Blinkers are off

LittleMissDetermined

How lovely that you've had a great day and I know what you mean about the travel to work, mine is an hour in the car and a blockage on the motorway can triple that!

Nice that you have your time back

I joined you in a NSD today, weekdays are always easier for me as long as I make my lunch!

LMD x

Eyes_wide_open

Snap LMD. I begrudge buying lunch out now, seems such a waste.... Odd how times have changed.

LittleMissDetermined

Hello honey,

Hope you're having another great NSD and enjoying your considerably shorter journey to and from work!

Times have definitely changed, I'm still remaining in MSE mode even though hubby is now working again - it can't be a bad thing!

LMD x

Eyes_wide_open

Another positive NSD for me today.

Work days are fairly easy on the pocket as its become the norm taking lunch in. 2 months ago I would occasionally take something but now it just wouldn't feel right to buy and waste that money. A bargain £3 meal deal is no longer a bargain it's a £3 PAD.

I've been told it will get easier and I think it is. Firstly lunches, writing a spending diary, not wasting food and daily PADing are all second nature now.

I am still tempted but even that's getting better. Have declined two emails from next to book a VIP spot on there sale. Yes I might get a good deal ( spending devil) but how is it a good deal if I don't actually need it (dfw halo) ? So not booked and no plans to look.

We are permanently surrounded by temptation but thankfully my resistance is strong.

Tomorrow is a trip up to Harrogate ( work) so won't be technically a NSD, however as I can claim the money back if there are no other spends I shall call it as a NSD.

Do you think I can manage 5 this week - fingers crossed!!

LittleMissDetermined

5 for the week would be fab-u-lous!! I have had 2 in a row so maybe I can join you? I have plans to take lunch for the rest of the week so it's only if I need petrol I will fall short...

Have a lovely evening

LMD x

Eyes_wide_open

Well 3 nsd's in a row, think that may be a record for me.

£7 spent on travel to Harrogate but will claim that back. Can't claim it till Monday as boss isn't in to authorise it so prob won't get it till pay day. Another £7 journey next week too and I owe lottery money at work which I hadn't budgeted for... Not the best really. Going to be tight until payday.

My mum always buys bits whilst she is out shopping and doesn't take the money for it , but since I've started this its made me more responsible and I have asked her not to buy stuff - her response is that's not important and I like to get you a few bits if I see them on offer.

So today she's told me she's got some tuna, kitkats, croutons and some breadcrumbs ( odd combo i know). They were all on offer and she knows I like / use them. I couldn't get annoyed with her, she's my mum and she's getting on a bit. So instead I need to give her the money. If she won't take it then I shall put it in another account and collect it over the year and If I see something they need I shall buy it for them. So another £7.50 ish to find.

Too much month and not enough money again.

So next months lessons a) budget to include lottery, b) keep a float of around £20 for my mums little 'like to buy purchases'.

Another nsd planned for tomorrow xx

LittleMissDetermined

My mum is also like that, it can be hard to say no.... I also forgot about lottery in my first month so now I give the lady a tenner on pay day!

LMD x

asparagus1968

hello.

just finished reading the whole diary! think you are doing fantastically well. it does get obsessive, I mean, addictive....

last year was my "get it sorted" year, after years of muddling through. My debt was never massive, but I never had a holiday /emergency fund/ savings. every month was hand to mouth. I get a good wage and the ex-OH supports our child. I was just crap at sticking to a budget, and loads got frittered away. I had a bad habit of coffee out with a glossy mag- £6 gone like that.

my big changes were budget, separate envelopes or accounts for each spend, ie. weekly shop, weekly petrol, clothes and hair , kid stuff etc.

meal plan- look in cupboard and fridge, make menus from what I had in, only put on list what additions I needed, stick to list.

started shopping at aldi instead of sainsburys so I wasn't tempted by the clothes and magazines and caf!.

used topcashback for all online shopping/ insurance/breakdown cover.
used charity shops and the library

This year I have no debt, a little emergency and savings pot (very little, but i'm getting there!)and took my son on holiday.

you will get there sooner than you think, keep up the diary, it stops me browsing online shops! oh yes, and un-subscribing shops emails was a good idea too....

catch up soon

Eyes_wide_open

Well very proud of myself 5 days in a row and not spent a penny.

Today has been a strange one, food wise. Not a lot left in and no fresh fruit. So breakfast was tinned pears, lunch was a smoked mackerel salad ( 3rd day in row) but now finished and tea will be a mushroom omelette, chips and salad. Though my salad exists of pepper, carrot and cucumber but I'm certainly being resourceful and not being wasteful.

Had a surprised telephone regarding my ppi claim. Just wanted to query a few things. The woman I spoke to said there was still some other stuff to consider ( what ever that may mean) and I should hear something in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed, though I'm not basing my dfw on a ppi claim, anything would be a bonus.

The weekend will be a fairly light one money wise out of must rather than choice. Taking off lottery, mums Money and fare to Harrogate next week leaves with me with around £65 to the end of the month. I shall therefore try and do a food shop that will last till pay day. And give myself a budget of £10 for each weekend for a tiny treat. Hopefully I will still have enough to do a PAD each day too.... Not hopefully, def as I would rather be penniless next weekend than not PAD.

Here's to the start of countdown for next pay day xx

Eyes_wide_open

Asparagus - thank you for all the tips. I do need to unsubscribe to emails .. This weekends task xx