Blinkers are off

Eyes_wide_open

Not had an easy day, don't feel as if I've done anything. My nsd wasn't as planned as went to visit a different office and had a drink out. Did opt for a cheap bottle of drink - 99p only.
Suppose £2.99 in 3 days isn't bad and a fair cry from what I would have spent previously.
However now that I have faced up to reality I want to be debt free now!! I know I have to be patient.... One day at a time xx

LittleMissDetermined

£2.99 over 3 days is really good! Don't be too hard on yourself, if you are too stringent you may feel like you are going without and could be tempted to splurge!

Set yourself a monthly 'allowance' for treats and then work out what it is each day, each NSD you have you can roll it over

LMD x

Eyes_wide_open

Yes think I need to relax a bit. It's going to me a long haul rather than a sprint and still need to live.
Thanks xx

Eyes_wide_open

Well it's a girlie shopping day with my sister today. A shopping day that normally sees the credit card coming out on several occasions.
My sister is not the most generous of people and has a habit of grabbing bags and saying " I'll find a table" and leaving me to pay when we go for coffees.
She is also good at pulling the strings when it comes to buying stuff for her daughter - not today though.
Coping mechanisms
1- although we are meeting early, have breakfast before I set off.
2- take a can of drink with me.
3- tell her before she sits down its your turn to pay and take the money off her ( obviously take it in turn to pay )
4- leave the credit cards at home!!

We are having tea at mine and it would normally be a takeaway, not tonight it's going to be a home made chicken jalfrezi, have most things in and uses the over ripe tomatoes tesco delivered at the weekend. Will need to buy a few bits but will have enough left for freezing or tomorrow's tea.

I'm still planning on having a good day, will probably buy a few bits but it will be considered rather than impulsive.

Shall let you know how I get on xx

LittleMissDetermined

Good luck! This is a real test for you... Let us know how you get on x

Eyes_wide_open

Smashed my pot of dreams money box -£ 240 in it. So first stop the bank to pay it in. I shall pay off my next account £185.00. Put £15 in the emergency fund and give myself the remaining £40 to spend on me today. ( I think a sixth is reasonable ).

Will post later on how I got on.

Thanks LMD for all your support xx

LittleMissDetermined

Ooh that's brilliant! One debt down already

£40 for a treat is the right thing to do in my opinion. Still make sure your sister takes her turn for buying the coffee, especially as you're cooking a meal for her tonight!

dawnybabes

Hope you had a great day yesterday.

I made a huge pot of chilli last month and the next day ds wanted lasagne, so I made chilli lasagne and it's now a family favourite !

Eyes_wide_open

Dawnybabes - chilli lasagne sounds lush. Not made a chilli in ages - one to do next week. Have the majority of stuff in my freezer/cupboard so no excuses.

Had a really good day yesterday. Did spend a bit more than intended, but have still paid my Next account off and will just have to be a bit more imaginative during the rest of the month.

Sister brought the first set of coffees - miracles will never cease. Purse strings got teased a bit for my niece, but I am a sucker when it comes to my niece and nephews.

Got my nails done, not a priority granted but made me feel better. I do have to find some balance and working full time and not treating myself isn't the best route to me sticking to a budget. So a couple of treats a month is probably the route to go.

Old mobile phone is packaged up nsd ready to send to mazuma- so hopefully by this time next week I shall have a further £80 paid of my Evans store card. Full intentions are for that card to be paid off at the beginning of September.

From October I shall pay the extra 60 a month off my loan. I shall look at the snowball calculator to see what difference it makes to the end date to keep me focused.

I also need to find out how to overpay a loan through lloydstsb. Last time I asked I was informed that I would have to go in on a monthly basis and do it in branch ( don't think they want to make it easy for you- suppose they lose interest) but as it will be worth it i shall make sure I make a point of it.

Xxx

LittleMissDetermined

Well done, I think that's a good day all round

You're right, treats are needed to make sure you don't feel like you're going without. Still stay on track with the debt-busting though, you're doing great!

LMD x