Enjoying the journey - budgeting, saving and remaining credit card free

fedupandskint

NSD 22 today

Safely at mums today and a very relaxing Christmas Eve compared to some out there.

fedupandskint

Had a lovely family Christmas yesterday and some lovely presents, including a nee pair of dog walking gloves to keep my fingers warmer from my lovely brother and a new piggy bank from my mum who has been hearing about my savings plan, it made me smile! Of course I'll be putting it to good savings use!

Everyone liked their presents and mum started to get to grips with her kindle. I got some money to put towards my new outdoor coat and now have enough and I'll have a look for it at the right price. My current one is about 10 years old and is now at least 3 sizes too big and is pulled in as much as it can be. All being well I should have enough for a new pendant chain too.

Today is another family day then it's time for me to go home as I gave work tomorrow unfortunately.

On another note NSD 23 yesterday and today will be one too unless I succumb to a sale bargain, can't see it though, no pennies to spend apart from allocated budgets!

fedupandskint

Just signed back up to all the change saving challenges of 20p, 50p and £2 coins as it worked out well this year I'm back on for the next year. Have started already but nice to sign up to keep on track.

It's a very good way to learn to save if you forgot how to like I had for all those years of spending. Just takes some discipline at first to put your change into the pot.

So far up to £43 in change from October.

fedupandskint

Back home now after a lovely few days back at home with the family. All ok here and there and we were all feeling quite stuffed really!

All ok here and my dog is fast asleep after all the excitement!

What else? Not much to report apart from NSD 24 today and I managed to resist the lure of the sales too.

The only thing I need to keep an eye for are cards in the sale for next year, I'll have a look at the weekend or so. Back to work tomorrow for no doubt another long boring day, still fingers crossed it is really rather than how it could be. See you tomorrow.

fedupandskint

Well I'm back at home after a thankfully quiet day at work and we closed up early too as a bonus although not early for me as I'm not usually there on Friday afternoons.

Gas and Elec monthly payment made - bizarrely lower this month, not complaining though. Also have done the saving account budgets for this month and if I've worked it out correctly then I should be in credit at the end of the month.

Managed not to cave in to any sale bargains today both online and in the huge supermarket next to work - pleased I stuck to the mantra of do I need it and can I afford it? No to both. Did research my new bike though and I'll have a look for real at some point over the next few days. Also spent some time researching DIY tools for paint and varnish stripping. Have made a note of the prices to check when I'm next in town.

Well not much else to report apart from today was NSD 25 and no clothes spend day 27 and only spends were on the food shopping. Managed to concoct a turkey stir fry tea for tonight and tomorrow will be a turkey pie for the final turkey leftovers. Phew! Can't complain though as it was a cheap shop today and also using up leftovers is one of my favourite things to do so nothing goes to waste.

fedupandskint

Just back from a lovely walk up town and back under a bright blue sky and sun, certainly better weather today than the rest of the week.

Stuck to my toiletries budget of £10 by spending £9.10, all done for this month until next payday. Then I bought family Christmas cards in the sale at half price or less, coming to £2.18 in total for next year. The card shop was very busy with people buying them for next year, makes sense though to do it and be prepared! Spends come out of Christmas budget too. Paid Christmas money into the bank while I look for my new coat. Then called into the the very expensive hone shop on the way back to look at the wallpaper and came back with several wallpaper samples for ideas. Ended up with the feature wallpaper that struck me for light and bright, which I wouldn't have gone for before, a good start for ideas though.

So I can claim today as NSD as I managed to stick to my shopping list over rummaging through the sales, phew, I did it!

Plan for this afternoon is a bit of housework, long dog walk and maybe pop out to size up my coat correctly.

fedupandskint

Used up the last lot of turkey in a pie tonight with leftovers for tomorrow night, feeling quite stuffed now as a result.

Result of 2 x £2 coins in change for the last 2 days to add to my total saved. Went to try on my new coat for size this afternoon and it was surprisingly quite different to what i expected as the fabrics have become much lighter over the last 10-12yrs since I bought my last one. Still deciding if that's what I really want or to keep on with my old one. I will have a good think about it as I might just stick with my old one for a while longer yet unless I change my mind of course!

Yeah! Bike shopping tomorrow - yipee! Hoping I can find a suitable on for my saved up budget.

fedupandskint

Well I had a lovely day today,.

Went with my lovely beautiful friend to check out the bikes and then we decided, after looking and finding one that was within the budget, to change the tyres on my current bike and that should do the job nicely! Why didn't I think of that? Who knows! That is a great decision and means my current bike will do the job nicely.

Then we had a good old chat about my loan settlement plans and had a good talk about my plans. All going well where they are concerned. Really good to talk the plans through and get some more ideas about what to do and confirm my plans are on track. Good for me to share my plans and what is going on for me. Compared to how I was in my past when I would hide all of this away and pretend everything was ok when it wasn't. That time seems a long time ago now and well and truly in the past and that is a good thing. Much better for me to talk about whats going on for real.

A good day today. Not a NSD, a low spend day of treating us both to a coffee before we checked the bikes out.

A no clothes spend day though and looks like another no clothes spend month is about to be achieved - 8mths in a row!

fedupandskint

Having a lovely relaxing day at home today. Nipped up to the supermarket for a few items to tide me over until the weekend. Called in for some more wallpaper samples and paint colour booklets to browse through.

Then back home soaked as the rain arrived.

Watched an old film 'gentlemen prefer blondes' while updating my budgets and making sure I stay in credit. Again another tight month and I'm hoping I will make it. Should do by my calculations. All bill payments and savings all on track. Then worked out my loan settlement savings plans once more and if I have worked it out correctly and stay on track I should save one third of the massive loan repayment plan which will be a great achievement. I am determined to stay on track and get there.

I've reduced my annual food budget by £240 for the year to shave some more money off this budget. Let's see how I get on with this!

Also set up the new crazy clothes challenge for 2014 and set my budget at £100 for 2014, although no pennies to spend on clothes so that's wishful thinking now unless I mange to put a monthly budget to one side for clothes. I'll try and see how that gets on. A good idea there to try out.

So all budgets are done and updated, everything on track happily.

This afternoon I'll get the ironing done and generally chill out!

Of course it is a NSD today making it 27 and another no clothes spend day number 30, almost there!

Bad_Weather

You are so organised - I am embarrassed for myself.

Obviously I do not know too much about your financial situation but defo think paying the loan down of the next 4 years is the way to go. It will be hard but think how good it will be in 4 years and not hanging over you for another 28 years... 28 YEARS!!!!

Think I am going to do a 2014 £1,000 clothes budget. Which may seem really high BUT will include ski stuff for our ski holiday in March and should also cover some jeans which I really really need. Otherwise I do not need anything, so really putting it so high so I have a buffer should I go over it.

I like the idea of a clothes budget, will make me really think about my clothes purchases... even the ones at £20 here and there! x