Dear Diary...

Bad_Weather

So.

I had applied for a 0% 18 month credit card. GOt an 8k limit.

DO NOT FRET, I AM NOT GOING TO RACK IT UP.

But I did start spending on it, then transferring the corressponding amounts to a savings accounts. With the view I'll get the interest.

But with some much going on I have established I am not organised enough for this kind of responsibility.

So I am going to keep the credit card for big spends like holidays and the wedding and my personal spends will just be cleared as normal. The wedding and holidays I will have the savings for. Personal spends - not always. It's a slipperly slope.

KNOW YOUR LIMITS BAD WEATHER! x

HeadAboveWater

Morning!

Dangerous game for sure! I've no debt but recently got myself a credit card to make money. Idea is to spend on card and get cashback, and leave my money in my current account to accrue interest. Even with just a £1500 limit I kinda shocked myself the first month when I seen how much I'd spent. So much harder to keep a track of spending when it's on a card. Which is why I stuck to cash for so long to get myself outta debt. But anyway. In principle it will work. I just gotta be very strict.

Decided yet on the bus/train/walking thing?!

Bad_Weather

Morning HAW!

Good for you! That WAS exactly the plan! You are alot more organised than me so you will be sorted!

I pay alot of stuff on my M&S card (to get the points) and have became really good at transferring the money straight over to it. So thought, what if i transferred it to an internet saver and then get the cc points AND the interest.

But I'm not there yet in life, think I still have some issues with spending (see last month and this month) so once I get that sorted and my house a bit more cleansed I'll try that!

With the wedding aswell and still trying to pay off debt its just a bit too much going on!

I shall wait until fully debt free and the wedding is done and then I can think about that kind of thing - getting ahead of myself a bit!

x

Bad_Weather

Today is a bad day and I don't know why?!

I'm so upset today! And nothing is that bad but for some reason I am nearly in tears!

I have fell out with my sister, fell out with my friend. Well not "fallen out". But had words with my friend. I did overreact but she has let me down!

Not losing any weight, been going to the gym and I'm GAINING weight and my clothes are defo getting tighter! I am getting married in 6 months and I'm worried I wont fit into my dress if it keeps going at this rate! Brides are supposed to lose weight?!

I've got so much wedding stuff to do but when I get in at night I am just exhausted! Don't know what I'm doing with my hen weekend, my other sister bless her, but she keeps making suggestions and trying to make it this big glamorous affair and I'm just not like that! I just want to go and have a normal hen weekend, we don't need luxury apartments or lodges just get normal nice ones! And she is just soooo opinionated about MY wedding! She's MRS wedding and complaining about the cars we've got and that she's not getting into it in her dress (that I've bought) and that her husband better hire her a good one!!! I'm sure she's joking but still, If I wanted you to walk its my wedding and you are a bridesmaid, you walk!

Worrying that wedding present I painted is going to look rubbish!

Worrying about money.

Worrying that my plan to make money has resulted in £300 on my credit card that does not have the corresponding savings! Now needs to get paid from next weeks pay day and out of the extra i was putting to wedding savings.

I know all of this is not that bad but I am for some reason SO upset!!! Its not supposed to be like this! Maybe its my hormones and I'm blowing things out of proportion but seriously I think I could cry and I never cry!!!

Poor me, I am feeling sorry for myself when there is not anything that bad! x

HeadAboveWater

*hug*

Bad_Weather wrote: »

I have fell out with my sister... fell out with my friend... she has let me down!

It happens unfortunately. But if the sister and friendship bonds are strong it will right itself again. I hope so

Bad_Weather wrote: »

Not losing any weight, been going to the gym and I'm GAINING weight and my clothes are defo getting tighter!

Stop trying to lose weight! Eat little and often (never more than 3 hours without food). Min 5 portions of fruit and veg a day. And up your water intake.

Dunno about you but gyms are boring for me!!! Go out for a walk or cycle in the evenings. Go swimming. Join a zumba class. Something F.U.N.

Bad_Weather wrote: »

...when I get in at night I am just exhausted!

Have a think back to what you're eating and what exercise you've been doing that day. Would surprise you the effect junk food has on your energy levels...

Ref the hen weekend and wedding, it's about YOU and what YOU want. If she can't stick by what YOU want, then tell her firmly but politely that you'll get someone else to arrange it for you. You don't need the added hassle nor worry.

