A path out of the Jumble

Jumblerina

I'm currently entertaining the idea of taking a trip to the US for my 10th anniversary next year with my OH

It's been almost 7 years since we went on an international holiday and would be our first entirely jointly funded holiday too

it would put my debt busting plans back 6-8 months :eek: so I'm wondering if it would be worth it or if I've lost my mind for considering it!

Lots of thinking and talking with the OH to do....

BettyBones

I'd go on the trip Life's too short and all that. Just work it into your plans and budget, budget, budget. As long as it's not going to push you further into debt and you're happy to extend your DFD then why not? The only caveat I would add to that is it's probably a good idea to get an emergency fund together before you go booking anything and make sure you have travel insurance to cover the unexpected. Life has a habit of scuppering your plans by throwing curve balls at you. An unexpected bill, broken washing machine, sickness, job loss etc. There's always something lurking round that corner to catch you unawares

Jumblerina

Thanks for your input Betty - we'll need to look carefully at how much we can save as we would likely go in early April, giving us 7 months to save up. Great advice on the emergency fund, I'm working towards a £3000 emergency fund eventually - starting with getting a £1000 and working towards the rest as I can

The holiday would give us something to look forward to, I just need to make sure we don't add to our debt stresses for two weeks away - it's all about the balance. I'm going to do a spot of number crunching and thinking over the weekend.

Jumblerina

It's a lovely sunny day out there, definitely getting cooler - which I don't mind as long as the sun is shining

Had a day pottering around the house after doing the weekly shop yesterday - made a cake instead of buying dessert, so we each have four pieces of cake homemade cake is definitely one of the better parts of debt busting!

I've not been well these last two weeks and I'm so tired, so things like cleaning and even going out for a walk with the dog are hard work I've just finished some antibiotics, so I'm hoping I'll feel better soon.

I'm of out today with my best friend, so whilst today won't be a NSD, I'm hoping for a low spend day. We usually go for coffee, lunch and shopping - this time I've said I'd just like to go out for coffee. I'll have a good chat with her when I see her, put her in the picture on my debt busting plans.

Plus I've made a vow not to buy any clothes for at least the next six months after de-cluttering my overflowing wardrobe and donating two large black bags to the British Heart Foundation. At least someone else will benefit from my shopping habit. I've lost weight recently - about 25 pounds and while some of my clothes are too big, I'm holding out as long as I can before buying new ones :money:

I'm sure she'll appreciate us finding more frugal ways to spend our time, as she's on a low income and would definitely benefit as much as me. We've got a weekend away in London coming up in October that we've already saved for, so we've got something to look forward to :T

Hope you all have a great weekend

Lauralozzle

Have a good weekend. Trip to London sounds good!

If you can afford to save up to go on the trip I'd go. Home-made cake is always best - I've had to start doing this but I don't mind - it tastes nicer anyway!! And saves pennies!

Jumblerina

Thanks LL - hope you're having a good weekend too really looking forward to London, we've decided today to move our trip to November to give me a head start on the debt busting/potential US holiday fund

There's something nice about homemade cake, maybe it's the freshness or the effort that goes into making it

A rainy low spend day for me - £8.89 on coffee and two muffins, I managed to walk around a whole outlet mall and not buy a single thing - to be honest I wasn't actually tempted by anything, I have so much stuff already. My friend paid for coffee and breakfast so it only seems fair I got us the drinks on our second stop

I've already blown my personal spending budget for this month and there are 21 days until payday :eek: I did have 3 lots of unexpected prescription costs and had to get some pro-biotics that cost me £12. Yet I can't complain as I'm very lucky to have access to and the means to pay for medication, when so many people don't.

I'm just going to have to suck it up for the rest of the month - it's my own fault, I'll have to budget better next month it's a lesson learned.

It really is at times like this I realise how lucky I am, the choices I have and the support I need to get where I want to be. For the next 3 weeks, I'll be embracing the simple and free things I can do instead.

Tonight I'll be starting with a lovely relaxing aromatherapy bath to warm up from being out in the rain. Then I'll settle down with my new book for a nice, early night.

Have a great Saturday evening - whatever you're doing.

Jumblerina

Jumblerina

Morning Diary and fellow Debtfreers,

It's a beautiful Sunday morning, the suns out and the rain has stopped so it would be rude of me not to sit out in the garden with a cup of tea while I write this.

I'll be having a cleaning, organising and de-cluttering day - a couple of Sunday's ago I de-cluttered my clothes, it's made so much difference. Taking the time and it could take hours, days, weeks to clear out my house, has put a real fresh perspective on what I really need.

I woke up this morning with a weird feeling that there's going to be a change in my life, not just little changes but big, exciting, scary change. I've has this feeling only a couple times in my life, each have brought the toughest yet most rewarding experiences and shaped who I am.

After all life is short and change is inevitable, I don't know why I resist, when I stop to think it's so long overdue. I've got to be brave and listen to my instincts, they've never failed me in the past.

The next few days will be quite busy, I'm hoping they'll be spend free and filled with all the simple, no spend ways I can think of to enjoy my last days off before I return to work

Last nights very rock and roll, bath and book combination was just what I needed - I'm still feeling ill and the time to relax felt great.

I need some inspiration and will be looking for no-spend ways to have fun, relax and exercise over the next few weeks. When I think about it, I'm actually really looking forward to it

Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday

Jumblerina

doingitanyway

I'm enjoying your positive approach. I too had antibiotics and it takes a while to get back to normal but yes we are lucky to be able to get them and the probiotics too. We are on a seasonal change. I find Autumn a good time to reflect and plan. Have a lovely Sunday Jumble

Jumblerina

Thanks DIA I love Autumn too, you get all those bright, crisp days perfect for walks and having a mental clear out.

Jumblerina

Afternoon Diary and fellow Debtfreers,

Today has definitely been a little mixed, started the day off in a bit of a grumpy mood - partly down to tiredness and still feeling ill. It's didn't help that I've had lots of little, not so exciting jobs to do.

Checked my mobile bill last night, was waiting for them to correct a mistake from last month but they hadn't. I spent about two hours back and forth today getting them to sort it, after they said they'd fixed it and inadvertently cut my service off! They've credited my tariff charge for the last two months, so that's at least something.

I was hoping I would be having a NSD today, then remembered my puppy is at the Vets for his booster. I also haven't budgeted for it either I'll need to pick up his supply of worming tablets and flea treatment too. Next week, he's attending a puppy class - can't remember if there's a charge for it - will check later when we go.

I'm going to take my puppy on a little walk, exercise is a much better way of coping with being grumpy and out of sorts. Much better than the two slices of homemade cake I ate earlier :eek:

Back to work tomorrow after just over a week off, I'll check back in tomorrow after no doubt wading through an inbox full of emails.

Hope you're all having a good day

JB