New diary for 2013: The year of keeping things simple

Ruby789

• Find out what spending should go on a credit card (for the added protection).
• Still waiting on my credit report, but when it comes in, I need to act on it. DONE
• Have a fair amount of food in already, so this month I will run the stocks down and then replenish at the end of the month so everything is fresh. DONE
• Re-calcualte the pressies fund, I missed someone off so need to change the standing order and cover what I missed off last months contribution.
• Ebay, I must ebay! START MADE
• Declutter the bathroom cabinet, stuff to use up first moves to the bottom shelf. DONE
• Bedroom needs a thourough clean. THIS WEEKEND
• Bake something, anything!

Ruby789

Finally got my credit report and it looks ok. Phew.

lloyds wouldn't approve me for a current account on-line (said I had to go into a branch) which made me wonder what the problem was. But can't see anything to indicate a problem in the report.

Ruby789

Having one of those days that are stressy for no particular reason.

Wanted to put stuff up on ebay, but camera and computer are apparently not on speaking terms which is annoying.

Ideally I would like to make / find / underspend by £200 this month. This is a pretty tough target seeing as I'm already skimming off budgets to go to the holiday fund.

But, gives me a focus instead of messing round with spreadsheet variables and waiting to see if I can live up to them.

Ruby789

So camera is not working. It refuses to focus and I can't understand why . Will ask a couple of people to have a look before I give up on it.

Can leave buying a replacement for a couple months at least (as everyone has a camera these days, sure I could borrow one). I also need a new phone fairly soon. I can then use the camera on that till I save up. Luckily don't need anything flashy.

See what I said there, 'save up'! Not put it on my credit card and add it to my debts

Listed three items on ebay, my target was 11 so well short of that ... but it's a start. 3 more listings taking shape (damn camera). And this weekend I WILL sort the rest of the stuff out. It needs gone from my life, and i'll gratefully give the pennies a good home too.

Two more toilettries thingies used up in my decluttering mission.

And I lost 1lb this week. Mystery to me as I went right off the boil on this but very happy.

After planned spends there 'should' be £16 between me and the end of the Overdraft ..... keeping everything crossed.

Ruby789

Finally listed the full target of 11 items on ebay, though looks like only 1 will actually sell so far. Still time for the others to pick up, just a little disappointed.

Spent money I shouldn't have this weekend, spent nearly £8 on toilettries I didn't need. Went to buy 1 thing and came out with 3. The two extras don't do what they said they would and so were a complete waste of money. Broke even on stuff in vs stuff out so decluttering mission is a fail.

I also bought some stuff for a friend, but might be returning it as it's not really her style, its mine. I don't have money set aside for this stuff yet, so I really need to set a budget and find the cash before I start buying stuff.

Ruby789

So I was wrong, I have been paying interest on the 0% card. I made a number of smallish purchases which didn't make it onto the account before the end of the promotional period. I've not been paying a massive amount of interest or anything, it's more that I hadn't noticed till now, I thought I was well on top of things.

Oh well, as they say, you should check always check statements regularly. I should clear the interest attracting debt on that card with next month's installment, then move on to just the interest free debt after that. I would pay a bit extra now, but I really don't want to dip into the OD this month. Psychologically that would be a huge win for me.

For the first time in forever, my rent went out and I'm still in the black! Not by much, granted, but after planned spends there is just £11 between me and the end of the OD and I want to keep that buffer for just in case.

There were some bits and bobs of money I expected in this month, but not looking likely that I'll get any of them actually in my account before payday. These small bits and bobs are things that are a bit awkward, like asking people for the small amounts of money they owe you. Would be easier to ask for £20, than to ask for £5.

Ruby789

OK, i've been brave and made inroads into getting back two of the small amounts I mentioned, totalling just under £30. Fingers crossed they come in faster than I think they will. I have goofed

I had counted on being underspent enough this month to make up for the holiday installment I didn't make in December. I had this already in my holiday fund figures (as if it was definate), so if I don't find that money, the holiday pot will be short.

I also wanted to underspend on this week's spending money, but i'm already down to £10 and I've not been anywhere yet!

And I shopped this lunchtime. I dithered for a good 30 minutes and managed to put half the stuff back, but I still bought half. Need to find £20 from some other pot(s) to pay for it. It's debatable whether it was want or need.

Ruby789

Just once I wish my brain would engage before I do something stupid with money. It's like I like being in debt.

I know people who spend a £5 and make it look like they spent far more. I can spend £100 and yet it will look like I only spent £20.

Ruby789

Not managing to keep things simple at all! I have just 56p standing between me and needing to use the Overdraft . If I did dip into it it would only be temporary as I am expecting some money in before payday (refunds etc...) which will suffice, but it wasn't supposed to get this close. It's the psycological win i'm after, even if it all balances out at the end of the month, the point is that I had to use credit to survive and wasn't managing within my means.

I also forgot about paypal prison, so will need to pay for postage and packing on the items ending this week, long before I actually get to reimburse myself from paypal. I hadn't factored this in and not sure if I will be able to find the money for the intial outlay from anywhere other than the OD.

And i've been shopping, and not doing very well at it either. I didn't think it through, panic bought stuff and only then checked the returns policy. Taking back what I can tomorrow. I have now found something I'm much happier with, but theres not enough left in the budget to pay for it. I'm not buying another thing till i'm 120% sure.

Ruby789

I'm well and truly overspent this week So frustrating when i'm really trying so hard! And I'm not done with this week yet. Have no problem staying in to save money, but sometimes it's important to show your face and impossible to dodge being caught up in a round.