Real Life, Dating and Money!

Littlebirdie

So, time for a little update.

Went out last night and only had one soft drink - walked there and back.
This morning started my POA for health, welfare and finance. Heard on one of my podcasts can get a refund but I've just had a look at gov online and I think I got mine after I submitted it so we will see. I've put in a claim so I will just wait to hear.

Also checked my NI contributions - didn't give any during uni although I'm guessing in my lifetime I'll make up for it so not too worried. Currently have 7 years out of the 35 and its safe to say I'll be working for the next 28 years.

Going put tonight but when it is my round I think I will get a soft drink - how cheeky is that :j

Sold a thing on eb@y so need to post that. That's ~ £ earned.

Currently in my overdraft of about £50 that may increase over the next few days so now going to switch to my m0nzo card so that it doesn't increase.

On my m0nzo card will just need to get £8 for travel and some bits for shopping..using store cuboard things plus some veg.

Also got £5 off my next treatwe!! for giving feedback so going to utilise that! It will make an eyebrow wax for ~ £5 which is good.

Paid this week which is good!

Next month is going to be a tight one. Going to put some clothes up now on ebay

Littlebirdie

Hmmm I'm cross :mad: I have to spend £30 or more on treatwe!! to get the £5 off...well that's not going to happen.

Littlebirdie

You things are tight when you return a £0.30p garlic bulb :rotfl:
The lady gave me change and I asked for it to go on my card and she said 'really, 30p!?' and I said yes with confidence :rotfl: I do get it though - who gets pernickty over 30p!?

So things are not looking good. Next month with going away its all going to be very tight. With the time away I am currently at least £183 overdrawn...:( it also didn't help that I had forgotten to add two regular DD to my spending tracker.

I'm hoping that I have over budgeted on lots of things which will make a difference. To be fair I plan on spending 2 of the 4 weekends quietly and I've budgeted £50 for them.

I'm glad I've gotten back into this frame of mind. Last night I was going to go to the shop and buy veg cause 'I needed to' and then when I had the meal I was glad I didnt! So things can only get better. I would have easily spent an extra £2 but would have justified it in my head.

I'm also due to get an extra £5 back on expenses - just waiting. Got a few things up on eb@y and two things I have thought of selling so that will give me extra. So hopefully I'll earn some money aswell.

I've also started tracking what I eat so hopefully my weight should decrease...

The next few days should be cheap until I see some friends on Sunday which I have budgeted £40 for.

Also next month I am hoping to WALK everywhere so my travel expenses out of work should be much cheaper.

There is nothing I can do, just take it day by day and saving money where I can.

The main aim at the moment is to stay as well out of my overdraft as possible..once I've nailed than then I'll focus on the credit card.

Right lets do this! :j

Littlebirdie

So stressy old day

Got out of work late, my train missed my usual stop so added 20 mins to my journey all on top of a bad day of work.

So I bought some lunch for tomorrow which was discounted. I then went ond bought dinner out which I regretted instantly afterwards. Wasnt worth it. Also got a bread roll with it and it cost £0.60p whereas in a shop would be £0.30p and just wasnt as fresh. So wont be doing that again.

So I then I bought a £1 dessert. I nearly bought one in the expensive coffee shop so glad I didnt!

I was going to get a cafetiere which was £7 and then coffee for £3 because I feel better about it being better for the enviroment. The only thing I just couldnt justify the biggest spend when I would only save £1.50 a month (currently use coffee pods). Maybe I'll buy it next month. Although thinking about it, that saving is only when the coffee pods are on offer. Hmmmm I should just get it. Right I'll get that tomorrow.

On a another note, one of my eb@y offers got a bid so thats good. This weekend need to out up some items. Found one dress to see as I have decided it makes me look 5 :rotfl:

Littlebirdie

Hello :wave:

So today was another tough old day - work was just busy busy busy!

Had to buy myself a coffee to get through it £1.95 (used my own cup to get a discount)
I nearly bought stuff on the way home for dinner or completely new dinner because 'I really needed too' but avoided it which I am proud of!

Entered a race which will be good for my motivation levels just bad timing I guess. Hoping to end the month on a plus though - will be a mission. I know I am saving £11.20 which is good! So no spending money tonight, tomorrow will just keep it to essentials. Need to do food shop so need to plan what I am going to eat for the week.

Made a big batch of dinner tonight so thats lunch sorted for tomorrow. No freezer veg left so that might bump up some costs. Decided I'm going to leave the cafetiere this month as after everything I can have everything! Got a payout of £0.19p from t0pc@sh back which is something.

Oh and this weekend need to put some more stuff on eb@y!

Right time for a chilled eve :j

Littlebirdie

So had a shop around for my eyebrow wax and found one for £2 cheaper - I just feel bad for my current beautician. She is so lovely, quite old and I feel so loyal to her. She isn't very good though :rotfl: I just really like her!

I can also get cash back through treatwe!! so I've earnt a total of £1.50 which is great!

I've done part of my shop - came of £17.81 - more expensive than usual as I bought frozen veg and jam.

I'm totally fed up with Halif@x - tried to call them to transfer my L!SA but they don't work on the weekends :mad: just wasting time.

I must also call HMRC to update my tax code.

Also paid £115 of my credit card which is good.

