misstara's debt diary 2014

misstara

Me and OH have decided to go to Glasgow for our weekend away next month so we spent a bit of time last night looking for cheap accommodation/travel tickets. 2 nights in Glasgow and bus tickets down came to just under 130.00 so really pleased with that. The accommodation is basic but in a great location - near to Byres Road and the botanical gardens. Have set a 150.00 budget for when we're there. I'm pretty sure that we will spend less than that but wanted to set a high budget in case we want to go see a show.

Have spent 20.00 on tickets to see the orchestra next weekend as it was something we were going to do with the 'date night' money but then I spent my share on the hen weekend.

Me and OH have also taken 100.00 each to spend on whatever we like. I know this money could be put to better use repaying debts but there's so many little things that I've needed to get for ages and been putting off. It's also nice to have some money that's not budgeted for something . The rest of the money (400.00) I have put into the wedding/hen weekend fund.

misstara

I have realised that I've not posted my spends for the last few days so yesterday - 2.69 on a birthday card for my friend and Thursday - 2.20 on bus fare home from work. Today so far I have spent 8.49 on food, need to go a proper food shop at some point soon.

My sister is coming up today to stay for 2 nights so need to do a wee tidy of the flat and get her bed ready. Not sure what our plans are for over the weekend but will try not to spend too much just because I've got money sitting in my bank account.

misstara

Feels like ages since I posted on here but it was only Saturday morning. My sister is now back home and I had a lovely weekend with her. Think I spent far too much money so confession time.

Saturday
Went shopping and spent £48 (from my £100 on whatever I like budget). Went out for a few drinks at night - £11.50

Sunday
Went for a day trip to a nearby town which has a lovely beach - £5.70 return bus ticket and £8.20 for fish and chips. Also made a £5.63 payment to cc1.

Today
Took a walk out to my grans - £2.50 for bus fare back in and then £11 for tea before my sister got on the train.

So not great but it could probably been a lot worse. Hope everyone had a good easter weekend.

misstara

Today the direct debit for my contact lens has gone out and I have paid the TV licence which was 5.00.

I'm off work again today so plan is to go food shopping and catch up on my ironing. I'm possibly meeting a friend for a coffee this afternoon and then got my usual Tuesday gym class in the evening.

misstara

I spent £21.32 in M*rrisons yesterday - this included getting washing powder, toothpaste and face wipes so pleased with that. Had chicken fajitas for tea last night and there's plenty left for me to take in to work later.

I didn't meet my friend for coffee yesterday as she wasn't feeling well so we have rescheduled for Friday. I did, however, decide to go out for drinks with some other friends and spent £25 Annoyed at myself as up until now I have been fairly good at sticking to a budget and not blowing it. Oh well its done now and the money can come from the whatever I like budget.

I have been thinking about my next mini-target and I want to get the balance of cc1 to under £1000 by the end of May. I think its currently sitting at around £1200 so this is very doable. Will check the exact figure.

On a not so good note my laptop is playing up and it won't let me log on. OH is currently having a look so fingers crossed. I really don't want to have to take it into the shop.

misstara

Thankfully OH has managed to fix the computer so that has saved me a trip to pc w*rld.

I have also checked cc1 and the balance is currently sitting at £1168.62.

misstara

Spent £3.50 on bus fare as I got the bus to and from work, was being a bit lazy. This evening I realised my phone contract was finished so got myself another sim only deal - £13 a month, a saving of £2.50 a month compared to my old contract. I just have to hope my phone keeps going for another 12 months.

misstara

Direct debits for gym membership (£16.99) and my phone bill (19.52) went out today and I made a £1.16 payment to cc1. No other spends to report

Kei

Hi misstara, been having a catch up on your diary and saw that you were annoyed with yourself about the spends with your friends (haha that rhymes!). Just wanted to say don't stress about that too much, you can be too strict on yourself in your mission to be debt free. I was the same earlier this year, I really wanted to just go out, eat out for once, just do something fun, but I kept putting it off to save money for the debt. However I realised that all that was doing was making me miserable, the weather was rubbish also. So we went out and I paid and had a fantastic day out, but it was so worth it because the money wasn't wasted. So what I'm saying is that if you go out and spend and have a fab time with friends once in a while, don't beat yourself up :-)

giblet1979

Hi misstara,
Just found your diary and think you're doing so well! I'll look forward to reading more
Gib x