Batten down the hatches.....

Orange_Ena

crazy_cat_lady wrote: »

Well as long as you've had a good time and you're keeping track of what you're spending. We can't live like this every single day. A bit of a one off is absolutely fine. Pleased you've enjoyed.

Thanks CCL. Back to being frugal tomorrow! Hoping some old clothes sell well and at least cover the cost of my dress.

Orange_Ena

First day of my week off.......lovely.

Had a little lie in but I had to get up to take my cat to the vet for a check. He's ok, still overweight so his special diet continues.

Today
* £8.04 on special cat food
* VO survey. 30p away from cashing out a £45 Am@zon voucher
* DD of £40 went to Nati0nwide CC despite me only owing £31.92. Bit confused about that but the main thing is, it's gone! :T:beer::beer::j This CC will only be used for absolute dire emergencies.
* Paid £40 to new Ll0yds CC and I logged in to check the account and noticed I'd been partially refunded for the balance transfers, a total of £47.45. Not quite sure why but I'll not question it too much as it's in my favour
* YNAB and signature have been updated

I need to nip out later to get some shampoo. Out of all my boxes of smellies, I have no shampoo. Not even those little bottles stolen from hotels! :eek:

I realised that I had my full wage this month so for the next 2 months, I'll be paid £150 less due to paying for the damage to my lease car. So I don't get in a pickle, I'm going to not make extra payments to my CC's for now. I do pay more than the minimum anyway (£7 over minimum on Ll0yds and £83 over minimum on Barcl@ycard) so I'll just not go all out to pay more. Any cash earnings will go towards it though. I love YNAB and it appears I have got quite healthy looking saving pots, but I don't trust myself to totally rely on it yet. I don't think I've messed it up but not totally confident! I think I'll wait for the majority of my DD's to go out and reassess whether extra payments can be made.

This month I need to pay for a leaky shower to be fixed, my new laptop to be set up, the gym (3 months in advance) so I'm looking at about £150 at least. Its all in YNAB

Going to start taking photos of the clothes I want to sell. Fingers crossed they sell

Orange_Ena

Today - continued
* £11.25 on shampoo, moisturiser and a few other bits in S@vers
* £3 for the car park
* PA survey
* Youg0v survey
* 211SB earned

Another day of freedom tomorrow. I love not being at work

Orange_Ena

My week off is going too fast.

Today
* PA survey
* Pinec0ne survey
* 166SB earned and a £10 Am@zon voucher redeemed
* £49.75 for 3 months gym membership

I called the plumber about my leaky shower and I didn't think it would cost too much to fix. Was hoping for around £40 which I plucked from absolutely nowhere!! It's worse than that, much worse....... £180 . He says the bar needs replacing on the mixer which I only had it fitted 5 years ago but that's it's life span apparently so he's coming tomorrow to change it. I'm wasting water so something needs doing sharpish. I think I'll add a new category to YNAB......"new shower in 2020" :rotfl:

I listed my spare not very brilliant vacuum cleaner on Shp0ck today for a tenner and it's sold. I've said I'll drop it off Thursday as it's only round the corner and I hate waiting in for people to collect stuff when they only give a vague time. I've also listed 12 items of clothing on eb@y and have 11 watchers already :T

AspiringButAnxious

Well done on everything — especially the SBs! I've been approaching SB half-heartedly lately, but it's a struggle...

catriona79

Hello hello!

So sorry to hear about the shower.
I've been having plumbing problems too, a leaky tap. Posted job on rated people. Response says £90 plus new tap.
Went to my builder who's also kind of a friend, but I don't want to keep asking for favours... So he's been round today and laughed at the £90, said how long are they going to take to do it!?
Do you have any people you know who could do it cheaper? Seems like a high price... tradesmen - you never know whether the price is right or not..

You're doing very well with the surveys and budgeting!

Orange_Ena

AspiringButAnxious wrote: »

Well done on everything — especially the SBs! I've been approaching SB half-heartedly lately, but it's a struggle...

Thanks ABA! Its definitely more hard work some days trying to earn the SB's. I didn't do any over the weekend and it was lovely to have a break but I'm back on it now, earning as much as I can before Christmas

Orange_Ena

catriona79 wrote: »

Hello hello!

