Trying to get on track

shala_moo

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Also, in was resenting paying lots of money for a trip that was a must do rather than a want to do. Today when chatting this thru my OH pulled the rabbit out of the hat. He has been squirrelling away avios points that will totally cover one of us and that we, along with tesco, may be able to stretch to two. He has hotel points and a voucher that will get us a 4 night stay in a v nice hotel in Toronto for the price of 1 and he has access to an upgrade if we factor in a week in ny given the other savings we will make. How amazing is that!

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

And just when in the midst of a pity party, doorbell rang. Delivery of a lovely bunch of flowers from one of my friends in work. So lovely when someone makes an unasked for and unexpected day.

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Met a friend for coffee and an incredible piece of chocolatey, nutty, toffee dessert and she very generously paid.

You sound like you have a really nice group of friends and people supporting you INOD.. and I think OH has done brilliantly with all those points/coupons.

Now you can make the trip a holiday you want with a day or so of family visits..

Hope your first day back has gone well x

in_need_of_direction

Hey ho, the downside of these diaries is that when you hit a slump, other people seem to be so much more on top of things, you feel even more inadequate. So, didn't make work on Monday which my boss was great about. Went in yesterday at lunchtime and then stayed 6 hours. Came out with a nasty headache that won't shift. Plus points, haven't had any spends since Saturday. Last night's dinner was a reduced to 89p pizza from sainsburys for me and stuff from fridge for OH. This meant that I resisted the lure of 2 for tues from dominos while still getting my pizza fix. Also, got a £1.50 bid on the one item listed during the free listing weekend. Minus points, hit the unopened tin of Cadbury biscuits donated to us at Christmas and don't seem able to shift this general feeing of uselessness. I think I'm only posting cos if I stop this early, I can't see me getting going again.

in_need_of_direction

Decided that I couldn't let the dreaded depression take too much of a hold so positive babysteps. Mortgage payment went out of current account and transfer went in from OH's paypal account. this created a tillytidy of £1.69 that I just transferred. Also, signed up for a loyalty card from the station where I buy diesel when I'm over the border. not even sure what the rewards are but know thay can be transferred to charity so at least someone will benefit. Also, needed to buy a present for a colleague but identified an item for regifting so approx £30 saved. it's hard to see it all as uphill - need to focus on the positives no matter how small

mfmaybe

Hi INOD, we sound similar so I will subscribe to your diary! I too treat the new month on my credit card as an important date. I used to put the money aside every time I used it (say for fuel) but have got out of the habit. Next month I'm going to put half of each diesel fill and food shopping aside, and the month after the whole amount, to catch back up. Hopefully that will encourage me to be more careful in what we actually spend.

Hope you feel a bit more positive soon, but I guess there will always be times when it feels tougher.

in_need_of_direction

Don't you just hate on line deals that you have to phone to confirm. :mad:

Saw a really good mini break offer 2 days ago falling over OH's birthday so called at 8.30 in the evening - phone lines were open to nine. Told that offer couldn't be accessed and to try next day. Called back yesterday and was told that the £89 per person offer no longer available but the same deal was there for £214 per person! Worrying thing was that the sales patter nearly had me convinced. With flights from NI, etc. total cost for 3 days would have been around £800:eek: it was as much the thought of having to confess here that made me see how ridiculous that price was. What is irritating though is the website is still advertising the £89 price despite me bringing this to their attention.

in_need_of_direction

So, did the grocery shop yesterday and took advantage of the third £12 off coupon in the series of six. This means another £6 overpayment to the mortgage. Spent more than expected but some of it was on particularly nice things for OH who is very long suffering. Have realised that by using the voucher I'm reducing monthly credit card spend while transferring op from current account so in an odd way it's a double saving. The number of watchers on my ebay item is up to 3 while bidding is still at £1.50. Even if that's all I get, it's still a plus as it takes another item out of my cluttered house while creating a mortgage overpayment. Every pound helps. I also got an email offer thru yesterday which, even after sleeping on it, I think I'll go for. A coat I really liked is reduced from £225 to £95. Yesterday's offer is a further 20% off. Can't really op the saving as I wouldn't have paid full price anyway but great that I'm getting it for a third of the full price.

Munchin

Hi INOD - I'm heading over the border next month and now it's all your fault that I have to find Cadbury's dairy milk and do the comparison - of course this is purely research. I might need to buy a couple of bars just to be sure :rotfl:

I'm subscribing to your diary as I also count the credit card date as an extra pay date and I find it a pain that we have so little choice when flying out of here for a holiday & it costs twice as much.

I'm now away to sign up for travel zoo:). Good luck.

in_need_of_direction

Hi munchin. You might want to try travel wasp too as we got a really cheap city break with them last year as they do some packages ex belfast. I love my weekends away and I think my OH needs them. He moved in with me plus 2 nearly adults and while they are both in their 20s now with one away from home, I think he needs the occasional break from the whole family thing. While he is great, as he's never had his own parasites, he still needs the escape. NSD for me today. Haven't ordered the coat but will if I still want it tomorrow and it's still in stock. Didn't do much today bar fighting with the dumping ground where papers seem to gather. At least everything now has a home or has been recycled or dumped. If I can keep on top of stuff coming into the house, even if I only offload one thing a week, it will make a difference in the longer term.

Munchin

Cheers INOD - I've never heard of travel wasp but will have a nosy. OH and I don't have any kids but he hates his job & suffers from depression so a break away even for a few days is a relief at times.

in_need_of_direction

OK, have gone and done it - 2 sleeps later and I bought the coat. Also, went via TCB though as I had a voucher code, it may not track but always worth a try. Also, look like it'll be a bit of a spendy week as I got a 25% off email from BHS so the lamp that I wouldn't pay full price for may soon be en route. made my mortgage OP today £10.99 - combining the TT with the savings from the Mr S voucher and put 3 items in a charity clothes bin. the dumping ground is now clear and a present has been delivered. Even if I only get shot of 1 thing a day, it should make it easier to deal with what's left. Taking inspiration from Greying, things I'm grateful for / happy about
1. Meeting a friend for brunch
2. A 39p turnip
3. Despite having no weight loss, there was no gain either and it was one of those weeks that could so easily have gone either direction