Lina's Life Improvement Diary

Domayne

Forward planning thinking - I like it!
I'm sure in the long run, you'll save yourself some pennies on those plus you eliminate part of the stress of last minute gift hunting

in_need_of_direction

Like you, I need to look professional for work. I tend to keep the cheaper clothes buys for the non work days. I would buy two bottoms for every suit jacket and I would either sale shop for these or go for the more expensive brands. I also go for the conservative that doesn't date

Lina_T

In need of direction - I also try to go for styles that I know fit well and won't date as opposed the the latest faddy fashions. I tend to find neutrals work best (black, navy, white) because they can be mixed easily.

My problem is, whenever I go out specifically to buy workwear, I end up seeing jeans or a going-out dress I just have to have. :rotfl:

I did some overtime yesterday so hopefully that will cover the presents I've bought this month. But about an hour ago I cracked and bought a Wispa from the newsagent. 65p down and 2lbs up probably.

Lina_T

I've gone slightly off track in the last week re. recording all my expenses so I need to sit down tonight and do that - I think I can remember most of them and I've kept all receipts. I've also bought a couple of lunches and the diet has gone completely to pot - need a slap on the wrist for that!!

I sold a bag on ebay - an unwanted christmas present which can't have cost more than £12, it sold for £45!! Very happy about that and will put the money towards my money-neutral Christmas & birthdays goal.

More overtime booked in for tonight so that should help as well. My goal is to have paid off my overdraft by next payday (15th Feb) and I'm on track so far to doing that.

Domayne

Hi Lina! I've also gone off track in recording all of my expenses as well - it does get a little bit boring doesn't it?! xD
At least you have your receipts and can catch yourself up later!!
*slaps your wrists for you* Have you brought your lunches from home? Or you mean bought them at the shops? Just think about how much you can save by bringing your own, and they taste so much better too! Plus you actually know what's going in them...:rotfl:
It's ok to treat yourself to the odd lunch out though, I always have a McDonald's breakfast wrap on Friday, It's what I look forward too all week! My life is so exciting....
Congrats on the bag sale, nice little profit you made there!!

Lina_T

Thanks Domayne, I've been trying to bring lunches from home but in the last week I've been too lazy to prepare them the night before and then in too much rush to make them in the morning, so I've ended up going to the shop at lunchtime. Shocking conduct I know!

Domayne

Naw it's not shocking - It's understandable! I often get lazy when I just get home from work and can't be bothered to do anything except flop on the sofa either I've read some people batch cook something at the start of the week and freeze portions to take in with them for the rest of the days - Could you try something like this?

Lina_T

I don't think we'd have the room in our freezer, it's only a little one between 5 people. Things like cereal bars, tins of soup etc. I find easiest (but slightly uninspiring) because I can just grab and go, so I might stock up on these next time I shop.

Lina_T

A half good and half bad update:

In good news I signed up to the Sun+ a couple of weeks ago for the free £20 Primark voucher, that arrived today so I cancelled the membership on it :j

In bad news my mobile bill has come to £37.93! My contract is for £26 and it normally doesn't go over that, but gone over on minutes. Going to have to split the phonecalls more evenly between me and the OH I think, or I might look into skyping instead.

The great money gods giveth with one hand and taketh with the other...

Domayne

The great money gods giveth with one hand and taketh with the other...

Indeed they do! What cruel gods!! :rotfl:
Do you share a phone with your OH? What plan do you have?
When I started my diary, I was with t-mob and paying £40ish a month, but got some advice to switch to giffgaff on a rolling contract...Now I pay £12 a month and get unlimited text/internet and 250 minutes which is perfect for me as I barely use 50 of those minutes....but for £20 a month, you can get unlimited text/internet and 2000 minutes a month! There network is really good as well, I'm just over a month in and have had no problems so far...except that I have a voicemail message I can't listen too because I have no 'credit' and the icon is annoying me