Decreasing spending - increasing happiness

Enjoying_life_more

Came in well under budget this week - have split the difference between morg overpayment and savings - I've been thinking I could lower my weekly budget and add make o/payments etc at the start of the month but I quite like having a larger budget amount and then testing myself to come below this. whereas if I lowered the budget I might feel de-motivated if I go over it??

Enjoyed the night at friends last night and the cost was nil as I had wine in and cooked the food from supplies I had in.

Loving this summer weather - enjoying time in the garden and lots of lovely walks in the sunshine

I'm on the same budget for the coming week - so will update during the week on how this is going - one good thing is I managed to get a three pound of twenty pound voucher for T*sco so will use that

looking forward to updating my figures at the end of the month - -i'm also going to add in my savings figure as this is quite impressive - (for me anyway)

Enjoying_life_more

Financially I've had a good week - well under budget - well stocked up with shopping - lots of bargains again - so all is good money wise - plus it's near the end of the month so I will soon see a chunk disappear from my outstanding balance. :j

Mentally - it's not been a good week due to work issues - I don't want to go into on here but I'm feeling a little fragile and vulnerable at work and it's made me really wish I had joined this site years ago so that I wasn't in the position I'm in now, where I desperately need my job - ah well never mind I'm old enough to realise that these things sort themselves out in the end - roll on the weekend - I've got a nice night out with friends planned and I'm sure that will cheer me up and I will feel different next week!

just as an afterthought i,m really chuffed that i haven't resorted to spending money to cheer me up - that's actually quite a test - so well done me

beanielou

Take care of you

Enjoying_life_more

beanielou wrote: »

Take care of you

ah bless you - thanks for that - and yes you are right !!

Enjoying_life_more

Had a good weekend - spent time with family and then had a night out with friends last night - we went out for cheap and cheerful food and a few drinks, I really enjoyed it. Spent the day gardening today which was very therapeutic. Also a couple of long dog walks which were much needed as I've been neglecting the exercise

Hope that things at work go better this week? I'm back on Tuesday as I booked Monday off to have a much needed long weekend.

Came in under budget again - so morg overpayment made and also some to savings.:T

By weds I should be able to update my outstanding balances - as the morg interest will have gone on by then - can't wait to type in the new lower figure !

Enjoying_life_more

Quick update - I've just updated my signature to show the latest o/standing balance and the total I have paid off my morg/ debt and ... wait for it ...... my savings total - which is the most I've ever saved in my life. It's a nice feeling knowing I have savings!!

Still a long road ahead of me but I will get to the end of it one day - and I am enjoying life much more on this journey to being debt / morg free - as I'm now in full control of my finances.

giblet1979

Fantastic progress elm and great to see those savings rise as well as great overpayments.
I think setting a budget and then overpaying what is left when you undercut it is most motivating - in my experience otherwise it can be a bit disheartening, and I somehow manage to 'spend' all of what I have allocated! x

Enjoying_life_more

giblet1979 wrote: »

Fantastic progress elm and great to see those savings rise as well as great overpayments.
I think setting a budget and then overpaying what is left when you undercut it is most motivating - in my experience otherwise it can be a bit disheartening, and I somehow manage to 'spend' all of what I have allocated! x

thanks for your words of encouragement I really appreciate it and well done to you too - you are making great progress !!:T

Enjoying_life_more

Another good week money wise - came in well under budget !! I had a lovely day/ night yesterday at a free festival, went with a few friends and we took our own food and drink and had a wonderful time in the glorious sunshine - the only spends was on travel which worked out at about 8 pounds each.

I've paid the money I've saved from the weekly budget off my morg and added to my savings again.

Here's to another money saving week, coming in under budget again.

I've been a bit lax on the eating and exercise front and as I'm still going through a bit of a unhappy stage at work - I need to get back on track with the exercise as I know this helps when I'm feeling down about work. So along with coming under budget my aim for this week is to start healthy eating and exercising again!

peaceandfreedom

Enjoying_life_more wrote: »

Another good week money wise - came in well under budget !! I had a lovely day/ night yesterday at a free festival, went with a few friends and we took our own food and drink and had a wonderful time in the glorious sunshine - the only spends was on travel which worked out at about 8 pounds each.

I've paid the money I've saved from the weekly budget off my morg and added to my savings again.

Here's to another money saving week, coming in under budget again.

I've been a bit lax on the eating and exercise front and as I'm still going through a bit of a unhappy stage at work - I need to get back on track with the exercise as I know this helps when I'm feeling down about work. So along with coming under budget my aim for this week is to start healthy eating and exercising again!

Hi EnjoyingLife.

I haven't been around for a while (well, I have, but just haven't posted, not even on my own diary) but I'm back now with a new focus.

You are doing so well - I envy you those lovely savings, it must be a lovely feeling.

About the unhappiness at work - is that likely to be ongoing or is it just a passing phase? If it's a long term thing, is it possible for you to move to different job?

You are right though, that exercise will make you feel better - it's something I have as one my July targets - getting more exercise.