It's not a lot, but it's enough

crazy_cat_lady

I adore Aviemore - it's one of my favourite places on Earth, and I haven't been for years so I'm very jealous indeed. Enjoy the holiday.
And a very belated happy birthday as well.

SpekySquarehead

July was a strange month for me. I managed 15 NSD’s, which is pretty decent, but my spend days were really quite spendy which almost defeats the purpose. I am incredibly fortunate that July is my birth month and I tend to get some money from my gran, so that softened the blow but wasn’t ideal. I was hoping any birthday I got could go towards something nice, but instead it’s being spread over boring categories on YNAB. Needs must.

My biggest spend was on socialising, which fits with tradition for me. I don’t grudge it too much. I’m in a new place where I know very few people so I do believe it is important. Although I’m not desperate, it would be nice to meet Mrs SpekySquarehead at some point too and that is only really going to happen if I’m out and about. In my experience, these dating apps are more suited to flings than anything more serious. Anyway, below are my updates on my NY Resolutions;

Career
• Make a sale
No sale but I received an incredible thoughtful and considerate email from my boss telling me not to be disheartened and that I’m doing a good job. Very reassuring.
• Maintain performance journal
A good habit I have started and is something which I update every working day
• Write news articles for work every 2 months
I’ve now published a 2nd article, which seems to have went down well. Getting into the swing of this now.

Relationships
• Keep in touch with family and friends
It was my step dads 60th, so I enjoyed a long weekend back home seeing friends and family. The flip to this is the cost for lunches, dinners and drinks I suppose.
• Meet new people
Met with a girl a couple of times but the spark wasn’t there. Our last ‘date’ cost me close to £150 which is frustrating but I did enjoy my night. Just wasn’t to be.

Self
• Cut down phone time
Down 22% on last week
• Less sugar
As before, my diet needs to tighten up. Too much eating out and birthday parties (which have lots of cake!!)
• Read more (2/5)
Making a serious dent in a 3rd book. I hope to have it finished within the next month or so.
• Meditate & Attend yoga frequently
Now going to yoga 3 times a week and sticking to that as much as I can. I do love it and all that it does for me. Especially motivating is the small improvements.
• Continue to learn Spanish
Duolingo have made some changes to the experiences which helps spur me on. So I’ll maintain this at lunch

I write this on holiday in Aviemore for a week, which was all budgeted for. I’ve a couple of trips to London this month and my cousins 30th, so I suspect some other expenses but I hope to keep them to a minimum.

DebtFreeMonkey

Just had a brief read through and it's so motivating to see someone come out the other side of being in debt.

RE your latest update: Glad your boss is being reassuring. The last thing you need it to be stressed and disheartened.

Some months you do spend more but it was your birthday and you're aware so can adjust your finances accordingly.

Yoga and meditation are wonderful. I meditate first thing in the morning for at least 5 minutes so I know the first thing I do ISN'T to check my phone. I'm reading a lot more non fiction/philosophy/spirituality stuff at the moment, too which helps.

Aye, dating is never much fun when it doesn't work out how you want for a while...not only that but £150? That's a lot. I don't know. We're in modern times where 'equality' is being pushed for in every way. In my opinion, as a female, I wouldn't let my 'date' pay £150. I'd pay half or at least something, y'know?

Anyways, I hope you have a great month and I'll keep an eye on your updates. Like I said, it's nice to see someone on the other side of the journey I'm on.

SpekySquarehead

Alicia1804 wrote: »

Just had a brief read through and it's so motivating to see someone come out the other side of being in debt.

RE your latest update: Glad your boss is being reassuring. The last thing you need it to be stressed and disheartened.

Some months you do spend more but it was your birthday and you're aware so can adjust your finances accordingly.

Yoga and meditation are wonderful. I meditate first thing in the morning for at least 5 minutes so I know the first thing I do ISN'T to check my phone. I'm reading a lot more non fiction/philosophy/spirituality stuff at the moment, too which helps.

Aye, dating is never much fun when it doesn't work out how you want for a while...not only that but £150? That's a lot. I don't know. We're in modern times where 'equality' is being pushed for in every way. In my opinion, as a female, I wouldn't let my 'date' pay £150. I'd pay half or at least something, y'know?

Anyways, I hope you have a great month and I'll keep an eye on your updates. Like I said, it's nice to see someone on the other side of the journey I'm on.

