A whole new world

belleandthebudget

Oh dear, this weekend has been a little bit spendy. I'm pretty sure I can juggle the budget, and it was definitely so much fun, also not as bad as it would have been in the past. I should be better though. Well, at least I only have a week left until pay day. I'm sure I can be good for a week!

moneyonmymindsam

Hey Belle, Stay strong ...you can do it

belleandthebudget

Thanks, Sam!

Nothing much to report around these parts. At the moment, I'm just trying to hang on until the end of the week as Monday is payday. I won't be able to pay quite as much off the credit card as I wanted to this month, but very close, which I think is pretty good for my first month back at this.

For some reason by YNAB went off course and didn't mesh with my actual bank accounts at some point this month. I don't know why or what happened cause I was recording EVERYTHING but will have to be more diligent next month as I've obviously missed something somewhere.

The good thing is when the pay month starts over all the money will be where it is without anything being moved about on balance transfers, etc. like this month. I'm sure that's probably where something went awry.

Also, I've paid down the cards so they're on a round number rather than odd pence. It just makes everything a little easier to keep track of.

Anyway, enough rambling. I'm having a quiet night after a really hard physio session this morning that left me feeling off all day. I've been told that's normal after such an intense session but man I feel shellshocked! Happy evening diariers!

belleandthebudget

I'm so proud. Payday is tomorrow and I've put just over £400 towards my credit cards and not taken on any additional debt.

Sure, it's not the full £577 that I need to sock away every month to hit the DF by 30 goal, but it's still a hell of a lot better than I've done any other month in the last 10 years.

It's more than 20% of my monthly take-home salary!

It's invigorating to think I've taken such a big jump towards being debt free. I just want to do better next month and the month after that and the one after that.

Things to improve next month - buying food at work, eating out, over buying groceries, spending on alcohol.

Things to be careful about next month - books, event tickets, shoes, haircut.

I love reading and go through a mountain of books a year but there's no excuse to buy more when I have tonnes loaded up on my Kindle and toppling over in piles in my bedroom that I haven't read yet. Goal is to buy no new books July 20-August 20.

London has lots of fun things to do but it can also be really expensive. I've already paid for a day long art course at the V&A, a ticket to the Audrey Hepburn exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery, tickets to see As You Like It at the Globe, and two different ballets. That should keep me plenty busy for awhile, alongside my Kew Gardens membership. I won't say no buying tickets though because as long as it's in the budget social/cultural things get a pass.

I have one pair of really supportive shoes and I have a body that's getting a pummelling from my physio. I need to get some more supportive shoes, or at the very least get some supportive insoles. I don't want to spend an absolute fortune though. Must research for this one.

My hair grows like weeds and after years of having it loooooooong, I got it cut into a long bob. I really love the style but it's not even three months later and it's grown out. I need to get it cut in August but have to be careful about price and finding someone good to do the job - my hair is very, very thick and there's lots of it so it's not the easiest to tame.

Okay, I feel good about typing out all the potential pitfalls of the next pay month! Somehow, I will get a haircut, find some supportive work appropriate shoes, have a life, and still hit my debt repayment goals!

belleandthebudget

Wow, I am rubbish at keeping up with this diary. My new goal will be to update every day so that I can keep track of what I'm actually spending! I love YNAB but I find that is I slip at any point in the month then I get really confused and can't pull it back. Next payday I'll get back into it 100% and until then I'll try to spend as little as possible.

I've been thinking about a 100-day challenge. 100 days of no alcohol, sticking to my calorie allowance (with as little processed food as possible), flossing every day, doing my physio exercises every day and staying in budget.

They're all things I should be doing anyway so it says a lot that I'm so unsure about doing it. That in itself tells me it's something I should really do. I will start tomorrow! Let's do this!

belleandthebudget

So, I've done terribly this month (I get paid on the 20th so my months run a little differently to most people) but the good thing is that it has inspired me to be really strict after pay day.

Also, I'm cat-sitting for a friend, so the next 10 days will be chilling in her flat. I'm hoping that will give me some quiet time to get my head around things and also mean I'm not out and about spending too much.

This month has really shown me two things. This place and YNAB are the things that really keep me on track. And I really, really want to stay on track.

The great thing is that usually when I had a blow-out month I would add hundreds to the debt. So far I still have plenty of cushion to pay the minimums on my credit cards and still not go further into debt. There might even be a little left over to pay down.

belleandthebudget

Have joined some challenges to help me along my way! For the rest of this month I plan to - take my lunch to work 10 times and have 7 NSDs. I'm also going to start an emergency fund and work towards building this up to £1000. Finally I've set £80 as my clothing budget for the rest of the year. It seems such a tiny amount but I have SO MANY clothes I don't really need anything new.

Feeling much better after setting some solid goals!

rockm87

Hi!
just catching up on my subscriptions, glad to see your making progress.

I think following the challenges is a great idea, i loved doing the NSD challenge, and still take note in my diary when I have one, it's a good thing to celebrate.

belleandthebudget

Hi Rock, thanks for popping by! I totally agree with you, I already feel more motivated to try harder with the money saving now I'm part of the challenges.

Had a NSD and brought my lunch to work! Woo! If I can start the emergency fund then I'll definitely be on a roll.

SarahPennySaver

Hi Belle
Just popped by to thank you for your comment on my diary. Well done for getting your head down and being determined to get your debt sorted by 30 - I wish I had had your determination when I was in my twenties, then maybe I wouldn't be so broke approaching 40!! Hope you get on well with the challenges, I've subscribed so look forward to seeing you meet your goal for that online party in 2016