Mini meltdown and light bulb moment

AleMrsT

Wow I've not posted in so long, I'm so sorry diary. I guess things have just been plodding along with no real change, which is a good thing I guess, my balances continue to go down, I've updated my signature as I've not done that for a while.

There is probably so much to update with, I don't know where to start!

Erm, lets see.... We went to Amsterdam at the beginning of Feb, we had an awesome time, but we spent way more money than we budgeted for, and are feeling it now, a few days before pay day, but never mind.

Things have changed at work as the boss has sold off the main office to another company, it will all be finalised on 9th March, we're all being TUPE'd over. I'm quite pleased, the other staff, not so much.

It gives me the opportunity to earn a little bit more money, whilst still working with the same people, in the same office, doing the same job. Whats not to like?! I know its not always that simple, but I can only see it as a positive thing.

We still need to sort out a 0% balance transfer deal for OH's credit card, he's agreed we should look into this next month and get as much as possible moved across.

We have booked our holiday for September using the vouchers I got for my birthday from the in laws, so a week in a cottage has only cost us £85, which was the difference between the holiday cost and the voucher amount. At least we now don't have to put money aside to pay it off in September as it is all paid, we just need to save up some spending money.

I have booked to have my hair done next week, I have savings aside that was part of my birthday money, and my mum has said she'll give me some money towards it too, so I'm really looking forward to that.

I splurged on a new shampoo and conditioner at the recommendation of the new hairdresser (who is fab!) and I have to say, I've used it only once but it is so far worth the investment, my hair feels so much better, in fact I could probably have gotten away with just buying the new shampoo and conditioner rather than the hair appointment, but I'm really excited about it all now, and I've finally found a hairdresser who I actually like and I think will do a fab job, fingers crossed!

OH and I have got a new list of things that we would like to try and buy this year, but they're not necessities, just things that could really do with replacing, such as the mattress for our bed and a new laptop, so I'm hoping by getting the new credit card we can start paying this off and put money aside again for new purchases.

All in all, things seem to be off to a good start, I can't believe we're in March next week, the time is absolutely flying by :eek:

Its my niece's birthday on Tuesday so I have to just get her a card as I've already sorted the present (I owe my mum the money for it as she ordered it for me due to lack of funds).

I'm feeling so tired tonight so going to have a long awaited catch up on diaries and then have a nice bath before getting an early night, rock and roll Saturday evening!!

AleMrsT

So it would appear that I have logged on here at some point and just updated my signature, but not posted any updates!

Also, the reason I've not been too focused on my MSE journey is that I have been concentrating on my weight loss one, so far I am 1lb off losing my first stone. I only really seriously started after my birthday, so I'm really pleased with my progress so far, considering we've been away for 5 days, and had a few meals out with drinks etc.

I've just been trying to eat clean, drink water, and get in as many steps per day as I can, it seems to be working well so far. Its also made me rethink my shopping plans, I no longer buy fruit and veg from ald8 or any supermarket as it goes off so quickly, so I've been splitting my shopping, although its more hassle, we've either saved money or spent roughly the same, but been eating a lot healthier.
I still buy all of the toiletries from sa7ers, but now buy the fruit and veg from either the market or the grocers whilst on my lunch break (getting in those extra steps:rotfl:) and try and buy meat from the butchers, or order in bulk where possible. I buy a big bag of pasta and rice from tesco world foods sections, then get herbs and spices etc from the usual shops.

misstara

Hi AleMrsT, sounds like you've been really busy recently. Well done on the weight loss Glad you enjoyed Amsterdam, where are you going in September?

AleMrsT

Hi Misstara,

I put 2lb on over the past 2 weeks as I haven't really been on track, so need to get back on it.

We're going up to the lake district, OH's family live up there so we get to go quite often, but we're staying in Ullswater as we haven't been there yet, and staying for a whole week on our own, which we also haven't done yet as we've either only been for a short break or stayed at the in laws when we've been for a longer break.

Really looking forward to it!

AleMrsT

I've been so rubbish at posting here, I think its because things are just plodding along really, but I have been popping by to follow other peoples diaries.

Whats happened since my last post? Lets see....

The weight loss has gone to pot I find it really difficult to stay motivated (hence my lack of posts recently) and I can never stick to anything for more than a few weeks. I think I'm going to try and give clean eating another go, I really enjoyed cooking from scratch and coming up with new exciting meals, and I did feel a lot better for skipping processed food and sticking to water.

