Need to get a grip!!!

rc12345

Title says it all really, I do a budget every month and then don't stick to it. Managing reasonably well, but moving house at the weekend which is going to cost more. It is affordable, but only if I stop all the random spending on a whim I seem to do. Currently have about £3k on a credit card and a £500 overdraft, if I don't get a grip now I'm worried my debts are just going to increase.

I've been meaning to start a diary for about a week, haven't time now to do a full spending analysis but hopefully now I've started I'll get this done tonight.

Have started with little things this morning, know they won't make a big difference in the big scheme of things but hopefully little habits will stick. This morning haven't put the heating on, been mindful of turning lights off when leaving a room, only boiled minimum amount of water in kettle and put excess in a flask for second cuppa instead of boiling it again (put another tea bag in the flask, but could probably use the same one again tomorrow), had boiled eggs for breakfast mum gave me - free breakfast (already boiled so didn't even use energy to boil them).

Hoping keeping a diary will help keep me on track, will post figures tonight and any advice will be gratefully received!!!

in_need_of_direction

Best of luck with the good habits and the house move.

sazzlebgood

all those little things will help in the long run good luck

rc12345

Thanks in need and sazzlebgood! Feels like I have accountability now I've written it down - which is what I need!!!

rc12345

Ok, few small things I did this morning...

Reused a plastic bag that I normally would've just binned as a sandwich bag instead of using a new one

Used a tub instead of cling film, with the view that I could reuse the tub...however, didn't come home from school despite having dd's name on it :huh:

Didn't put something in the wash after 1 wear

Didn't put any perfume on...why waste expensive perfume on work?

Tied hair up, therefore not using hair dryer or mousse/gel/hairspray

Wore my glasses instead of contact lenses. Pay £56 (i think) for a 3 months supply of contact lenses, which will obviously last longer than the three months if I don't wear them every day

Text instead of making a phone call on my mobile this morning. Although have free minutes would've been a long call

Aloofdragon

Eh well done on your new start, I am so guilty of all those things apart from the hair mines short lol The wearing clothes once then straight in the wash is one I will def pick up on tho as we do it all the time and as all uniforms here are Navy they really could do a second turn..

Have you any cheaper perfume lurking in a drawer somewhere you can use up I use my foreign hol stuff for work school runs etc , my nice ones for out, and my son Never brings home the tubs either xx

I look forward to following your diary x

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary

rc12345

Thanks aloof dragon and beanielou

I'm just so mindless when it comes to money and the cost of things, like I said I do a budget at the beginning of the month and then forget about it. The credit card and the overdraft are just from this year and I can just see myself getting into more debt once I've moved if I don't get a grip on things now.

I'm going to have a look on you tube for some different up dos for my hair once I've moved, as currently when I wear it down and have various products in it I end up washing it every day and wouldn't have to if I wore it up more (when I move because I don't really have time this week!!!)

Lol aloof I did the same with dd's uniform last night, which is navy. I asked her to get undressed as soon as she got home from school and checked it was clean and she will be wearing it again!

Unfortunately, I don't have any cheaper perfume...did find some gift vouchers when I was packing which I could use to buy some cheaper perfume...or just do without for now and maybe ask for some for Christmas (only 10 weeks on Thursday), suppose the vouchers could be used for something more useful...will have a think on that...

Not sure what to do about the tubs, if they keep not coming home it will end up costing me more than the sandwich bags and there was I thinking I was being money saving and more environmentally friendly with that one!

Anyway, didn't finish my diary yesterday as curled up in bed with dd watching x-factor results from previous night on catch up on my phone, didn't have the heating on again last night, didn't even have the light on. It was one of those really precious evenings...and didn't cost a penny. Ran out of camomile tea and thought I wouldn't buy anymore, but turns out camomile tea is the difference between me getting to sleep and not...so that isn't something I can cut out. Going to have a look online and see where I can get it cheaper from...

rc12345

Turns out you can actually buy camomile tea really cheap on amazon...who'd of thought? Going to have to do without until the end of the week and then order from amazon at the weekend when I'm in the new house...

rc12345

So, back to yesterday...

Had an out of date wrap for lunch, only a day out of date but probably wouldn't have eaten it before - wasteful I know. Hasn't done me any harm tho

I need to get a nectar card when I move. I buy someone's lunch from sainsburys two or three times a week (they give me the money I just pick it up whilst I'm out) and I could be getting nectar points for this

Found the reduced section in sainsburys, however seem to have a lot of food in so don't need to be buying more atm reduced or not!!!

Also found a pound shop near work that I didn't know was there, so will go check that out one lunchtime as the one I normally frequent I have to drive to

Walked to h&b at lunchtime to buy a card for Saturday. This was really good for me as usually would leave this til Saturday morning and get one from anywhere probably spending a couple of pounds on it and cost me 29p (was actually disappointed as can get them from tesco for 25p!!), bought some deodorant for 99p (think the one I usually get is over £2) resisted temptation to buy baby oil as I have run out, but have some body lotion I can use up instead.

Walk to h&b had a secondary benefit in that I have got into the bad habit lately of going to a bar near work in my lunch hour about three times a week for a diet coke at £1.20 a time, a habit that needs to stop as is a complete waste of money

Going to have to walk to h&b another lunchtime as forgot it's my friends 40th Friday and need to get her a card. Need to get a present as well, anyone any ideas what to get someone for a 40th that seems thoughtful without costing much? :think:

Matilda80

Hi!

I get my chamomile tea from Aldii cheap as chips. :money: