Ok, here goes nothing!

mummytogirls

I use MFP too, I find it so useful and keeps my on track.... maybe I should try using a budget app too :rotfl:

Wedding will be here before you know it. DH and I have been married 10 years this year.. don't know where the time has gone at all xx

LauraB89

Honestly - I find the way that works best for me is to use the app to track my "spare"money - ie, my spending money each month. All savings, direct debts, big outgoings and bills are all planned for each month, then I have my food and fun money (total £400 per month) - that is what I use the tracker for

Blimey, we have been engaged a year and it really has flown by! Can't wait to be married and with our own house - will really have made the hard work worth it

xx

LauraB89

Ok - this is hard to type as my cat is sat LICKING MY FINGERS AS I TYPE, WHILE STARING AT MY AND PURRING AS LOUDLY AS POSSIBLE. She is so cute, but such a creep and super affectionate tonight.

She is a very intuitive cat (Korat if anyone knows the breed) and because I was upset earlier (bit of miscommunication with my mum - all resolved now) and that triggered a migraine (paracetmil, ibuprofen and a load of aspirin have helped it die down to the background!) so she wants to be as close as possible to make me feel better. Currently she is sat on my arm - comfy(!)

Anywho - good news yesterday, my bonus is going to be £950 - which is great, but bittersweet because I am gutted that I wont be earning it much longer. It's really eating away at me at the moment, so I am going to email my new boss to summarise why and see if that holds any sway with extending the period that I am still paid for it.

Moneysaving this week - so due to a lot of outgoings over Christmas (presents and new bits for the house) I have spent more than intended and had to put the weekly food shop on my credit card - but I will pay the amount spent + the normal payment on Friday when I get paid so I don't feel too bad.

Foodwise, the menu for this week;

- Pulled pork and mash
- Spag bolognase
- Leftover pork stir fry
- Sausage and mash
- Ham, egg and chips

Lunches have been leftovers which is always tasty, and the food spend was only £25 (which includes eggs, bread, milk, fruit, veg etc etc).

Generally speaking things are going well, got more stuff back from the solicitor this week and that is all going smoothly and the survey should be done on the new house this week too - very exciting. Wedding plans are coming along too, hoping to get the invites printed this week which will be good.

I hope everyone else's week is going well xxx

mummytogirls

Meal plan looks nice Laura. Sorry hear you had been upset, glad the cat was looking after you though xx

mummytogirls

Forgot to say WOW to the bonus!! xx

SkintTeacher

Love the diary from a newbie diary-writer (also getting married this year) x

LauraB89

Thanks MTG - nothing too major, work is putting me on edge at the moment - worth it for the bonuses though!!

Hi ST - when are you getting married?? Exciting stuff!!

Today was a NSD - actually this whole week has been... although not through choice haha!

Payday tomorrow and I am very excited to be updating my signature - you're all going down

Need to call and pay for the survey for the house as well, so my budgeted extras this month are;

-£330 for the survey
-£35 for giving notice
-£300 flatmate's deposit (lease isn't up until end of March)

Got lots to pay for, and I found out that when my bonus changes it might mean that I will still get it in April - which would be very nice! There is also a potential job on the table in a department that still pays a bonus which would be nice.

Either way, my plan is just to power through, buy the house, pay off the debts, get married and have a baby!

Diet-wise, I am not being too strict with myself at the moment - I am about 10st 10lbs, but I want to get back to the 9st mark for the wedding. So it's about 1lb a week - so I am tracking my calories at the moment, but I know I need to do some exercise to tone up... but I cannot seem to get motivated?! I am blaming the dark evenings - how do people go to the gym when it's so cold and wet and dark?! All I can manage is to get my jarmies on and make dinner!!!

How's everyones week going? Friday tomorrow - woo hoo!!

xxx

LauraB89

Hiiiiii everyone!!

It's payday!!

I have updated my sig

Free cinema tonight, work perk!

Did my big food shop - it was £50 *wince* but it will be the biggest one this month.

Hope everyone else's Friday is going well

xxx

Bobarella

Hi Laura

Congratulations on your bonus, nice fat sum! Sorry you won't be earning them in your new job though...

Your doing great!

Bob

LauraB89

Morning all

Thanks Bob - we will see about the new job, I am still holding out for a role in another department..!

Car insurance is up for renewal - got a cheaper one (thanks to Martin's tips) for £20 less per month - woo hoo!

I am feeling a little nervous about January's pay stretching all the way to Feb - I have already bought new shoes for the wedding and a new nicer dicer - plus I had to pay the first instalment for my new policy and I did a big food shop AND I need to pay £35 next week to give notice... really need to make sure that I am careful for the rest of the month.

Right now though, I am feeling good - bank accounts look healthy and I can update my spreadsheet from next month with a cheaper car insurance

On a depressing side-note, I have a horrible cold and I feel like crap! But, got a fridge full of healthy and delish food, so I am powering through!

Menu for the week;

Today - chicken and ham pie (leftover ham from ham egg and chips)
Tomorrow - roast beef
Monday - fajitas (with leftover beef)
Tuesday - Stew (with unroasted beef from sunday)
Wednesday - shepherd's pie
Thursday - Pork chops
Friday - Pork Stir fry

Probably not in that order - but a lovely load of food in and lots of tasty things to make

How's everyone else's weekend going?

xxx