OH has finally decided to take advantage of the FREE gym and health suite at his work, he's worked there for over two years and has never been, I'm so proud of him for finally thinking about his health and fitness, he's been every day this week before work, he even bought himself some proper trainers. :j He doesnt need to lose weight, he's probably about the right weight for his height, but he is very unfit and has never done any sort of exercise, so its great that he's now found something he enjoys, its a shame I can't also go, but with us only having one car, it is impossible for me to get there whilst he's at work, and I can't go when he's going because its in the middle of the day depending on his shifts.

Speaking of cars, I'm still looking for another job, I've had a couple of interviews, two which went really well but I didnt get the job as there were other people who had more experience, but I have another interview lined up on 8th June, and its actually at the hospital, which will make my life so much easier in terms of managing my current appointment schedule. If I do get this job, we will need to get a second car for me to be able to get there as its in the city centre, but with the increase in pay, we would be able to afford to get one, and have decided the best option for us is to lease it, as its cheaper and without all the pitfalls of car ownership, the only downside is the limited mileage, and risk of being charged for any damages etc.

I'm not sure how it would all work in terms of the lease agreement, as I don't think I will be able to take it out because of my DMP, but then I don't think OH can take out the lease in his name for me to use the car, we need to look into it more.

There have been some other positive changes too, OH has finally applied and been approved for a 0% interest credit card to do a balance transfer. We were slightly naughty, as the new credit card had a £4100 limit on 0% balance transfers for 40 months, his old credit card had £3000 on it at a high interest rate, so he's transferred the balance of his old card to the new one, and we also bought a new washing machine and PC on the old credit card, and transferred this to the new CC at 0% too, effectively meaning we got 0% interest on the purchases. We figured that both things would definitely need replacing in the next 6 months, and by then we wouldnt be able to afford to buy them without taking another credit card, so it worked out cheaper to buy it and switch the balance to the 0% during the 60 day transfer period, so we have 40 months to pay it off and we dont have to worry about them breaking down.

Taking in to account the balance transfer fees etc, there will be around £300 left on his old credit card, which we're both going to work at paying off first between us, then switch our attention to the 0% to get it cleared before the 0% deal ends, so effectively we have to pay off at least £100 per month to clear it, which is doable as this is only £25 more than he currently pays now but the balance isnt clearing.

I'm not going to add the cards to my signature as they are OH's cards and I don't have access to the accounts to be able to check the balances and make payments, so I will keep that seperate for now and have increased the payment I make to the bills account to cover my part, if OH decides not to pay it across, thats up to him, but he'll have to clear it himself when the 0% deal ends. I think we'll probably just switch to another 0% card after 40 months, which is actually a long time away!

I think thats all for now, and I will try and come back more often as it is nice to do a round up of where I'm at and what I've been up to, as well as updating my signature with my (slow) progress.

MrsT.

misstara

Hi AleMrsT, fab to see an update from you Sounds like everything is going well. Good luck with giving clean eating another go and with the job interview on the 8th.

AleMrsT

So I havent updated in so long, my last post was in May!!

OH is still going to the gym, he's really getting into it, and I've been going too and have been really enjoying it! We've loosely been following the Lean in 15 plan, just generally eating healthier.

I didnt get the job at the hospital, and have had two more interviews since then, and didnt got those jobs either. In the meantime I was signed off work for two weeks with stress, and I mentioned to my manager the job is having a real impact on my wellbeing, so I went back to work for 5 days on light duties before being off again for my ear surgery (yes, I finally got a date and am now off work recovering from the surgery!)

Hopefully when I go back to work a week on Monday they will have figured out a new/revised job role for me, and it will take the pressure off a bit in terms of finding a new job as I won't be so stressed.

I had my surgery on Monday and obviously havent been able to get to the gym since then so I'm feeling very lazy (and tired) having spent a week stuck on the sofa. My mum and my sister managed to wash my hair for me today without getting the dressing and stitches wet so I feel a lot better for having clean hair!
I'm due to go back to hospital on 1st August to get the dressing and stitches out so hopefully the operation has worked and I will be able to hear again!

Money wise we've fallen a bit off the wagon, we need to sit down and have a good trawl through our finances and accounts and make sure we're not overspending etc.

