NST June – Just Keep Jousting!

Calling14

Hi everyone.

Had a great day and night out in Manchester. Did spend but just bit over budget. Bargain car parking £4.00

Roofer guy never showed up yesterday to sort my roof out.

Today another spend day lidl tenner on food stuff and treated myself to some flowers £3 oops not very MSE but better than chocolate?

Fmess hard adjusting to being on yr own again. I take dog out and meet my dog walking gang same time most days good banter. I have been thinking need to join a group of some kind, as my life is just work, nanny duties most of the time.

Really tired today, wasn't feeling great Friday night so hardly slept and crawled in
at 1.30 this am. Dog was whining early this am Hope I haven't got a speeding ticket, tired driving last night, sure got flashed. Wait and hope.

Off to hunt clothes for work, shower and chill out.

mothernerd

Fmess just be kind to yourself and give yourself time - excellent advice from abundant and others. Feel free to visit us on the O/S Singlies thread if you want but you're probably just sitting on the bench for a bit before throwing yourself back into the fray.

Bob thanks for the kind words but basically I am just being bone idle. I feel ashamed when I read how much you are all doing and especially some of the diary writers struggling with children, sick husbands, work, domestic responsibilities, extra work and juggling the finances.

There are lots of 'big' things that I can't do much about but there are lots of little things I can do meantime. I just have to get back into the mindset where each decision I take is a step in the right direction - towards debt freedom/ losing weight/ being healthier and more active. The things I put in place last month will help but I still need to be vigilant.

I have just written my weekly job list and as number 7 I have put "Just Do it! No excuses! Don't care if you 'want to' or not! Get It Done!"

Going to copy it and put it on the freezer, in the bathroom, by the bed etc so it smacks me in the face all the time. Vitamin tablets (day 3) seem to be helping and have tried to have a plain fish with veg once a day.

Today I am grateful for the support of all the wonderful turtles on here, even when I don't deserve you.

Bobarella

Mothernerd - you have no reason to feel ashamed. And from what you have said about your life when you were juggling your young boys,unhelpful OH & taking extra qualifications and working you'd have put us all to shame at that point in time. We're all just doing what we can to get by..

The_Only_Girl

Hello peeps, I can't believe I haven't posted since Thursday. Work was so physically demanding and exhausting, I just crashed in to bed after work these past few days. On the positive side, I managed to put in at least 3 hours of overtime yesterday so that's something to look forward to in July. The overtime pay is already allocated to the credit card payment unfortunately.

So much has happened in the turtle world in my absence, I will need time to read up on the happenings here - I think I have about 5 pages worth of reading, I'm sending big hugs to all of you who need them and a pat on the back to those who are winning the battle against debt.

I have only managed to earn one NSD since Thursday - that's NSD no. 14 for me which is twice as much as I have made in May. Hopefully I could manage to put in a few more to make it past 15 and if I am a really good girl I hope to make it to 20. With regards to the monthly budget, we are still under budget in all areas. Since I reduced the household/grocery budget by £400 for the month of June (from £650 then to £500), I consider it a breakthrough to still have £30 in the kitty to last us til the month end which is for emergency top up shops as there is enough food to last us for a few weeks. I am not anticipating any need for a top up shop so fingers crossed, any left over money in the budget will go towards the credit card payment and will take us closer to our DFD. The biggest surprise for us is the petrol budget. We have budgeted £200 for both my and OH's car. This month we only spent £100! We used to spend £350!

It's DS2's birthday on Sunday and he said he doesn't want any party or big celebration, he just wants a meal at a Japanese resto and DS game console (which he is not getting by the way - it really sounds like we are mean parents for not giving him his birthday wish but DS2 is in the ASD and he will make that one of his obsessions and it's not going to help him prepare for his GCSE next year.) He says can he have a pet snake instead then (one of those I nearly fell off the chair moments!) He's getting new fish for his fish tank instead. He settled for a pair of angel fish and additional cardinal tetras and harlequin raspboras.

How did Father's Day go in your households? Ours was a quiet one. Hubby went to work til 2pm (extra pay yippee). He didn't want any gimmicks. I just made him a special dinner - beef and mushroom pie with cheesy sweet potato mash and steamed peas and sweet corn on the side, homemade tomato basil soup and homemade rocky road ice cream. It's been several years since we decided we wouldn't bother with cards or presents on occasions unless the celebrant specifically asks for something they need or really want. Experiential/happy memories gifts are better, cheaper and last longer.

Good night every one! Have a good week ahead!