I would take a guess that there's a bit of 'comfort' eating and 'comfort' spending. Yes? No? A little maybe? If it is, recognise it, and try to distract yourself. Think about something else. Or come on here and rant

Bad_Weather

Thanks HAW! You are sooo WISE! Thank god I have you in my life!

Shes not that good a mate so it's no great loss. I think I thought she was, but this argument has got me thinking and my OH had always said if she was a good mate why has he never met her? I did think that she never really attends any nights out unless its a drink after work and we don't speak that often well honeslty i'm not bothered. Gotta put things into perspective and whittle the rubbish mates out! I'm moving abroad anyway And I doubt I would keep in contact with her.

My sister and I will make up, but I will need to make the effort and its always over the most petty things. Her huband has even moaned to me before how she is in the wrong but she would go days without talking to him even though SHE was in the wrong so he has to make the effort, and that is exactly what she is like. I worry as time goes on and our friends and family have kids and stuff people will stop making the effort with her. But for now I will

My other sister means well, shes just obsessed with weddings and everything has to be as she imagines it! Then we will all skip off into the sunset ...and get married and 2.4 children lol

I am a comfort eater and a comfort spender.You are 100% correct and looking back these things have obviously been getting to me throughout this month as look at my spending this month and the eating. I made my self feel better with a few glasses of the red wine last night and packet of snack-a-jacks before a stir fry.

With the food during the day I am good. And I actually noticed that after my dinner last night I felt more awake so I think I might be exhausted as its too long between lunch and dinner. I've noticed that around 5pm I am STARVING and fruit or cereal bar are not making a difference, so I'm actually thinking I might make a mini wee salad wrap or something to see if that can keep the energy up and stave off the hunger till dinner!

Had a look at the finances today so update:

Credit Card - 0% transfer - £3,500 - I had been ignoring this and paying minimum payment but think I need to be more proactive and get this cleared. As £3,500 is ALOT and even at 16 month 0% that is £220 a month. So until the wedding I am going to add another £100 a month to it, that will be £135 each month. Then will throw everything I've got at it after the wedding.

Credit Card - 0% Purchases - £340 - This will be getting paid off on payday and put away for the wedding. I've shown I cannot be trusted

M&S Card - £60 - Paid off on payday

And thats the DEBT, next up PENSIONS.

Last on my list is pensions! So I really need to start paying into one. I currently pay in 5% and my work match that with another 5%. So thats good, but thinking I should really be saving more, so going to try and start putting another 5% into a savings account as my pension! Based on my salary though thats roughly £200 a month. EEK. I do not have £200 going spare at the minute, that might need to wait until post wedding...

HeadAboveWater

Bad_Weather wrote: »

Thanks HAW! You are sooo WISE! Thank god I have you in my life!

Welcome! Don't think I've ever been called 'wise' before though... :rotfl:

Guess you know the answer yourself ref your friend. I'm of the opinion (finally!!) that friendships are a 2-way thing. Not me giving and them taking!! It's gotta work both ways! To be honest I spent years running after everyone else. Always felt that if I didn't then I wouldn't have any friends. But to be honest, they're not much of a friend if they can't run after me now and again!!

Ref sisters: they say blood is thicker than water. I'm not so sure. Maybe. Maybe not. But, like me, you do what's right for YOU, and you only.

Bad_Weather wrote: »

Then we will all skip off into the sunset ...and get married and 2.4 children lol

Aaaaaahhhhhh

Bad_Weather wrote: »

I am a comfort eater and a comfort spender.You are 100% correct and looking back these things have obviously been getting to me throughout this month as look at my spending this month and the eating. I made my self feel better with a few glasses of the red wine last night and packet of snack-a-jacks before a stir fry.

lol
Well, now that you know that you are a comfort eater/spender, try to recognise the signs, and learn to do something about it instead!

My eating is awful-er during the day. Bored at work so eat crap!!! But have moved my stash to the other side of the office to help me on that one! And need to not stock up quite so much in future either....

Bad_Weather wrote: »

I've noticed that around 5pm I am STARVING and fruit or cereal bar are not making a difference, so I'm actually thinking I might make a mini wee salad wrap or something to see if that can keep the energy up and stave off the hunger till dinner!

Perfect

Bad_Weather wrote: »

Had a look at the finances today...]

C/C transfer - good thinking!

C/C purchases - Please hide the card for a bit!!!

Pensions - haven't got one! Really, really should.... Sooner rather than later... Think I just figured I'd never be around that long. And why save for tomorrow when you can spend and enjoy today?!?

