STOPPING robbing Peter to pay Paul...my journey...

blubella

Cooked up the rice this morning and took a portion to work with the tagine for lunch...did not venture to shop, therefore SFD! yay..

Have just come home from work and demolished the remainder of the rice...quick egg fried rice...(well, i did purchase 5kg of the stuff)...that should keep me going for the rest of the month!

Need to think up some healthy, budget recipes now..I ususally start with a recipe and then adapt it using the ingredients that I have..turns out ok 90% of the time !

blubella

Morning folk

My sleeping habits are absolutely dire..i blame it on the menopause, sometimes I am so exhausted by 9pm that I just have to hit the sack. I'm really hoping to motivate myself this morning and get along to yoga...I used to be so good at attending but finding that work/life balance seems ever difficult at present.

I will be so glad once my home is straight as I think this will have a definite impact on my work/life balance, it will be great when i get to the stage that it just needs a weekly cleaning upkeep! Having said that, I had had a really good clean of the bathroom yesterday, borrowed the steamer from parents and all the nasty hard water marks have disappeared and it is once again sparkling!! Going to steam clean the cooker, kitchen floor and windows today.

Dad visited yesterday and completed a few more odd jobs, the kitchen is nearly finished...just needs a windowsill, cooker splashback and tiling, it looks great already...so pleased..

I've been keeping on with the 'kondoing' and have decluttered over 460 items in just a few months :A....My bedroom is now my focus.. trying to make a really relaxing space..I have created a little meditation corner. I am planning on repainting it in the New Year. Dad put up some pictures for me and it's starting to look and feel lovely! Amazing what a bit of reorganisation and decluttering can do.

kindofagilr

Hey hun

How are you?? did yuo have a nice christmas and new year?

I am on a massive declutter at the min, it's exhillarating getting rid of stuff isn't it xx

GirlupNorth

Hi,

I also live alone and am currently looking for a lodger! bit scared as haven't shared for a while, and only looking for a vegetarian. But it would only be for 6 months and at £400 I would make around £2000 after extras for bills etc...so trying to think about that. Just hoping I find someone lovely who is out and about a lot

blubella

Morning All

I had a really quiet Christmas, visiting parents and cousin...was really nice having some time off of work and relaxing, it's been a while. Well, I was supposed to be away for Xmas but split up with BF a few months before and could not face 17 days away on my own...could not face going away with him either (even as friends) haha. Looking at it positively I did save a few pennies which I put towards my debt.

How was your Christmas and NY kindofagilr, I bet you had a really lovely time with the littlies?

My Dad visited yesterday and did some tiling in the kitchen, so close to finishing..and I am now considering moving! 20 years it's taken me to get the house decorated and now I am contemplating a move lol

Well i cleared a whooping amout of DEBT last year...£17,128.47!! ...am so pleased :j.. started the NY with a new balance to work towards £7192.72..I am going to make another payment today which will take me to just under £6000.., it's all going in the right direction which is great and makes me happy!

GirlupNorth you should deffo consider a lodger...it's helping me so much having the extra £ each month. I have a Mon-Fri let and this works out perfectly for me.. I get on really well with my lodger and I have time for myself each week too. I was a bit fussy and wasn't prepared to let to the wrong person and I'm glad i took a few months to find someone.

...and last but not least..not forgetting INOD..it's so nice to feel that someone is listening to my ramblings, so thank you for checking in

Happy New Year to you all..xxx

brizzledfw

Lovely to read your diary properly, I had only lurked before...but have now subscribed

You're doing brilliantly on changing things and habits gradually but consistently. Well done. We also find lodgers a great way of making money without too much hassle. Meal planning and taking care with every spend is also key. (..and getting rid of 'takers' rather than 'givers' is also important..I am referring to the BF here )

I also find I am SO much better at attempting to be frugal when I regularly post on here..so recommend that too

Very best wishes

Brizzle x

kindofagilr

blubella wrote: »

Morning All

I had a really quiet Christmas, visiting parents and cousin...was really nice having some time off of work and relaxing, it's been a while. Well, I was supposed to be away for Xmas but split up with BF a few months before and could not face 17 days away on my own...could not face going away with him either (even as friends) haha. Looking at it positively I did save a few pennies which I put towards my debt.

