Decreasing spending - increasing happiness

Enjoying_life_more

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Home made pizzas truly are one of the triumphs of cooking from scratch - what did you use as a tomato base? I usually go for half and half tomato puree and ketchup, to which you can add all manner of other things - garlic, herbs, and copious amounts of smoked paprika are all favourites in our house!

Hi Essex thanks for the tip which I will try next time - this time I used garlic, finely chopped onions fried in a little olive oil then chopped tinned value toms and mixed herbs - simmered for quite a while - it was lovely but I think yours would work out cheaper (as even value toms are not as cheap as they used to be) and nicer

Enjoying_life_more

quick update - had a better Monday than I thought I would, I had a good heart to heart with someone at work which made me feel better about a work situation.

Just made a rather strange combination casserole (sausage, chicken and mixed veg - added sausage as only one tiny chicken breast left) it looks and smells quite good and hopefully we last 3 nights?

Spent a pound today I had made a coffee for my journey to work but the flask mug leaked so ended up buying a vending machine coffee. I suppose it's good that something that I wouldn't have thought twice about a few months ago (I probably would have bought a more expensive one too) bothers me now.

Off to the gym soon, meeting up with a friend, it's always hard on a Monday when its dark and cold but I know i'll enjoy it when i'm there.

Enjoying_life_more

Had a busy couple of days at work. Did gym and walking yesterday but no exercise today.

Been food shopping today spent 15 pound in total and I estimate another 5 to 7 pound for another small shop at a different supermarket will see me okay for the coming week. I can't believe how much money i'm saving by really thinking about what to buy and then comparing alternatives/ different shops etc

I've been looking around for better loan rates for when the family member pays me what they owe on my loan - I have seen on here that one of the CC companies is doing a money transfer offer on zero interest for 29 months - so i've applied - fingers crossed for the decision.

Another thing I am really thinking about (a lot) is my need to stop smoking - it's going to be hard but it needs to be done for all sorts of reasons not just the fact that I could bring my debt free date forward by about 4 or 5 years.

Enjoying_life_more

Had a productive evening - called for last bits of shopping, this came in more than I had planned (10.26) but I did pick up some bargain pork chops, and a few other things on offer including lots of veg, I'm now well stocked up. Came home and prepared blanched and froze the veg. Visited a family member and then had an hour at the gym.

I have 38 pound left out of this weeks budget, going out with a friend tomorrow night but only for a few hours so I shouldn't spend much hopefully?

Enjoying_life_more

Phew had a busy couple of days - night out last night went really well it was nice to have a few drinks and catch up with friends, we didn't stay out too late and as a result I only spent 15 pound in total which is pleasing.

Cleaning this AM, then walking, then a shopping trip with family members to buy one members birthday presents, got the things they wanted which to be honest wasn't much (we've all agreed we need to cut down on what we spend on each other from this year) and they were delighted with the purchases.

Came back, made a lovely Curry and some biscuits for in the week. Also prepared as much as I can for Sun lunch tomorrow as i'm cooking for family.

Really pleased to note that I've been accepted for 0% money transfer CC - the money will transfer to my account on Monday I then need to wait for family member to transfer the money they owe me and then I can settle the loan. The 0% deal is only until the end of this year I will then look around for a cheap loan / CC deal again. I wont use the card again and I will pay as much as I can off the CC before the deal ends so that the loan is the least it can be.

I am so pleased with my progress this month and I think I've mentioned this before but i'm getting a really kick out of money saving / cutting back and testing myself to spend the least possible. It's worked this month as I have been able to transfer money not spent out of my budget into my savings account. I feel much happier with the way I am living now than I ever did when I was out of control with spending and feeling sad about it

EssexHebridean

It's a great feeling when you're on top of it, isn't it! Well done, and congrats on the 0% deal too!

Madchickenlady

Hi , I've just read through your diary and its inspired me so I am going to do one of my own , I also wanted to say about the smoking ,have you tried these new electric cigarettes, only one of my colleagues is a dyed in the wool smoker who has been nagged to give up in the past, she has tried lots of times without success and said the problem was that she really enjoys smoking, anyway she has started using one of those E cig things and now doesn't want to smoke the real thing, she had a lapse at new year but took one puff and didn't like the taste, she doesn't smoke the Ecig as much as she did real cigarettes and she feels she doesn't need it and she now thinks she will find it easier to give up

Enjoying_life_more

Madchickenlady wrote: »

Hi , I've just read through your diary and its inspired me so I am going to do one of my own , I also wanted to say about the smoking ,have you tried these new electric cigarettes, only one of my colleagues is a dyed in the wool smoker who has been nagged to give up in the past, she has tried lots of times without success and said the problem was that she really enjoys smoking, anyway she has started using one of those E cig things and now doesn't want to smoke the real thing, she had a lapse at new year but took one puff and didn't like the taste, she doesn't smoke the Ecig as much as she did real cigarettes and she feels she doesn't need it and she now thinks she will find it easier to give up

Thanks for taking the time to read and post and I will subscribe to your diary - it's great that we can all inspire and keep each other motivated!! There are some fab people /diaries on here and I think that once you are converted to spending less it becomes easy - good luck!!

I have the e cig and I do keep trying with it but then I go back to the real ones i'll keep at it though as your friend seems to have mastered it !

Madchickenlady

Good luck with the Ecig I will subscribe to you too x

Enjoying_life_more

Very busy and productive day today - woke up at 5.30 and couldn't get back to sleep (the joys of the menopause !) so got up did some jobs in the house, walked for 1 and half hours, cooked dinner, made pizza's, cleared up and then had a much needed snooze!

Woke up feeling groggy, wondering what day it was - so went walking again - feel much better for doing this.

Pizza's turned out gorgeous (used a tip from one of the people on here this time and made the tom sauce using tom puree, tom sauce and herbs with garlic and onion) - as good as any restaurant - from the ingredients I bought previously I've made 11 pizzas in total over the last couple of weeks and worked out they cost about 70p per pizza - which is well worth it.

Worked out my finances for the coming week and have plenty enough to cover what I need - I have a voucher for 3 pound off 20 pound spend at my local s/market so will be using that wisely - may bulk buy some stuff to get me to the 20 pound.

I've got a night away planned next weekend - the hotel / travel is paid for (we booked last November) - very cheap too, 35 pound for both - so just need spends for that and it is in the budget. It'll be nice to get away and have a change of scenery - i'm going with a few friends we try and get away 3 or 4 times a year and we always have a great time. I'm lucky that I have a good circle of friends, not that I feel lonely living on my own but it is nice to have plans and things to look forward to.

Ah well Monday / work looms off to get work things ready, bath and relax!