How I live now.

Knit_Witch

Good luck Nora!

freebyfifty

I love a list.......nearly as much as I love spreadsheets












and chocolate digestives

moneyonmymindsam

Knitting_Nora wrote: »

Good morning Lovelies!

• it's about being more disciplined in general *stares balefully at the can of coke and huge bag of twirl bites she's having for breakfast*;

Nora.xx

Remind me why I don't live with you ......Twirl bites for breakfast ...happy days ...


Thinking of you Mrs Knitty and sending you lovely thoughts....:A

Knitting_Nora

*nips in*


Read through all 72 pages of the last diary and have nearly two pages of useful, positive, advice/points that I generally ignored at the time.


Really interesting reading - and evidence, if it was necessary, that we're all a little mad here!!


Off to bed now, but more work on this tomorrow. Tis all good, Lovelies. All good.


xx

Knitting_Nora

Hi.


Today I returned two items which, just a fortnight ago, I felt were necessary. £56.00 back on the credit card. :money:


That's right - items which clearly weren't necessary (otherwise they'd still be with me) and which had gone on my credit card...suggesting (at least to me) that I couldn't really afford them.:mad:


That, right there, is why I need you guys. Just by being back in the fold for a little bit, it's got me thinking a little more sensibly.


I've realised that item one (perfume) was purchased when I was early for an appointment and was bored so went for a wander - the lesson: take a book.


Item two (a pretty top for work) was purchased because I thought I needed a new top for work. I don't. I work out of the house for 2.5days a week - trust me when I say that I have a wardrobe to suit that need and it includes pretty tops. The rest of the week I work on my own business from home - often in my pjs because who isn't more creative in their pjs??


Here are some of the other lessons I picked up from the marathon-read of my last diary:

1. Stop waiting for a 'sign' to change - take control of the decision and make it now;
2. Plan birthday and Christmas spends well in advance - and don't over-do it;
3. Have pocket money if you can afford it;
4. Pennies need purpose (or they'll find trouble!);
5. Find other ways to deal with negative emotions and boredom - spending isn't the answer;
6. Be more organised and proactive;
7. Avoid being bored;
8. Plan your spends - don't wing it;
9. Always know your financial position - if you don't, you aren't in control anymore;
10. Meal plans and shopping lists are important - learn the discipline!;
11. Increase your income - stability and security are your (my) motivators;
12. Remember the value of a non-spending day;
13. Remember the joy of paying off debts and getting a good bargain;
14. Remember it's only a bargain if you truly needed it in the first place;
15. Debt goes up in pennies - no reason it can't come down the same way. Every penny counts;
16. Hate renting? Plan and work your way into a position to buy;
17. Volunteer - something I often think about but never do beyond mucking out horses for a friend most mornings.

Every time I've fallen off the wagon, it's because I've ignored at least a handful of these points/lessons/observations. So the trick is to take heed this time round.


I sense a plan coming on. I'll be back to share as soon as it's formalised!


Nora.xx

macpumpkin

I love a plan, especially when it all comes together. I read this on someone else's diary at the weekend and I had never thought of it like this but...

"Whilst you have been super organised in getting the best deals for yourself actually (well in my experience) the savings you get from good deal making on these annual or structural changes are more visible BUT less significant than not (over)spending on the day to day journey through life.

for me 6 in the family (+2 moggies) that equals 6x3x365 meals a day or 6000 meals a year - even saving 15p a meal is nearly £1000 and it sounds like yours is similar.".

I don't live in a family of 6 but I have been on this site for a while and had never thought of grocery shopping in this way.

Have you looked at joining Tatco's Orchard Program? - you get vouchers for free stuff although unfortunately at the moment it is for cheese and not chocolate! x

Knitting_Nora

macpumpkin wrote: »

I love a plan, especially when it all comes together. I read this on someone else's diary at the weekend and I had never thought of it like this but...

"Whilst you have been super organised in getting the best deals for yourself actually (well in my experience) the savings you get from good deal making on these annual or structural changes are more visible BUT less significant than not (over)spending on the day to day journey through life.

for me 6 in the family (+2 moggies) that equals 6x3x365 meals a day or 6000 meals a year - even saving 15p a meal is nearly £1000 and it sounds like yours is similar.".

I don't live in a family of 6 but I have been on this site for a while and had never thought of grocery shopping in this way.

Have you looked at joining Tatco's Orchard Program? - you get vouchers for free stuff although unfortunately at the moment it is for cheese and not chocolate! x

Thanks for sharing this. MacP. The point about day to day expenditure being more significant really makes sense - what a great way of looking at it.


Hadn't heard of the Tesco Orchard scheme - but am all signed up now (and being something of a mouse, I'm ok with the cheese!).

freebyfifty

*stumbles in, hair mussy and eyes bleary*

There's some deep and meaningful thinking going on up there ^^^^

I am very impressed. It is 6:00am though so I might have to come back when my brain wakes up/


Seriously. Good for you. You have given me motivation to get this bleedin job done.

RosaBernicia

Go Nora :j

And thanks for the list... not sure I dare read through my own diaries but in need of a bit of focus here too. Something in the water? or that blue moon


Rosa xx

MuffinTops

Hello Nora,

I'm so guilty of No.1 on your list. Not so much recently, but that still tends to creep in.

Regarding No.2 (christmas and birthday gifts), the YNAB way is to work out what you spend a year and divide that by 12 and put that by each month. That's working well for me as a figure of £20 a month is easier for me than finding a far bigger amount during a birthday heavy month. I transfer that money into a separate area and it just builds up and up until there are gifts to buy.

Also, with that in mind, maybe surveys or swagbucks would help you too while you're looking for something more full time? I save voucher codes throughout the year and then spend them at Christmas.

Good luck with your plan. MTx