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Cash for The Cupcake - £600 Savings Challenge
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Well done you that's fab!
Keep up the good work, it's very motivating to others like me!0 -
Time to shed my big clothes safety net....
I have my 32’s, 30’s, some 28’s, a few 26’s that are all now too big because of weight loss and some 22-24’s that fit me that are just horrible. I have 3 suitcases and tomorrow I’m tackling case number 1.
Part of getting rid of these is to make room, part to build on my £600 in 2015 savings nest egg but mainly because I need to drop my safety net.
I feel that a part of my psychological stalling is fear of success but also knowing I have all these clothes as my safety net. It’s comforting. It’s almost an “OK” to get bigger again because my clothes are all there, waiting for me.
Getting rid of them fills me with a mix of terror and thrill…. Like bungee jumping.
I am bloody terrified, but I have to move on mentally. Terrified.Goal to Clear Debts £4592 Total Progress since 03/10/2020 £2802
Overdraft £1000 PAID OFF JAN 2021
iPhone £817 PAID February 2021
CC was £2775 now £1790 Savings - £42.11
Check out my debt diary here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6197423/keto-cash-credit-card-debt-goals-for-2021/p1?new=1
Weight loss since 2018 following a FRUGAL Keto lifestyle Lost so far - 115lbs -85lbs To go!
Follow my Frugal Keto journey here: https://www.youtube.com/user/juicyjackie0 -
Just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed reading your diary!
I'm loving the food prep, you are so organised. I'm also on the diet wagon and NEED to get my meal planning and food prep organised. I'm going to the gym too, I do classes. I just can't motivate myself in the gym, and find I work harder if I'm in a class, especially if I'm being shouted at to work harder lol!!
Well done as well on the savings, you sound really motivated. I usually get my work stuff from Primarni, Or the supermarket clothing chains. You can look really smart on a limited budget, especially if you are losing weight and need to change sizes. Yeah the qualities not great, but for a short term solution it works or me. I'll save buying quality when I'm the right size and have the money!
Good luck on your journey! X0 -
Loving your diary.. also on a weight loss mission, though my 2 stone loss is tiny compared to you.. how are you doing it?
I've sold my wardrobe as I've gone along, part of the motivation for that being if I haven't got it, I have to stay in my smaller clothes. I buy work stuff from ebay as I know I won't be in it long..
Well done on the savings as well, you'll easily smash your £600 target at this rate..
Will subscribe to follow your journey!DFW (08/08) £64,346.53 Gone (02/19)
MFW (08/08) £118k Gone (09/23)0 -
ahhh thanks you guys! I am doing low calories plus exercise a few days a week and most importantly dont give up. Some weeks its 3 steps forward 2 steps back... sadly sometimes its 1 step forward, 3 steps back but DON'T GIVE UP!
This is me, 2 half marathons done and the third due in October; hoping to get it done under 3 hours this yearGoal to Clear Debts £4592 Total Progress since 03/10/2020 £2802
Overdraft £1000 PAID OFF JAN 2021
iPhone £817 PAID February 2021
CC was £2775 now £1790 Savings - £42.11
Check out my debt diary here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6197423/keto-cash-credit-card-debt-goals-for-2021/p1?new=1
Weight loss since 2018 following a FRUGAL Keto lifestyle Lost so far - 115lbs -85lbs To go!
Follow my Frugal Keto journey here: https://www.youtube.com/user/juicyjackie0 -
Well time for my week round-up thingy!
Some positives, some no so good things but I feel like I am in a much better place than a month ago financially.
First - this week I added £25 to my ESF bringing me up to £129.35... not bad for 3 weeks of saving. I am pretty happy with this, nearly a quarter of the way there and its still mid February!
I did spend some unplanned funds this week BUT I saved in areas that I budgeted for but didn't use; mainly eating out / takeaways, having done either in 2 weeks. The next night out is for valentines and the OH is paying for that so win.
I had a shellac manicure - £15 , totally unneeded and unbudgeted for, I just needed a pick me up. But this months haircut was an impressive £2 as all I had was a fringe trim, I will wait until next month for a full cut.
I also bought a book for my kindle for £2.99, I am part of a bookclub and it was a new book for this month. I couldn't see a paper copy cheaper so I bought a kindle edition. Then it dawned on me I could have a got a free copy to read from that big building with all the free books, ya know the blinking bloody library... sigh.
I also needed some new clothes for the new work location which is from tomorrow yay! I bought 2 tops in a charity shop for £8, 2 dresses from Primark for £18 and 2 more tops from ebay for £13. This is pushing me close to my monthly clothes budget... only a £1 left! But the circumstances were sudden so I may have to pour the remainder of this months entertainment budget into hitting a few more charity shops over the next few weeks.
I also went over budget on my food shop this week; £73 instead of £50!! Why? Because I was shopping mindlessly... I will make up for it Saturday with a much lighter shop, my February food budget is £200 so I will be attacking the cupboards.
Some positives though; last weekend I was busy but I spent most of this afternoon uploading ebay with my old big clothes. Suitcase 1 was divided into size piles; 32/32, 28, 26, 24, 22 and I managed to clean, iron, photograph and upload everything apart from the pile of 32/30's, these I will save for next weekend. I did some bundles and some singles, all in 16 lots with maybe 40 pieces uploaded in draft ready to list Monday night (so they finish Saturday night). It feels good but weird to see my bigger clothes go, I think it will really hit when they are all gone. My plan after this weekend will be to sweep each room in the house till I have got rid of everything I dont need. I am not that sentimental so it shouldn't be challenging, just time consuming.