So sorry to hear about the shower.
I've been having plumbing problems too, a leaky tap. Posted job on rated people. Response says £90 plus new tap.
Went to my builder who's also kind of a friend, but I don't want to keep asking for favours... So he's been round today and laughed at the £90, said how long are they going to take to do it!?
Do you have any people you know who could do it cheaper? Seems like a high price... tradesmen - you never know whether the price is right or not..

You're doing very well with the surveys and budgeting!

Cheers Catriona. Unfortunately I don't know anyone that could do it but it's done now Sorry to hear about your leaky issue. It's times like this I wish I rented!

Surveys are going well, really chuffed with my earnings. But what to spend the Am@zon vouchers on, that is the question!

Orange_Ena

Last day off tomorrow

Yesterday
* £8.50 on knickers. I couldn't carry on managing with my old knickers, I've lost so much weight. I used to pay £4-6 pound a pair but I got 8 pairs for £8.50.....seem quite good quality too. What a revelation!
* £36.97 in T3sco, a few things on offer and some essentials. I bought 2 big, pretty storage boxes. £10 down to £2. Not really needed but I couldn't resist
* 2 PA surveys. Up to £10.15 payable and awaiting £4.05. Will cash out at £20
* VO survey. Took me over the threshold so I redeemed a £45 Am@zon voucher. When I get the Sw@gbucks voucher, I'll be up to £96 in my Am@zon account.
* £190 on my new shower and while the plumber was here, he changed my loo seat for me. I bought it ages ago but couldn't work out how to do it myself!

Today
* £10 cash received for my spare vacuum cleaner :T
* £38 on a facial.......a total treat really. I used to have a facial every month but I couldn't carry on so now it's every 10-12 weeks. I don't drink, smoke or pay for cable / sky so this and my hair appointment is my treat. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! :rotfl::D
* £6 on some clips to get something fixed at home which my dad kindly did for me. Maybe saved £100-150 on calling a tradesperson!
* 400SB earned

While the plumber was here yesterday, he gave me a quote for replacing 2 radiators and installing a towel rail in the bathroom. I definitely need to do something before the winter comes as the radiators are awful at giving out heat. I tried bleeding them but they are just so old so I need to bite the bullet and get that done before Christmas. He quoted £490 which is only a bit better than a quote I had the other week.

If I ever get round to getting a lodger, I need to get this done anyway. I'm not even sure it's manageable before Christmas with being £150 down over the next 2 paydays but I will try!

I've got in a right pickle with YNAB. Everything was fine until I entered a few transactions then I was over budget for September but had some available for October. I just couldn't see where I went wrong so I've saved that budget and started a brand new fresh one. Even though I think I've got my head around it, I can't quite make it work for the last few days of the month when some money goes out by direct debit. It's October income but going out in September. I think as the time goes on and I develop a surplus, I will be able to budget those last few days of the month properly. I might spend some time watching the seminars again.......maybe I've forgotten a lot since I watched them!

Up to 35 watchers on 12 items on eb@y now. 2 bids so far and if everything sells for the listing price it'll be about £50. Come on buyers......momma needs some new radiators :rotfl::D

catriona79

Orange_Ena wrote: »

Cheers Catriona. Unfortunately I don't know anyone that could do it but it's done now Sorry to hear about your leaky issue. It's times like this I wish I rented!

Surveys are going well, really chuffed with my earnings. But what to spend the Am@zon vouchers on, that is the question!

Hello Ena,

So, it's Friday morning of your week off, still full 3 days of wonderful leisure!

Ooh the Amazon vouchers. Xmas presents for family (do you have many to buy for?) or a treat for yourself? You've been extremely disciplined. Sometimes Amazon do the same boots as high St stores, if you need a winter pair.

I still haven't spend my M&S vouchers! Still not seen anything there, but have recently started buying their low calorie meals, so may use it on that, bit by bit and reduce my food spend for October. Since I'd be buying them anyway! Then if I really want a coat from there, I can get that too. But I only rarely see things in M&S that I like. So that may be a plan, as it will save me spending it for the sake of it. I need some of your discipline, Ena!