Back in debt but not out

[Deleted User]

So after a rather crap month, budget wise, I have been thinking about my plan for November.

This month there are four weeks, four weeks don't seem like a long time and they aren't.

I need to stick to my plan IF things are going to change before Christmas and in to 2017.

One thing I am not going to beat myself up about is making an over payment from Novembers salary to the MBNA card, I have Christmas to think about and as long as I get close to my target by the time the deal runs out, I will be pleased with myself.

So what does November looks like:

• GET A NEW JOB
• £10pw spending allowance - any money left over, will then be put in the savings.
• Meal plan – going well so far
• Grocery budget – need one, contemplating taking money out per week and trying to budget that way?
• NSD and LSD – a must, I have a birthday coming up on the 1st December so need to make sure I don’t over spend.
• Lunches to work – this is something that has to happen
• Revise my spreadsheet to make it more realistic – take out needless bits
• Photograph and upload to eBay
• LAD and NAD – a must, not drinking excessively but could do with cutting down/having a break from it, as it will help my OLP and my Vitiligo
• Decent sleep – this will help especially after my cold, I should aim for a decent amount of hours per night
• Breakfast in the morning before leaving the house – my downfall and results in my buying breakfast. I also have a travel mug, so could possibly benefit from using that too on the train.

I have spent a lot of time, reviewing my old diaries and getting inspiration from them, I just need to keep going and not lose motivation, which I have done for the past few months that I have been back here.

I’m not going to set myself targets but rather use this month as a basis to gain good habits and try and curb other ones.

Things I’ve learnt this month:

• Don’t make targets IF I don’t plan to stick with them
• Getting disheartened when the month doesn’t go to plan – doesn’t help me to stay on track and I should really change my stance on this.
• People do want my and the family’s junk
• Should take better care of myself, so that I don’t end up ill again
• Keeping up with the daily stuff helps me when I’m home after work

Anybody got any constructive criticism to throw my way, feel free, muchly appreciated.

sugarcube84

What i find that helps with lunches is cooking enough the evening before to take leftovers, this seems to work really well especially if you dress them up in a different way so they dont seem like leftovers. I'll do a curry and then take it the next day but fill a wrap with it, chilli can go in a jacket potato instead of with rice, meat from roasts i'll do a salad and once a week I treat myself to a takeaway lunch.


Breakfast on the other hand I haven't mastered and usually end up with a banana!


Weekends I try to find a balance between having a proper cleany weekend, then a family weekend and then a weekend sorting house stuff (mostly decorating but this might be your ebay time) I find this works better than trying to do a bit of each and not doing any of it properly!


As for being disheartened when it doesn't go to plan, that's life, but I find it useful to know where it went wrong so I can avoid it next time.


Good luck with the job hunt

Bobarella

PM02 fantastic post. I love reading other people's real life targets so much more inspirational than the 'experts'

My only useful comment would be, what do you like for breakfast? In my house this is marmite on toast and coffee. Because we know this is what's wanted each day we never let ourselves run out of the basics of bread,butter,marmite and coffee. Which we take black. My OH makesnthe breakfast every day (I do dinner) & we just stick to it. Boring but it works. Routine is the key here.

fru-girl

@purple: good luck with finding a new job! and with the other stuff as well... we share some bad habits / goals.. work lunches, decent sleep, grocery budget will be following.

As for the targets, I'd say we still need to have some, even if we fail to meet them. Better to aim for something than aim for nothing, no?

hugglemonster

Hi PM, sorry the first interview didn't seem quite right, I'm a firm believer of going with my feelings and they have pretty much always turned out right. I hope the second interview goes better for you.


Your plans for November look great, definitely agree about keeping money aside for Xmas and birthdays etc. rather than overpayments.


Breakfast is a must, it will set you up for the day and as you say it will save you from buying on your way to work. Can you take a pot of something on the train or a prepared teacake?


The most important thing on the list is to look after yourself, you can't do any of the others if you're poorly.


H x Good luck tomorrow!

[Deleted User]

Morning,

Thanks for your replies, which I will take on board.

Interview today at 9am, this one I really do want, so I need to impress.

DH and I talked over the money situation and we decided that we both need to make changes if the debt is going to go, with the MBNA card, I can't make the big over payment this month or the next as this month has been a spendy month and next one is Christmas bits, so will make a slight one instead and work to plough everything in to it after Christmas.

DS has a birthday party on Sunday, so need to buy a card on Saturday.

Apart from that, just plodding along.

[Deleted User]

Morning again


Just arrived on site after my interview....this one went really well, the lady I spoke to was talking to me like I have already got the job, which I take is a good sign. She is going to talk to the agency today and they will in turn come back to me.


The project is literally half an hour from home in Croydon, which is so easy to get to.


Fingers crossed I'll hear by the end of the week.

MrsSave

It sounds like the interview went well. Good luck

Fivebyfive

Sounds like it all went well, fingers crossed for you.

Good luck with your November goals, I've started keeping a habit tracker for lunches to work and NSD's to keep me on track.

hugglemonster

Ooh how exciting, I have everything crossed for you.