Champagne diet, lemonade budget!!

hohum

Hiya, just read through your diary and totally got the oops spending. Plus food & coffee totally my vices, thought it would only be polite to say hello!

I've found our circumstances difficult to manage partly because we have variable income, but also because we both can easily persuade the other into getting a takeaway, some sweets etc

I've noticed I do the 'treat, I deserve this because...' With little inexpensive food items that then adds up. Sounds a bit like you might too? I don't feel guilty about it, don't think anyone should but as I understand what's going on I'm starting to think aha that's interesting. At the moment I also have no choice but to find cheap alternatives..have baked twice this week to get my sweet fix.

I don't work for them (honest) but have you looked at 'you need a budget' software. It's a method of managing money (envelope system), budget software and spending tracker. Syncs across desktop & smartphones. I have been using since beginning of April and am a total convert! I think it helps as it's not budget fail if you overspend, there's just consequences in that you have to take the money from elsewhere.

menina

Hello Hohum, I shall definitely look into that. For next month, I was thinking of having a weekly budget rather than a daily one (as I don't think the daily budget will work for me longterm). So maybe some kind of soft ware might help...

menina

Not the best start to the day, I slept in! I don't fancy the gym today (would be 4th day in a row anyway) so will save some time by not going there. Will take the dog for a run instead. Plan for the day after I've transferred my thoughts to hear- STUDY, or I shall be in all kinds of trouble and very stressed!

Had a chat with OH about plans for the year yesterday. We want to- open a business and go to see his family (who are a long and expensive flight away and we have not seen for four years).

I think that both of these things are possible if we organise ourselves properly. The thing that will make them possible is sticking within an agreed budget (as I have been doing this month).

Now, I know that some would look at the amount of debt that I have and think that this is unwise and that the debts should be gone first. However, I cover the bank loan with my salary every month and it's not a problem to me. I think that I could afford to 'forget' about that and just keep on paying it off each month whilst we focus on other things.

The thing which needs to go is the Virgin credit card, even though it is at 0%. Reasons being, I don't like the thought of it. I'm well aware that the money on it is due to my overdraft and and the expensive trip to NYC last year that I really shouldn't have gone on. Also, it messes up my signature, which would look much more respectable with it gone!

So, new goal. Pay off the virgin cc ASAP. Or at least have the balance of it sitting in an account so that I could pay it off at any time, should I want to.

Other goals. Save save save! Save OH's rent money in full each month. Save any money that I get for unsocial hours payments. Speak to my boss this week about getting the 60hours annual leave they owe me from last year as an overtime payment (think this has been agreed, just need to make it happen).

Have a lovely Sunday everyone, the sun is shining here in London

xx

hohum

menina wrote: »

Hello Hohum, I shall definitely look into that. For next month, I was thinking of having a weekly budget rather than a daily one (as I don't think the daily budget will work for me longterm). So maybe some kind of soft ware might help...

Hi, i think it could be worth a try. The things that took a while to get my head around was that you can only budget with the money you have, eg can't budget on what you expect to bring in. The idea is that you start to look at what you have in each budget category (eg bills, coffee etc etc) rather than thinking 'oo i've got £80 let's get a takeaway', then get surprised by some predictable expense. Not that I do that. Oh no, not me. :A

You can put in recurring transactions for bills etc but you can't allocate the money until you get it.

Your future money goals sound good. To me, I think it helps to know what you're paying the debt off for, iykwim. A positive motivation is as good as a negative one.

menina

Hello everyone!

Was at work the last couple of days- minimal spends. Although technically should've been NSDs so not so good really!

9 days to pay day. £50 left in the budget. Now, of course it is possible that I could make it to pay day and be within my budget and have achieved my goal of saving 2x OH pay packet (£320). However, I predict that this will not happen. Of course I will try to be frugal and save as much of that amount as possible.

I know where I've lost money- food shopping (or lack of it). Have drifted off target with that one as the month has progressed. I will say that this is the most organised with money I've been ever and the first time that I will hit pay day without hundreds of pounds on my cc and I'll have some kind of surplus

4 days off work now The upside of shift work....

I have course work due in though, so I need to get this done and dusted during this time. It is achievable but I do need to get myself to the library. Got all stressed about it at work yesterday, so I am having a chilled morning organising my life before hitting the books.

I wasn't owed as much AL as I'd thought, but will be getting paid 23hours overtime this month, so definitely better than nothing.

Going to go through my wardrobe with a fine tooth comb in a minute. It's pretty sparse but I feel there could be a couple of ebayable items lurking... Think I need to show willing and make some money saving effort in the run up to pay day. Have earned £16 cash back on the cc so far this month so that will also help. There's a bunch of mobile phones in the cupboard as well which I might be able to get a tiny amount of money for.

xx

menina

2 loads of washing done, flat cleaned, mail box emptied, desk organised, credit card paid!

Had a look at the phones, they are so old that they can only be recycled, no payment possible. Boo!
Been through wardrobe, found 2 jackets, 1 dress, 1 skirt for ebay.

Goals for the next 4 days:
Organise study material for my course work- to be done once I finish on here!
Finish the course work without having a nervous break down- by doing a little each day- not pulling any all nighters!
Post the above items on ebay
Spend as little as possible (goes without saying really!)

Sorry for the boring, multiple posts xx

menina

The studying is actually going OK!! Progress has been made and I barely dare to say it, but I think I'm actually on target!!

Totally screwed up and spent £20 in tesco yesterday. I blame the studying, it makes me want to eat all kinds of rubbish!

Have a good day everyone xx

menina

Studying progresses but is really stressing me out TBH.

Not going great guns on the MSE front but not awful either. My priority has to be my studies at the mo. Its only for another 20 days (and counting!) if I spend the odd tenner here and there because I haven't got the head space to do clever MSE stuff then so be it!

Good MSE stuff:
I'm doing 3extra shifts this month, not 2 as I thought.
I'm working most of the b/hols/sundays so good for unsocial hours payments.
It's pay day in 5 days- pure joy!!

And the bad:
I won't have saved £320 come pay day. Let's see what I can manage though...

Happy Easter xxx

themarsbargirl

Hey, wanted to pop in and say hi. I hear ya with spending going to pot while studying. I find it helps me to bake a big batch of flapjacks for sugary snacks to keep me going. My slowcooker also helps me to eat better cuz i just chuck stuff in and leave it to cook whereas i tend to hover over the stove.
Will be subscribing and following you. x

menina

Hello themarsbargirl! And well done on your MSE achievements, I shall also follow you...

Quite chuffed that it is 11:15 in the morning and I'm done with the studying (for the next few days). Means I can relax and enjoy today. Then I'm working Sunday, Monday and Tuesday which I'll be able to focus on instead of trying to study and getting uber stressed. On Wednesday I will get up early, correct my typos, print, buy a folder and submit.

Will also try and be a bit MSE today and sort out work food for the next few days.

Xx