The 'I'm less money-idiot more money-savvy' Diary

gill5blue

Hi Judith,
Glad you had a great time at the wedding
Well done on your budget, you should be pleased with yourself, but at the same time don't let the money saving slide. Keep it up and you will get there.
Gill

judi24

TheMagician wrote: »

judi24 I know how you feel but every time I try to rush I read this and think

A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

We cannot be in constant fight mode knocking down walls every day. There's sometimes that long slog that leads to where we need to be, the key is not to stop. Maybe it is time to plant the prosperity seeds and your time to uproot them will also come. You're doing very well.

Thank you so much for that fantastic post Magician. It is absolutely lovely and very apt for how I am feeling - makes me so glad I have 'met' such lovely thoughtful people who keep me going through this forum :T


I do tend to spend most of my time in rush mode that I forget to pay attention to what I need - will definitely keep this post and re read when I need to take a breath

judi24

Beannie 'your' bridges are certainly stunning! The wedding was fantastic with lots of dancing too - reminds me how much I miss Scotland! Hope you are getting by? I guess this month I just need to plod and enjoy the journey!!! But at least debt has gone down a little!!!


Gill - hopefully back on track this month with every penny budgeted for - every month will have its challenges - and this month is half term and 3 birthdays!!! But as long as I have some money in the budget for this kind of thing I should be fine!!!

ampersand

judi - when you write 'at least debt has gone down a little!!!' - that 'little' exceeds 3 whole weeks of &'s OAP.
Sense of perspective seems good here: you ARE doing very well right now, on course.
Yes, you do need to stay there.

So, when I also read ' hopefully we can keep the costs down! ', you know what's coming, don't you?

No, 'hopefully' about it.....IS THERE??? ))))))))))))))))[note the friendly smiles]

No, thought not. You're lucky my post last week which included that dinner set purchase didn't survive. Going to a local auction is more fun anyway - and cheaper, and more interesting and another Memory Bank treasure to haul out, when you need those moments.

Out of interest - why are you still up? Come away from the other Threads - it's bedtime. Yes, I have had a certain type of day also, but I am not working full-time, intensively[physically and emotionally and studying too]
#
re: plodding.
Somehow feels like a good fit with this, seen on rugby club wall today:
'
“In rugby there’s a place for everyone – big, small, thinker, grafter, slow or quick. Everyone in the team is equal and you can all bring your own personality. I think as well, that realisation that you are part of something bigger, the values, it makes you a better person”
[Jonny Wilkinson speaking.]
#
Now judi, au lit. NOW! Did you hear me?
A lot in papers various this week about the danger of poor sleep patterns/hours.
#
judi - you are a warm, generous navigator in Life's sometimes choppy seas, but you are well and truly afloat, just steady steering to be sorted. Could always lash you to wheel to keep a straight course, as in days of yore:-)
#
Some unlikely peeps and Cambridge academics known to & are recommending and loving these:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/colouring-books-for-adults-how-the-french-are-going-crazy-for-crayolas-9883103.html

judi24

Ampersand :hello: - how I have missed your wise words and gentle telling offs! I know you are 100% right about the debt reduction and I need to take comfort in the ability to make such a reduction and pay for a new boiler - it amazes me how I ever managed to get into such a pretty pickle in the first place - obviously was totally out of control with my spending before my final and true LBM!!:mad:


I thought I had snuck my little dinner set purchase past you - I should have known better!!! It is very beautiful and If you should ever be passing I shall be sure to bring out the best china on your behalf to prove it!


I had seen the Wilkinson quote before - my DS used to play. It is absolutely spot on! Problem is I am more pace setter than plodder in work (according Hayes group analysis should you believe in all that management theory stuff!) which means frustrations rise when plodding occurs at home!!! But plod I will!


Yes I know my sleep pattern is not wonderful - my head speeds once I get to bed so I put off going to bed until I can't keep my eyes open - not good I know but working on it with mindfulness and herbal tea!!! :coffee: (p.s. love the colouring books - might have to investigate looks very relaxing!)


Had a bit of a spendy day - had one of my fellow students visit today to do some work so bought a sandwich in work caf! (£2)rather than heat up leftovers or soup (but made own coffees so not too bad) Also had to pay DS Cadet camp - but that is budgeted for and £10 for a weekend of boys fun over half term is great and means I need to spend less on entertainment!


But dinner was freezer bits of fish and veg flung together in a very unusual but very delicious fish pie! (tuna steak, lemon sole and smoked salmon shavings plus all sorts of bits of veg mashed in with yesterdays leftover tatties and neeps on the top!) - even managed to salvage a portion for a work lunch later in the week!!! :T


All fun activities will be out of entertainment budget so you are correct no 'hopefully' about it - when the pot is empty no more fun will be paid for so I need to get the planning spot on!


I did want to see if I could get the 3 big trees in my front garden cut down this month (The roots are lifting the paving slabs so they do need to go!!)- before the birdies start to nest again! but with the boiler blowing the house repairs budget for the full year I need to look at this - its either now or next winter for this job but there is no way I can do it myself!


Had a very emotional day in work and once again hugely humbled and thankful for my lot!!! (more on the 5 OS pleasures thread!)

ampersand

Just a quick look in, judi* - cold tooties, hwb needed.

re: 'p.s. love the colouring books - might have to [STRIKE]investigate[/STRIKE]put out birthday/Easter Bunny hints...looks very relaxing!)'
#
re: plodders etc ' big, small, thinker, grafter, slow or quick.'

Developing that opposing tendancy is a luxury you have in time and income:you are able to do this working with people whose lives are reaching cruel and early ends, some grimly, most leaving families and friends in devastation from which they must re-build, too.

