New Years Goals and Career Changes - A diary for a better me.

myteeduck

I think my key to breaking my bad cycles are to write in here everyday, even if I feel like I haven't done anything. It will make me accountable and I think that is what I am lacking.

I went to SW yesterday and it cost me £5. I didn't buy any of the nibbles etc or a raffle ticket so I was well behaved. I maintained on my weight so I didn't get my target, which means it will cost me an additional £5 next week, but I have the money set aside.

I am not carrying my purse again which is fabulous, as it means I can't just nip to the supermarket on the way home and I can't buy junk.

My statement came in this morning, but I have decided to make the payment towards the end of the month rather than now. It doesn't really matter when I pay it, I just want to see it drop suddenly and then the next statement can come in. If I time it right, they will still take the direct debit as well.

I didn't think anyone was reading this to be honest, I thought it was just my little patch on this website but I welcome visitors with open arms...

MT - I tried YNAB on the free trial - couldn't get my head around it, however I didn't know about the tutorials that they did. I'm just waiting for a special offer to buy it as I don't have the funds for it.

I do have a spreadsheet for my bills so I can see exactly what I have in my bank, as I used to think that the figure the bank showed was what I had and I would forget of bills that hadn't come out yet. I have a sneaky water bill that doesn't come out until the end of the month, so I have to make sure that money is still there ready and waiting. I also save my fuel money and treat that like a direct debit that is to come out.

I could do with a spreadsheet for my other spending and I need to set one up. I also want a small book that I can carry with my and when I want something I can write it in the book and see if I thought of it a week later and if I still really want it. If I didn't think of it in that week, I didn't want it that much. It was a trick I learnt on a programme that I used to watch on BBC3 years ago called Spendaholics. I was obsessed with that show! Just goes to show what type of person I am!

x

myteeduck

I managed to complete a full day of no spending yesterday. Not one penny left my possession. I will soon be spending on a Wednesday but only £2.50 per week on drama class. My diesel light has come on but I have worked out that I can eak it out until Saturday if needed. I hope it does last.

Hopefully today will be another NSD.

myteeduck

Yey! Did another NSD yesterday!
Today will be too! I have no purse with me

Its amazing waking up in the morning, checking the bank and finding no change from the day before and the money is still there!

I have £17.44 for groceries for the rest of the month. I seem to be ok for the next week. Just hoping this will stretch in to the week after.

I have £30 budgeted for a friends birthday. She is 30, so I need to get a present, attend a party and maybe stretch to a meal out.

I have also budgeted for £80 diesal this month but if i'm good, it should only be £60, so should give me £20 spare. I just need to save this till the end of the month as it many be additional food budget.

I can see a light at the end of a very long tunnel. Its only a pinprick sized hole but I can see it if I squint!

x

myteeduck

Today has been a spend day, but in budget.
I was feeling annoyed about my neighbours arguing again, so one of my friends invited me for a coffee. I dug out £3.30 which I had in my money box and went along. My friend, knowing my situation offered to pay for my hot chocolate, thus saving my measly amount, for what she deemed as something more important! Go friend!

We went for a wander around the shops and I was looking at things I liked, but refusing to pay for them. In a particular shop, my friend found a sun hat that she liked and she said it was something I could get for her birthday - I had budgeted £30 for this birthday, so I agreed to get the hat and something small to go with it. I even go student discount when making the purchase. I should spend approx. £15 for her present, which should leave me £15 for her party and I just need to think of her meal that she has planned.

So although I have spent, it was budgeted for and well within. I feel quite chuffed really.

