A Ditherer's Diary (again)

Naomim · 24 May 2023 at 12:55PM

Just had a little play with my spreadsheets and trying to do some forward budgeting. I used to use YNAB but I was always filling it in retrospectively rather than actually knowing what money was available. I definitley didn't use it to it's advantage so I cancelled it. I might return to it at some point, once we're on more of an even keel.

I get paid tomorrow and MrM on Friday this month so I have started with our minus balance which is -£59.64, which isn't too bad but I'd rather not be in that position. I've added all the dd's and standing orders, Amazon subscriptions (dog food & coffee pods). My Monzo pots are all on a standing order and they cover things like monthly petrol spends, our commuting costs for the month, my monthly allowance and MrM's monthly allowance plus savings for longer term things such as car repairs, annual insurances, christmas, birthdays, passport renewals etc. It should leave us with £213 a month. Now normally this is swallowed up on takeaways and rubbish, so this month I am going to transfer it to a Monzo pot so I can try and keep an eye on it and manage it better.

EssexHebridean · 24 May 2023 at 3:37PM

Is it worth agreeing on a day for the month where you plan to have a takeaway, make that "takeaway day" and set a clear understanding that there is a set day for that to manage expectations? That's what we did when we were paying down the mortgage - had a set friday when a takeaway was the planned meal - then if we decided against it when it came along we could either transfer the money set aside for it to the OP pot, or roll it forward to the following week. budgeting all your spends out like that is definitely the way forward though I'd say. We specifically budget at the moment to have surplus left, but I know what I expect that surplus to be within £100 (can't budget tighter than this because MrEH's travel varies in cost a fair bit depending on how many office days he needs each week). That in turn means I can plan where that surplus needs to go several months ahead - so right now it's the new house fund, once we're moved the (smaller!) surplus will probably go to mortgage OPs.

Naomim · 24 May 2023 at 3:56PM

It's a good idea @EssexHebridean I do put £60 a month into a takeaway Monzo pot as we had planned on just one a month way back when I set the pots up.

I was thinking about what our spare money goes on and actually I think it's probably more lunches on work days. When I was doing the budget spreadsheet, I added the pending transactions on there and there's two for lunches. Mine from yesterday and MrM's from Monday. That's £15 straight away and of course he's at work today so likely to be another £5 - £8 added. Another reason to get back onto the making lunches for us. Now the weather is improving he can take salads some days and I can do some pesto pasta's with some chicken etc to vary it a bit. I added cornish pasties to the shopping this week so I'll take one in on Friday with me.

I think this month actually "seeing" where the money is draining away is going to be an eye opener. MrM is always telling me he doesn't spend his monthly allowance. We have £120 -£140 each a month. Mine goes into my Monzo account so I can see where it goes but his is just kept in the joint account as he is resistant to opening another bank account. He's resistant to most things! lol I'm going to track his spends too and see just how much of his allowance he does spend.

Naomim · 25 May 2023 at 9:56AM

Had a chat with MrM last night.

Positives: we haven't added to lines of credit.
We are almost out of OD
Identifying leaky money.

Negatives: if we don't keep a beady eye on spends we will soon rack up overdraft.

We have agreed to making sure we take lunches in. At home we will have pasta Tuesdays as I'm in the office and MrM coaches his football team so not home till after 8pm. I can then make enough for him to take to the office on a Wednesday. Monday he can have sandwiches, I usually get free lunch in the office on a Tuesday and will take sandwiches on a Thursday. Friday we both wfh.

Also agreed to stick to one takeaway a month. I don't care if he doesn't fancy the frozen pizza we have, there's anyways sausages, chips, meatballs etc in the freezer and we have an airfryer so no excuse for a quick meal at home if out of fresh or don't fancy cooking from scratch.

I think once he sees we are out the od permanently he will realise it's better.

Having said that, we walked the dog to the local pub last night that 17yo works in. Two ciders, an appletiser and pint of coke for working boy was £18.60. MrM says we should take our Aldi ciders and just get 13yo a lemonade 🤣

EssexHebridean · 25 May 2023 at 10:08AM

Have you got a microwave in your office? If so maybe think about throwing an ambient ready-meal type thing or a tin of soup into your desk drawer of locker ready for those occasions when the free lunches may have run out when you get to them? I'm fortunate on lunches as MrEH does ours each morning before we leave - we do tend towards being creatures of habit though with a filled roll and fruit each day - oddly I don't really get bored as the fillings vary quite a lot day to day.

One compromise we worked out with the takeaway thing was a semi-fakeaway - curry I'm always more than happy to just cook, but Al's and Lil's both do great battered fish and their "posh range" oven chips are fab too. Also their pizzas are a fraction of takeaway price and I am actually inclined to think almost nicer, too. Means you end up feeling that you've had a takeaway but at a far lower price point, but still without too much actual "cooking". (Last time I priced up fish & chips done that way it came to about a fiver for the two of us).

Naomim · 25 May 2023 at 10:59AM

Good idea, I'll keep some soup in my locker. We usually have free bread, fruit and yogurts in my office. No point me taking meats in as they'd probably go off before I use them up.

We often have home made curry with trimmings but it's not the same. MrM doesn't really like any battered fish. I've tried allsorts! I think once I get back into meal planning it will be better as there's always more variety. We had Hello Fresh during lockdown and I kept the recipe cards for the ones we enjoyed so will look through them too and recreate some recipes. Sometimes ask it takes its some variety and then you don't want a takeaway.

WinterWarrior · 25 May 2023 at 11:15AM

If you like the pasta n sauce packets I have found they now do them in a pot…a bit like a pot noodle, just add water. I got a few to try and the one I had was ok. Not perfect, but quick, filling and fairly edible 😅 it’s also not a bad idea to have multipacks of crisps and chocolate bars, not great for the diet, but so much cheaper to grab a quick fix from your drawer rather than paying vending machine prices.

Naomim · 25 May 2023 at 11:31AM

@WinterWarrior I forgot about them! Years ago when I did slimming World, I lived on past'n'sauce lunches. I quite like them too. I'll pick a couple up as handy for home lunches.

Naomim · 25 May 2023 at 12:45PM

I've set up a new monzo pot called Leaky Spending. 🤣 I've transferred out the balance remaining in the joint account bar £20 so all that's in there should cover all dd's, standing orders & groceries. Let's see where this money is going.

canvascamper · 25 May 2023 at 5:24PM

I often have cereal or instant porridge at lunch in the office when I've not got leftovers. There's always milk (plant milk for me) in the fridge and it means I'm not tempted to go out and find something exciting to buy - I work right in the middle of a big city so there's lots of delicious, expensive temptations!!