Feel so alone

brizzledfw

Sorry haven't been about much..too much going on in RL. Shattered too from long hours and horrendous commutes...any ways up, you seem to be focussed and doing great. Glad too YNAB is useful.

Keep going

Popstess

Dizzy_Imp wrote: »

Brilliant! I've been very glad of my EF on more than one occasion. Any amount saved is excellent - keep at it.

Christmas is going to be lean for us this year, so you're not alone, but when I think about it, what does anyone actually need? Warmth...tick, food...tick, mulled wine....tick tick tick...Oh, erm :embarasse...roaring log fire...tick, and the love of their friends and family...tick. No-one needs the latest smartphone, hair straighteners or sheepskin boots - you might want them, but that's different. I'm making lots of pressies this year - pickled onions, chutney, damson gin and pressed leaf pictures (very pretty, honest) which I hope will be appreciated, but if not? Hey! One less present to worry about next year :rotfl:

Hi Dizzyimp :hello:

You make some excellent points!! I'm maybe in debt but I'm rich in so many other ways
Your home made gifts sound lovely!!! I've thought about making shortbread and fudge as home made presents.

Popstess

f0xh0les wrote: »

Great news on the EF! £35 is not to be sniffed at.
And don't forget, if you get a post-Xmas/ start of New Year crash, and it all seems a bit much

February is a really short month!!!
29 days between paydays

And if you pay your Council Tax in 10 installments, March and April are free!

Nearly £50 in EF now! yey! Took some pennies to the bank and sold something on eBay.

Love your thinking about Feb bring a short month and the free council tax already planning what my £162 will be spent on (probably very bnpl)

Lol at me I use to plan what I'd buy with any spare money these days I'm planning what debt I can pay it against 😂

Popstess

brizzledfw wrote: »

Sorry haven't been about much..too much going on in RL. Shattered too from long hours and horrendous commutes...any ways up, you seem to be focussed and doing great. Glad too YNAB is useful.

Keep going

Hi brizzlefd :hello: thanks for stopping by and the encouragement I'm not actually using ynab but I do use a lot of the principles behind it

Popstess

Hi everyone :hello:
I've had an expensive weekend
Bought a few Christmas presents, had 2 birthdays and a wedding to fork out for. I can't help but feel stressed about the spend but it has been budgeted for so should be okay.
I sent some clothes back last week and haven't had a return email yet so I'm a bit concerned also I'm anxious because I was counting on the money to go towards Xmas spends.
I'm sure they'll be in touch shortly or I'll have to try and track them. I probably wouldn't normally notice how long things get returned lol I'm just now Waiting for it.
I've been hungover today and craving a takeaway but resisted as I haven't got enough in my budget for a takeaway.
Anyway nothing much else to report really.

joedenise

Sorry you're feeling stressed but just try to relax - you're doing so well; I know it's easier said than done but if you concentrate on relaxing the stress will be easier to deal with. I used to get really stressed but since learning to relax life is much easier.

Well done on not giving in to the take away. Budgeting in the YNAB way (I know you don't actually use YNAB but seem to be doing it in your own way) means you know exactly how much you have in each category and you didn't give in and take money from another category, leaving that category short.

Denise

Popstess

Thanks Denise. Yea I'm not using the YNAB software but I did a couple of the online courses and read all the emails so kinda using the principles behind it.
I use spending fracker app, I really like it. I have one profile on it for all my incomings and outgoings and a second profile just for my spending so I have no excuse for going over my budget it takes me a few seconds to track a payment and it's all there for me to check how much I've got left for the month u till next pay day.

12_month_challenge

Hi Pops

Your EF is growing :j Keep up with the little amounts added to it and it will keep growing.

As for your spendy weekend try not to dwell too much on it. Its done now so move forward and carry on with the little changes you are making and it will come right in the end. You are doing so well

MiMi66

Hi Popstess! Thought I'd have a look at your diary too after you see ing mine - and yes we are in the same or near enough boat! But also in common is the realization that change doesn't happen unless we manifest it - so well done (you and me) for coming to terms with the task! I shall be cheering you on!

cheerio14

Hi Popstess - though I'd return the read, you're doing a great job. The initial couple of months are the hardest as you get used to the new way of spending and it does feel like it takes over your mind slightly! Also, like mummy guilt, I don't think the guilt of getting into the situation every really goes away - I still have moments where I look at things and wonder why I bought them and how much it's cost me now, but the most important thing is we're dealing with it now and we will get there!