Tunnel Vision in 2014!

Chardonnay

Ha ha, thanks SA, you've made me feel awful now!

Am getting over it, I think it'll help when the money hits my account! It seems strange being without a car after all these years! Was never that keen on driving though, so in a way it's a little bit of a weight off my shoulders I guess!

Hi Leslamp :hello: Yes it was a strange feeling that I wasn't expecting! We can manage without it though and I think it will save us quite a lot of money. The question will be whether to buy another one in the future but I expect we will when we're financially ready for it.

Ah, it does sound like you need a car - safety has to come first! I work from home, so that helps a lot of course.

Sun_Addict

Hi Chardonnay - just dropping by to see how you're doing. Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Skinnylatte

Hi Chardonnay,
Hope things are going well, How are you getting on without the car? x

Chardonnay

Hello SA! Thanks for dropping by! Weekend's been ok so far thanks. I had to work today - only until 2pm though. I then made sure I got out and about in the sunshine for an hour, so it hasn't been too bad. Hope your weekend's going well too!

Hi SL, things are fine without a car at the moment thanks. I don't need it on a day to day basis so it's not really affecting us yet. We are going to the Grand National next month though, so I may have to consider hiring a car for that. We are staying away at a hotel for two nights, leaving DD with my brother. It's the first time in a long time we've had a couple of nights away on our own, so it will be nice. Not cheap, and am dreading how much we will spend...but the tickets were kindly bought for us - they're good tickets too and I know it's something OH's always wanted to do so he's very excited about it! Sometimes you've just got to try to relax the budgeting brain I guess, although it feels almost impossible for me to do that at the mo!

Anyway, pay day has arrived! I am pleased to say I have completely paid off the Barclaycard balance of £913 and so we are now left with just the Halifax (out of the credit cards) :beer: By juggling things around I managed to pay £450 off that too, although I must admit to using it a few times at the end of this month We've still made a dent in it though!

Really pleased to have paid so much off actually as we also have the Gas/Electric bill due soon. I've budgeted for it, so hoping I've set aside enough! We shall see!

I would love to get under £13K this month if I can. I'm due some cashback soon, so hoping it will hurry up and come through, then I might just make it!

I haven't been perfect with money in February but I am learning. We did slip and have a takeaway last night which was very naughty and I didn't even enjoy it and felt bloated all night, so really regretted it! However, over all we are definitely being more sensible.

I earned next to nothing in S/E work in February but have started March off well by doing an hour today. The Tax Office have also messed up my tax code and I was £37 short on my wages this month, so should get that back at some point, but maybe not until after April :mad: I also cocked up because forgot to cancel my AA membership and £89 was taken out of my bank account I rang them to cancel, because it was still the cooling off period. They said it could take up to 21 days to go back into my acount :mad: Oh well!

Off to the watch the Voice now...enjoy the rest of the weekend! :beer:

Sun_Addict

Hi Chardonnay - well done with the debt reduction! Re the Grand National - as I found out last year sometimes life is too short to always deny yourself especially if it's something like, as you say, DH has always wanted to do. It's all about balancing things out.

Chardonnay

Oh dear, is it really 14 days since I posted on here! I really must try to post more often! I do still come on and read diaries, just don't get around to updating my own

So, the first half of March has been up and down (isn't that like life generally though!)

We've had some bonuses:

Gas/Electric bill came in at a whopping £300ish less than I have budgeted for! It's an estimated bill, so may have a nasty surprise later, but we changed suppliers after a massive bill the same time last year. Of course, this winter has been much milder too so hopefully that will help as I've been very careful with the heating this year.

So that was £250 paid off the credit card :T

BUT, then my laptop died again and have just had to fork out £70 to get it fixed :mad: It's still not 100% right either! Really think I need a new one, as this one's on its last legs but can't justify that at the mo.

