
I work shifts and lunch is never at lunch time or tea etc. but im going to start taking something with me, i guess it will keep me from snacking when i get home because im starving by then. You say you take things for lunch but end up eating before lunch, is there any way you can take extra fruit for mid day and save your lunch for lunch, just a idea. I am alot like you, any excuse to go to the shop, even if you dont actually need anything. Saving that extra money you would spend in the shop is a great feeling, and if its going in a sealed pot where you just can't reach it easy without that extra effort all the better. All the best to you and hope to follow your diary a bit more... much love pantherchick xxx

Teatime

Hi nicp.
Nice to read your diary.
I a, the same as panther chick - need to get inspiration from others to keep me motivated so I'll pop back and see how you are doing.

nicp60

Hi PantherChick and Teatime thanks for reading !! :wave::hello:
Pantherchick you're absolutely right - I need to get some extra snacky stuff in so that I don't scoff my lunch at 11!!! Even some cupasoups would be good. I eat when I'm bored and it's been a slow week at work!!

I'm going to get cracking on some other diaries to keep me motivated. Although the extra cash that I've saved is really surprising. I'm a week away from payday and still have £100 until I hit my overdraft limit (unheard of for a normal month, let alone a six week one!), all my bday money is intact and ready to be paid into the bank and I have quite a bit of cash knocking about from my tutoring. It's only £20 a week, but I haven't been spending it on carp, so it's just sitting there!

Did a week's shop at M&S last night (so much for eating out of the freezer ). £25.25 including some wine and we had a £5 off voucher when you spend £25 or more - bargain!!!

I'll be checking out your diaries to keep me motivated!!!

Much love and less fritter!! Nic xx

nicp60

Hello all!
Well, despite an unplanned spend of £30 in the supermarket earlier , I have now got all my lunches, snacks and everything for at least the next 10 days. I'm doing the Dukan diet (since 2 people in the last month have asked when I'm due :mad:), and so that gets quite expensive (just lean protein, meat, eggs etc etc).

I'm also enjoying one last pre-Dukan glass of vino!!!
Much love and much less fritter! N x

nicp60

OK, well not going amazingly so far this week... 2 extra non-AF days , as I had an awful day yesterday. Only had 2 small drinks, but it's the slippery slope!

Frittering is going OK, but a couple of small 'top-up' shops at the supermarket have pushed me well into my overdraft. My lunches are all set, though, and I haven't been spending anything at work or on the way etc.

Payday on fri, roll on!

nicp60

Wa-hoo! Payday!

I've put £200 on my pre-paid debit card for diesel, clothes, hair, entertainment etc.

Accounts look like this:
Bills etc: £295 (after all bills, payments, car tax this year and credit card)
Stash fund: £106.71
Xmas etc: £60
Car: £31

nicp60

Ooops, looks like one of my cards was over the limit.

Oh well, that one's paid now, so there's no point in worrying about it. Also paid:
Car tax
CC2 (only £250 off the £550 balance, but I have £450 in bday money coming)

Left: Bday money - £150. Not bad to be honest, I didn't think I'd be left with anything!!

nicp60

Well, not updated in a while. Mainly because I've been reeling a bit from the news that we're expecting! All the more reason now to get saving! Lol!

Right, water meter fitted and projected bill came in at £405 per year cheaper than on rates . I've also ordered a water savings pack, so we don't get stuck with a larger reading than expected.

Speaking of which, the cheeky b*ggers at ScottishPower have put our Gas and Electricity up to £134 a month, after fitting a new gas meter :eek:. I'm pretty sure they've not adjusted the reading, but there's nothing I can do about it.

Also got the home insurance down to £300 per year, saving £140.

New SoA looks like this: Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 0
Number of cars owned.................... 2

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 2038
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2038

Monthly Expense Details

Rent.................................... 595
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 97
Electricity and Gas combined ......... 134
Water meter............................. 25
Telephone (land line)................... 43
Mobile phone............................ 15
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 120
Clothing................................ 30
Petrol/diesel........................... 110
Car account............................. 30
Car Insurance........................... 32

Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 14
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 25
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 40
Haircuts................................ 15
Entertainment........................... 60
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 100
Lovefilm................................ 8
Rollies .............................. 0 Totally ditched!!!!
Total monthly expenses.................. 1505
Nearly £80 saved so far!!!


Assets
Cash.................................... 2500
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 1500
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 4000

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
Total unsecured debts..........0.........0.........-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,038
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,583
Available for debt repayments........... 455
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 533

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 4,000
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -0
Net Assets.............................. 4,000

nicp60

Right. OK.
Current balances, a week before payday:
Bills etc: -£158 :eek:
Xmas: £60
Car: £30
Stash fund: 0.71p (I used last months £100 emergency to cover my CC bill. I thought I'd get it back from some bday money owed to me, but OH spent it )

Not too bad. Goals for the coming month are:

1. Actually save £500 (emergency money +100)
2. Instead of using m&s card for food shop, put food budget, diesel budget and misc budget onto black prepaid debit card (£300 total). This makes sense as I'm not really eating in the evenings anymore since becoming pg.
3. Make at least £120 on ebay and put in stash fund
4. Sell some old gold for Stash fund (aka mat leave fund)
5. To have at least £700 in stash fund by 24th March