Reality Check...

reality_check

Thanks Monz...let's see if I can stick to it!!

Had a successful day 1 of no spending! Went to the gym after work, then took the dog a walk, came home and made a 3 bean chilli for dinner and made spag bol for tomorrow - organised!! Done a bit of housework and sorted a washing, had a bath and now covered myself in fake tan, so I am looking a lovely shade of brown right now!!

Breakfast, lunch and fruit all sorted for tomorrow in work to avoid any spending as I am hoping for another spend free day!!

Finally going to sit down with a cup of peppermint tea, do my nails with my gel lamp, I hate doing it but hate normal nail polish that chips all the time so needs must, and going to find something to watch. I don't currently have anything I'm watching right now, need to have a look on Netflix.

Goodnight xxx

reality_check

Oh my goodness :eek: as I wrote that I realised I haven't budgeted for paying Netflix!! I am sure it's £8.99, so there goes my extra £9 I had....it lasted less than 24 hours!! :T

reality_check

No spending day going well so far. Lush were in work today and I'd def have been making purchases but I have resisted. Was looking through a little notebook I keep of my payments each month and Feb 2016 my debt was £19943.77 (more than I started with in January!!) and today is £9498.74, what a difference a year makes. Last year was no extra income compared to the last 15 just shows the amount of money I have wasted over the years, and this doesn't include when I was a 2 adult household with my ex husbands income! Oh well, life is too short for regrets, onwards and upwards xxx

reality_check

Friday!

Today is a spend day, but from my budget. Amazon have the tan I buy half price, so only £12.50. I had downgraded to a cheaper version but this is my old all time fav, so bought 2 and told my daughter if she wanted to get my one for my birthday she should buy it now....hope she takes my direct hint...

This is the link incase anyone wants it!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fake-Bake-Flawless-Darker-Self-Tan/dp/B00EP5S7HE/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1487320345&sr=1-1&keywords=fake+bake

So glad the weekend is nearly here, just need to get today out the way. My marine has been working away in Scotland again (only temp!) and is back tonight so we are going on a belated Valantines date night, it's not really a celebration of Valentines would probably have went out anyway, but I'm calling it that! I'm looking after my sister kids tomorrow night, and Sunday going to go another nice big walk - the walking shoes have been getting a bit of action recently.

Whoever reads this, I hope you have a good weekend xx

reality_check

Had a great night last night, and only just managed to get out of bed to shower and slap some make up onto my face, meanwhile sailor boy has been out with the dog and done a 8 mile run!

Off to Sainsburys now (planned spend) have £80 on the pre-loaded card and I highly doubt I will go over that. I only plan a quick in and out shop and only need to go to the fruit and veg, milk, fresh fish and pick up some oven cleaner and bleach sections.

I will probably be about £20 on fruit and veg - I have stopped buying biscuits, crisps, chocolate etc, I just don't include them in the weekly shop, of course everyone still eats them but it is by going to buy one bar rather than a multipack. Not as cost effective, but def health effective, plus I have zero willpower and can't have chocolate in the house without eating it! The 'downside' is we are going through so much fruit, carrot/celery/cucumber that i've been making hummus for, so that costs more money! £5 on oven cleaner and bleach and probably about £15 on fish and milk....I am hoping to spend about £40.

Probably come home and have some lunch and go a walk with the dog and find somewhere to go in for some tea and maybe cake...I will probably get this and be about £10 max (pocket money) since I didn't really spend much last night. Although having someone take you out and doesn't really let you spend a penny is good for the budgets, and as much as he would pay for everything I do try pay my way! He says he stays here and I mostly buy the food/pay the bills etc that he doesn't mind, but still!

Better get going! xxx

Poor_Single_lady

Thank you for the link and the help on my diary Reality.
I didn't realise you had paid off so much money. You should be proud of self. That's really impressive.

Please keep posting, love the debt updates and also all the beauty advice too! xx

reality_check

Thanks PSL! I probably shouldn't be posting links for people to buy things on a debt busting diary forum, but if it's something you buy then may as well get it half price!!

Ended up spending £52 in Sainsburys, I did mostly stick to the budget, but I think I have been too used to Lidl prices...since when were 2 bits of salmon £5.50?! and you need 2 bits per person in my opinion as 1 isn't enough/maybe I am just greedy... anyway the fish purchases increased my planned spend.

I also got 2 oven cleaners as Oven Pride was down from £4 to £3 and since I go through one a month I may as well save a £1 next month! Was really impressed with fruit and veg I got, much better than Lidl especially the fruit. I was also able to get the odd spice, jar of pesto and thai green curry paste that you just can't get in Lidl, so was a nice change.

Today has been a no spend day because I am too ill to leave!! I have a serious case of man flu!! Had a little cough yesterday, but went to bed mostly ok and now woke up with no voice (to a few peoples delight) and blowing my nose constantly! Contemplating taking a day off work... but we will see how I feel in the morning.

Made a really hot and spicy curry so I am hoping that will help clear out the cold. It better do, as it has taken me about 3 hours to make!! Marinating chicken, making a base gravy, and then need to combine them with more stuff to make the actual curry - better be as good as it looks in the recipe I am following. I am also making some pakora that my friend sent me a link for and she claims are just as good as the Indian restaurants.

Other than that I have spent the day on the sofa under a blanket watching Come Dine with Me and 4 In a Bed for hours!! Hot bath, face mask and curry I am hoping will do the trick and make me feel better xxx

reality_check

The curry blew everyones head off!! :eek: It was so hot!!! At the last minute I made a decision to add in an extra 2 chopped chillies and considered another 4, but decided just to throw them in whole...good job!! We all had to drink gallons of milk, I had to add some natural yoghurt, and I love spice!! My lips were swollen at the end of it, but I kinda liked it and now I want my lips done even more!! :rotfl:

roomontheend

http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/2012/05/curry-in-a-hurry/
You should try this, you can make it as hot or not as you like. I make them up in one portion silicone muffin cases and then make a korma for me and the boy because we are fairies lol. I usually make OH something with a bit more kick. You batch cook the paste and freeze so works out really cheap.

reality_check

Aw thanks ROTE, will have a little look.

Not been on this website at all since last time, no reason why, just life getting in the way.

Lots to catch up on with the diaries I read, and just plodding along until pay day, which as usual can not come quick enough!

Off to the garden centre - rock and roll weekends as usual xx