Balancing not just the budget

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I am overspent in a few areas. I have signed up for some 'style' courses with a lovely friend of a friend, on big discounts,

What kind of style? Personal dress style? Home furnishings?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

The furniture is due to be paid off the credit card on this payday, hopefully - if not, there may have to be a balance carried for a week or so.

As a one off, that's not so bad. As a one off.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I sorted the bedroom furniture on the weekend and am really pleased with the look of it but a bit freaked out to find that it seems to have set off my asthma. I've had the windows open all this evening and hopefully it will go off in a few days together with the chipboard smell.

Try burning a candle at nights (while in the room). A candle candle, not scented with something. Formaldehyde vapour and other organic compounds in resin may enter the flame, but will not exit it...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

But it's made me aware of trying to buy real wood in future.

Real wood is good. And if you knacker it, a bit of elbow grease with sandpaper and varnish can bring it back. Chipboard - not so much.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I'm hoping to have a bit more time to look around for second hand furniture over the next few months and save some pennies there.

Haunt the charity shops. They often have furniture in.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Hope everybody is OK after the back to work shock!

Not me - I'm still on holiday. :T

doingitanyway

Second hand furniture will save you more than pennies. I am always shocked at the prices of new furniture. On one of the diaries a poster is paying of a loan for a sofa set that cost her £4,000!!

Also look out for shop display for big discounts too.

I say keep the house well aired until the new furniture smells have gone...

Keep enjoying your new home

RosaBernicia

Thanks peeps

It will be much easier to look out for second hand furniture once I'm settled in. Since I still work full time I decided I needed things that will do for now, and what I got looks good and was reasonable. Time for enjoying the process as we go now that the basics are clear

Good point about the vapour Z, I did burn some frankincense incense which really helped, so was probably as much to do with the flame as with the frankincense! I'll put a plain candle up there this evening.

Small money saving things... I cancelled the cat's care plans with the previous vet, as they will now go to the one in the village. That's £20 a month back and a perfectly OK solution - I keep a savings pot for vet bills, and never used all the worming and flea stuff anyhow, I already have a stockpile. Over the next couple of weeks I need to sort out changing their insurance and also look at better deals for the mobile phone and laptop. I'm pretty sure the laptop is a crap deal as I can't remember why I took it out :o


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Well a belated Sunday shuffle report and payday update

I have managed to cover the credit card bill, which is necessary as it all showed up this month... but with not much to spare. It means there is nothing going into the holiday and long term goals budget lines, and I have reduced others. But I think it will be OK - now that I am settled I am finally getting a little more organised and some costs will go down. I can survive without Kindle books for a month - there are boxes of real ones all over the house :rotfl:and besides I have been reminded about online books from the library, so will explore that . I don't think I desperately need anything clothes wise and there are more to come out of boxes for summer anyway.

It is a reminder though that although the extra costs this month didn't knock me sideways on day to day costs, they have detoured my savings plans . If it wasn't for that I would comfortably have the costs of boarding the cats over my holiday set aside, and money for some house things too. Never mind - onwards. After all, this is a very different place and mindset than where I was last year so it is all to be celebrated :T

No other news to report... I have been tidying the place bit by bit and am re-reading FlyLady to give me some ideas. Hoping to make a start on the garden soon too.

I hope everybody else's Mondays have been OK


Rosa xx

doingitanyway

All sounding good over here.
Looking forward to your DF anniversary party

bellevie

Hi Rosa,


Back after some time away and I am amazed at how much has gone on for you in such a short amount of time!


Congratulations on your house purchase!!! I was shocked at how fast it all went, but it also reminded me that things happen for a reason those previous homes that didn't go through, but you have ended up with a house that you are clearly very much in love with!


I cannot wait to have that feeling, its looking likely to be end of 2019 for us....need to grit my teeth a little longer!

doingitanyway

I hate to sound like your social secretary but the invites for the DF party are due...:)

ZTD

I decided to give this budgeting lark a go. I've put every transaction over the past month in.

You have the patience of Job.

It has taken me from about 9pm to about now to do it - just about the longest fortnights of my life...

God help those with complicated finances... :eek:

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

I decided to give this budgeting lark a go. I've put every transaction over the past month in.

You have the patience of Job.

It has taken me from about 9pm to about now to do it - just about the longest fortnights of my life...

God help those with complicated finances... :eek:

:rotfl:it gets easier, honest...

My in-my-head tracker can't be trusted so I need a different one to avoid disaster!


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

:rotfl:it gets easier, honest...

Well for the software I'm using, I've put in just about everything as a timed/recurring job. Only problem being that lots of things change depending on the month, and it doesn't have a "I get paid X amount per working day - work it out for this month" function. Though to be fair I am using the Android version rather than the desktop version.

It's going to be a PITA when interest on the various accounts start popping up like meercats...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

My in-my-head tracker can't be trusted so I need a different one to avoid disaster!

I worked on the "float" system. I had a float, if it contracted, I pulled my horns in. If it expanded, I either let my horns out again, or I pulled money out and into a savings account. Once out of my current account it effectively "disappeared". One of the disadvantages of being "organised" is that I've convinced myself I'm not desperately poor... :eek: