The march to financial freedom

Ali-OK

:rotfl::rotfl: Definitely the old size 12 of the 80s is the new size 8s of today - I fit a size 6 in Next :eek:

INOD - I was a fat youngster - size 18 school skirts that my old Nan used to turn up and she made casual clothes for me as nothing fitted from shops. So diet and exercise at age 13 with a good classmate saw me get down to a then size 10, which went onto a size 8 as I got a bit hooked on aerobics and swimming from then until my back problem post pregnancy in the early 2000s. I vowed never to be fat again and haven't.

Am convinced it's about portion size, the recommended on a packet is way too much for the average person. Halve everything except fruit and veg and fill up on water. Am no goddess though, used to eat all the bad for me things and they're the ones going straight to the hips now :eek: even with dog walking daily!

in_need_of_direction

I was an incredibly slim teenager. I'm still fighting to lose the post baby fat. Unfortunately my youngest baby is 28. For me, eating is an emotional thing. I've decided that I will never be slim but I'd settle for being able to routinely shop in normal clothes shops.

beanielou

Well if room is going to be used then buy wardrope.

Ali-OK

I'm coming back into line slowly but surely

Food shop done tonight and £17.10 spent, so slightly over for the month. Meal plan done and DS stocked up for his last week of lazing around before he's back at school. Hoorah! He ventured out to the local shop on his own with key and mobile phone today - all returned safely. Progress.

Returns bag arrived, yet again without pre-paid postage, so another phone call to get that logged and now have to email provider - so 5 credits now due. Frustrating to say the least and another £7.15 spent.

Deliveries from orders on Saturday are starting to arrive - picked up his shirt tonight and the USB sticks are here, as our the new contact lenses - will try those tomorrow. Apart from his phone case he is all ready for back to school (I know I am :rotfl:).

Tomorrow both sets of taps are due for delivery and friend is fitting those and repairing my kitchen cupboard stay/hinge at the same time.

Spoke to DB about furnishing spare bedroom and we're looking at going halves on a simple Ik3a set. Will get that sorted out over the weekend.

Ahh, last week of the month and pay myself day on Friday - budget sheet is looking in reasonable shape for September too.

Hope everyone has had a good day and though it's alot cooler, heating has remained well and truly off. Hear it's going to warm up again next week too - great news.

Ali-OK

Evening Diary,

A good work day and DS was fab taking in 2 deliveries - the dog ear cleaner (much needed for springy) and one of the 2 taps. I seem to be attracting problems, as that arrived without the pop up waste, however brilliant customer service as they're sending it 1st class to me tomorrow.

Unlike EE, though they may finally redeem themselves if the gentleman I spoke to yesterday does indeed take responsibility and pull all the credits/refunds together. It comes to £87.32.

A No Spend Day, seems like a miracle :rotfl:

Solar Panel chap came out tonight. It was too good to be true and nicely mis-sold on the doorstep. It's buy the panels via a loan "at only 5.6%" (if you pass credit check) and the monthly cost "will only last for 2-3 years based on these figures"...which most likely wouldn't be what we'd generate/use. With more expensive night units and an "oh by the way it'd cost you about £500 a year you'd have to contribute" and "FiT would mean you'd make this much money...over x year." Thanks and bye-bye. Yes, it's greener, yes it's profitable in the long term, no, it's not right for me right now as it'd be another financial commitment without a guaranteed return to cover that commitment and we also use more energy on the eves so it won't lower our bills so much either.

Financials:
- bank account checked - have set up mortgage capital payment of £825 for 1st September
- freepostcodelottery checked
- Nectar adpoints - 10pt bonus and up to 23 points
- Nectar card value - £81.58 still
- Inbox Pounds - up a tad to £12.94
- Qmee - nothing new, it's slowed right down but still 44p in the pot

I've postponed my massage diaried for tomorrow tea time saving £30 as work schedule has changed so I can't make it, plus I need to see Osteopath first and haven't even booked that. I have been advised to invest in a saddle stool to help my "long back" and also a "healthy back bag" to spread handbag load. I think the latter will be on my Xmas present wish list, the chair will be a business expense @ £50.

Lots of really good stuff happening on the work front and for the first time I felt relaxed in the office - routines in place, feels familiar and am very happy there. I seem to make the right call on work stuff mostly, wish that was the case for everything else in life, but one out of several will suffice.

Offski to bedski - busy 2 days ahead, with the weekend off. I'm getting the hang of this now

in_need_of_direction

Things are definitely on the up for you. I have the most beautiful large purple suede handbag whose use I have had to restrict. I finally joined the dots between it and a sore back on the day that the car passenger seat beeped for a seat belt when it was the only thing sitting on it!

Igamogam

Things sound a little 'calmer' around you:)

Solar panels: I thought it would turn out to be too good to be true- we bought our own as in the end it didnt add up having a 'middle man'. Our electric bills have been significantly reduced however and we are looking at increasing next year how many we have, as technology has come on in the last few years. If anyone is thinking about solar energy one word of advice is dont bother having it installed at this time of year.............days getting shorter so dont get the benefit.If you can wait until March its much more cost effective in the long run;)

Ali-OK

Good evening

That's great news if my posts are coming across calmer. Things are getting better every day now, back on an even keel between busy at work and busy at home and a bit of relaxation inbetween. Why it got so frantic I'm not really sure - just too much going on in not enough time and trying to do things quickly and sure I didn't relax in my shortened 6hrs overnight sleeps when I normally like 8. Back to normal on that too.

Panic attacks are *fingers crossed* a thing of the past and am now driving fast roads without problems, infact I'm enjoying driving again which I'm so relieved about, both from a work and personal perspective.

Saying all that, it's been quite a manic day today. Had to leave an untidy desk straight after I'd held a meeting to get home and take DS to his physio appointment. Ended up going back tonight after dinner to clear up! All ready for the new week, though not in the office until Tuesday now.

Financials
- bank account checked and expenses reimbursed to myself.
- freepostcodelottery checked
- Nectar adpoints - only up at 29 pts with everything done
- Nectar card still on £81.58 but 501 points from monthly use and pay off cc to be added
- Inbox Pounds - not done much here for a few days so only up a tiny bit to £13.03
- Qmee - still on 44p in the pot

Yet to do business banking to finish the month and then I will pay myself - it'll be quite a bit more than average. :j First job tomorrow.

Pop up waste and kitchen tap arrived today, along with the mobile phone cases. DS is now all sorted for school as he says he doesn't need a new pencil case (he does, it's falling apart but who am I to argue :rotfl:), so the one I ordered for him I'll put in his Christmas stocking.

Extra needed from September budget for his birthday too - he wants money so I'll withdraw that £100 nearer the time. Alot less costly than last year when he had a new gaming laptop as a combined birthday and Christmas present.

A weekend mostly about relaxing and going to visit Mum also. Plus the usual house stuff and ordering the spare bedroom furniture - going halves with DB will cost about £120 and his FIL is going to collect and fit, so no other costs involved there. I've found a second hand saddle stool for sale locally so will take another look at that for the office.

Sorry I haven't been posting on others' diaries though I've tried to keep up with reading. Ig - great advice on the panels. On the would like list after fascias and sofitts - rotten ends and birds getting in the eaves/nesting is a problem so that's a priority as soon as finances allow - maybe this time next year.

Hope everyone has had a good day and here's to a great weekend. Getting warmer too. :beer:

Ali-OK

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Things are definitely on the up for you. I have the most beautiful large purple suede handbag whose use I have had to restrict. I finally joined the dots between it and a sore back on the day that the car passenger seat beeped for a seat belt when it was the only thing sitting on it!

:eek: That sounds like a revelation and realisation of just how much we carry around. I've always been a small bag person, which usually means small single shoulder strap which concentrates the weight in one area - ouch is the result.

I'm definitely going to ask for one of those 'better back bags' for Christmas - I tried my massage lady's one out - wow - she carries more weight in hers than mine and it distributes it differently so no strain.

I did find out the joys of a decent rucksack for our holiday last year when I bought an Osprey ladies one in an online sale. Use that now for days out or weekends away and should last years. Hoping a better back bag will be just as robust.

Is it too early to be talking about the 'C' word? :rotfl::o

in_need_of_direction

Yes it is. I'm banned from mentioning it until Monday.