Balancing not just the budget

kerri_gt

Welcome back Rosa, sounds like you had a lovely time. Sorry you didn't get to see lovely man but perhaps that wasn't such a bad thing this time round - you can associate him / the place separately and plan to see him next time. You know what they say about absence and the heart, bet he's kicking himself for missing your message... and now thinking about you, lots.

Enjoy those kitty cuddles, ours has stalked off somewhere unimpressed with her food choice for tonight - clearly 100% chicken Encore isn't cutting the mustard...pah!

RosaBernicia

:rotfl: @ the cat party... so that's what they get up to!

Kerri I think you're right, it's been really helpful in some ways that I have explored the place without associating it too much with the man. Now they are two separate fab things and even if I don't get one I can still visit the other :rotfl:

Glad you are liking it here Tink - I must find your diary!


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

I have been very brave and faced up to my receipt pile and YNAB. :eek::eek:

I think it's just as well I didn't do this while on holiday as I'd probably have come home again! I spent a mad amount of money altogether for a week in the UK, but it did include hotels and a lot of eating out and a huge amount of petrol, since I drove rather than flying, and of course boarding the cats would be the same wherever I went. So I guess it's not too bad all things considered.

What I am really cross about is finding a charge on there for a discount card membership I had forgotten about - I signed up for one of those £1 intro offers and clearly forgot to cancel the full membership :mad::mad::mad: so that's a waste of £40. I checked it isn't a direct debit but not much I can do about it now, I read the original email and it's all clear so I have no cause for complaint about anything except my own disorganisation! I won't sign up for that kind of thing again, I rarely get enough use out of them and it no longer makes the difference as to whether I go out or not.

The rather good news is I have been paid my new salary :j and this means that together with what I'd already budgeted I can clear the holiday expenses with next month's paycheque. Also, it turns out that the MyBank CC statement cut in just after I went on holiday so I have cleared this month's statement and will be able to just clear next months' with my next paycheque. After that I really have to get sorted as I can't be paid that amount of money and not manage it properly!

So my budget is looking rather healthier than I expected. I've tweaked this month to allow for a bit of food shopping and possibly some cash but probably won't need it. I may treat myself to a spa treatment on the weekend as I'd forgotten am going to a spa with friends. Next month will be an average budget as a lot of income will go to clear the holiday costs and car service from the CC. And then I think I will review everything and start a whole new budget from my October paycheque. I want to up payments on the 0% card and also to the 'car loan' from my parents... because I think I want a campervan and I can't very well buy one while I still owe them money for the car... so there's motivation to get it paid off!

I am thinking of another trip back to my holiday place in October, as a friend may be going, but I think I can budget better next time :o :rotfl:


Rosa xx

MuffinTops

Hello Rosa,

I'm so in awe of your braveness in getting YNAB up to date. I'm a real head in sand type of girl, so thank you for giving me a little push in the right direction.

It's ok to splurge on holiday like you did. Your reward for all the other sacrifices you make on a daily or weekly basis to be financially savvy. I'm really happy to hear that you didn't let anything hold you back from your fab time.

Kerri has a great point in keeping the 2 things as separate lovely things too. I really hope you get to see the man in October. Lots of time to make some plans now too.

Congratulations on your new salary. I so love reading your updates as they always have such a positive thread running through them. As much credit as I give your vision board, it's all about you and your determination and vision that's getting you there.

Sometimes your updates give me a little jolt in how similar we are. I want a camper van too and am currently looking into it. I looked up how much I'd get for my car, and it's a pittance, but I do need a new one and a motorhome just does it for me! I'm so rock 'n' roll!!!!

Have a lovely Wednesday! MTx

RosaBernicia

Thanks MT

I find I worry more now about not knowing where I'm at with money than I do about having to face YNAB, so it's kinda uncomfortable having my head in the sand iyswim! I think it's partly that I'm so used to tracking everything and YNAB is a very easy way of doing it, plus I get really cross now about missing anything (like the recent CC payment that didn't go through - I would normally have spotted that). Also, because I have got most things paid off and have some flexibility, I don't have the same level of anxiety about seeing my finances all laid out. I think I'm only just realising this as I'm now pretty much in the black rather than in the red, and I still get a buzz when I realise that . I filled in an online mortgage calculator today and wanted to leap round the office when I could scroll straight past all the loans, HPs and cards section because they are all ZEROES!