Many will no longer be part of your working life when your new journey, DEBT-FREE FOR LIFE, begins next year. It is clear this has already happened in the first few months of this new job you dearly love[and are clearly made for[

Cadet Camp sounds great for DS.

I was so pleased to see you posting for Levi-: your name jumped to mind when I saw his new Thread:D. This is the best side of mse.

You do have to break the pattern, re: sleep type/hours. I will always swear by the comfort/chuckability of the hwb. Why not have a Thermos beside you in bed? NO vision - sound is OK, hence The Wireless.

These are proven things, not &y fabrications. You have access to studies on all of this that I no longer have. Make your calm space your healthy addiction. NO SCREENS, NO KEYBOARDS.

How do you expect to settle if you keep yourself over-hyped in an environment of over-stimulus?
It's like waiting for the crash message online.
Over-stimulus defeats healthy tiredness, overwrites Nature's personal judi body clock warnings.

Overly chasing anything makes it more elusive. It's an equivalent of yo-yo dieting.

Just settle into a decent book: no electronic reading at bedtime. Again, check out the Tavistock studies and loads more....but don't do it now. All these things go on the back burner for now, while you think about snuggling down, hot choc?, i-player Now Show?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qgt7/episodes/player
-und so weiter.

Crimbo bath smellies to use? - plot it in your calendar+candles+good glass of...

This looks fun, too - http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jan/23/ladybird-caption-competition-terms-and-conditions.
Any like-mided souls at work?

#
* well that's today's fib sorted. ' Quick look'=:p:p:p
Today's 1st Spot-The-Deliberate-Mistake moment was in surgery, left prescription behind. Told receptionist she'd won The Prize when she rang to tell me- was in dentist at the time:D,

judi24

Oh dear - doctor and dentist in one day!!! Not a fun way to spend it!!! but thank goodness for helpful receptionist! :T

Yes I have so much to be thankful for in relation to time and resource (Financial and otherwise) - and I would be wise to mindful of how I choose to use these resources! I know many people who would gladly swap their lot with me today!

I do agree about the sleep thing and am going to work on this!!! I have a great book that I desperate to read but putting off until next assignments done next week! :mad: but to start will be looking at how to get radio on my phone and take that to bed no later than 11! so feel free to chase me if you see me around!!!


Off to do my 5 OS pleasures then checking out!

judi24

Not much MSE wise today apart from NSD :T - its been a while so need to get back on track!


Sleep not good - although went to bed a little earlier but woke at 3.30! Not sure which is worse!!!! :mad:


Work is a real challenge on so many levels at the moment - lots of emotional support needed and lots of management stuff to be done which is an interesting mix of skill utilisation!!! (how many hats can I wear in one day!) - next assignment is on compassionate leadership and whether is it practical and realistic! this week is putting that theory into practice!!!


Budget is looking ok and managed to scale down one of the birthday events from a weekend away to a nice meal out!!! feel a little more comfortable with my 'fun spend' pot now! Still got lots on though! I think I need a quiet month - more for my sense of wellbeing and needing to feel less frazzled than my budget (well both really!:)) I think March will be my wellbeing month and relax a little! (might see if I can find some space and time to zone out even for a day!)

betsycat

Well done for the NSD Judi! And another big well done for scaling down the birthday event. It's the social events that are very tricky... as you've said before, you never want to let anybody down or make it seem like you're not doing as well as you are, etc... but friends/family will always understand

judi24

Another NSD:j but need fuel so will have to spend tomorrow!


I did something I wasn't going to do for a while but I applied for 0% card this morning - I blame I on lack of sleep (had a horrible nightmare at 3 and was just settling down again at 4.30 when my DS came in to my room not feeling well - so after a hunt for some paracetamol I struggled to get back to sleep!) So when checking emails 1st thing I just couldn't resist seeing if I would be accepted through the eligibility checker - it came up with a yes so hit apply and wayhey I was accepted :T - great news so now I can get all of my debt on 0% (paying interest was really really annoying me and maybe by doing this I chill out a little and be a little less obsessive!)- There is an £11200 credit limit for 14 months with a 2.9% fee - so need to do some number crunching around what to do to keep fees and interest as low as possible!


So at the moment I have:


Barclaycard = £6088 (added £1000 of boiler to this at a 6.9% LOB transfer - so £4088 on 0% until April and rest 6.9% LOB)
Nationwide = £3305 (Aim is pay this off by May) at 12.9%
Tesco loan = £4109 at 10.1% APR until July 2016 (but was planning to pay this early once CCs have gone! £246 monthly payment


I could move all but £2000 from the Barclaycard to the new card (MBNA) and clear the £2k by April. Then move all of the Nationwide balance to the new card so I would pay 2.9% fees on £7373 = £214


So by April I would have £7587 (- 2 months minimum payments) Plus the loan which would £3617


My next question would be - after April once the Barclaycard is cleared do I pay the minimum on the MBNA card for 3 months, put £1000 into savings and do an early settlement on the loan saving me loan interest or keep paying down the CC til its gone whilst paying the standard loan payment then pay the loan off. I am struggling to work out how much I will save paying loan early. (It would be around a year early) - but struggling to work out how much that would save in interest overall?


Can't work out how much I would save by doing all these moves compared with what I would be paying in interest over the same period!!!! Confused.com:mad:


But secretly a little pleased that I got accepted for 0% card - must mean credit rating has improved a bit!


Other MSE things to do - been investigation water meters - I currently pay a standing charge of £65 and through the usage calculation it looks like I could save a bit by changing to a meter. There is also a better energy deal which could cost around £18 a month less (but I do have a £50 exit fee on current supplier)


All this money saving stuff never ends!!!! :rotfl: