Balancing not just the budget

RosaBernicia

Oh, the bills are all set up for after payday but I go through them then - that way everything is early. Might also start doing a meter reading to try and keep the electric account on track - am in credit at the moment but of course using much more heating.

Think am going to have to accept that some of the job situation is out of my control, and focus on the bits that I can sort out. This is why I figured it's easier not to move - I am slowly going through stuff and decluttering, which hopefully will make things easier when whatever changes do happen, happen.

Should theoretically find out whether cynicism justified in next two weeks.


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Right, will write this down in an attempt to be MSE and keep control of spending!

I need to get my gym stuff organised and really easy to sort so that I have no excuses not to go, and so I feel good when I get there. Realistically, given how work is at present and that I want to be out more socially, I think this means having a week's worth of outfits so that I can ditch stuff as soon as it's sweaty, then do one wash and know I've got clean stuff for the week.

As I've lost weight, some of the stuff I was wearing no longer fits and so needs to be replaced, and I also never got round to buying a decent pair of trainers, so that has to go on the list too. This is not going to be cheap but it should all last and it's important.

So... stuff needed for gym.

• Sports bra and knickers x 3. Have 2, need to buy 1. About £40 (that's for another of the same set I already have - there may be cheaper options but this is not an area I'm prepared to compromise).
• Yoga pants/ bootleg stretch pants x 3. Have 1 that fits, need to buy 2. About £25 each, I think, so £50.
• T-shirt x 3 (have given up on strappy tops lol, t-shirts seem to look best esp when has to be combined with sports bra). Have 2, need to buy 1. Prob about £15.
• Cover-up eg, zip hoody, x 2 or 3. No idea how much, shouldn't be more than £20. Could buy one of these to begin with as it won't get as sweaty as other stuff.
• Socks x 3
• Indoor trainers x 1. No idea how much.
• Ankle/ wrist band for locker key and gym card. Prob about £5.
• Water bottle
• Favourite deodorant to go in gym bag so I can't forget to take the one off my dressing table. £12. (Yes, it's a posh natural one, and I love the scent of it so much to me it's worth it.)

I've already got a bag (a rather good Oxfam find which was a whole £5, so at least that bit was MSE :rotfl:), allocated old towels, and sorted out miniatures of shampoo etc

Will have a lunchtime trip to the sports shop near work tomorrow and see what I can find.


Rosa xx

lionheartedgirl

de-lurking to say :eek: at the amount of gym kit!!

I run 3-4 times a week and I don't have half of that. Admittedly i am a bit more top of washing and things because I really love going out and don't want a lack of clean kit to stop me, and also because I can't afford to buy more kit just yet so just have to wash it.

sorry everything at work is still being so awful

RosaBernicia

lionheartedgirl wrote: »

de-lurking to say :eek: at the amount of gym kit!!

I run 3-4 times a week and I don't have half of that. Admittedly i am a bit more top of washing and things because I really love going out and don't want a lack of clean kit to stop me, and also because I can't afford to buy more kit just yet so just have to wash it.

sorry everything at work is still being so awful

:rotfl: thanks LHG... it does sounds horrendous when I thought it through, but I found last time that it was not having fresh kit that was putting me off so am trying to think of solutions. I don't get in til 6.30 from the local office and if I've been in the city (which is often twice a week now) then I'm not back til 8, so I tend to do washing once a week if I can. Although I have been chucking stuff in as colours all together and maybe I should try out the express sports cycle or whatever it's called.

Interim plan - sort two outfits properly and try being more organised with washing . That means I need one pair of trousers, socks (have been wearing dreadful old boot socks with my trainers and was quite embarrassed taking them off at fitness assessment today), and trainers. I do have one decent zip fleece which could be put in with gym stuff for the moment. (Put an old one on this morning, saw it in daylight and came back in to chuck it in the bin - I had been hanging on to it to just wear around the house and hadn't realised how pulled and miscoloured it was!)


I am hoping I might just catch the running bug if I get exposed again :rotfl: - was really surprised how much I enjoyed the treadmill stuff, so am thinking of asking instructor to sort out a programme for me that would get me started through the winter and ready to try outside when it warms up a bit I am too much of a wuss to start out in winter - though very impressed with your plans for a Christmas Day run!

How's things in LHG land?


Oh, and oddly, work being rubbish is turning out to have side benefits like forcing me to think about stuff outside of work for once . I've had a lovely week and weekend of meeting friends, reading, and snoozing with a couple of purring moggies nearby, so am feeling rather lucky and wondering if work is really so important after all.


Rosa xx

ZTD

lionheartedgirl wrote: »

de-lurking to say :eek: at the amount of gym kit!!

I was a bit :eek: at the cost of it - I budget £5 for t-shirts (£6 for long sleeves) and got the last lot for about £4.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I don't get in til 6.30 from the local office and if I've been in the city (which is often twice a week now) then I'm not back til 8, so I tend to do washing once a week if I can.

Why don't you try shoving it in before you go to bed, or is that too noisy?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Although I have been chucking stuff in as colours all together and maybe I should try out the express sports cycle or whatever it's called.