That's a good point about my vision board. I do think in some ways it works subconsciously but also I can look at it now and think of the things I've done or am doing to bring each picture to reality. I've got something going for just about everything now and am thinking about what I will want to put on the next board and when that may be - I think perhaps I'll look at end of September or at Samhain. I kind of agree with Danielle LaPorte that autumn is a good time for plans and renewals.

Re the campervan I have done a bit of research today and it may be a longer term thing... I might have to think through how much use I would get out of it. I do love the idea though so will keep a lookout just in case something turns up. Maybe a pic for the vision board


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

:j:TTotally mixing my metaphors and life coaches, with thanks to FlyLady and Martha Beck :rotfl:

I'm finding my flat looks really cramped and messy now I'm back from a week away . That's mostly because it is :rotfl:. I used to have it better under control but it all went south during the great Commuting Madness when I was on secondment, and I haven't really got motivated since. It's not really helped by the fact that I'm looking to move anyway.

However, I'm here for now and I want to get it sorted so that 1) I can have people over at short notice if I like, 2) because I want to get back to that feeling of love and gratitude for my home that I used to have, and 3) so that I know what I'm taking with me when I do move is what I need and love, not junk.

So I'm going to go to bed with my copy of the FlyLady book and remind myself how being organised makes things easier. I'm also going to try and do a couple of little things every evening - just whatever seems most doable in the right direction - ie. turtle steps. I'm not going to write myself to-do lists or schedules because I have a new job to get to grips with and I don't need any extra hassle. I will try and use some of the bank hol weekend on this though, as I will have two new fab books on the Kindle - the new Pratchett AND the new Brene Brown - so I can do something in the house every couple of chapters.

Some examples of things that need doing bit by bit...
Get the paperwork off my bedroom floor. Mostly done tonight but need to reshuffle the cupboard as I have now run out of storage space for files.
Email landlord - done tonight.
Sort my car paperwork file. I kept all the stuff for the old one so it can probably be binned, just need to go through it and put the new one's stuff in. I've put this ready even though I couldn't be dealing with it tonight.
Put the stuff that came out of the car boot etc when it went for MOT, back in the car (some of which is en route to the charity shop). Done just now.
Sort out the final few bits waiting for Ebay or charity shop.
Reshuffle the cupboard somehow so that my day to day files will fit in there instead of waiting around on the bookcase in my bedroom.
Go through the pile of material 'for when I have time to really use the sewing machine' (currently unlikely til summer '16 :rotfl:) and cut it down so it fits into two storage baskets.


The place does look a little better already and now I feel I'm getting somewhere. Hurrah for flying turtles :rotfl:


Rosa xx

moneyonmymindsam

I'm a neat freak and it really is a curse ...

Have got a bit of fly lady of my own to do...I've sorted some more clothes out ...but going straight to the CS as I am going to plan wisely with a few new timeless classic pieces. I feel that some new clothes would make a world of difference to my look as well as my outlook.

I am stressed up to the eyeballs and need to work my socks off due to the bank holiday .... as so many things due in simultaneously

I've eaten a banana this evening but still need chocolate

moneyonmymindsam

Great news on the salary....:)

Tinkerbelle2000

Another neat freak here but with a serious lack of any decent clothes. I seem to live in jeans and jumper or t shirt and pumps. Roll on my job with a uniform lol.

Tink xx

RosaBernicia

I don't think I can claim to be a neat freak by any means :rotfl: but I do try and keep home tidy partly because it is much more relaxing to look at and partly because I've usually lived in shared or very small places!

My wardrobe needs revisiting too I chucked on a work dress in a hurry yesterday and was horrified when I got home and saw it in the mirror, it's gone baggy already. It's a jersey one and has been worn loads - probably twice a week all summer - but it still seems very soon to be chucking it out. I don't feel I can wear it for smart work stuff though as it is now slightly bobbly and the sleeves are visibly baggy. Guess I will keep a look out for new options.


Rosa xx