How was your Christmas and NY kindofagilr, I bet you had a really lovely time with the littlies?

My Dad visited yesterday and did some tiling in the kitchen, so close to finishing..and I am now considering moving! 20 years it's taken me to get the house decorated and now I am contemplating a move lol

Well i cleared a whooping amout of DEBT last year...£17,128.47!! ...am so pleased :j.. started the NY with a new balance to work towards £7192.72..I am going to make another payment today which will take me to just under £6000.., it's all going in the right direction which is great and makes me happy!

GirlupNorth you should deffo consider a lodger...it's helping me so much having the extra £ each month. I have a Mon-Fri let and this works out perfectly for me.. I get on really well with my lodger and I have time for myself each week too. I was a bit fussy and wasn't prepared to let to the wrong person and I'm glad i took a few months to find someone.

...and last but not least..not forgetting INOD..it's so nice to feel that someone is listening to my ramblings, so thank you for checking in

Happy New Year to you all..xxx

Hey Blubella

Sorry to hear that you and your BF split up

But well done on that phenomenal amount you have repaid!!! that's amazing!!!

Are you still thinking of moving?

My Christmas and New Year was great thanks the kids loved it, can't believe we are nearly halfway through March already!!!

Hope all is well with you xx

blubella

Been hiding for a few months now and dating since March (woohoo) well, not so woohoo when it comes to debt busting!

Naughtily..I have booked a flight to New Zealand for November, my best friend is celebrating a biggie and has been pestering me for years. There's also a little chink of hope that my son will be there... He has to leave Canada as his visa is up; he can't get residency so is moving on.

I have been saving like mad using £300 of lodgers money paid in to a high interest account which matures in July, have so far saved £3300 so anything left will go to debt! It also means that I can start bumping up the debt payments after July.

So where has the year gone? I have decided to put the move on hold and have been considering an extension. Unfortunately, that is out of the question until the debt is paid. Will reconsider in the New Year..but there's so much more involved than i thought.

So, what have all you lovely people been up to? I have had one camping trip so far but loking forward to lots of holidays in Cornwall as my parents are moving.

Have a good day x

blubella

Wide awake, it's so muggy and haven't been sleeping well again.

Have decided to try and check in a bit more frequently to keep me accountable..I have gone a bit wayward and off track with the budgeting TBH, and haven't recorded my spending for a couple of months..have just reset my YNAB balance and am going to start again. I will try and upload my receipts daily to make it manageable.

Had to fork out £310 for a boiler repair last week...there was a power surge and my boiler was wrecked in the process :mad:..not a happy bunny. Thankfully the plumber is lovely and is allowing me to pay in two installments.

Have lots going out this month but want to try and up the DEBT card payments. I have increased my debt due to having some dental work that needed doing, all on a 0% card but need to budget more than ever now.

I also have to admit that I have been out a lot with friends due to the unbelievably nice weather..a sandwich or meal here and there soon mounts up..even when it's only £10 each time.! Went for a lovely canal walk on Sunday with a friend..walked abot 10 miles, and didn't take my purse so no spending which was good..going to aim for at least 10 SFD's from now until 26th July.

So, I have been thinking of ways that I can cut back as there are a few birthdays this month..cancelled the gym membership and have been going through the cupboards to try and use up my supplies...can't believe how much food is actually in the cupboards and freezer!! I'm sure I can make plenty of meals with a bit of planning and creativity!

I spent £22 in Morimans today after my £5 voucher was applied...picked up a few reduced items and really tried to stick to the list!! Made some brocolli and stilton soup using up some of the frozen brocolli..it's actually bearable in the soup but I won't buy it again..nothing really beats fresh does it?

So the meal plan for the week so far is: tuna pasta bake, prawn paella, cauliflower cheese, patatas bravas, red pepper and tomato soup, couscous salad, houmous, mango fromage frais, overnight oats, dahl.

Right, going to sign off and try and get some more sleeps..night night x

blubella

£130 paid off of debt and 1NSD..ok..could do better..will aim for anosther NSD tomorrow..I am sure I can make the 10!