I am such an idiot! When will I learn?

judi24

Ampersand - thank you once aain for your thoughtful reality check! I do bounce from one idea to another and I am easily distracted by other peoples plans. I am happy though that I bought YNAB. It cost £26 and have recieved another £3 for referring someone else. It really helps me categorise spending and see whats where.


I appreciate I make typos and mistakes - probably not helped my dyslexia and the fact I have no spell check on here! It doesn't excuse my poor maths though!


I know i get easily distracted and struggle to keep focused which is evident from my continued and sporadic quest to have ZERO debt with little success - but I can assure you this time is different! I can't explain how - I guess I am getting old and have finally seen what is important! But I know I need to steady myself and take a breath rather than going hell for leather and getting fed up along the way!


Anyway off to calculate this months total for my signature update - but I am pleased to report another NSD!!!

ampersand

Well done, judi! We lurrrrve those nsds:-))))

That signature looks much tidier[and tinier]tonight.
:T Excellent :T
You might like to incorporate your monthly nsd count there, too?
#
But I'm not letting a bright cookie like you off for 'should of' instead of 'should have' ...:D...that's nothing to do with dyslexia.:)

I definitely feel this is a strong impetus: 'but I can assure you this time is different! I can't explain how - I guess I am getting old and have finally seen what is important!'

Instead of 'getting old', how about 'getting older and wiser'? It really does happen and I'm certain this is a strong feeling in you and a force for good.
The reason matters not. Just stay here and we'll help keep you there when you wobble or get knocked off course by unforeseen nasties... they do come.

I've had them in car £££repairs for a fortnight, finally done today, in a hideous personal anniversary week when I usually make myself scarce, but couldn't this time....and that's how derailments come along, never 'conveniently'.

It's called 'Life'.

judi, my posts will always be straight with you, no flannel. So, read on.

What you are doing is admirable and you will succeed.

But no more £150 monthly overspends - not even next month. Fill-your-own crackers?

You have all of your lovely home-made/foragey things to be organising.

Make sure you're steadily gathering up the bottles, metal-lidded jars, pretty old porcelain/bone china etc you need NOW, rather than leaving it all in a rush that destroys your pleasure in putting each element together. This sense of doom and failure can lead to spree spending.

I pick up all sorts of ribbon, decor-y bits, crafty what-nots, interesting cards/stationery all year round.

Do you want to aim for New Year 2016 as a DEBT ZERO date?

Thankyou for taking my post in a generous spirit. This is another strong and consistent characteristic in your posts, which definitely works in YOUR favour. You must realise how good it is for the children to see you so consistent in this. I can't wait for the Savings Addiction to really kick in and kick on for you, when you hit your magic ZERO point.

Again, well done!

judi24

Ampersand - your telling off's make me smile! Older and wiser?? Maybe! and I definately feel I am going to get there this time - no matter what life throws at me - I have no doubt she is planing her next attempt to de-rail me as we speak!!!


I hope your car is all sorted now - it's one thing that does cause me anxiety - my car is nearly 8 years old and touch wood has been fine - but I know I need to start thinking about a replacement soon. I don't want to go back to paying out for car loans and lots of car related expenses! (I have an eco car with no road tax and I fill up once a month!)


I have been collecting paper, ribbons, boxes, bags and bottles for a while - my tiny study has no space to study at the moment because of it - it's small bottles I am struggling to get hold of to be able to give small amounts of the liquers I have created (also in the study!!!). I have taken a couple of days leave in December to do the putting together part of operation home made Christmas - so I have a plan!


I have a debt free date in mind but I am a little apprehensive to display it as I have been here before. I have a short term goal of being under 15K by the 1st Jan 2015. The reason for this is that I think it will help me not overspend at Christmas as I will need some of December's salary to achieve this. Once I get to that point i will display a debt free date.


Anyway - its not been a NSD today! Had to pick up some cat food (no idea how I managed to forget the cat in amongst all the Halloween festivities!) I also had to pay a school trip deposit - but that was budgetted for and pay my rail fare for my forth coming residential course (but I will get that back)


No spends planned for tomorrow - I have some sparklers that someone brought at Halloween that we didn't use - we will cook sausages and smores on the BBQ if it is dry and sit by the chimnea watching other peoples fireworks - I hate the crowds and pushing and shoving at firework displays and it always ends up costing money! Might even make some mulled cider with bits left over from the weekend kindly left by party goers - just to keep me warm! Kids can have hot chocolate!

ampersand

judi - if I'm repeating 'sounding good, looking good' and nodding my head approvingly at each point I've just read above, it REALLY is!

re:
'I have no doubt she is planning her next attempt to de-rail me as we speak!!!' - we do keep Life busy, don't we?))))

I envy you your car and petrol economy! My good Fenboys have kept me mobile since R took his life[anniversary week now, hence earlier ref.] and current [T-reg, so très vieille] Estate is necessary for what I do to eke out the OAP.

