NST: October: Letting go of the love of stuff.

crazy_cat_lady

I am pleased to report my meat free day this week. I've just chomped a veggie curry with cauliflower rice for dinner, after a very glamorous brie and grape baguette for lunch. I have done all my spending for the week - my mini top up shop turned into a £60 nightmare over a couple of shops. I really need to try harder to sort this out because it's one area of spending that I desperately need to cut back on. Also filled the car up with petrol - no excuse to be out spending between now and next weekend. Famous last words.

Fmess

dolly84 wrote: »

Totally off topic but I would like to ask a favour of the teachers/people who work in schools. I have an interview next week in a school, it is a job in the Business Office and I would really like to get it, do you have any pointers of things they might like to hear in the interview, I have never worked in a school before but have a ton of relevant experience. Thanks guys.

Hi dolly, I'm a teacher and the only interaction I have with the business manager is to get order numbers for anything I want to order and if I have a query about pay/claiming expenses. I think it will probably depend on what their systems currently are and if you can suggest any ways to improve efficiency. Some of the systems in our school seem really unclear/convoluted and I always think there should be a 'How to' guide for things like claiming expenses etc. Also, you have to be able to say no a lot or refer people to the person who has the authority to authorise things. I'm sorry if that's not much help.

Fmess

Evening all,

A spends day here - food shopping, massage, cake at the cake sale, dog bed and a burger from McDonald's! I hadn't meant to buy a new dog bed today, I actually needed a new base for the crate but they didn't have one and I have been seeing and patching the current dog bed for 6 months plus. Every time they chew it, the kitchen gets covered in the foam pieces. Dog beds don't last long in my house! so, I bought a new 'tough' one - I've got my fingers crossed that it'll last a while - the record is less than one hour from giving it to the dogs to a hole appearing.

Anyway, did lots of chores too, so just school work and family visits to do tomorrow.

apple_muncher

Day 3 of no grains or sugar, and it was a toughie! How are the chocolate-giver-uppers doing?

luckystarr

Hi everyone

Hope you are all doing well.

Well done to everyone on a great start to October

Today has been a spend day as predicted.

Thank you for your kind words traveller, I am wanting a champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget. Really need to reduce my spending on frivolous items and at the beauty salon, but feel I deserve it as I work hard and should have a treat. However I need to save to pay our loan off and get a house deposit and if I carry on this way it is not going to happen.

I have been thinking of giving my cards up to my OH as he is better with money than me and getting a budget for me to spend how I choose to stop spending in the accounts,but then it's not fair for him to take the responsibility as I should know better. I will need to give this some serious thought.
Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas ?

Sorry for the long post.

Night all xx

misstara

So tech free evening didn't happen - picking a day when there's rugby on was a bad idea, didn't really think that one through, however, will try again.

Went to Liddle after work so now have £2.79 left in the food envelope. Had a yummy tea of gammon steaks, mashed tatties and cabbage.

apple No chocolate for me today but I had to walk very quickly past all the chocolate in Liddle. I bought some dried fruit and nuts so will snack on that.

littleskintdragon

Didnt post yesterday, I took dd to town as i wanted some flat boots now that the weather is getting cooler. I had birthday money two weeks ago which i kept aside for myself, as i NEVER spend on myself!
Anyway i found a pair of boots, which are lovely and have some fur inside so should keep me warm in winter too. My others have a heel and as I'm 7 months pregnant aren't sensible. ive used my money wisely i think. I also got a long warm jumper from primarni for £10 as i need some warmer clothes. Ds was a summer baby so i didnt need maternity jumpers last time.

Any way the bit im confessing to is eating out , i took dd for food as we were really hungry.
I HATE paying for food out when i have plenty at home. I very very rarely go to town though.

My family wont do a tech free day with no tv, so im going to do a phone/computer free day from now myself, as its soooo early thanks to ds i dont think today really started!! See you tomorrow!

Bobarella

Morning Turtles

I was just thinking and I can't remember the last time I ate any chocolate anyway what with all the talk of giving up. It's funny what you do miss isn't it. At the moment I'm addicted to cucumber and tomatoes with salt and pepper on. I can get through half a cucumber in a sitting

Gorgeous weather today. Have so far been as far as the kitchen to make coffee and toast and am still not up and dressed which is shocking for me. Due at our friends for 12 for our roast at 1. Very exciting!

Planning to walk to friends place which will take about 20 mins ish. Anyway have a great day all.

Bob

Bobarella

luckystarr wrote: »

Hi everyone
I have been thinking of giving my cards up to my OH as he is better with money than me and getting a budget for me to spend how I choose to stop spending in the accounts,but then it's not fair for him to take the responsibility as I should know better. I will need to give this some serious thought.
Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas ?

Sorry for the long post.

Night all xx

Hi there
In a word no as I have been the other side of our coin for much of the time. Although OH is now totally on board and very good with money generally.
But I'd recommend keeping a spend diary that works for you. I use a system of checking my online banking against my budget spreadsheet. And aditionally I use a spend tracking app that I log everything against as soon as a reciept clears. I then either shred the reciept or file it if important. After scanning them for the shopping app cash of course.
I don't think working in cash works for everyone. And working just on card can make spending feel unreal for some. So I'd decide what works for you. There is at least a paper trail if you do work on cards only.
You need to believe you can do it though or any system is only going to fail. You can do it!

Bob

dolly84

Thanks for your replies Fmess/CCL. My reason for asking was because I recently went for an interview where they asked me 5 set questions and that was it. I left thinking what the hell was that, they know nothing whatsoever about me and whether I will fit in with their team. Then they told me I was just pipped to the post on the job because someone else gave one answer which was fuller than mine:mad:.

Fmess - we are always trying to find the perfect dog bed. Our dog doesn't chew them luckily but I never find something just right that doesn't cost £50.

luckystarr - I was doing the same thing as you. I just stopped the unnecessary spending on myself because my want to be debt free for DH and the kids was more important than the things I was buying. I went cold turkey but do understand it may not work for everyone.