I think that only works for things like football tops (i.e. synthetic and thin). Cotton T's would probably not work very well.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Oh, and oddly, work being rubbish is turning out to have side benefits like forcing me to think about stuff outside of work for once . I've had a lovely week and weekend of meeting friends, reading, and snoozing with a couple of purring moggies nearby, so am feeling rather lucky and wondering if work is really so important after all.

:T:T:T:T

vasseur

I also run 3-4 times a week. I pack all my stuff on a Sunday night and just leave it at work. This will be bras, socks, tops, bottoms and clean knicks for 4 days plus a towel of course. I take the dirty stuff home on a daily basis and it all goes in the wash at the end of the week and is all clean and fresh again ready for the next week's exertions

If you aren't prepared to compromise on cheaper sports bras (and I fully understand why you wouldn't) then save money on tops and bottoms. I have got loads of stuff from sp0rts direct, a1di and lid1. In fact I have got a great running hoody and trousers from lid1. Also Sainsbugs have some really nice looking stuff too and I was quite tempted the other day but then i remembered i was wearing my sensible hat so didn't get anything. I will after xmas though

You could get all this stuff to start you off and then gradually replace with more expensive items as you go on.

RosaBernicia

polesalot wrote: »

I also run 3-4 times a week. I pack all my stuff on a Sunday night and just leave it at work. This will be bras, socks, tops, bottoms and clean knicks for 4 days plus a towel of course. I take the dirty stuff home on a daily basis and it all goes in the wash at the end of the week and is all clean and fresh again ready for the next week's exertions

If you aren't prepared to compromise on cheaper sports bras (and I fully understand why you wouldn't) then save money on tops and bottoms. I have got loads of stuff from sp0rts direct, a1di and lid1. In fact I have got a great running hoody and trousers from lid1. Also Sainsbugs have some really nice looking stuff too and I was quite tempted the other day but then i remembered i was wearing my sensible hat so didn't get anything. I will after xmas though

You could get all this stuff to start you off and then gradually replace with more expensive items as you go on.

Thanks Poles - I will probably be in Sainsbugs tomorrow night so will have a look :T. The shop I'm thinking of at lunchtime is a Sport5 D1rest or JJ8 or something so not way expensive, and the prices I'm thinking of were from there last time... but I absolutely hate wearing visible brand names so ended up with N1k5 as it was the smallest logos, everything else in there seemed to have the brand in 6 inch letters! I have been going to Ald1 occasionally but it's tailed off a bit so might make a trip next weekend.

As you can tell all this exercise gear stuff is new to me :rotfl: so all wisdom much appreciated


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Right. I have NOT been paid any form of acting up this month :mad: and am just fed up with this now so all calculations for this, next month, and related SOA will only relate to my basic salary.

Supposedly the extension has been agreed and supposedly all should be sorted permanently in January but I am just peeved with being constantly messed about now.

Have just sorted bills and the total has been knocked back by a couple of months, mainly due to clothes shopping but also a major birthday present and related unexpected travel expenses. I now owe £9,490 with a net status of about £9,170. At least it's still in four figures .

Have paid 20% over the minimum statement on both cards, and aimed to take £200 off the blasted OD this month. At least now most of the debt is on one card with a low rate. IF I actually get back pay next month I would be able to clear the OD immediately but if not, it will take another month because I need a chunk of next month's paycheque for Christmas presents and petrol. I stopped paying into my gifts and holidays pots when I was trying to save for the house so they are still empty. Fortunately I kept the car one going as that's essential so it's still fine.

Have been good and gone back to recording spends on my spreadsheet so hopefully things won't get any messier.

And will do SOA shortly.


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Hurrah for Sport5D1rect... one pair of trainers which feel good quality and actually fit my narrow feet, £40; four pairs of sport socks (v amused they are actually labelled left and right) £10; velcro arm wotsit that actually has room for inhaler, £2. :j Never got to Sainsbugs as popped into the Tatco on the retail park instead.

Didn't find any yoga pants/ similar that I liked anywhere near as much as current pair - only similar ones were half the price but not as good a fit and much thinner fabric - so may just go back for another pair of the N1k5 ones when I can be bothered to try them on. Couldn't find a cover-up I liked either so that can also wait... might try TK Ma77 later in the week. Am going to have to budget fussiness on what I feel good wearing versus need to reduce washing hassle :rotfl:

Have remembered to include gym membership in this month's budget


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Right. I have NOT been paid any form of acting up this month :mad: and am just fed up with this now so all calculations for this, next month, and related SOA will only relate to my basic salary.

You probably need to email them this picture.



With the label: "It's not your arsse..."

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I now owe £9,490 with a net status of about £9,170. At least it's still in four figures .

Don't knock it. Good news is always welcome.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Hurrah for Sport5D1rect... one pair of trainers which feel good quality and actually fit my narrow feet, £40;

Well at least with narrow feet, you can get them further up payroll's "elbow"...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

four pairs of sport socks (v amused they are actually labelled left and right) £10;

Could be worse - could be "front" and "back"...

Hmm...sitting here listening to next-door's cat crying to be let in. It's is rather cool here at the moment, so I can appreciate its sentiment. But I guess:

a/ It's fat.
b/ It's furry.

so it's not all bad.