Decreasing spending - increasing happiness

Enjoying_life_more

Sunday lunch went well - a real money saving lunch - reduced price joint, reduced eggs for Yorkshire puddings and veg already in.

Had another nice walk this afternoon, not as long as yesterday but probably about 3 mile, again I loved every minute of the walk.

The DIY job ive been putting off for a long time is half way done :j:j:jwill finish it off tomorrow night hopefully - cant say I've enjoyed doing it but I am enjoying a sense of accomplishment - let's hope my motivation to finish it is there tomorrow!

Enjoyed listening to music today, I go through phases with music if I like an album I play it repeatedly until I cant listen to it any longer - I must learn to ration myself. I haven't listened to a particular album today just random shuffle and it was good.

Ah well Monday tomorrow - here's to another money saving week ahead - this one should be good as it's pay day at the end of it :j

Enjoying_life_more

No spends today !! Busy after work - walked for just over an hour, cooked a lovely curry and rice enough for tonight, tomorrow and weds. Did another hour of my DIY Job just another hour or so to finish it off tomorrow - I was going to rush and finish it tonight but have learnt from the past this is not a good idea.

Hoping for another no spend tomorrow ? but will have to go to the shops on Weds as some supplies are running low. Worked my budget out for pay day - still very much the same as I worked out earlier in the diary £150 per week for food/fags/social/travel/petrol. I have a few nights out planned for the next month but nothing too costly I hope.

Enjoying_life_more

Well today is pretty much a repeat of yesterday went walking after work for approx. 1 hr 15 mins I didn't feel like walking but I had promised a friend we would go so stuck to my promise and so glad I did as once I got started I was fine and feel great for doing it. I came back finished my DIY job yay!! Had my curry portioned from last - much nicer tonight too. The only difference in today is I didn't manage a no spend day I have only spent 1 pound but it i'm still annoyed with myself - the pound was spent on a coffee from a vending machine and I haven't done that in ages - I wont be doing it again very soon either.

Enjoying_life_more

Not been on for a few days - I've had January pay day yay!! and the money is all accounted for the coming month including savings!!!! My budget is 151 per week and I am on track for this week - My loan / morg and cc payments have all been paid and this makes a difference as follows:-

before pay day I owed

£94,777 (inc morg)

After January payment I owe

£92,209 -(inc morg) this is approx as I don't know until the end of Jan what the new morg interest payment is as my bank add this on the last day of the month - although I think my guess of 216 is more or less right?

On the enjoying life more front - I've enjoyed cooking for friends this weekend - most of the ingredients I already had in and the rest came out of my food budget - friends supplied the booze - we all enjoyed it - sore heads today though!

Had some lovely sunshine today which I enjoyed whilst out walking. walked approx 3 miles, enjoyed chatting to other dog walkers - and now i'm going to enjoy catching up on all the other diaries on here as I've not had chance to come on for a couple of days.

Just to add I nearly bought something yesterday - nothing too expensive it was about 6 pound but I talked myself out of it and put it back on the shelf - very pleased with myself about that !!

Enjoying_life_more

Enjoying_life_more wrote: »

before pay day I owed

£94,777 (inc morg)

After January payment I owe

£92,209 -(inc morg) this is approx as I don't know until the end of Jan what the new morg interest payment is as my bank add this on the last day of the month - although I think my guess of 216 is more or less right?

Glaring mistake (must be the hangover) on my post from this afternoon the after January payment should read

£94,209 !

EssexHebridean

Well done on the resisting spending...even small things like that make a difference when paid against debt/mortgage. :T

Enjoying_life_more

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Well done on the resisting spending...even small things like that make a difference when paid against debt/mortgage. :T

thanks Essex - and yes you are right - the small things which you think "well its only ....pound" add up to quite a lot over the years and when I ask myself is it really going to make me any happier then i'm sure 99% of the time the answer will be no of course not - it feels good to say no to myself at the moment - i'm quite enjoying it :j

Enjoying_life_more

No spends today !! - been to the gym after work (I have a yearly membership paid for upfront last March) tried to get a quote for this years renewal but they couldn't tell me just yet ? if it's the same as last year I will renew as it was £199 for the year and Its saved me quite a lot of money than if I'd paid for each session . It's a good way of socialising too as I meet up with friends there.

I've made a chicken / veg casserole with veg out of the freezer smells delicious and there's enough for Tue and Weds so I can go out walking after work tomorrow and come home to dinner all ready.

Only got a small budget for food shopping this week so I'm writing lists and checking prices on line - I'm quite lucky as I have a good selection of supermarkets to chose from.

Enjoying_life_more

Nice long walk after work - really enjoyed it once I got going but must admit I cannot wait for lighter nights to arrive.

Did some food shopping today - I wasn't going to but arrived at work with only my lunch and no breakfast ( I always take and eat breakfast at work) and the lunch wouldn't have kept me going (a cuppa soup) till home time, so I bought some teacakes and butterly type spread ( had to give up the real thing a few months ago due to the ridiculous price increases )which was on offer - and I needed this week anyway. Total spend 1.43 come out of my small food budget for this week.

Enjoyed the casserole I made yesterday very delicious it was too. I'm now researching recipes for home made pizza which I'm hoping to make later in the week or weekend.

EssexHebridean

Good idea for buying breakfasty stuff that will see you through the week - we make either home made muffins, or flapjacks, and have those for our breakfasts most days - they can be made for pennies and either keep for a good fortnight in an airtight box (flapjack) or freeze brilliantly (muffins).

HM pizza...Mmmmm!