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

SpekySquarehead

Morning,

Friday - A relaxed night after work. GF’s sister bought us a Chinese and afterwards we went home and watched GoT.

Saturday – In the morning I left with my step dad and bro to help by younger step bro move back in with us after he split with his GF. Then at night, my GF was taking me into Glasgow for birthday dinner and drinks (although my birthdays not until tomorrow), we had a lovely night with a really really nice meal. We went for a few drinks afterwards so we put some money in a kitty to tide us over, so not a NSD.

Sunday – I was playing golf and so I was out the door for 8.45 meanwhile the GF stayed in bed, struggling. The golf was £20 (budgeted) and spent £5 on lunch and snacks.

This week ahead will be busy with work as we’ve a big event on Saturday. So I’ll get the head down and plod away, spending as little as possible en route.

I was approached last week from a company who wanted to know if I was able to “come in for a chat” today after work about a potential opportunity they have. I’m treating it more as an interview than anything else and it’s for somewhere that I’d love to work however I’ve a sneaky suspicion that their pay is low and I just a cannot afford to take a pay cut at times like these. I’ll update you all on how it went tomorrow morning.

joeyjimbles

How exciting - its nice to have been approached even if it doesn't come to anything, plus as they have come looking for you it enables you to be in the strong position of asking for what you want. Hope its a useful talk.

SpekySquarehead

Good morning,

Yesterday went very well. The company is my dream company to work for however they admitted that the job description isn't 100% set in stone and the same goes for the salary. However when the created this job they instantly thought of me as I had an interview there back in November of last year. So it's a waiting game now. They said the'll send me something over in the next day or 2 and that'll give me a better idea if it's a good idea to move.

Today is my birthday and I was woken this morning at 6am with my GF more excited than I was. A couple of weeks ago my colleague was a Next VIP member for their sale and I asked him to buy me some sunglasses that had 70% off but when they arrived they didn't suit at all. I told my GF this story and she's bought me the ones I like however I'm pretty sure she'll have paid full price given how un-MSE she is.

Hard day at work today despite my boss urging me to take the day off. Afterwards there'll be some family over at the house for pizza and cake.

Have a nice day all.

joeyjimbles

Happy birthday - hope you get some sun to enjoy posing in your sunglasses. Enjoy your pizza and cake.

ancientofdays

Happy Birthday xx

SpekySquarehead

Thank you for the birthday messages.

Had a lovely evening with immediate family and good food.

My gran gave me £100 as did my mum. I was contemplating putting that away in my tin for xmas however with YNAB, I've already got a category for that so I'll just deposit it in my bank and put it towards the debt me thinks.

Got a NSD yesterday and will get one today too actually.

Payday is tomorrow which I'm looking forward to as I'll make a big payment on my CC. I'll do the maths tomorrow but it should be in the region of £1,000!!! I do love payday, not because I can spend spend spend, but more so I can plan, budget and analyse the previous months spend. With that in mind, tomorrow will be my monthly overview post of where I've spend and what on.

Anyway, back to normality now. Back soon.

SpekySquarehead

Got paid a day early for some reason. This time last year I’d be over the moon with news like that as I’d be down to pennies and relying on my CC, changed days.

So for July;

Petrol - £173.00
Roughly. I need to fill up on the way home and this’ll come to roughly £40 so the above includes this.

Debt - £65.42
The minimum payment. I will though, once I’ve double checked my maths put a large chunk towards it in the coming days some in the region of £900-£1,000.

Cash - £100
Most of this was spent on 1 night out. £40 taxi home with £40 on dinner and drinks. Gulp!

Avoidable - £287.26
Lots of small things; £6 on dry cleaning my suit, £7.25 for a new charger, £8 lunch, £36 Nandos, £10 new t-shirt etc. This I suppose is where my spending could really be cut down and I’ll make a more conscious effort going forward

Although having a poor month on the NSD’s I did manage to cut back my spend on groceries and only visited 8 times throughout the month. I did manage to save quite a bit which will be going toward the debt, so a not too bad month.

August, like last month, looks quiet. I’ve 1 night out planned for my friends birthday, a haircut and a dentist check up. I’m going to keep my cash spends down again and get back on track with NSD’s

SpekySquarehead

Morning,

I was speaking with my step-bro yesterday about YNAB and I was telling him how it’s changed my finances and I’ve converted him so he’s using the free trial. I’m feeling super confident about the month ahead and the money I’ll save and put aside for CC, Xmas, GF’s birthday, the holiday in September etc.

This determination rolls over into my health and fitness goals too and with a holiday in early September, it gives me extra motivation. So I’ll be back on the Herbalife shakes again, £35 will last the month (and then some) and that’ll be all my breakfast and lunches. I’d consider that MSE.

And just received the news I was offered the job!

They asked me to take a 2k pay cut for the first 6 months then it’d go up to what I’m currently on but I pushed back and we’re going to talk early Monday morning once he’s spoken to his boss and I’ve had a thought about it. Positively delighted.

joeyjimbles

Wow that's great, and good for you on sticking to your guns. A pay cut at this point is not what you want, even if there are plans to increase it later - its still money that you could be currently earning. Now a pay increase either straight away or in 6 months - that would be incentive.

And I'm glad you're spreading the word about what you've learned. Showing positive results is much better than just talking about it. How is that big CC payment going?

SpekySquarehead

Thanks Joey for your continued support.

It’s an absolutely great opportunity and I feel I need to take it, even if they come back and say ‘sorry, we can’t offer more’. Also, it’s a sales job, so the fact that I tried to negotiate will hopefully be looked on as a good thing. As I say it’s a fantastic job, just what I dreamed of when I was at uni 8 years ago.

I was skeptical myself about how effective YNAB would be so the fact it has astounds me and I’m more than happy to shout that from the roof tops and try and help others.

I’ll actually manage the payment today. I didn’t have my wallet with me yesterday and I need to input the card details. I’ll be sure to let you know and update my signature once I’ve done it!!

Also. I don’t know if it’s coincidence but about a month ago I read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. If you haven’t read it, it tells you the world is your oyster and you can achieve anything you want if your put your mind to it, positively. Since I read the book, my finances are track, my career is stepping forward…things are falling into place. Coincidence? I don’t know.