Bad_Weather

Hi All,

Quick stop by before OH sees me

Feeling better today!

My mate has tried to make amends, but not bothered to be honest. My sister has got in contact (her way of saying shes over it) so delighted by that, I had just kept going on as normal, I was determined I wasn't going to make a special effort for something so petty and I thought, I'm ignoring this and continuing as normal and thankfully she appears to have came round

Holiday for November has been booked. We went back and forth between really cool places to villas to 5 star all inclusive BUT...we've went to a cool place! Half the price of the all inclusive but I like that we are free to wander about and pick our own pubs and restaurants etc.

Bridesmaid dresses booked, piper booked, flowers booked, bought 5 of 12 wedding champagne flutes (don't ask why only 5) so will get the other 7 in next week and then am going to get them personalised. Actually hoping to get that done in the next 2 weeks so its another thing DONE. Not sitting half finished on an already very long list. Wedding planning has been getting done this last week clearly. This has helped with the stress levels. Once get glasses sorted next big thing will be INVITES.

Read that clearing out is really good for the mind aswell so have been clearing out some MORE stuff.

Also not "painting" any more wedding presents for a while, FAR too much stress whilst Im also trying to work and book holidays and plan a wedding! They take me SO LONG to do them aswell!!! x

HeadAboveWater

Hello

Glad things 'ok' at least with your friend and sister. Until the next drama obviously! :rotfl:

Liking the sound of your Nov holiday! Wish we had one booked We were so close to having it booked, and now it's not even being mentioned....:(

We did manage to head off Saturday on the motorbike, complete with tent, sleeping bags, and disposable BBQ, which was f.u.n.!!!

Clearing out is good! I've still not managed to raid out the rest of my stuff at mums and bin/dump/charity/recycle stuff I don't want. Need to get that sorted sometime!!

Have to organise photos too! Digital cameras are great, but then the problem is I'm not strict enough with myself in getting them developed. Need to go through all the pics on my laptop, pick out even a dozen or more from each year, and put them all into an album, so at least I've something to physically look through!

Bad_Weather

Hi HAW!

Yeh my sister is sorted...for now...until you annoy her and she decides not to speak to you for months! Life is too short!

Ohhh my OH has a motorbike and a few months ago I bought all the gear and he bought the luggage things! We KEEP saying we are going to do exactly what you have done! But we have not yet...

You should get yourself one of those digital photoframes! You just keep the pictures you want on the memory card!

Yes I am glad we have booked, I really really REALLY wanted to go away somewhere. I am happier with the price we have paid aswell, rather than the all inclusive! All inclusive is good but I honeslty think I have commitment issues and hate the feeling of being tied to a place. If it is rubbish it can ruin your holiday. Plus I then start to feel guilty when i spend money outside the resort. We have booked an apartment so will do a wee shop and get breakfast sorted and that will save us some more money! Maybe even cook one night, but not many, I do not like to cook on holiday

Today is PAYDAY! Paid off tesco credit card, although OH and I's flights are on it for holiday. Paid £340, even thought the bill was £270 as I forgot I had paid extra last week towards it. Ohhh well the extra £70 will go to my share of the flights!

Paid £370 to my other credit card - £200 of that was my bridesmaid dresses.

Paid my works xmas night out deposit. We are a very small team so paying extra to go to aparty night so it is costing £50 in total - eeek!

Go away with the girls AGAIN this weekend. Honeslty, this is my last weekend away until my holiday. I actually cannot be BOTHERED going. But I have 160 euros saved for it. So should not cost me anything extra, I actually budgeted £100 for it but at most I'm thinking It better be only an extra £40! Actually think I might withdraw the £40 and just take that with me.

*a few hours later I return to writing*

OH and I have just went through the wedding budget - ohhh dear. We are cutting things seriously tight regarding savings. I am going to need to start throwing everything and anything extra at this wedding.

Due to recent spends my wedding savings are down to 1k. 1K and we still have nearly £13,000 worth of things to still pay.

I. Feel. Sick.

OH has worked out that I need to save £500 minimum every month until the wedding to make it work. But in my budget I've not factored in costs like my jewellery or veil or headpiece or belt etc. That is going to have to come out of my personal spending I think. So realistically its going to need to be more like £700 each month.

Ohhh dear. Ohh dear. Ohhh dear.

I can do it. I can. I just need to be tough on myself!!!