Tomorrow will also be a spend day as I have to fill my car up as I won't get to work otherwise on Monday. My only spends this week, should be Tuesday for SW. I may also need £2.50 for drama on Wednesday, but that will be it until Saturday.

x

myteeduck

Yesterday was a spend day, but in budget again - £20 diesel.
Today may be a spend day of a maximum of £1 - I need milk. I may be able to get away with no milk if I think logically during today, so we may be able to avoid this.
I sat and worked out a proper budget yesterday. My mum is going to give me £300 toward my course, so I will reduce the card to £400. I have budgeted towards my final exams and will pay off the card by April 2016.
I will be putting money aside for Christmas, my car insurance, my MOT and my AAT membership ever month, so that when they come up, I will have the money to pay them and not panic. I have also increased my food budget as my current amount is not enough and we are discussing getting me a second freezer, so I can get more food that will last longer, i.e. frozen veg, rather than fresh. Mum reckons its healthier to do this as well.
I am going to either get target at SW this week, or quit for good. I am 1lb off target, so it seems pointless staying and paying £5 each week to try to get this, so tomorrow is my last chance.
I will post my new SOA, once I have finally figured out the details.

x

killerpeaty

Did you know you can get YNAB for free because you're a student? I believe you just need to email them.

Don't feel too down about extra spending, you are doing your best, you just need to think before you buy. I find having a goal such as weight loss or decluttering really helps because you don't like to bring in temptation or more clutter!

I'm also doing AAT and trying to change careers (interview today eek) so I know how hard it is to get in there. Where are you job hunting? AAT has a CV builder to help you. Plus they also give you access to further skills training (excel, word, etc).

myteeduck

OMG! Thank you Killerpeaty - I have been sent the code. They accepted me!!!! I will download it properly tonight!

Thank you for telling me about this!! xx

myteeduck

I didn't buy the milk. I decided that I can cope until next Saturday without it. I have Alpro Chocolate milk in my fridge for calcium and I can do without a cup or tea/coffee until then. I will just have my herbals or water. I ran out of juice as well. I like not rushing out to buy as a) I am running out what I actually have and b) I can work out what I actually miss and what I am just craving. I have bread in the freezer so until next shopping day, I will have toast. I quite like toast!

I have spend a lot of today getting my head around my YNAB - It has been an eye opener and I have set up accounts for every single penny I have, even my cash. I know what is in my piggybank and I know what I have to spend. I will now go shopping with a budget and a calculator and I will know how much I have to spend before I get there.

In other news the second freezer has been purchased - a present from my parents - it arrives on the 22nd and will be installed on the 23rd. Once installed, I can start batch cooking. I will probably become a regular on those boards.

I feel like I have had an epiphany and I have seen the errors of my ways!

I have also made an agreement to stop spending Christmas presents on a lot of my friends. Next time I see them, I will tell them that I wont be buying them a present this year and to not do the same for me. We buy each other stuff that we really don't need, i.e. toiletries, when in all fairness I hate what they buy and have enough Soap and Glory products to restock my local boots! I will be buying for one particular friend, my sister, my new niece/nephew who will be making an arrival in October and my mum and dad. That is it! Last years Christmas budget came to over £200, this years will be nearer £50, budgeted on YNAB (Can you tell i'm addicted yet?)

Well I didn't realise the time... Time for bed said Zebedee! xx

myteeduck

Me again.
I went to SW yesterday and got my stone award. 1lb to target and free visits! I will smash this during this next week!
I didn't buy the milk and the juice was donate by mum. She buys it for me to drink anyway so she will get more today and I get the dregs to keep me going until Saturday. Its definitely something I need to keep buying.
YNAB is working wonders, I am not rushing out all of the time buying things willy nilly and I am being strict about if I need to spend in one area, where is it going to be taken from.

I just hope I am this strict when I do have pennies in my bank!
x

myteeduck

Yesterday was a spend day, but only £2.50 for drama. I love the class and its a great night out and the cheapest night out I think I have ever done where I get to meet new people.
We are doing a play in September and I can't wait!
This evening, tomorrow and the rest of this week will be very cheap spends as I will mostly sitting at a table, head down in to revision. I have my exam on Wednesday. I can't believe how fast it has come around! Its only been 5/6 weeks since the last! EAK!!!
I will hopefully get cramming and be OK to sit it and pass first time!

Finger crossed and wish me luck! x