Decreasing spending - increasing happiness

Enjoying_life_more

peaceandfreedom wrote: »

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.

Hi P&F so glad you are back and back on track too!! - yes the savings are great although I am very very tempted to pay a large amount of it off my morg - as the interest on one part of my morg is 5.89% so If I paid £1000 off i'd save £2000 in the long term - which is great but I do like having savings - so not sure what to do yet

I don't think the work thing is a passing phase and I think I may be better off finding something elsewhere - I think i'll see how I feel in a months time and then make a decision?
I don't like how i'm feeling at the moment and couldn't cope feeling like this long term

Thanks for popping in and I look forward to catching up on your diary again - have a great week !!!

Enjoying_life_more

Another frugal week and on track for coming under the weekly budget again. Had a good weekly shop and managed to pick up some bargain reduced salmon fillets and chicken portions for the freezer. I shopped at 4 different places to get the best bargains from all and have only spent 19 pound and I've got plenty in for meals and full cupboards too.

I have bought some tickets for a music event later in the year but this comes out of my virtual pot for trips/ holidays so doesn't affect my weekly budget.

Off to see how everyone else is doing and will update at the end of the week - hopefully to say I've made another morg overpayment and added to my savings

Enjoying_life_more

Quick update - didn't come much under budget this week (5 pound) as ended up going out twice this weekend but it's still under so that's good.

I've made a larger than normal overpayment off my morg (289) using the 5 pound plus a chunk out of my savings - so my savings total has reduced but my outstanding balance should have reduced more than normal at the end of the month :j. I didn't like reducing my savings but the interest I will save makes up for that -as the calculator on here shows I will save 390 in interest ?

Enjoyed the weekend which is good as work is still stressful at the moment so it was much needed

Need to get in the garden today as I've neglected it for a few weeks - will catch up on a few diaries first

Enjoying_life_more

Since my last update I've been paid and morg and debt payments have come out - will update at the end of the month, when the morg interest has gone on - to show the o/s bal .

Still unsettled at work but not feeling as down about it. Very busy week and weekend - did come in under budget but only just - I had 8 pound spare - 3 went to savings and 5 to another morg overpayment.

My budget for this week is 106 which is for travel, food and a weekend away - the hotel is paid for out of my "trips and holiday" pot. Hoping to have some left at the end of the weekend!

I've bought a few more xmas presents this month- out of the sales - this came out of my presents fund. Did really well got 110 pound of gifts for 40 pound.

Off to read how everyone else is doing and will update again later in the week

beanielou

Sounding good

peaceandfreedom

Enjoying_life_more wrote: »

Still unsettled at work but not feeling as down about it. Very busy week and weekend - did come in under budget but only just - I had 8 pound spare - 3 went to savings and 5 to another morg overpayment.

My budget for this week is 106 which is for travel, food and a weekend away - the hotel is paid for out of my "trips and holiday" pot. Hoping to have some left at the end of the weekend!

I've bought a few more xmas presents this month- out of the sales - this came out of my presents fund. Did really well got 110 pound of gifts for 40 pound.

Wow, Enjoying, pretty impressed with all of that. You have an iron discipline when it comes to keeping to your budgets.

As for the Christmas presents, that is excellent work. I can't bring myself to think properly about Christmas until at least September. Then it's Strictly and Downton on TV and the Christmas planning begins. I am hoping to persuade my offspring to go for a lower budget though that probably won't wash with DD2.

If I don't pop in again beforehand, have a wonderful weekend away.

Enjoying_life_more

Popped in to update my signature ! It's nice to diarise this each month and see the outstanding balance going down. I'll do a proper update early next week as I am too busy at the moment and also not feeling too great.

giblet1979

Nice to 'see' you and hope you feel better soon x

[Deleted User]

Hi enjoying life more

I'm really enjoying your diary as we are incredibly similar even down to the job situation and being singletons with a dog :-)

I'm trying to make my weekly budget work, how do you plan for your weekly spending and what does it include?

Enjoying_life_more

Missu wrote: »

Hi enjoying life more

I'm really enjoying your diary as we are incredibly similar even down to the job situation and being singletons with a dog :-)

I'm trying to make my weekly budget work, how do you plan for your weekly spending and what does it include?

Hi there - when I get paid I split my money into three lots - yearly bills (which also includes holidays, Christmas etc, insurances, car related expenses) - monthly bills (gas/ elec /water etc) and then the weekly budget usually consists of food/ travel and socialising money - this is usually 70 to 80 per week. I work it all out the week before I get paid - in the main I usually come under budget every week and then split that between savings and overpayments on my mortgage. I try not to go over 28 pound each week for food shopping - I eat very well on that too - plenty of fish/ meat/ fruit and veg. I'm a very canny shopper now (thanks to MSE) and don't get everything from one place - I do my research - see what's on offer everywhere and also try and get some reduced items in with the shopping. I don't buy coffees/ snacks out - I always take my own breakfast/ lunch to work. Hope this helps and it's good to meet someone in similar circumstances to myself on here