Escaping the grind...in search of a life less ordinary

MissShoes

Bottom Line

Bank balance £2.33
Cash in purse £14.00
Savings Pots £250.00
Annual Savings Challenges pots: £71.00

7 days till payday

Incoming

£62- due around 27/1 RECEIVED- IN BANK AND USED FOR WINDOW CLEANER
£48- due around 28/1 RECEIVED- IN BANK/SAVINGS/SPENT ON FOOD SHOP
£15- due around 30/1-31/1 RECEIVED- IN PURSE
£105- due around 6/2 RECEIVED
£176.33- due around 9/2 STILL WAITING, NOT SURE OF THE AMOUNT

MissShoes

It's been a weird couple of weeks. Extra pressures and turmoil at work mean a lot of people are under stress and scrutiny. It looks like there are upcoming opportunities for development and promotion so I've requested more info to see if it's something that suits me/I suit. We shall see.

Received a nice letter from work reviewing my performance which resulted in a pay increase. Not sure what my take home will be- there will be some backdated amount in the next pay so I'll wait until the one after that to see once it's all settled. Either way, very welcome....especially with all our bills!

OH business picking up, new website generating leads and business and he's happy. Waiting for some feedback from an industry specialist on his plans- this is due end of next week, beginning of the following.

Money situation not too bad. Need a tank of fuel but that will be put onto CC which I clear each payday. Another £440 big bill and £300 big bill due in a couple of weeks too. Considering doing a new SOA but this will have to wait till all is settled down and I know the salary/business expenses have been repaid.

Have slacked off the gym this week- life seemed to hectic. It's been grey, miserable and snowy here....any excuse to stay home and snuggle down. Been eating naughty food too- curry, thai and golden arches all in the last few days. And a slice of cheesecake. Sigh. We're having a quiet day today, using up things from the fridge. Then a drink with old friends at the pub tonight.

Still awaiting the £176.33 from the business- the exact amount will be £176.33-£227.75 I think but until it clears, I won't know. This will sort me out until payday and replenish the savings pot hopefully by £100. Then I need a plan for next month....business has a fair amount booked in for the month, we shall see.

Shoes
x

Bobarella

Congrats on the pay rise!

MissShoes

Bobarella wrote: »

Congrats on the pay rise!

Thanks love xx

MissShoes

20 days till payday.

Bottom Line

Bank balance £563.62
Cash in purse £12.00
Savings Pots £750.00
Annual Savings Challenges pots: £102.00

Incoming

£176.33- due around 9/2 from OH RECEIVED (final amount was £169.59)
£40.00- due around 2/3/17 from OH
£381.14- due around 9/3/19 from OH

Outgoings before payday
Gym £90
Subs £14.47
Fees £16
Bill £229.79

Big spends looming- we are getting hitched this year so deposits now flying out left, right and centre.

Picture generally looking healthy. My nice accumulated payrise backdated several months came and was used for a big fuel bill which was really helpful. No idea what my new pay will be on a normal month. I will see in 20 days!

There's an interesting promotion opportunity coming up next month at work. I'll try to find out more info to see if it's something I could try to go for....all good pennies. Also need to decide if I do my Job 3 again (Job 1 is my 9 to 5, Job 2 was an old online based job I did for a friend but her company is now closed and Job 3 is an annual job I do that can earn £1500-2000 if I put my mind to it but it means a very hard 6 week period- exam marking!).

Meal plan mainly done for the week, feeling a little under the weather but I have to try harder with weight loss, gym attendance and looking after my wellbeing. Off to take my vitamins now!

Lots of little chores to do- wrapping gifts for OH's birthday and laundry mountain and general declutter ready for family coming round.

Jobs for tomorrow
Post letters
Have vitamins and supplements
Drink 2 litres of water
Walk 10000 steps
2 loads of laundry
Baking for family
Healthy pancakes for tea

Bobarella

Great round up post. Sounds like your doing great.

MissShoes

Nearly 7 months since my last post.....that might be my record! I'm still here, reading other diaries and posting sporadically. I always think of things to post on here but never seem to get round to it....but I'm always frustrated when I don't post!

