Balancing not just the budget

RosaBernicia

Well it's still all looking pretty good

Had a lovely day out with a friend I haven't seen in ages, so we wandered round an art exhibition and ate cake :T. I treated myself to a pair of earrings for £10, and bought some bits in Lu5h today rather than waiting til next week, but that saves another bus fare. See the reckless extravagance I have succumbed to now that I'm close to DF? :rotfl:

I also found a fab dress in Deb3nham5 which turned out to be not only half price but another 10% off for cardholders - so only £20 :j very happy with that and it will be paid out of March or April money when it shows up on the statement.

I'm stocked up with most things and still have my usual budget set aside for March, plus about £200 unbudgeted which I will review later in the month. At some point in March I should get some TCB money too, which I haven't budgeted for so that should be a bit extra. I should also (hopefully, finally) find out what my college fees are going to be and will probably just put them on the 0% card to be paid off over the next few months together with the remnants of the Last Card.

So a little more plodding to do but only a little and it's downhill as I seem to have made a couple of big leaps recently!


Rosa xx

kerri_gt

Hi Rosa, just catching up after going away then poorly / flat out at work. Just wanted to say awesome news about the cc, you've done so well to get it to this level. It's a funny feeling isn't it, thinking that on the horizon is a time when your earnings truly will all be yours.

Oh, and if you like Lush, have you tried Bomb Cosmetics? I got both for xmas and Bomb are really nice (if a little too moisturising that I have to clean the bath after else stepping in for a shower after would be lethal! I've read of a few people that have converted from lush to bomb)

RosaBernicia

Hi Kerri

Thanks - hope you're feeling better and that flat out work is either fun or calms down soon

I'm beginning to experiment with a few more companies so will look out for that one - I used to be really careful as my skin's quite reactive, but a lot of them are much better about sensitive skin and labelling now.


RB xx

Shoe_Gal

Good thanks! Not really posting much these days but still read my fave diaries - and Souk and Lula's blogs

Sounds like things are going well with you :A

RosaBernicia

Shoe_Gal wrote: »

Good thanks! Not really posting much these days but still read my fave diaries - and Souk and Lula's blogs

Sounds like things are going well with you :A

Glad to hear all is good with you :T

I have had phases of posting and not posting but it does help at times when I want to focus a bit. RL friends know that I'm working on paying off my degree costs but don't have the same tolerance of details as those who've been in the same boat

I check in on Souk's blog now and then but didn't know Lula had one... is it on her old thread, or any chance you could PM me the link?


Rosa xx

kerri_gt

Know what you mean about RL Rosa, they get bored with suggestions or excitement of finding a bargain / planning. Though I was talking to a friend today who said she needs to get things In order, stop wasting money on silly things like choc bars at petrol stations....I am sure I can help her along :-)

RosaBernicia

kerri_gt wrote: »

Know what you mean about RL Rosa, they get bored with suggestions or excitement of finding a bargain / planning. Though I was talking to a friend today who said she needs to get things In order, stop wasting money on silly things like choc bars at petrol stations....I am sure I can help her along :-)

I'm sure you can too although the funny thing is that some people say these things but then don't seem interested in doing anything... pre LBM maybe?

There are also a couple of people I know who describe themselves as very financially savvy, but who don't really seem to do any background reading or actually track their finances. So I am beginning to think that some people say this just because they've got a mortgage, not because they actually have more of a plan or know more than I do. Oddly they tend to be the ones who look slightly insulted when I ask if they watched Martin or what they think of an issue :rotfl:

So I talk to a couple of friends who I know have also been properly skint and understand when it may be necessary to say no to things or decide what means most to you personally. I think they're bored of me telling them how wonderful YNAB is though


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

I'm so excited I'm randomly squeaking

I went through YNAB again and tidied up a couple of things and put in March's money so I can work out what will be available for stomping the Last Card.

Very excited to realise that (touching wood and barring disasters etc) I think I can pay £250 more out of the last paycheque, and £450 out of the one due at the end of March. So that's £700 gone and gets me down to £250. It also still leaves a little flexibility in the budget which if I am good - and I'm very motivated to be good for once :rotfl:- I can probably squeeze to an extra £100 off the card.

That just leaves me with £150 which could potentially be achieved by emptying the buffer fund of £120 and pulling the remaining £30 from the dental, vet bills and car pots. It could all be replaced pretty quickly but would mean I could get the card cleared and closed before its 0% deal ends in April.

:j


Which just leaves me wondering... if I do that, I'll have to put college fees and holiday flight on the 0% card to be repaid from April and May money. So.... do I count DF as free of old debt, or shall I wait til I've got it all sorted and can be smugly saving up for things? :think:

It's such a ruddy marvellous dilemma to be in :rotfl::T


A very happy and thankful Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

I've got another interview :T

Not quite such a beautiful area as the last one, but much nearer than I am now and easy to get to friends. And it's the same grade as I'm on now, so no pay drop and potentially a bit cheaper for housing.

Just working out how to get there and then must write the presentation *ulp*


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

A quick confession - used £14 of the leftover cash from last month on a takeaway. Which is a bit steep - I must go and pick up some of the frozen curries I want for emergencies - but did mean I've been able to spend tonight sorting interview travel arrangements. I think I've managed to sort it to stay with relatives and only need one day's leave.

I also need to get in gear a bit with a few things if I really might be leaving my current job, so it's helped motivate me too.

Otherwise NSD - holiday planning is now on hold til after the interview in case I get the job!

I called the MSE recommended mortgage broker to get an idea of what I could borrow and whether it would matter if I was starting a new job. Which included a lovely moment where I was able to say 'all my credit cards will be clear at the end of this month'. Also pleased to see that it looks like I can borrow more than I could last time, when I still had quite a way to go with the debt busting.


Rosa xx