Balancing not just the budget

RosaBernicia

doingitanyway wrote: »

Hope you are feeling better Rosa?

Thanks DIA, yes I am. I felt rotten still this morning but after more sleep and lunch I feel OK again. I also managed to drop out of the work thing that being ill has prevented me preparing for, so much less stressed. My director OK'd it and I'm grateful to have a lovely team at work and a job that gives me paid leave. I read Martin's FB post about the Mental Health and Debt Institute today and noticed that he says the same, a little recovery time is so valuable.

I've spent cash in the corner shop today as I am running low on some food, but I don't feel I can drive to the supermarket when I'm off sick - I'm always sure I'll run into someone from work and look like I'm skiving! So nothing that affects the budget. I must claim my expenses when I get back to work though, otherwise YNAB gets confused with money going out in one month and in the next, and it gets tangled up with income when I try to keep it separate (as it should really just be out and replace, not a real cost iyswim).

I am beginning to think that I'll have a gradual clear out after my exam, as I'm noticing things I don't need or wear. This will make things simpler when I move or buy a house elsewhere (as I'm now thinking that maybe I should buy a house somewhere else and keep my current job while I make longer term plans to move). I've also cut down my Ebay checking, as although I have several searches running most of them are 'just in case' and not for things I want now. So I'm just looking at the ones that relate to items I want soon - and I've un-watched several things I was just flagging as possibilities. I want to set up a 'pot' to save in once I'm on a new DF budget, so that I can plonk money in there every time I decide against spending!


Rosa xx

doingitanyway

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I am beginning to think that I'll have a gradual clear out after my exam, as I'm noticing things I don't need or wear. This will make things simpler when I move or buy a house elsewhere (as I'm now thinking that maybe I should buy a house somewhere else and keep my current job while I make longer term plans to move).

Rosa xx

Glad you have stepped back and feel a little better.

I totally agree about clearing stuff out gradually. Maybe it's the time of year but I too can see all sorts of things I don't use or need...

MuffinTops

Wooh to being so close to debt free that tomorrow you'll only need 1 hand to count the days!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw

I'm sorry you're not feeling great, although with all you've had going on it's not surprising. Yay to exam right before the bank holiday weekend.

MTxx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Thanks DIA, yes I am. I felt rotten still this morning but after more sleep and lunch I feel OK again. I also managed to drop out of the work thing that being ill has prevented me preparing for, so much less stressed.

You're currently "contagious ill" and not "stressed ill"? It's good that you're feeling better.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I've spent cash in the corner shop today as I am running low on some food, but I don't feel I can drive to the supermarket when I'm off sick - I'm always sure I'll run into someone from work and look like I'm skiving!

Always have stocks in. Just in case.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I am beginning to think that I'll have a gradual clear out after my exam, as I'm noticing things I don't need or wear.

Are these Ebay wins?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

This will make things simpler when I move or buy a house elsewhere (as I'm now thinking that maybe I should buy a house somewhere else and keep my current job while I make longer term plans to move).

Like a buy-to-rent thing, or something else?

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

You're currently "contagious ill" and not "stressed ill"? It's good that you're feeling better.

Yes, contagious type ill. Though I have given myself more leeway to take the time off because of the exams coming up - I don't want to get stressed by working when feeling grotty and have that affect my exam prep.

ZTD wrote: »

Always have stocks in. Just in case.

By natural inclination I would, but I've cut back on it as part of debt busting! Soon I won't have to worry about it though and can fill the freezer.

ZTD wrote: »

Are these Ebay wins?

Not all of them. Mostly it's jewellery and clothes from a few years ago that I don't really wear, as my style's changed a little since then. Some of it is things I bought in that 'I've been skimping so I deserve a reward now that I've finished a Masters module/ passed this exam/ been promoted' kind of thing where I felt I should mark an occasion by shopping, even if I couldn't quite find the right thing. I am trying not to do that any more, which is partly what the Fun Money category is about - I can put money in there for birthdays etc and know it's separate for when I do find the right thing.

ZTD wrote: »

Like a buy-to-rent thing, or something else?

I'm still thinking this through, but more a case of buying somewhere that I could get to for long weekends now and live in the longer term. I would still have to rent here, but would have a much, much smaller mortgage and it would give me some flexibility to buy and look at different career options, whereas buying here would mean I couldn't afford to drop my earnings at all. Just a thought for now, but I'll look at it more in the next few months. Interestingly, I've seen a few price drops on property round here so do wonder if the market is slowing down - or it could be just a blip after the buy to let rules changed.


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

MuffinTops wrote: »

Wooh to being so close to debt free that tomorrow you'll only need 1 hand to count the days!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw

OMG you're right! :eek: blimey. Who woulda thunk it when I started these diaries...

MuffinTops wrote: »

I'm sorry you're not feeling great, although with all you've had going on it's not surprising. Yay to exam right before the bank holiday weekend.

MTxx

I'm feeling much better and am glad I took the time to recuperate properly.

Very excited about the bank hol weekend - I have a massage booked for my first study-free morning, then I intend to get all my summer clothes out! And then I'm going to visit a lovely friend on the Sun/ Mon. All good


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

By natural inclination I would, but I've cut back on it as part of debt busting! Soon I won't have to worry about it though and can fill the freezer.

So long as you don't waste the food, having a good set of stocks is no more expensive than having few stocks (unless you're one of these accounting types who will total up depreciation and storage costs...:eek:)

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Not all of them. Mostly it's jewellery and clothes from a few years ago that I don't really wear, as my style's changed a little since then.

Changed in which way?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Some of it is things I bought in that 'I've been skimping so I deserve a reward now that I've finished a Masters module/ passed this exam/ been promoted' kind of thing where I felt I should mark an occasion by shopping, even if I couldn't quite find the right thing.

Can you pass them on as gifts, or have you used them?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I'm still thinking this through, but more a case of buying somewhere that I could get to for long weekends now and live in the longer term. I would still have to rent here, but would have a much, much smaller mortgage and it would give me some flexibility to buy and look at different career options, whereas buying here would mean I couldn't afford to drop my earnings at all. Just a thought for now, but I'll look at it more in the next few months.

Just be aware that a property this isn't "your primary residence" will probably need a slightly more expensive mortgage.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Interestingly, I've seen a few price drops on property round here so do wonder if the market is slowing down - or it could be just a blip after the buy to let rules changed.

Those two are not exclusive of one another. It'll be interesting to see what hare-brained scheme the state comes up with if the house market does slow.

RosaBernicia

5... days to DF

I went back to work this afternoon and have also been shopping... so we are now restocked with moggie food and Rosa food :rotfl:Though I really do need to shop better once exams are over - I've had to chuck unused veg out of the fridge again. I buy it with the intention of cooking and then get too swamped and eat cheese on gf toast! So on the weekend I will get some more Cook! meals to get me through next week, and next time I'm in Wa1tro5e I will pick up some more frozen veg options.

The budget is running ok, still all fine til payday, there is over £15 cash in my purse and more than enough petrol in the car to get me through the next 5 days. I keep thinking I must have forgotten something


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

4... days to go :j

Small :money: things today just to keep me on track:

• Claimed expenses
• Called phone company to sort online registration - I have no memory of setting a PIN and the website insists on one - all now sorted so should be able to review my bills in future. I have been paying extra for calls to a friend in Scandinavia, so will see if she can ring me back for free in future as I think she has a UK mobile.
• Dug out my PIN for the T5B card , which I haven't been using - but I lost my main debit card after leaving it in the machine at the supermarket :mad: so it's really good that I have an immediate alternative. Imagine, TWO accounts that both have money in!
• Spotted the Cheap Energy Club email and applied to switch! I had just left things with my current supplier when the contract expired as at the time I couldn't be dealing with checking different deals. But when today's arrived in the email I logged on to confirm that there was no exit fee - and found that I can save 9p a day on the new standing charge, as well as a lower kWh price :T . This does mean that I may have to clear the debit I have with the current company - £200 - _pale_ but that ought to happen anyway, and will be no problem now that everything else will shortly be clear. I've been putting off upping the direct debit and I guess that's a little lesson to keep a closer eye in future!

There's not much left in the Groceries budget, but that shouldn't be an issue as I have a fridge full of food and I have enough in the Dining out line to do coffee and farmer's market treats on the weekend. I think I have overspent on books - what a surprise :rotfl:- but will either reshuffle the eating out money or just clear it on payday, depending how many farmer's market goodies I find!


Rosa xx

doingitanyway

You are sounding in control
Coffee and farmers market. Two of my favourite things. Enjoy