Oh come on! Stake through the heart. A little sunlight. It's like falling off a log"

Buffythedebtslayer

beanielou wrote: »

A good day then

In the end yes. I knew after a crap night's sleep today wasn't going to be marvellous. but the dog walk with definitely the highlight!


I am considering an insane plan...........This will surprise no one!


been re reading the Frugal challenge, the original idea was to have a budget of 4000 to last the year. For some this included everything for others it was for certain things (Rent and mortgage always separate.)


4000 = 83 a week. not possibly for me petrol and food is 60 quid a week minimum.


However I am pondering a £100 a week.


This is all for next year... well I would start with it now to see how it works. I would take out 100 pounds on Saturday and do everything in cash. Petrol, food, birthday spends, nights out.


Just sat and done some sums. Can't imagine that working hugely well...


hmmm


Maybe 150........that would allow for the odd decent London night out. I wouldn't spend all of it all the time.


which would mean a total of 7800 to spend on life, the universe and everything.


and 600 a month into my spends account. hmm. that sounds like a lot!


One of my banks is open on Saturdays so I could return any money I didn't spend.


Now you might be wondering why I would be doing this. One of my dearest friends has been looking at buying houses. well a house or flat. so when following the links to her dream homes (or bizarre factory shaped dwellings)I have been doing the odd search myself.


The whole problem with me is I will not let go of the idea of owning my own house. How ever long it takes it is one of the definite things I want, when I make a list or read a self help book or what ever. I want a home of my own. Which is insane given the prices and my position, but still it is one of those things I want. So I shall save.


I also cannot budget. I don't know why. I can add up! I have not gone overdrawn in over ten years. But I spend money, all of my money every month. I must keep up with the savings.


I must.


I also must go to bed. This is unfinished.


But I will be back tomorrow XX

Buffythedebtslayer

Quick update on the spends cc,


paid another two hundred pounds.


It went up to 621 so now it stands at 421 pounds. I used my savings - which is what they are there for! I think looking at it that might be as bad as it gets.


xx

mothernerd

You are doing well. It's not us, it's the weather.

Snagggles

Factory-shaped dwellings...well you do have to pay for the finer things in life...:rotfl:

The flat I was looking at the other day is sold. Bum. Never mind, eh?!

I thought for a moment you said you'd given up wine. Surely that cannot be! Wine is for life, not just for Christmas!

I really do understand the pressure to keep up with what your friends are doing. I'm the same. Most of my friends are fairly well-off, and have expensive tastes. And I go out so infrequently that whilst I might set off with good intentions of being frugal, once I'm there I think 'Oh sod it', and spend way too much.

Hey, do you want a copy of my super-whizzy (and as yet untested!) budget spreadsheet? It's colourful and everythink!

You are brilliant. You are the sort of friend money cannot buy. xx

Pooky

Spreadsheets still confuse the "insert rude word here" out of me - probably because I've never worked in a job thats needed them. DH, bless him, tries to explain them to me but not a clue.

I have a pad and a pencil and a calculator. Techno-failure me.

Snaggs - you need to buy a house with a spare room to rent out to Uni students up there - the price that DD1s BF is going to be charged is horrendous (and he's sharing which really scuppers DD going up to stay....or not if the "sharer is fit" in her words...oh the folly of youth).

Buffs - Do you not qualify for any housing schemes what with you being a teacher and all....they do the shared ownerships ones round here that you can then buy more of as you can afford it.

Glad you got out for a walk with the dogs - mad in that rain, it didn't stop here at all yesterday. I only stood out in it for 5 mins to chuck water over eldest doing the ice bucket challenge but it was ruddy freezing, yet refreshing at the same time.

Maybe we need to start a sort of "spending challenge" over in the other place. Might keep us all a bit more focused?

Sun_Addict

Hi Buffy

Pooky has a great idea there re spending challenge. I'm rubbish at sticking to a budget, everything looks great on paper, but in reality .... I'm rather partial to a spreadsheet myself even though I use them every day at work.

Our poor dog never got to go any further than the garden yesterday. It poured with rain all day.

I work with a lot of people who earn very high wages (I'm not one of them ). None of them ever have any money, they're always skint, can't afford to go on holiday, buy clothes, etc. All I can assume is that they've got big mortgages. But at least when you socialise with them they are happy with a "Spoons"!

in_need_of_direction

I withdraw a set amount of cash each week for my spends. If I've any left, I reduce the next withdrawal as some weeks are more expensive than others. This works for me and since I started, I tend to have more money. I don't include diesel costs though as I do a lot of driving that's claim able on expenses and also tend to pay in euros as it's cheaper for me. I think shared ownership is worth investigating.

Buffythedebtslayer

StressedSteph wrote: »

Hi Buffy,


We have a few friends that are decidedly richer than we are (It doesn't take much ), and I find there are two different types:-


The snobby ones that ram their wealth down your throats and the normal kind regular folk who may be rich but you would only know if you examine their clothes closely or their home furniture choices etc.


I have recently distanced myself from one couple who only seem to invite us round for drinks when they have just bought something flamboyant that they want to show off!!. I find it really distasteful and I come away from meet ups with them feeling really rubbish about myself. Not the basis for a good friendship.


You may have a higher self=esteem and be able to cope with friendships like that. I just find it super hard work .


I know nothing about wine either, but then wine doesn't really agree with me, I'm more of a gin and tonic kinda gal.


Don't feel bad about your spends over the weekend, with the folks you went with I think you did good damage limitation.


Onwards and upwards xxx

Well thanks to the randomness of my CC online totals I think I agree, since it is 621 not 921 which is what I thought -oddly although the list of transactions hadn't updated the total appears to be the total if that makes sense.
So it is not the complete nightmare I thought it was. PHEW


I am also with you on the non wine - vodka and lemonade for me! And the friends, although I love my old mate her hubby's influence is extreme and very clear to see, she doesn't do it when he isn't there, but when they are together it is a night mare and you feel like the deserving poor being helped out by the gentry.
Mostly my normal friends are of the type like us - all deals and vouchers!

Sun_Addict wrote: »

You can't beat "Spoons" for half decent grub Pooky! And their house wine at just over £6 a bottle. I never buy wine that isn't on a half price offer either - £4.49 is my limit Penguin! Have a good day Buffy despite the rain - it's raining here too.

I just don't drink wine now - too many headaches, I love Weatherspoons tee hee!

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Of course we get it though for me, pizza express pizzas are too tarted up. Give me the hut buffet any day.

When we were kids there was one near the college, you could have unlimited salad....my mate's salad building skills were amazing.......Our one shut down which was annoying and is now a coffee shop.

Buffythedebtslayer

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Hi Buffy

Pooky has a great idea there re spending challenge. I'm rubbish at sticking to a budget, everything looks great on paper, but in reality .... I'm rather partial to a spreadsheet myself even though I use them every day at work.

Our poor dog never got to go any further than the garden yesterday. It poured with rain all day.

I work with a lot of people who earn very high wages (I'm not one of them ). None of them ever have any money, they're always skint, can't afford to go on holiday, buy clothes, etc. All I can assume is that they've got big mortgages. But at least when you socialise with them they are happy with a "Spoons"!

This is also something I have observed SA that the well off in terms of pay seem to always be skint. I don't really get it. It is nice tho as like you say you don't have to worry about big bills or posh restaurants! I wonder if everyone is over stretched.


I think a spending challenge would be good....

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

I withdraw a set amount of cash each week for my spends. If I've any left, I reduce the next withdrawal as some weeks are more expensive than others. This works for me and since I started, I tend to have more money. I don't include diesel costs though as I do a lot of driving that's claim able on expenses and also tend to pay in euros as it's cheaper for me. I think shared ownership is worth investigating.

This is hopeful! I have done it before and will do it again.

Snagggles wrote: »

Factory-shaped dwellings...well you do have to pay for the finer things in life...:rotfl:

The flat I was looking at the other day is sold. Bum. Never mind, eh?!

I thought for a moment you said you'd given up wine. Surely that cannot be! Wine is for life, not just for Christmas!

I really do understand the pressure to keep up with what your friends are doing. I'm the same. Most of my friends are fairly well-off, and have expensive tastes. And I go out so infrequently that whilst I might set off with good intentions of being frugal, once I'm there I think 'Oh sod it', and spend way too much.

Hey, do you want a copy of my super-whizzy (and as yet untested!) budget spreadsheet? It's colourful and everythink!

You are brilliant. You are the sort of friend money cannot buy. xx

It is true, I have spent loads cos it is summer and I want to see people. I have totally had sod it moments!


I would love a copy of the spreadsheet actually. You never know it might help with the budgeting!




I don't know why it has quoted you all in the wrong order but anyway have tried 3 times!!


I must go walk the dogs, but Pooky - I don't qualify as I am temping, the wooly plan at the moment is to pay off the debt, save as much as I can for the year and *maybe* get a permanent job that might have a shared ownership scheme - especially if I moved further out.


MUST go it is getting dark -


catch you all later XXXXX

in_need_of_direction

Evenings are starting to draw in. Less than a week to go before I'm allowed to mention the C word:)