It's time for a money diet...

Starlighthappiness

Lauralozzle wrote: »

Friday 3rd March

Another good day today. Felt like I got loads done at work - very productive.

Another low spend day today but I don't mind as I found extra money in my purse so it hasn't come out of any budget.

I'm also pretty happy that the boy is cooking dinner tonight! One less thing for me to do this evening.

Well done with the productivity. Always nice to find some extra money in the purse! :j

Lauralozzle

I love a good box-set binge. My problem is the moment I go on a binge nothing gets done - no housework/human interaction/no real food. Once I just ate avocados all day! Because they were sat in front of me in the fruit bowl! Not particularly healthy! I need to learn to box set binge in a sensible, adult way.

Sometimes pastries and crumpets are needed. Sometimes food just makes you feel better although I understand how disheartening it is when you gain the weight you lost. This time last year I was a stone and a half lighter and losing weight this time around is difficult!

Lauralozzle

Saturday 4th March

Okay so I plan on getting a few things done today. It's pretty cold outside but nice and bright so we'll walk the woof around the park. I'm hoping today will be a NSD and then the plan next week is to get them rolling in. I've nearly spent my 'spending money' for this week as I ran out of foundation. I don't have any outings this month so I really hope I can have some money left over that I can put straight into the wedding fund. I don't want to over-stretch myself though - last month was so difficult at the end - I was so miserably poor.

I'm going to challenge myself this month. No takeaways this month at all as next month We have a wedding to attend and its Tom's birthday so we will be eating out. In an effort to prepare for April This month Saturday can be 'fakeaway' night where we will make takeaway style dinner with all the extras. I'm going to try and keep Saturday as fakeaway night but I'll probably have to rethink my weigh in day (usually Sunday). It'll be nice to be strict with my diet on a week-day but to relax a little over the weekend.

I also plan on cleaning the house. This month I really have to try and make an effort to do this in the week because it feels like house chores are taking over every weekend!

Bobarella

Lol at just eating avocados all day! I am still in the dark on those slippery suckers. Really can't see the appeal. Used to sell a bacon and avocado toastie at my old place and it was by far our most popular item.

Lauralozzle

Sunday 5th March

This weekend has gone far too fast!!

Yesterday ended up being a lazy day - didn't end up going out for a walk around the park. It was a NSD which is good.

My kitchen scales broke this morning - new batteries wouldn't make it work so when we went to top up on sandwich stuff for work lunches I got some new scales. They were £10 but they should last. No idea what happened with the old ones but I'd had them a while and I think they just gave up the ghost!

Today has been a productive day in the kitchen - made roast dinner/leek and potato soup with the bendy leeks in the fridge. Sorted out half my lunch for tomorrow (leftover pork and stuffing in a sandwich).

I weighed myself this morning and was bitterly disappointed as I'd gained everything I lost even though I've been good. Will really try and keep an eye on everything this week - might weigh more than once a week because if it's just bloating I don't see that.

Things to do tomorrow

1) wake up at 6:00AM Failed - got up at 6:10 AM
2) spend first 20 minutes cleaning 1 room (6:10 - 6:30) Done
3) have breakfast at 6:30 Done
4) Get dressed/ready at 7:00 Done
5) leave the house at 7:20AM - no excuses. The quicker I get to work the quicker I get to go home!!! Didn't quite make this one - out of the house by 7:30 though which is an improvement!!

Bobarella

Awww that's annoying on the weight loss. Hope it's just a blip.

Lauralozzle

Thank you Bob. I weighed in this morning and was 2lb lighter - still a gain but much smaller now! I'll just have to keep an eye on it.

Monday 6th March

I've had a good day today - managed a NSD and I'm always much happier when I manage them.

I've also cleaned the bedroom this morning, and had another productive day at work too. Tomorrow marks the end of my 'spending money' week - and the start of my new 'week'. I'm within budget which is always nice!!

Things to do Tonight
1) Make lunch for tomorrow Done - used leftover salad from dinner and threw some couscous in too. Enough for tomorrow and Wednesday.
2) Clean up dinner mess/sort out dishwasher/clean surfaces Done
3) Quick run over the bathroom Not Done. Naughty me!

Things to do in the Morning
1) Get up at 6:00 AM Done
2) 6:10 AM - 6:30 AM clean a room Done - bathroom sorted
3) 6:30AM have breakfast Nice bowl of porridge with raspberries and Nutella to keep me going
4) 6:45 AM prep dinner in slow cooker Done
5) 7:00AM get dressed/ready for work Done
6) Leave at 7:20AM Fail - left at 7:25

Lauralozzle

7th March 2017

Today has been a spendy day. I've been meaning to get a cafe Nero card, top it up with credit £20 and use this for my coffee habit. I'll top it up every month and when it's gone, it's gone. I'll not carry my debit-card with me so any temptation to spend will be gone. This is my way of allowing a luxury but also keeping it under control. I got that card today so £20 spend.

I'm liking these lists and marking off what I've achieved so here's the plan for tonight/tomorrow morning.

Things to do tonight
1) Prepare lunches for the morning
2) Clean kitchen tops/sort out dishwasher
3) Put a load in washing machine
4) Have a nice relaxing bath

Things to do tomorrow Morning
1) Wake up at 6:00AM
2) 6:10 - 6:30 AM Clean a room
3) 6:30 AM - Prepare/marinade chicken for dinner
4) 6:45 AM - have breakfast
5) 7:00 AM - Get ready for work
5) 7:20 AM leave for work.

Bobarella

That's a great idea I think on the card. I'm another who enjoys being able to have a coffee out. But they do add up. I wonder if Costalotts do them.?

Lauralozzle

I bet Costalotts do something similar. It's the only way I can think of keeping it under control but not depriving myself. I don't need to deprive myself - the amount that goes onto the card might change depending on my monthly spending budget but if I cut it out completely I get so demotivated and feel poor and depressed! We're doing okay really - we have debts but they're not horrible, we're saving for our wedding, after the wedding we'll be saving to get the house sorted. I need to remind myself that the fact we can save is a positive.

I'm on 5 NSD - should make it to 6 today. If my plan works I should hit this months target!

I need to keep an eye on my current account though - I got hit with an overdraft fee last month £6 because I was overdrawn by £1.50 for 1 day. Need to make sure that doesn't happen again!