Updates in the world of Shoes....

Got a promotion, need to have a look at work/life balance and see if I can find some good ways to tighten up with time management so I'm working efficiently especially once I'm no longer new to the role and have settled in a bit. Awaiting updated info on my pay, not 100% what the difference to my take home pay will be, I'm hoping £200ish each month.

OH business is going well. He's frustrated at the moment in terms of developing and growing it moving forward....but he'll get there. Not too much longer before he's jumped the hurdles and can really hit the ground running.

Counting down the days to our holiday- rest, relax, recharge and unwind for a week in the sun. Just a few more weeks. Just a few more weeks.

Diet is going well. I'm trying a new way of eating (SW) and this is very different to my old way of eating....so I'm interested to pursue it and see if it makes a difference to me.

There are around 6 days to payday and things are looking tiiiiiigggghhhhtttttt.

Expenses still to come before payday:
Night out at the weekend for a friend's birthday- already prepaid for some drinks. Think OH coming with but depends how busy he is.
Beauty treatment- have a voucher somewhere to cover the cost of this- must find it!
Groceries- probably around £30 of food/misc goods to top up with.
Petrol- will need a tank for a trip in a couple of weeks

Meal plan (I'm going to list meal options instead of set meals on set days, hoping that flexibility will mean success):
pork chop, veg and mash
Moroccan stew (sausages, chickpeas, onions, tomatoes and peppers)
soup and a roll
eggs with spinach and smoked salmon
bolognese

I really want to build up some savings so will need to look at a plan to implement this after the summer.

6 more work days til freedom for the summer.....limping til the end!

Shoes x

MissShoes

3 days til payday and things are looking tight. Has been a month of unexpected expenses. Hoping that next month will be easier....although having said that, have just had a business bill of £594. Have most of that squirrelled away but will do my sums on payday.

Groceries spends have gotten a little out of control. Have spoken with OH today about tracking it for this month- no budget set but just a greater awareness needed. Have got plenty of stuff in for my lunches- last week at work. In fact- we have enough stuff in for all meals so no spends needed. May need a little petrol, we shall see.

Enjoying Wimbledon and a snooze in front of the TV. OH very under the weather so due a proper rest day.

Have made a few flebay sales this past week, £36 before fees etc. Must do more of this, maybe over the summer if I have more time.

Now, time for a cuppa.

MissShoes

It's been a good old while since I posted last......posting is a funny thing. I must think of something nearly every day and think 'I should post that, keep myself accountable, make note of that' etc etc and then I just don't get round to it.

So what has happened since mid-July when I posted last?

Well....

MissShoes is now a MrsShoes. A fabulous day. Had a few days in the sun too and then back to reality with a bump.

OHs business is going from strength to strength. This is a blessing and a curse. He's busy and money is trickling in and word has got round how great the business is, lots of repeat custom etc, but he's tired. He has a lot on his plate and he is one of those people who can be easily ground down. He's building in time off here and there rather than thinking he needs to work all the hours he possibly can just because he's SE.

My work is ok and I'm happy to have irons in the fire that mean that an exit from full time 'employed' work will hopefully be a reality in 2019. That's what I'm working towards with my little company and I can reevaluate beginning of 2019 to see if I'm on track.

Finances- still lurching- no need for this, must be more organised and in control. Will post an up to date SOA soon once I've sat down to work things out........and it will involve paying off debt! :eek:

Positives
I am happily married
I escaped the last grind so I can escape this one too
I am closer than I have ever been to a life with no boss...I will get there
I have some time to recharge my batteries
It has stopped raining

Dinner tonight will be slow cooker chilli with homemade guacamole and some rice. Big Mr T order delivered earlier so nicely stocked up.

Goals
Eat mindfully- become less obsessive, compulsive and mindless around food/my food choices. Make a change. Be the change.


16 days till payday.

MissShoes

Just sold an item on fleabay for £15 plus p&p. Will get it posted tomorrow. :money: