It's not just about debt anymore. It's about living better too.

PiggyBankShaker

Okay, what to update? I have a confession. I PiggyBankShaker, have been quite crap with money this past few months. Nothing major, but lots of little things that have added up.

My current weakness is plants. The sun is shining and I want beautiful flowers in our little garden. I admit that I have spent more than I should.

I have also been spending on 'bits and bobs', non-essentials like snack food.

I think that, ironically, having so little money / income felt like saving was just too much of a uphill struggle and that the tiny amounts that I could save would hardly be worth it.

This is NOT mse!

I haven't fallen off the debt wagon, but neither am I the bastion of hardcore, ruthless mse focused thrift that I once was.

Must do better!

So, starting TODAY I am going to keep a proper spending AND mileage log to watch where those pennies go. I will be practicing my 'Do I NEED this mantra' and I will AVOID shops.

PiggyBankShaker

Despite my best intentions, I haven't been keeping the spending log. I want to, I need to, but I haven't quite been able to commit my spends to paper yet. This is obviously ringing my alarm bells. I KNOW I need to get a better handle on the miscellaneous spends. I know I am in danger of not getting a handle on them. I know this, and yet I still don't act. Urgh, I'm so disappointed and annoyed with myself.

I am starting today. I have nothing to buy, nothing to spend money on. Nada. So it should be easy. I only have my Dad's birthday at the end of the month and that's it. So I am going to aim for 13 NSD's for the rest of June.

catriona79

PiggyBankShaker wrote: »

Despite my best intentions, I haven't been keeping the spending log. I want to, I need to, but I haven't quite been able to commit my spends to paper yet. This is obviously ringing my alarm bells. I KNOW I need to get a better handle on the miscellaneous spends. I know I am in danger of not getting a handle on them. I know this, and yet I still don't act. Urgh, I'm so disappointed and annoyed with myself.

I am starting today. I have nothing to buy, nothing to spend money on. Nada. So it should be easy. I only have my Dad's birthday at the end of the month and that's it. So I am going to aim for 13 NSD's for the rest of June.

Good luck PBS. I know how frustrating it is trying to have a life while repaying debt... I share your weakness for garden plants - I'm about to have my patio done and then ill try to sow some grass seeds and put together a border
Have you seen the beautiful border designs on crocus.co.uk? They are beautiful!

Piquant_2

My weakness is buying plants too:o I tried to curb it a bit by growing plants from seed this year, but wherever I go there seems to be a plant tempting me. I'm going to a garden show at the weekend :eek: A strict budget will be in place!

PiggyBankShaker

catriona79 wrote: »

Good luck PBS. I know how frustrating it is trying to have a life while repaying debt... I share your weakness for garden plants - I'm about to have my patio done and then ill try to sow some grass seeds and put together a border
Have you seen the beautiful border designs on crocus.co.uk? They are beautiful!

Hi catriona79, oh yes, I have spent many a happy hour ogling border designs on crocus and pinterest. The thing is we have a TINY garden so we already have more plants than we have space for. So I have no justification at all!

PiggyBankShaker

Piquant wrote: »

My weakness is buying plants too:o I tried to curb it a bit by growing plants from seed this year, but wherever I go there seems to be a plant tempting me. I'm going to a garden show at the weekend :eek: A strict budget will be in place!

Hiya Piq! In summer its plants, in winter its crafts/fabric. I try to grow from seeds too, but we don't really have the space and I am too impatient When you see the price that garden centres charge for something that cost them a few pence it does make me think I'm in the wrong business!

PiggyBankShaker

Well I did manage a NSD yesterday. I had a huge craving for ice cream about nine o'clock last night and was tempted to nip to Mr T's but I resisted, good for the wallet and the waistline.

ATSIJS has been continuing with painting the outside of the house, we're getting there and it is looking fab. I've decided against putting windows boxes at the front this year to save some money.

ATSIJS got paid and we did the money hokey cokey and basically we have no money left There's nothing left to put towards savings. July and August will be better as we have no nursery fees to pay and no window finance payments left. We also have our old car to sell for scrap/ breaking, so hopefully that fetch £100 or so.

PiggyBankShaker

Okay, spends for today:

£10.86 on diesel
£7.44 on a library fine
£4 for ballet class for DD

BUT ... I did find £15 in the pocket of my decorating trousers that I didn't know was there!

PiggyBankShaker

Yesterday I cleaned our PVC front door with toothpaste. As you do. Has come up a treat, all nice and white and clean.

beanielou

Hadent heard that!!