Reality Check...

CoffeeBean_2

Just read your entire diary.
Well done on everything you have achieved so far, especially taking the step to cut up the credit cards. I have been there myself and kept spending on them thinking it was okay and not seeing the bigger picture and ended up with my debt spiralling out of control. So really well done for that.
You can do this!!
CB

reality_check

Thanks CoffeeBean...it is hard when you've been so reliant on living on credit cards, I just need this emergency/saving fund in place to use in place of credit cards and my overdraft.

My friend came round last night, she always comes baring gifts! She is a make up artist and just back from London fashion week recently so was given lots of freebies that she never wants as says she has so much so she gives it away!

I am also the proud owner of a backless Victoria Beckham jumper - it is beautiful, if you can go that far and call a jumper that lol only problem is, it is a size 8, but it is Mango/Zara size 8 and not generous in size.

Not because of my jumper, well with a little prompting, I am going to start back on my Herbalife shakes. I will start on Monday as everyone knows, diets starts Monday! I would like to lose about 10lb, I don't have much weight to lose but I am only 5'3 so a little weight gain can be noticeable! I am waiting for all the comments in work "that can't be healthy" "eat a proper meal" as they eat a sugar loaded cereal bar which is "healthy" or a fattening fried filled roll....haters gonna hate lol It won't last long, but 2-3 weeks will give me a little boost and I will feel better.

I am hoping for a low spend day - need to buy some cream to go with a cheesecake my daughter bought yesterday, how ironic after my above paragraph, but this health kick starts on Monday so need to get all these cravings out my system! And I def need to get some petrol, that is an essential spend.

Might DIY my hair tonight and attempt this eyebrow tint....this will either work or go so wrong! I normally would get threaded and a tint for £10 but went for thread only at £5 this time and just been filling them with an eyebrow pencil...so I might not risk it and just keep doing this.

The sun is shining and I finish work at 2 today, took a few hours holiday...I feel like I am on a half day and so much happier! Really need to do this dump run today and get all that stuff gone from my garden and touch up some paint, so not an exiting day ahead but better than stuck in work for me!

reality_check

On seconds thoughts the eyebrow tint has to work as my eyebrow pencil is a Charlotte Tilbury one that is not budget friendly...I'll need to not eat for a week to buy it!

Popstess

Hi Reality check :wave:
Sounds like you're doing well! Good luck with the tint I've used them before and find them great they don't last quite as long as the Salon tint but I would just do it more frequently. I'm also going to use a st home due for my hair this week. It's my bday next month so hopefully I will get some pennies to pay for my hair cut and coloured at the salon.
Lucky you having a half day! Enjoy!
Also lovely of your friend bringing you all those freebies, any you can put away for presents for your daughter or friends to save money in the future? xx

note3

Oh my goodness lucky you getting freebies!!!
Absolutely loved the big motivational speech on weight loss followed by purchasing cream for a cheesecake no less

reality_check

I didn't do my hair or eyebrows, made it to the tip though so that's that ticked off the list! My hair is brown, so I am hoping will be simple enough and look ok, I used to dye it myself years ago so will be fine!

Sadly can't keep them as she was there and we were fighting over the stuff lol

I put £39 of petrol in and spent £5 on cream, strawberries and raspberries - at least I got a bit of my 5 a day in with the cheesecake and cream.......

The £30 refund from Specsavers has went on today, thank goodness as my balance is now £45.03 with the return on it.

A zero spend ahead today and hopefully until pay day!!!

reality_check

Been a few days since I posted but not because I have fell off the wagon, just not updated for no reason really! My birthday has come and went, I had a lovely day/night/very early hours of the morning time at my friends house, we had afternoon tea which was all very sophisticated sipping tea from fine china, and then the more prosecco that was had and a bit of karaoke and ordering kebabs from the takeaway we all went down hill!

Pay day has been and gone and I have paid off M&S at £580!!! one card GONE!!!!

Will update this more later, just a flying visit! xx

reality_check

I had a massive post for my diary and I came back to the laptop and it had vanished before I posted it, how annoying!

I'll try remember what I was banging on about....

I took £20 out the bank for this weeks food shop, going to try working in cash and see how I get on....clearly not well! I have budgeted £25 a week but shaved £5 off as I have a few things in the freezer/fridge for meals. I spent £5 in Home Bargains after work! Handsoap, dog treats and some crisps and chocolate. My daughter has been complaining there is nothing "good" to eat since I am back on the shakes, so this should keep her happy. I also donated £10 to charity, someone in work is doing a sky dive for someone in our department who is going through cancer treatment so that was £10 I don't grudge, but it was unplanned so I am taking it out the weekly food budget. I have £5 to last until Tuesday on food, but I think it is doable.

I forgot all about my step sons birthday! So that was an unplanned £50 in a card yesterday - good job I had just been paid!

I then decided to pay off M&S to get one card out the way BUT I may have been too keen, as came home to my car renewal after work this evening. Turns out it is the 4th April and not June(ish) like I thought. £440.50 but it does say if you can beat the quote elsewhere they will match it plus knock off a further 10% so comparison sites here I come!!

I drove to the beach on Sunday and Monday and Tuesday evening I have been helping a friend move house so have used a good bit of petrol, I have enough for work this week and to cover the weekend but will need to get some come Monday.

Other good news is my £11 refund from Vanquis is in, Equifax sent me a cheque for £158!! I am just waiting on Virgin's £250 so I can go pay them all in at once...I think I will call Virgin to chase it up, has in been 1 week or 2!?

Need to do some meal plans to ensure the £5 lasts but I am pretty confident it will, just no takeaways this weekend, plus I am on a diet so I shouldn't be thinking about them anyway.

Off to catch up on a few diaries xx

reality_check

Went onto compare the market and I have a quite for £313.07!!! If they stick what what they say it will be in the high £200!! I do have points that have come off my licence so that might be why theres was £440, even if they don't match it I am happy with £300! I think for the first year in maybe forever I can pay for my annual car insurance NOT on credit!! Just means I can't save, but I was planning on using the savings for my car insurance anyway so can start saving next month...I am so happy with this!! I should know what I paid last year but I don't, I am sure it was close to £600 so this is a great saving!

note3

Great news on car insurance and getting the money back...must feel like Christmas! ! Could you pay that money from the cheques off another card?? As it's bonus money

Don't forget to use a cashback site to buy ins as you can get about £30 cashback