Unfortunately we had to bite the bullet and replace the car, the old one was coming up for its service and MOT at the end of the month and the brakes were failing on it, so after pricing up the repair costs and weighing up how much more use we'll get out of the car, we decided to just part ex in and get a new one. OH paid £400 deposit and we got £100 back for our old car, and the finance deal was 0% interest, so it was the cheapest way to buy the new car. Its so nice to feel safe in the car again, we didnt realise just how bad the brakes were on the old one until OH drove the new car. I found the car online and Sunday and sent the link to OH, the garage the car was at was across the road from the hospital where I had my op, so OH took a walk over to look at it to kill some time whilst I was in surgery, he took it for a test drive and really liked it so he paid the deposit, then we collected it on the Tuesday so it was all really quick.

OH paid the deposit and years insurance on his old CC, so we have £8000 for the car on 0% for 4 years, £4000 from the BT CC on 0% for 40 months, so all in all we've been quite sensible and done it the cheapest way possible, I just have to focus on paying off the £1000 that is now accruing interest on OH's first CC and he will be paying the car finance and the 0% card.

It does mean that unfortunately we won't be going abroad on holiday for our 5th anniversary as we'd originally planned as we won't be able to afford it as well as paying for the new car, but having a working reliable car is more important really.

We do have a few things lined up already that are already paid for, we're off to London in August to see Louis CK at Wembley, the tickets and hotel are already paid for.
Then we are going away for 7 days at the start of September to the lakes which I paid for with a voucher I got for my birthday from the in laws (only had to pay the remaining £80 which is all paid off), I have money saved for spending money and now we have a newer car it is more economical on fuel so should mean we dont spend as much travelling up.

I also booked a short break in March to a Haven site with my sister and her husband, she will have had her second baby by then so it will be a nice break away with the two children, and there is the free pool and leisure facilities that we can use, it was only £130 for 4 nights so that will be quite nice.

Just got to sit down with OH and work out our finances properly so that we don't get in a mess with the CC's and car payments as we want to make sure we're on track for everything to be paid off before the 0% deals end.

We've had a spendy year this year really, we had the new furniture last year which we finished paying off in October, then we got a new TV in the early January sales, went to Amsterdam in February, got a new washing machine and new PC with the 0% CC in April, and now the new car, so there may be some hope that in 18 months time we'll be able to afford a holiday, but for now, its well and truly back on the back burner

Going to spend some time catching up on diaries then start on my new book and get an early night, OH is at work until 11pm and I'm shattered again today, this operation just seems to have really taken it out of me. Can't wait to get back in the gym so that I can feel tired for a reason!

AleMrsT

Forgot to mention I cashed in the money in my Topcashback account and got a £17 cineworld voucher to use, and OH sorted the insurance for the new car through comparethemarket, so he got 2 for 1 cinema vouchers for a year, so thats really good news for us as we love going to the cinema. Going to use the cineworld one to see Suicide Squad at Imax, then use the 2 for 1 probably once a month or so at the local Odeon depending on whats out. :T

misstara

Lovely to see an update from you AleMrsT, hope you've recovered from your surgery.

AleMrsT

Had a VERY lazy day today, OH is at work on a late shift again, so I've spent the entire day on the sofa switching between watching rubbish on youtube to reading my book, then spending the last hour reading diaries.

The book I'm reading was a bargain from the hospital, people donate books and they're sold at 25p each, its called afterwards by Rosamund Lupton, so far its really good. Going to make a cup of tea then get into bed to read some more before OH finishes work at 11.

After reading a couple of updates I'm going to try and post here more regularly, especially as we need to sit and write out an updated budget with the CC and car payments factored in, so I'm going to try and post at least once a week with what I've been up to to stay accountable.

Today has been a NSD as I haven't left the house.

Yesterday I spent around £7 in Asda on some yellow sticker items which I used for tea yesterday and today and bag of m&ms as a treat which I finished off today.

Other half is at work on a late shift again tomorrow, going to try and get back to the gym, won't be too adventurous and of course wont be able to finish off with my usual swim as a cool down, but I need to make a start at getting back in to it.

So far we've got away with me not paying for the gym, my husband gets to use the facilities for free as a member of staff, but guests are supposed to pay on a pay as you go basis, and so far I havent paid or been asked to pay. I think I've been so often now the staff assume I'm a paying member, hopefully we'll be able to carry on as we are but if we do get caught out, I'm going often enough to justify paying for a normal membership as I'm currently going 3 times a week. Fingers crossed I can carry on going for free :rotfl: