Justifiably Unanimous Lockdown Yomp!!!

Jonesy88

LAGL - exciting times for you! I saw my dream house on rightm0ve last week, it was only oooo about 100k over our budget :rotfl:

Munchin - i love the idea of a picnic at the beach! I think the recession has made people more aware of the power/value of time invested and thought given rather than chucking money at things. Plus if you got a lovely picture of you and your friends with a pretty beach/sunset it would make an excellent MSE christmas present

I love giving photos as presents because i genuinely think other people take better pictures of you/ You and your OH, kids etc. People don't tend to take pictures of themselves unless its in an awkward selfshot myspace kinda way. Ooo blast from the past - i used to be addicted to myspace! (ps i do put the pics in a frame - i'm not totally cheap :rotfl:)

Yesterday I was very grumpy. Cashflow not quite as i want it to be. Also spent £43 in petrol when my budget was £30 but in fairness this will last well into next month so i'll save a bit in August.

Today however is a SFD and a new day. I feel in a better mood and more determined. Its 255 days :eek: to my DFD and although it seems far away it actually isn't. Once debt free i'll be able to start saving for a family and bigger house, go for meals out and generally be a bit more relaxed. So i am happy, because although i'm putting pressure on myself now to overpay and clear debts, the alternative would be to have them hanging around for years, dragging me down. I need to keep thinking of what i'm gaining by sacrificing.

abundant1972

Am so mad with myself...

Stayed at 'friends' last night and felt obliged to buy breakfast because he wanted to buy dinner, and have a BBQ to go to today - for which I needed to take 'something'...

Clearly I need to have a social life - what is a reasonable sum to have per month. Am sure I have asked this before... but would be grateful for figures again. I'm talking about spend allowance separate from groceries...

I have a meal next week for a friend who is visiting from abroad too... day before we get paid. I don't really want to miss her so have decided to go and just buy something cheap off the menu (and maybe eat before I go!). Then that's it.

Today = SFD number 10

I'm going to practice saying NO in the mirror lol. I need to be firm - allocate days out in advance and stick to them...

Next month is going to be full of exam revision and essay writing - so I'm going to have to make sure that stress doesn't turn into an excuse to overeat on rubbish!!! Will keep the gym in focus too and try my best to use the month as an excuse not to socialise and to catch up on myself and well and truly eat out my food cupboard.

I get so sick of hearing myself month after month going on about how I've failed but how I will do better!!! You guys must too lol... It's a hard habit to break but one that I must confront and change if I am to succeed.

Hugs everyone!!!

wannabee_in_credit

Oh Abundant, I feel your pain. I am exactly the same, but with getting control over my eating (and ocassionally the money). The important thing is that you don't give up trying. Because if you don't give up then one day you'll get back into it. I can't advise on budgets for socialising as I have no social life whatsoever. Children are a good way of draining money and stopping your social life (not that I would swap mine for the world).

SFD for me today. Took DS to a party, then visited friends this afternoon. Otherwise fairly quiet. And most likely my last sfd for a week as we're off on hols Monday... so I'll be way off target for July sfd's.

Hope everyone has had a good day.

his_missus

Groceries: £250/£300
Fun: £3.70/£100
Debt paid: £1161 paid in full
SFD: 11/20

Shopping day today, spent £76 with £4 change to go into the holiday fund.

Abundant, there are many times I've fallen off the MSE wagon, the trick is to not give up and get back to it ASAP or you just sink further into debt (been there, done that, bought the Tshirt I couldn't afford...)

As regards to a going out budget I think that is completely personal. Some people feel the need/urge to socialise more than others. Some people can go a whole month without going out, others want to go out regularly or they'd go stir crazy. Just don't feel the need to keep up with your friends if you can't afford it.

brizzledfw

Hi, Abudnant I do think the budget is a personal thing but I was struck by how when NSK set the target of 3 treats this month how I reacted. I was thinking what have I planned and can I manage that. Ok I have breached it by 2 but it's still made me think and treats, activities and trips that before I would have taken for granted. So I may well move to setting out a number of treats per month and work out my budget that way.

Onto other stuff...£3.77 earned of the panels despite the cloudy day at times...expenses..£20 spent at drinks for a party...£2.50 on bread and rolls. That's it!

Definitely getting better! X

Happybeingme

Hi

Still haven't spent anything so now up to 16 sfd's (we needed milk and a few bits but hubby paid )

Money is showing in my C/A and a look ahead at finances shows as long as I stick to my budget I won't go overdrawn, so will be cancelling overdraft tomorrow! Still waiting for email to confirm catalogue is closed (they said they couldn't close the account till the new statement had been produced and they could confirm I didn't owe them any money).

Hugs to everyone who needs one!

xx

abundant1972

Morning!!!

Thanks everyone for the advice... It's what makes these forum posts awesome! I got a real feeling of 'we're in this together' and that makes such a difference...

Having a day in of R&R, but also some revision. Going to take stock of what's in the cupboards too and have a think about meals for the week ahead. Pay day on Friday too... and I want to be mentally prepared for getting back on track next month.

Anyone doing anything nice today?

NinjaSavingKat

I'm off to the beach but WHERES THE SUN?? Honestly- the day I am able to bribe a friend into bringing me and we get dud weather! Packed lunch so minimal £1.50 on a bag of chips, dessert is a chopped up chilled pineapple and I've got my bikini on to scare the boys!! What could go wrong!!! :-)

SFD yesterday and a lot of food at church- always good!! So kinda skint now with £8 to my name.. Until payday.. After flying home on the 29th... ... Great!!

Can I do it- YES I CAN!!!

Onwards and Upwards!!!!

Mr.Cobes

13/20 SFD
£165/£150 Food budget<<<<< Oh Oh
£70/£50 Petrol <<<<<<<<<<< Oh Oh
£35.50/£40 Personal care
£39/£60 going out cash

---

Day 21

Hi all...no log in yesterday as I was out for lunch..in a good way .not as in spaced out or..anyway

10 days to go...perhaps today will be a NSD as I had to get petrol yesterday and had a lunch out..which was taken out of my going out money..
A quick add = £309 in total from my predicted of £300...

Do you know what..I am amazed..I have had two unplanned lunches..extra petrol..and still well under my usual food and drink spends..for everything..:j

Will check in tonight to see if I have not spent anymore...no need as I am in all day ..or out on the bike XX
Laters X

Living_a_good_life

Working on my hours - trying to distract myself. Having spent three days on the edge working out our barter strategy our potential buyer wont know until he sees his FA on Wednesday so I think we are going to chat to estate agent in the morning and get us up for sale - need to check some details and confirm that if our potential chap comes up with the goods that the fees wont come into play. Going to market with the same estate agent as middle earth - two sales is an incentive surely! Also they were the ones we like the best so all good.

Anyways... middle earth was having two viewings this weekend -hopefully that wont blow us out of the water. Trying hard to be calm but in truth feeling quite stressed. Bad back ache too!

Good news is that I spoke to my boss and he is more than happy for me to increase my hours immediately. Helpfully my broadband speed has now plummeted to 0.1 Meg!! Got a little man coming to sort that on Tuesday morning so just on go slow for another 36 hours!

So worst case scenario - we are better off at the end of the month due to my increase in hours but miss out on middle earth - LAGL cottage is still home and its a good and now very well decorated place to live!! But oh please please please let us make it to middle earth cottage!!!

Sorry for whitterings
Love LAGL xx