Balancing not just the budget

RosaBernicia

Disseration done and handed in :j:j

It ended up being an all nighter after all due to technical issues - I'd forgotten how old my version of Office is and it wouldn't work with something else - but I was still much better organised and more relaxed than I have ever been about a submission date before so :T:T for me . Only a couple of small written things and one exam left now. Which feels really really good - I had given up on having this for real and forgotten all the reasons I like it, so was really pleased to find that both doing the project and going there today both made me weirdly happy despite all the drama.

Only downside is I'd forgotten how much it all costs... . I paid out for a membership in order to get information for my project, that will be about £50 - it's gone on the 0% card and I will find a way of shifting it at the end of June somehow. Travel today was already covered as I bought a multi trip ticket ages ago, but it was the last one on there so I will need to buy a new one - probably at the end of this month as I have a for-fun trip into the city then and there's no sense paying extra for that when I will need the multi ticket a month later anyhow - the multi is a really good deal as it works out 30% cheaper . So that's about an extra £50 too (student discount ) which currently I have spare in the budget so fingers crossed. I also ought to join the professional association, but there's no real hurry for that so it can wait til July or later. After that, I think I'm looking at about £45 a month for travel and will try to take lunches with me. I already have equipment, and probably sufficient books even if they are a little out of date.

I'm noticing that I'm still adjusting to not being quite so skint and it's a bit odd. I seem to have lost the buzz from little treats like coffees out now that they're not 'naughty' any more and I don't feel 'deprived' :rotfl: . I could perfectly well have justified getting something today as a reward for finishing my module and because I was stuck in the city, and yet I just couldn't find anything I wanted. I bought my skincare stuff and came home! Which is lovely - it makes life simpler and slower and focused on the important things... like I did think 'well I don't want to spend money on X when I could put that towards a boat trip on my holiday'... so here's hoping it sticks.

Tomorrow it's back to the tidying up! :eek: I only really got my clothes Kondo'd but am really pleased as it's helped show what I need and also helped me notice when things need replacing. I think now it's paperwork... _pale_


Rosa xx

vasseur

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I'm noticing that I'm still adjusting to not being quite so skint and it's a bit odd. I seem to have lost the buzz from little treats like coffees out now that they're not 'naughty' any more and I don't feel 'deprived' :rotfl: . I could perfectly well have justified getting something today as a reward for finishing my module and because I was stuck in the city, and yet I just couldn't find anything I wanted. I bought my skincare stuff and came home! Which is lovely - it makes life simpler and slower and focused on the important things... like I did think 'well I don't want to spend money on X when I could put that towards a boat trip on my holiday'... so here's hoping it sticks.

I can completely identify with this. When I'm truly skint there always seems to be something to pay out for yet when I have a credit balance I am much better at making it work for me. If you'd had no money at all you'd have found loads that you wanted to buy..

RosaBernicia

vasseur wrote: »

I can completely identify with this. When I'm truly skint there always seems to be something to pay out for yet when I have a credit balance I am much better at making it work for me. If you'd had no money at all you'd have found loads that you wanted to buy..

I'm glad it's not just me then

Contrary creatures, humans :rotfl:

moneyonmymindsam

Hello You


How are things? ...massive congratulations to you on finishing the module :j:j:T:T


Bet you are pleased

moneyonmymindsam

RosaBernicia

Thanks Sam

I am really pleased... hadn't thought about how it would feel after all the drama of getting on it and through it but 'tis done and I feel so much more 'nearly there!'


Rosa xx

kerri_gt

All done on getting the dissertation in Rosa. I hav yet to meet anyone who didn't end up pulling an all nighter for one reason or another with one.

Sounds like you're really on top of things now, well done xxx

RosaBernicia

So this might not be a great time to confess to unplanned spending then :rotfl:

I went into town this morning for the first time in ages - I've been picking up my skincare etc on trips to the city but had to get to the sorting office today for an Ebay parcel (a bag which I love, and is in a colour I love, but perhaps didn't exactly need). And on the way back I found a fab skirt at a stall on the high street (which I think is OK as I already knew I didn't have any long skirts thanks to the clothes clearout, and I'm wearing it already, and besides I have decided I don't flaming well like jeans and am not going to even try and shop for them any more), plus a pair of fab earrings (which I think is excusable, they were less than half the price of a version I've been looking at in one of the high street jewellers). Then I went in Br4viss1m0 to order one thing to match my last order and came out with a whole new set (however, I did need to replace underwear as I threw out so much in the Kondo cull).

I bought two unplanned gifts as well but they're both lovely and just right for the friends they are for, and I have money in the budget for that.

It's just as well I normally stay out of town now :rotfl: - still, all but the new underwear is covered in this month thanks to the Ebay profits, and that could be paid from next month's clothes budget. I'm also on track with the rest of the budget this month and the freezer is full so am going to try and stick with Aldi for the rest of the month except for gf stuff top-ups. Hoping I can begin to trim a little off the usual groceries budget.

It's not looking bad at all considering all the drama in the last couple of weeks.


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Phew *swoons dramatically onto sofa*

Just about caught up with all the chores neglected during the dissertation phase. Shopping done, YNAB updated, washing done, bins done, bedroom sorted. Just a bit of hoovering and a swipe round the bathroom tomorrow and it will be back to normal.

Soooo... tomorrow will be last few chores, a couple more Ebay listings, and going out somewhere to have fun. And calling a couple of friends in the evening. I will get on with paperwork sorting and weeding the garden, but those can be done in the weekday evenings too as I'm in the local office all week. I need some fun time after giving up time to studying.

I think I will probably have to accept that it will be July before I can be fully DF. June is rather stretching things (the payment would be double my usual) and doesn't allow room for the college related costs I'd forgotten about, never mind anything else that comes up between now and then. It's making me a bit antsy looking at the numbers. So I think I'm going to readjust them and give myself that extra month rather than stress for weeks - there's no additional cost involved since all the college bills are on the 0% purchases card, and no specific reason that justifies making myself anxious over it. I will still keep trying to clear everything ASAP as I'm looking at mortgages and moving, and that's a positive motivation rather than a worry.

I should be able to finally make my vision board this week too! :j And my other resolution is to get some weekends planned. I have some time booked for study and some for volunteering but really ought to get some days sorted to catch up with friends.

Off to play on Zoopla again


Rosa xx

moneyonmymindsam

Sounds like your doing great Rosa ...Keep up the good work!