Also, we had to work out how we were getting to Liverpool for the Grand National so have booked our train tickets, which were very reasonable at £26 each return, plus our hotel, which was an extortionate £320 for two nights! I knew it would be expensive that weekend, but the prices took my breath away! I booked this one on Hotwire, it was a mystery hotel. I did my research first and worked out which one it was and we got it £40 cheaper booking it like that :beer: Still a lot more than I wanted to pay though, but it was the most reasonable priced reasonable quality one I could find! We have a Bella Italia voucher that we were given for Christmas and we haven't used it as don't have one in our city, so we are going to book dinner on the Friday night and use that We also have £20 worth of Tesco vouchers left for Cafe Rouge, so may use those for lunch for when we get up there. We have to try to claw some money back somehow!

Also, we have just had to fork out £133 for two nights at a hotel in Newcastle, as hubby is going there for son in law's stag do in August. It had to be done some time, and as the others had booked their rooms, we didn't want him to miss out. Did it through Quidco though, as they had 12% cashback going, although I've had to raise a dispute, as the website haven't tracked it

Have £30 cashback from Weightwatchers, which will be in my account within the next week, so will pay that off the credit card. Feel that things are a bit messy with the finances at the mo, with having to pay so much out, but will update my signature when I next get paid, and should still make a another good dent in the debt.

Diet/Fitness wise, I've probably lost about one more pound. Have been half heartedly following WW but back on it with a vengeance now, as would love to get that last half a stone off as soon a possible. However, I have been really getting on with my running, regularly running 5k and did my second Parkrun today! Loving it at the moment, makes me feel great, lose weight and doesn't cost anything. What's not to love?! (Although it can be quite hard when you're erm, actually doing it!) Hoping to start upping my distance a little from this week.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! :beer: Will try to get back to updating more!

Skinnylatte

Great to see you back, missed you! Well done on getting a good deal with the hotels, and certainly on the running that's great, and as you say free :j ....... which reminds me, when did I last go for a run, hohum:rotfl:

Chardonnay

Ah thank you, SL, it's nice to be missed!

Ah, hope you can find some motivation with the running. I've got the bug at the moment, but I know I've certainly had times when I've got out of the routine and it can be really hard to drag yourself out again. At least the mornings and evenings are getting lighter now and weather generally better. Today was amazing here! No running for me today though, just a very long walk, a Skinny Latte and cake, and then lunch in a beer garden, so not very healthy or MSE but very enjoyable and this weather just has to be enjoyed - it might be our Summer!

I really don't think I should have walked so far the day after the Parkrun though. My left leg started hurting about half way through, but stupid me still carried on and now my left knee is throbbing Have taken some Ibuprofen and am resting it up but really hope it doesn't last!

Chardonnay

Helloooo!!!!

Well I've now been paid, so updated my signature. Didn't pay quite as much off as I would have liked, but still getting there! Really need to get that credit card cleared.

I called Halifax to see if I could get a Mortgage Promise with my current level of debt. I did get one, which is a big improvement on this time last year! We've been to see a couple of houses, but realised that if we want a house with the space that we need, we are going to have to hang on until we've cleared the credit card and can borrow more. We have made an appointment to see a house in a couple of weeks, which may have potential, but other than that, unless something really good comes up, we will probably wait for a bit. Hoping to get the card cleared by the end of July at the latest! Patience is a virtue that I wasn't blessed with I'm afraid!

Somehow we've slipped off the wagon a bit too and been out for tea a couple of times so we do need to keep that in check as that's my worst downfall!

Fitness wise, I've been doing the Parkrun on a Saturday and gradually getting quicker. I'm still running three times a week and gradually increasing my distance. I managed to run 7k this week, so very pleased with that!

I've relaxed with my eating a bit, but am just trying to eat sensibly. Following WW can get a bit restrictive after a while (for me anyway) and my weight seems to have come to a bit of a standstill. I kind of feel that this is my natural weight anyway, and am fairly happy with my size now, so I'll just carry on with the running and if any more comes off, then so be it!

Have a good weekend all!

Sun_Addict

Hi Chardonnay just catching up with you. Did you do the WW through Top Cashback? I did that! However it's finding time to fill in tracker. Like you I just have half a stone to lose. I lost 16lb 10 years ago by going to WW. Just lately the weight has started creeping up a bit hence need to lose half a stone. Just been looking at holidays for April (Lanzarote) - very tempted to book but will give it another couple of weeks. You are doing great with your debt clearance by the way.