In terms of my weight loss, I hit the gym twice, spent 3 hours moving boxes and packing at work getting ready for tomorrow. I wont be going to the gym tomorrow as we are in our new shared building and I want a stress free night to come straight home after what I suspect will be a strange day. We have been told we have no fridge in the new office, possibly access to a microwave so I did no major food prep as I cant store anything fresh except in my draw. Must resist the sainsburys, tesco, waitrose, subway etc that are all 5 minutes walk away!
Things to look into this week are cancelling my existing gym memberships and moving to one next to work.
Oh do shut up Jackie, this is very long.... goodnight folks!Goal to Clear Debts £4592 Total Progress since 03/10/2020 £2802
Overdraft £1000 PAID OFF JAN 2021
iPhone £817 PAID February 2021
CC was £2775 now £1790 Savings - £42.11
Check out my debt diary here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6197423/keto-cash-credit-card-debt-goals-for-2021/p1?new=1
Weight loss since 2018 following a FRUGAL Keto lifestyle Lost so far - 115lbs -85lbs To go!
Follow my Frugal Keto journey here: https://www.youtube.com/user/juicyjackie0 -
WOW, those pics - you have done fantastic and you look so different..
You must feel amazing for what you have achieved..
Well done on the half marathons as well!
Hope the new work location goes well today!DFW (08/08) £64,346.53 Gone (02/19)
MFW (08/08) £118k Gone (09/23)0 -
What's new Jackie? Hope you enjoy your Valentines night out!DEBT FREE! AS OF 25/02/15
Emergency fund: £3000/£3500
House deposit: £10,000/£25,0000 -
Hi wow your weight loss is fantastic im pathetic and am struggling just to loose a stone so again well done your excellent0
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Ok - time for my end of week thingy again!
Firstly thank you for the nice comment! And last nights valentines was a bit meh, I was tired and the restaurant wasn't very nice. We had a few drinks afterwards and headed home via the off licence. My mister did LOVE my valentines gift though! I bought him an hour with a vocal coach. I think he has a great voice and I know he has some regrets about never pursuing singing. He does need a push sometimes so I am hoping after the hour consider semi-regular lessons.
Moving on.
The week has been mixed. We relocated at work to glam, city centre offices which was great, stressful but it made me ill. The lights are way too bright; I am partially sighted and the brightness was just overwhelming. I had major headache, nausea and exhaustion all week, I suspect I had a migraine in my sleep. Sigh. I have also been bleeding for 2 weeks which isn't helping my anaemia.
I am feeling better, I have stopped wearing my contact lenses and the anti glare on my glasses has helped some. I still feel wiped despite getting good sleeps.
I haven’t been exercising this week due to feeling ill and being pooped. I am looking at switching my gym back to my old one which is next door to my new office BUT they are arguing with me about the “rejoin for free” texts they sent me which they now wont honour. I am awaiting some good news on this as I refuse to pay £25 for no bloody good reason; the membership manager told me to hang on until the end of the month as he tends to see offers then to drum up joiners. I WILL SAVE MONEY!!!
Next week I am on the late shift, meaning I wont get home till 7pm so I will need to work out in the mornings… not my strong point. I will take it one day at a time I think! Then after that 2 weeks of lovely early starts, by then I hope I will have my new gym membership which will make it easier.
I am food prepping today but not for me, but for my mister as I love cooking for him and as I wont be home till late I wont be around to eat with him.
So yep, very sorry for hibernating all week… new schedule, new working pattern, things slowly falling into place.
My financials are looking very positive! I had an acknowledgement letter from Natwest regarding my complaint lodged 2 weeks ago - they say it may take up to 6 weeks to respond. I am in no way assuming they will respond to me positively (I will challenge it if they do decline it) but I am not financially planning to have anything back from them.
My ebay finished with £67 plus postage so I am happy. I am a bit too tired to take a bash at another round this week BUT I have it all sorted so next weekend I can upload some more.
I also had a good £40 odd left over in my bank from being as good as possible last week, it was very hard as I am now surrounded by all the main shops and supermarkets I could want within 2 minutes gahhhhhh!!! But other than food I reigned myself in. We dont have access to a fridge yet so I am food prepping around this.
So as of today, 4 weeks into my savings challenge I have the grand total of £233.99!!!! YESSSSSS GET IN THERE!
I have started doing a new way to help budget myself, it does help I get paid weekly though, on a Friday.
Do my weekly food shop, 80% of my lunches will come out of that but I also withdraw £20 cash for my purse for adhoc spends... pop, crisps, any good bargains / reduced food etc. At the end of the week I will put anything left from my wages into my savings and any change in my purse into my money box on my desk before I finish for the week, even if its pennies. I will see where I am at the end of the year and maybe it can be used to buy my Christmas pressies? Who knows!
Its all part of my learning curve to reign in my spending and make myself hyper aware of how I spend. "Do I want it? Do I need it? Can I afford it? Can I get it cheaper elsewhere?"
Next weeks financials are a little tighter, but I am going to aim to bank at least £25... thats the goal :-)
Blinking heck I have prattled on... sorry chaps!Goal to Clear Debts £4592 Total Progress since 03/10/2020 £2802
Overdraft £1000 PAID OFF JAN 2021
iPhone £817 PAID February 2021
CC was £2775 now £1790 Savings - £42.11
Check out my debt diary here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6197423/keto-cash-credit-card-debt-goals-for-2021/p1?new=1
Weight loss since 2018 following a FRUGAL Keto lifestyle Lost so far - 115lbs -85lbs To go!
Follow my Frugal Keto journey here: https://www.youtube.com/user/juicyjackie0
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