Littlebirdie

Went to Lid! and lesson learnt always go there first as items were much cheaper than s@insburys - I don't know why I am surprised. I just thought 'surely they cant be cheaper!?' and low and behold they were.

Also I usually buy expensive jam as it has more fruit in it but I found today the Lid! one has the SAME ingredients for well over half the price! So I'll be buying that from now on.

Went on a date, he unmatched me instantly I felt the same but still to do it instantly is a little harsh! I had two glasses of wine and I didn't like how it made me feel. No more glasses of wine for me - sticking to the gin.

My eb@y item didn't sell AGAIN due to a suspicious buyer- urgh I am so annoyed as was looking forward to that extra £10 or so. Basically I am going to relist it and just accept offers - hopefully that will get it gone quickly. I'll put it on for less days also as fed up with it.

Bought my beauty bits for the month..£14 which will come out of my beauty account. In total that's £17 spent on beauty bits this month....hopefully that's it as I only budget £20 per month and I spent last months on discounted foundation so in the last few months the account has not grown much.
Was proud of myself though nearly bought a scone for £2.60 :eek: but walked out the shop when I heard the price. Thought that would have been my £2 saving from my eyebrows gone!

Anywho thats my ramblings for today done.. :rotfl:

Littlebirdie

So whats been happening with me:

This week massively overspent on food

Total was £47 however ~£10 was food to have with friends which I see as an investment in mental health so I am not going to dwell too much on that. Then food just cost a little more this week.

OMG leant that you can get coffee pods from L!DL - I just need to find out how much they cost. Currently I spend ~ £2.50 for 10 so that will be a nice saving.

Haven't really spent too much at work which is good.

Got some complaint money back from the bank £25 which is good.

Also sold some things on ebay in total for £64.28 and spent £7 on sending but say a further £10 will go on fees - thats ~£47 so + £25 I'm up £72. Still need to put two bits on eb@y but I cant see that happening this weekend.

I've also had to make a big decision. I'm going to need to go back to counselling. I could go for an NHS one but frankly, I find due to them being so busy they are in a rush to get your sessions finished. I also think I would like someone who is in dire finicial problems to have my space as overall I'm ok. So I think when the time comes I'm going to use the money I would usually pay into my LISA - this kills me though . The thought of not paying money into my future I find really hard. I'm hoping counselling wont cost the full £200 - infact I'm aiming for ~£160 per month so I am still putting SOMETHING into the account. Oh and also get a payrise in July so that is good - not sure how much though.

So thats me ... have a good week all

Littlebirdie

Hello, its been a little while - just been busy.

So this has been an expensive month with going away - all in all spent ~£164 inc spending money and car hire.

I'm overdrawn by£17.07 but I think that will increase in my FD account and left on my m0nz0 I have £61.. from that I need to take away ~ £20 for travel and another £10 to buy my lunches for the week.

Money coming in
So have a check of £25 from my complaint :j along with £5.20 refund from travel. So I'm hoping that I WILL not be overdrawn although I still have defo overspent. Then I have 4 days to try and spend nothing - twill be hard alright

I've also got to pay for another counselling session £35 which is going to have to come out of my emergency money..I aim to pay it back next month. I'm not sure how long I will need but bl00dy hell it's worth it. I just feel so much better. Reminds me how little support I have.

Looking forward to having my credit card down to £953 next month..that will be a big help to my mood. Then when my second jobs starts - work, work, work.

If I could get an extra £150 that would be a big help. I've decided whatever I get half goes on debt and the other half goes into savings as they have taken a fair old whack recently.

No ebay sales but some watchers. MUST put things on this weekend and take my stufff to the chairity shop. Infact lets go and get them up now.

Feeling more motivated. Counselling really is a wonderful thing!

Littlebirdie

Hello,

So had a good day yesterday - done loads and feel absolutely knackered.
Woke up this morning feeling a little more motivated.
Also had a few thoughts that no one reads my posts due to no replies which really doesnt matter although sometimes it is nice to know that it is being read. Just seen that some of my posts got a few likes which has made me feel better - silly really! :rotfl:

So one item I listed yesterday on eb@y already has a bid! So that's good.

• meat for lunch in the slow cooker
• extra item put up on ebay
• will bring back juice that wasnt used yesterday
• transferred money for sisters present and cake from birthday savings pot

So 5 days to last until pay day - urgh I hate this as when I have no money ALL I want to do is spend money - will bring this up in counselling.
So I have £25.52 in my monzo card and I need to get some salad bits for the week's shop.
My FD account is overdrawn by £14 although I think this will increase to ~ £20
I think I have ~£6 in my purse

So plan
* Have cous cous for carb in lunch so dont need to buy potatoes
* Use cash first and pay rest with FD account on weekly shop
* This way use monzo card for the rest of the week so I have a clear idea of how overdrawn I am by the end of the week
* Monday make sure that I put in that cheque
* Make sure I get my money back for travel

I kow I have said it before but I'm going to say it again - I hate that I am not putting a full £200 into my LISA account...
Next month we are getting a pay rise so ANY extra money I get will be going into my LISA. I just need to remind myself that this is a little blip AND wont always be like this. Also who knows what will happen in the future...

Lets hope this motivaion continues! :T