Thanks for popping by and the reassuring words of encouragement. This diary started as a debt free diary and become so integral to my daily routine to keep on top of it all that I want to continue past the debt and in my ambition to save and live with the new techniques and habits I've had to learn. I do go off on a tangent at time too..


Back to reality today after my 9 days off. My first week was spent in Aviemore with the family with the feet up half the time and the other half was walking the dogs around the Cairngorm mountains. Lovely. My other few days were then spent staying at my mums and catching up with friends, to then catch my return train yesterday afternoon. Batteries are well and truly recharged and I am - strangely - looking forward to get back to work and into a routine again.

My trip was all budgeted for and I came in perfectly on budget. I'll probably need to look at saving for a similair holiday next year, as these 'staycations' are all that we can enjoy with my gran given her health insurance costs for abroad. The remainder of August should be low cost, with exception to my cousins 30th in a couple of weeks. I've the travel to Glasgow and back to account for (train or diesel) plus a gift and drinks on the night.

My knee pain isn't getting any better, despite the 16 weeks of rest which the NHS physio ordered. I'm now seriously considering going to a private clinic for advice and help but it will cost me somewhere between £50-£100 for a consultation and a session. But is your health - especially in my twenties - not quite important?

Gym this morning with yoga later tonight. Need to pop into the SM and petrol station later, too. Nothing much else planned for the week ahead.

Have a good day and week everyone!

SpekySquarehead

Good morning everyone,

Despite it being wet, it's still quite warm. I woke during the night with the sound of the rain battering off the window, which, coincidentally, is a sound which makes me drift off to sleep.

Yesterday, as I predicted, was routine. I nipped to the SM plus popped some air in my tyre, which I think is suffering from a slow puncture. Then went to yoga and was home for 9.30, where I quickly made my lunches for the remainder of the week; mozzarella chicken with steamed broccoli.

Been at the gym this morning again and I've agreed to join my mate to go to a boxing class tonight. Half looking forward to it, half dreading it, as I felt sick the last time I went. I'll tell myself that it must be doing me good. Bank and YNAB are all back in line after the activities from last week. Little bit tighter on cash for the remainder of the month but I should manage.

SpekySquarehead

Good morning everyone,

I went to boxing last night only to see the light out and door locked. Strange. They use Facebook to post updates and don't have it so I may have missed something. Decided to go to the gym instead for an hour. Home to chill for a bit, ready my book then bed.

When the alarm went off at 5.15am this morning, I wasn't feeling too clever. More tired than usual with a slight headache. My body urged me to go back to the comfort of bed for a few more minutes, which I did. Next thing I know it was 7am. Fine by me. Yoga at lunch for a quick hour then I'll perhaps squeeze in another quick hour this evening after work.

SpekySquarehead

Morning everyone,

Is it just me, or are we getting quieter and quieter on here now? Missing some regulars I've noticed.

Half way through August. How did that happen? It'll be *C word* before we know it! I've been at the gym this morning and I'll aim to quickly nip in again after work before going home to watch the footy and have my weekly catch up with my gran.

Yesterday, despite my lunch time yoga class, lacked vigour. Almost counting the clock, which rarely happens, but I left work relatively sharpish and played some xbox with the boys for a bit. Which is my favourite way to unwind and have a laugh.

DebtFreeMonkey

You remind me I must get to the gym soon! Just been so busy and definitely still getting plenty of exercise in.

Has the weather cleared up a bit for you?

Oh, no... The dreaded *C* word is being passed about quite frequently as of late. Not up for that in August! Haha.

crazy_cat_lady

:wave:
I'm still here and reading along Speky

SpekySquarehead

Alicia - It seems the weather is non-stop rain here in Manchester, which I am told is standard here. I thought I'd moved away from the rain, too!


Good morning everyone and a very happy Friday to you all,

A quick visit to the gym post-work, followed by a call with my gran which concluded just in time for the football. After that, I pretty much went to bed but I spent about 4 hours tossing and turning.

As a result of my poor night, no gym this morning. I'll pop in for an hour after work before catching up with some of my mates for a bit. Looking forward to a (hopefully) long sleep.

Not much planned for this weekend. Got an overdue haircut booked (£15) and I'll nip in for a swim (£4.50) at some point too. Aside from that - and groceries - I don't have many spends planned. Wonderful.

Have a nice weekend everyone!