Joined 31.05.16

reality_check

You should try and cut down on expensive brands if you can - food shopping is one of the few outgoings so within our control. M&S near me does amazing reductions at night! Around 5.30 but I am never there at this time. They knock all the ready meals down to about 50p and all fresh meat about £1-2...they had milk, yoghurts and cheese for 5p!! Bread, bagels etc about 40p...just look out for yellow stickers. The dine for £10 is great if you're buying wine, if I need wine in the future I am def going to do this. I am trying not to buy as much wine and stick to spirits as I have loads at home, but a glass of wine alone sounds a bit more civilised than a gin alone!!

Lucky you for pay day, I wish my life away to the 15th of every month!! Feel happy for a few days paying things off then the last 2 weeks are a struggle!!

I am only looking at the hairdryer too, it's on my ever growing wish list x

Poor_Single_lady

Reality I am honestly keeping such a close eye on the food shopping. And cooking loads and meal planning. Had planned beans on toast today but came home so hungry, had burger, oven chips and peas. defrosting curry for tommorow. Then saturday I am at a friends, I think we are going for budget dinner. My parents will do me dinner any time i ask them which is helpful too. The food spending in the past has been so excessive so its something i can easily fall down on. I love all your notes on meals and cooking!

I am now 24 hours without a credit card. Quite a lot going on today.

27.10.16
Paid council tax £95
Put £40 in emergency/ramble fund
Paid £40 towards event next month
Spent £7 at lunch
£20 on phone
Tesco from last night £14 on bank statement
Made overpayments to mbna to total £100 in november.

Plans for tommorow
Pay loan and get down to.£1685
Post work drink
Take lunch to work
Curry for tea at home

I know people say cut up your cards as soon as you have the lbm, but I think it would have done me more harm than good. I do feel like it takes time to get to a point where you are ready. I think i am ready, but I would rather have cancelled all of my social commitments. There are more than I would like.
My team had bacon sandwiches at work today and i said i was dieting so i didnt have to have 1. if you tell people that you're saving money they think you are bonkers, for me its a slippery slope. Tommorow im just doing post work drink and that's all. Nothing more.
So will see what things look like this time next week. Also need to get birthday present next week And Tuesday is november.

Poor_Single_lady

Deleted_User wrote: »

Well done on cutting up the CC, so proud of you!!!!

It's a buffer in case of an emergency & I feel that you are far enough along in this journey now to not spend it because it is there, see how you have changed already.

Payday today - yay!!!


Dxxx

Thank you Dolly. I sort of feel like anyone can cut a credit card in half but its what happens next that matters. So glad you're with me! xxx

lulabelle

well done PSL! If you haven't got it on you, I think it will really help with budgeting/not spending as the overdraft is more likely to feel like "real" money. I am no longer in debt (well, other than mortgage) but feel it would be SO easy for me to fall back into it that I am on here to try keep myself in line.

I remember being in your situation (much worse in fact) and it really was a horrid feeling. However, you are doing much much more than I was to get out of it. I carried on regardless and think ultimately the only reason I got out of it in the end was because I was living with someone at the time where I didn't have to pay that much in "rent" so had money to throw at the debt.

So be really proud of yourself, you are handling this great and I think people can learn a lot from your approach/attitude. x

louby40

Well done on cutting up your card! I spent on mine yesterday (2 Take That tickets at £138) so I need to pay that amount off over the next couple of months.

Poor_Single_lady

Thank you ladies! Your support is massivly appreciated and I am very grateful.
I hope you enjoy take that louby. When I was a teenager I was all about blink 182 and before that (not any more!) major fan of boyzone.
Music tickets are worth the money I think.

Thank you for the encouragement lullabelle. I hope I can ger there. This month is quite pivotal and I am going to try and do everything properly. Working out the budget showed me there is almost no room for anything extra but I am telling myself its just one month and I can do it even though its not easy.

Dispute me trying so hard to keep low key november, there are more social events popping in the calander then I had liked. Which kind of brings me to yesterday.
I planned and meant to go home after 2 drinks but I met the boy I previously mentioned and we had quite a few drinks which means I have a giant unwanted hangover this morning. Every time I tried to get drinks he wouldn't let me. And he took my money i was holding and put it in my pocket. Honestly despite everything that doesn't sit well with me. He told the barman not to take my money. Im hoping we go out again but I said before he dates lots of women and I am not sure what will happen or if we want the same things. But if we do go out again its obviously my round! I dont think I have ever met anyone before who wouldn't let me buy drinks in. I feel a bit strange about it to be honest. And it might sound like i didn't try hard to pay and just let him but i honestly tried very hard to pay my way. Will see what happens.
Also spent £25 on some shoes for work.£10 in pub before the boy turned up. And £5 on taxi because it was mega late and not safe.

And almost forgot in all the drama loan is £1685
152 days of loan
2 to movember
26 to november payday

Meeting friend later and going to cinema but just want to spend the day asleep. I had forgotten how bad hangovers are.

KxMx

I know this is kind of obvious PSL but if there are more social events than you'd like, cancel some. Choose a few you really want to do then axe the rest. Or downgrade, for example i was invited to paintball then a meal, I said no to paintball and yes to the meal. It was fine!

You don't have to explain yourself or justify yourself to anyone when it comes to social life. Like it or lump it as the saying goes (meaning your friends )

[Deleted User]

Hey PSL,

This is what it used to be like with my DH when we first went out, just eventually gave in & let him pay.

This was after weeks of trying to sneak money into his pockets at the end of nights out LOL

Just see what happens with that I suppose.

Hangovers are the worst!

Dxxx

Poor_Single_lady

kc the socialising is something I could actually cancel and you are right - but it is
1 dinner with my sister. I cant cancel because we have a difficult relationship
1 is work lunch to smooth over a difficulty at work
2 lunches with friends who have both lost parents
Yesterday dinner with close friend I haven't seen for a month
1 lunch with friend where its my turn to pay
2 days out I am looking forward to which will be fun
Hopeful this is the limit.

Dolly we have swapped numbers but no text. I texted him to say that I must pay next time but.no reply! lol. Who knows how it all works, maybe that is normal. I really have no clue in this department- Im not even sure that it is the right time to be texting.someone new. Will see what happens. Its going to be fine either way.

Today is
1 day to november
25 to payday
151 to end of loan and
55 to Christmas

reality_check

You're a social butterfly! You do need to find a balance, and this month is quite a lot but I wouldn't cancel any of them given the reasons, and next month with Christmas I suspect will be busy but I am sure you will have quieter months like January so will all even itself out.

I just read the 55 days until Christmas!! I am about to buy my first gift today thought as Quidco have an offer on if you buy anything this weekend before midnight tonight you get £10 cashcack aslong as you place an order over £10...so if you have anything online to order may aswell take advantage if you can x