Balancing not just the budget

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

My night attire tends to the hairy. On the bright side - no ironing. On the downside - hand wash only...

I guess angora is warm for winter :rotfl:

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

(I really don't know why some things are cut as they are. Am beginning to think sportswear should be classified into 'Before', 'Working on it' and 'Showing off results'.)

Unfortunately, 'Before' can be subdivided so many ways you'd end up with about 10 of them.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I guess angora is warm for winter :rotfl:

Not as warm as it could be. Needs to be accompanied by a bit of "slinky" for maximum warmth...

RosaBernicia

Well I was going to do an SOA, but have had confirmation today that I should get my back pay in Dec plus the higher pay through til January. Still not holding my breath, but if it happens it will make a very satisfying dent in the remaining credit card. Also, am hoping to make progress on sorting out a permanent role next week. So there doesn't seem a lot of point in making a proper long term payment plan til January.

Christmas should be covered by my Dec paycheque, and I've no major expenses coming up. I've reviewed what I'm paying out, and aside from giving up the storage garage I don't think there are many cuts to be made on the bills. The electric is fixed, the cheapest option for rent etc is to stay here til things are clearer which is exactly why I've decided to do that. I do need to switch the phone and internet as the contract runs out at the end of Jan and I am not having Pr1mu5 again - will be paying the couple of quid extra for a decent service from Plu5ne7.

The areas I do need to look at are...

• Gym. Basically I need to use it to make it worth having the monthly membership - and if I don't go enough I could cut to pay as you go. It's already a totally reasonable choice of gym as it's the council one so £45 a month and only a monthly contract.
• Food. I'm paying out extra for gluten free bread and experimenting to find what I can eat. Because I've been busy and not felt like I was settled in the house, I also haven't been cooking. I've now sorted the house a bit so can hopefully go back to cooking more and taking in lunches. (Mind you, something MSE must have sunk in, I was amazed to hear that two of my colleagues eat out EVERY time they are in our city office - that's usually twice a week - and it's got to be over the limit for claiming on expenses :eek::rotfl:... I was taking stuff in, then realised if I pick up a salad at the station then I get a meal paid for )
• Clothes. I am doing much better at chucking stuff I don't need and wearing things out. But I do still need to sort out my work clothes better, and this will mean probably a pair of boots and another of shoes, plus tailored dresses. Will try and check the high street more, before allowing myself to visit the LK Bennett outlet

I refuse to feel any guilt about entertainment spending as I haven't had a social life in so long, and I'm hardly extravagant - it's cinema tickets, petrol to local nature reserve and coffee!

I'm using my spreadsheet again which is really helping - must keep using it. Oh and have finally managed to claim expenses at the end of the month in question :rotfl:

Soooo am hopefully getting back on track. Please all feel free to nag me in Jan


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Well I was going to do an SOA, but have had confirmation today that I should get my back pay in Dec plus the higher pay through til January. Still not holding my breath,

No. Don't even breathe slowly.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I do need to switch the phone and internet as the contract runs out at the end of Jan and I am not having Pr1mu5 again - will be paying the couple of quid extra for a decent service from Plu5ne7.

Oh? What problems did you have with them?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I refuse to feel any guilt about entertainment spending as I haven't had a social life in so long, and I'm hardly extravagant - it's cinema tickets, petrol to local nature reserve and coffee!

You need to budget for social life, to ensure you have a social life, otherwise you'll rebel.

RosaBernicia

I've had a lovely peaceful weekend and feel very at home for the first time in ages - which is odd since I'm decluttering in order to have myself sorted when I need to move.

My clothes are all in one wardrobe plus underbed boxes, and I've managed to make extra space in the drawers so I can now move t-shirts in there from the wardrobe. Need to tidy through the hanging shelves but then that's it done. I know what I've got, I've got rid of all the stuff I don't wear and I can easily identify what I have for any occasion (also, have realised that I do pretty much have everything I need for any occasion!).

I sorted through the stuff in the storage garage yesterday and took the immediate 'no's' to the charity shop. The rest is now split into stuff going to the parents, stuff going back in the garden shed, and stuff going to either a friend or charity (must email her to find out if she does want it). I have a free weekend next weekend, so will use one day to tidy the shed and garden.

The washing is all done, the fridge is tidy and full of fresh stuff, and I've made lunch to take to work for the first time in ages.

Went to Aldi and must remember to do that more often - it does work out really cheap for fresh veg and cooking basics. I confess to having spent £24 on slate tableware today... which is a bit daft as I haven't had people round since I moved from the old house... but on the other hand it's lovely stuff that would have cost waaay more anywhere else and of course hopefully in six months or so I will be moving somewhere I will use it

Still haven't been to the gym

Oh, and the blasted CC that they wouldn't let me close because I had to wait for a statement and then pay them £1.90 ish interest? Statement arrived... balance zero, no interest. :mad:


Rosa xx

vasseur

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I've had a lovely peaceful weekend and feel very at home for the first time in ages - which is odd since I'm decluttering in order to have myself sorted when I need to move.

My clothes are all in one wardrobe plus underbed boxes, and I've managed to make extra space in the drawers so I can now move t-shirts in there from the wardrobe. Need to tidy through the hanging shelves but then that's it done. I know what I've got, I've got rid of all the stuff I don't wear and I can easily identify what I have for any occasion (also, have realised that I do pretty much have everything I need for any occasion!).

I sorted through the stuff in the storage garage yesterday and took the immediate 'no's' to the charity shop. The rest is now split into stuff going to the parents, stuff going back in the garden shed, and stuff going to either a friend or charity (must email her to find out if she does want it). I have a free weekend next weekend, so will use one day to tidy the shed and garden.

The washing is all done, the fridge is tidy and full of fresh stuff, and I've made lunch to take to work for the first time in ages.

Went to Aldi and must remember to do that more often - it does work out really cheap for fresh veg and cooking basics. I confess to having spent £24 on slate tableware today... which is a bit daft as I haven't had people round since I moved from the old house... but on the other hand it's lovely stuff that would have cost waaay more anywhere else and of course hopefully in six months or so I will be moving somewhere I will use it

Your weekend sounds like every one of mine for the past 4 weeks. We have been decluttering ever since we (I?) decided we were going to move. Just when I think there is nothing more to get rid of, another load of stuff appears and gets shoved down to the tip, bagged up for charity or listed on eb@y.

Love love love A1di too! Shopping there has saved me a few thousand ££££ in the last 3 years

ZTD

polesalot wrote: »

Love love love A1di too! Shopping there has saved me a few thousand ££££ in the last 3 years

Unfortunately, I find I spend the money on other stuff. Though I think I have finally come to terms with the fact I don't actually need a bench grinder...

RosaBernicia

Hmmmm, well today was an NSD until I got online :eek:

Taking lunch in really helps as it means I have no excuse to go to the shops. Will take stuff tomorrow as well.

However... have ordered a full set of printer cartridges for £22 as a 45% off offer turned up in my inbox - they are all on their last legs and I've been putting it off as don't use the home printer much, but I will want to be able to print stuff out for swotting in the next few weeks.

Also ordered part of Mum's Christmas present together with some regular stuff for me, and will take that out of December's paycheque. It does at least save on p&p to do it now and should be before the post goes silly.

And another £33 on dry cat food... because it's much cheaper from Z00plu5 than from P@H. That can also come out of Dec money seeing as it's stocking up and I already spent £35 on them this month in stocking up with silly amounts of cat litter. I have resisted ordering any of the wet food that's on offer as it's too much hassle to get it delivered, so they will have to live with supermarket for big cat and P@H for little one. Still really pleased I put them on the monthly vet plan as it means all those costs are dealt with.

This leaves £200 til payday which ought to be OK if I use up what's in the fridge and freezer and use Aldi. I also need to cut down on my favourite fruit juice even though it's on offer. And to buy less sweets... my supposed stock-up has failed miserably as it's, er, vapourised :rotfl:

Trying to persuade myself that I ought to go out tomorrow night - especially as it's a free ticket thing... but failing so far :rotfl: Might say no and go to the gym instead.


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Still failed to get to gym :rotfl: but did find a zip hoodie last night that's exactly what I wanted so now have no clothes related excuses!

Hoodie was £25 (SD again) and I took lunch in again today so no other spends on me. In the other office tomorrow so will buy lunch on expenses and save me both the cost and the cooking . Also good that I stocked up on the Tatco single origin chocolate I like as it's a quarter the price of Hotel Choc one and keeps me away from temptation as I go through the mainline station!

Have just spent £25 on Christmas pressies which may have to be repaid next payday depending on social life before then. But also had confirmation that back pay went through before the payroll cut off so should turn up. And still not holding my breath.

Tried looking at delivery from Wa1tro5e and gave up as no sensible slots and min £50 which means buying more than I really need. No point doing collect as I'd have to pay for parking so may as well shop myself. Will pop down there on the weekend to stock up on the things I can't get anywhere else.

Off to read my Psychologies mag... must look at getting a subs again as I seem to end up buying it every month.


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Still not got to gym - did have sudden realisation that I can book classes on my membership, but the ones I want are full. Am on waiting list and will do something about going next week.

Spent too much money despite not really going anywhere - £20 on small real tree and about £12 on non-food stuff at Aldi's... however, as always it was stuff that was drastically cheaper there than elsewhere. I got a full set of the roasting equipment that came in today so lifting forks, baster, brush and meat thermometer all for £2 each. Have realised that my next place in the new year really must have more space for cooking and having people over - I miss doing that.

Have been sociable :T - coffee with friends and friends of friends yesterday. Today made cake, finally got flat presentable and had friends round for coffee with the cake. Have put up a couple of decs and potted up the tree so it just needs decorating. And I need to do something about cards!


Rosa xx