Fmess

Thank you all for your kind words and hugs. Abundant, thank you for taking the time to write that, I've read it several times already and it has made me sob a lot. All of your support really does mean a lot. It's weird how grief hits you, I had two weeks where I was pretty ok, a wobble last weekend and then yesterday and today have been overwhelming.

The_Only_Girl

THE POWER OF SAYING NO!

This afternoon, OH and I went to Costco to do some last minute top up shop - rice was running low and in my household, it could spell disaster. Like what we've been doing during the last few months, we took some money from our Household/Grocery envelope and set £40 for today's shopping. We got everything we needed according to our shopping list (another practice we have faithfully followed recently) and because it is Father's Day we picked up a box of Krispy Kreme donuts as long as it doesn't tip us over the budget. When we reached the cashier, we boldly (unashamedly) told him that our budget is only £40 and could he please let us know when we are about to exceed it. Before he scanned the Krispy Kreme I realised we were going to be £3 over our set limit (I had £15 emergency cash hidden in the secret compartment of my wallet which I could dip into). But OH and I looked at each other and we both said, no we are leaving the donuts because it's over budget. The cashier was so surprised he said to his colleague "It's over budget."

A few months/a few years ago, a). We wouldn't have had a thing called budget. b). We wouldn't have gone grocery shopping with cash but would have used debit/credit card c). We wouldn't have bothered to look at the total amount of our shopping but would have just handed over the plastic card as if on autopilot. d). We wouldn't have been bold to tell the cashier of our limit e) we wouldn't have walked out without the donut aka " the special treat which we deserved, after all, it's Father's Day" for a mere £3 over budget.

The thing is: walking out of Costco without the donuts made us feel triumphant. We feel like we have conquered Mt. Everest because we have SAID NO! NO is indeed a very powerful word. It is only made up of two letters but it can change your future. As Dave Ramsey puts it:

"IF YOU WILL LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE, LATER YOU CAN LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE."

Bobarella

That is awesome The Only Girl! You are right to be proud. I am with you all the way. My trainers desperately need replacing and will be this month but OH has said to me many times 'your shoes really need replacing' and I've said yes 'with what? ' I have money in my emergency fund and available credit but neither are for spending on shoes. It is as you say a step change in thinking that brings us to this place. :T

Calling14

Here again, not a great start to Monday, yogurt burst in my bag on way to work. Was looking forward to finishing bit earlier as had Breast test check up - they cancelled van broken down. So stuck here until the bitter end.

Trying to stay upbeat but just worked through my finances until September basically I am grounded. Little turtle going to hide her head in sand for a few months.

Today.
NSD 13/20
Set up DD for car tax monthly, slightly more expensive that way but not wanting to use my cc. As I paid annually for a change for my house ins this month, will just replace that figure in my monthly budget.

Got leftover beef burgionion - if that's how you spell it.

Going to walk the dog minute I get home as have the feeling annoying friend will come around, back from holiday, loads of pics of meals out over the weekend locally on facebook - need I say more. She has another holiday booked next month, I really feel can't deal with her today I may be a snappy turtle.

Had another bad nights sleep, I am awful about going to the Drs will have to go this week instead of self diagnosing my problem, if no better tomorrow will try and get appt - no doubt in a few weeks time.

Whinge over today grateful for
Pretty Woman on the radio this morning - sang my little head off.
Nice message off my daughter to say missed me over the weekend.
Stopped raining and the sun is out.

The_Only_Girl

Bobarella wrote: »

That is awesome The Only Girl! You are right to be proud. I am with you all the way. My trainers desperately need replacing and will be this month but OH has said to me many times 'your shoes really need replacing' and I've said yes 'with what? ' I have money in my emergency fund and available credit but neither are for spending on shoes. It is as you say a step change in thinking that brings us to this place. :T

Thanks bob. One of the things I have learned and enjoyed during our battle with debt is delayed gratification. Temporarily holding back on spending on something I need or want until I could afford to pay for it/them in cash is a bittersweet experience but makes me treasure that object more. I have learned to delay pleasure for greater results. Now I understand what it means by "There is no shortcut to anyplace worth going."

I do hope you will get to replace your shoes soon.

Bobarella

Calling- your friend reminds me of a saying 'if you have an elephant they have a box to put it in' I hope she doesn't bother on too much if you are feeling tired and not in the mood.
Gotta love a good radio sing along. For me it's got to be Journey 'don't stop believeing' or Starship 'we built this city on rock and roll' I can howl along to them endlessly

Hope you get your docs appointment sorted out soon.

Bob