Remember to check http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/Shopping/FindProducts.aspx?Query=catfood&Store=Tesco&Sort=Price before any bulk buys. Check the best one you can work into your commute.
#
Ooh, did I just have an idea? Thinking of your difficulty gathering enough small bottles. Use normal wine bottles, but add glass beads to buffer space? It would look v.v.g and make pouring interesting too - comments/'judi', forthcoming every time:-)
I also put those beads[and shells and interesting gathered up stones from everywhere] over pot plant surfaces. It's an old trick, to stop beasties/birdies munching and uprooting, and compost/soil drying out.

I'll invade your study with my 'that'll come in handy one day's overspill.

#264 was a really good post judi. Your name can come with me tonight to Compline, only once monthly, but it always feels right and good. Lots of people and thoughts and situ's are left there, in our ancient place of worship. No electricity, just candle light all year round, taiz! music and contemplation, spoken, sung, and silent.

judi24

Sorry to hear its a sad anniversary for you Ampersand- sending you virtual thoughts of peace and calmness and good memories.


My car is great and I did lots of research when I bought it (I was doing a 100 mile round trip for work but I now do 6!!) Not planning on replacing it for another 2 years at least but its the one thing that I have no contingency for if I have big repairs or have to replace in a hurry! Not going to dwell on it though!


My 'study' is full of bits that 'might come in handy' as you say! I study in the kitchen!!! I might look at the glass bead idea. I have looked in charity shops for small bottles but can't find what I am looking for without paying out for 'vintage' ornaments.


Your Compline sounds lovely and very spiritually calming - I could probably do with something like that - I do tend to end up with a very busy and frantic life and I don't take time to reflect and be quiet in myself often (I am saving it all up for when I retire to my cottage in France!! Only 15 years to go! )


Anyway - No spends planned for today - not even planning to go near a shop!

ampersand

Thanks judi - hope you have a trustworthy mechanic you treasure like gold-dust.

Allons y, les d!ambulateuses!!!

re: penultimate para - don't save it up, seriously. Let it have air, take flight. You find the chaff thoughts, the cack, mail muck, poo peeps, nasties, horrors of the day done are winnowed away.
You OWE yourself a daily '5-minutes quiet time' judi. Imperative,your absolute treat to yourself, worth working at and for.

Purplepenguin88

Oh wow I go away for a long weekend and miss a lot!

Well done on the NSDs, and the positivity! (Oh and the DD2 payment, that's a huge hurdle to leap over!)

I too have a T reg car that is starting to really worry me, need to work out a realistic and pragmatic way out of it before it becomes a money pit. Bf wants to buy a new one on finance, (plus it'd be a much better one than I'd look for), whereas I'm from a "buy outright, buy second hand" family so I'm really not looking forward to resolving that. Car finance REALLY scares me!

I'm so impressed with your study and organisation, I love making things but I don't have any room to keep the stuff, so it's all jammed into boxes that end up having to be put away. So projects are a lot more limited!

Speak soon and keep up the good, positive and frugal work!

PP xx

judi24

I know you are right Ampersand - I do need to get some 'me' time - I do ok though. At the moment with my studies, work, and problems with kids and my ex there is not much down time - but balance will be restored at some point soon I'm sure! I used to get some weekend time to my self when the kids go to thier Dad's but that has stopped for a while - so may be I need to take your advice and look for a different way to get my 5 mins!


Penguin - I hope you had a good weekend away? It's a difficult one with a car purchase - I did by new (all be it 8 yeras ago!) but I wanted a specific eco engine that was brand new to the market - but I did my sums and worked out the economy of buying that and running it compared with a used but less economical car and to be honest it has worked out well as I was doing 500 miles plus a month - not sure what I will do next though as I don't need the economy that i needed then - but I don't want a second hand money pit either!


As for my study - i wouldn't call it organised - more a 'oohh that might be handy' store - I have accumulated enough wrapping paper to wrap the whole of Santas sleigh I think though! and definately don't need to buy cards either!


Forgot to report a No spend day as planned!!! Had sausage butties and smores in the garden with my mum watching other peoples fireworks and doing gifted sparklers!!

Purplepenguin88

Ooh I do love a sausage, that sounds scrummy!

It's all the extras like wrapping paper and cards that add up (especially when you're making homemade gifts as you want to make sure it looks more special!? At least in my case.)

I do need to look seriously at the car situation, I commute to work by train so don't really need one except for at weekends, my bf walks to work, and hasn't actually taken his driving test yet, but promises me he'll be learning soon now that he has his money together. Hence why I feel splashing out would be a bit of a waste, just need a good reliable (non money pit) runaround! Need to start being organised and do some serious research (independently from him!)

Go you on the NSD! Are you counting how many you manage each month?

judi24

Yes you can't beat a good sausage - even better when they were free! I was given a box of 10x8 packs of very good quality suasages (its a long story!) but needless to say I accepted and kids now have a suasage based meal at least once a week!!! Just as well they like them isn't it?


As for your car PP - I wouldn't go for anything too expensive as your OH hasn't passed his test anyway and you are not using it every day- once he does and can afford something better (and the insurance!) then he can!


I am not really keeping track of NSD - maybe I sould!