Spend Nowt, Buy Nowt, Owe Nowt

Honeysucklelou2

A visor out will always be better than housework

Scott-Weiland

XSpender wrote: »

DH is still enjoying his new job

I am unhappy with the way my company has gone about my, and colleagues, request for a pay review. Suffice to say we won't be getting one. :mad: It is a toughie because I enjoy the work I do for my client and feel very appreciated by that business but not by the one that actually pays my wages. I will make it a goal when I am on holiday shortly to get my CV updated and out there.

We are absolutely brassic this month and no amount of cutting back is going to make the books balance This is because DH will not get paid until the end of August and my salary and the bit I had put aside to cover the mortgage are not enough to cover a month's outgoings. We will have to use a credit card to cover some basics. DH has been advised he will get a guaranteed bonus of some sort for the next 3 months so that will help us get back on an even keel. I expect our debt level to back where it was at the start of the year by the time DH is paid again.

The interest rate rise will cost us another £30/month on the mortgage until we can remortgage in January. The consol is looking more and more likely but we will look to clear almost all the cards, knock 6 months off the term but keep the 2 loans running as one has less than half the term left. I am going to close all but 1 card as I need a back up for work.

I have started the 6 week fitness programme and am feeling great I've been sleeping like a log, feel slimmer and my skin looks brighter. My scales say I've lost 2lb but it feels like more. The food plan looks really bland and strict on paper but I have been enjoying the food. The exercise is tough and I went for my first run in a long time yesterday and did a 2 hour bike ride with DH and DS. They are both keen cyclists, DS has been able to ride really well since he was just 4, and are going to have a boys adventure on the bikes next Sunday while I will go swim a mile I think the food plan will have a positive impact on our food spending as I have not bought much and no beer or snacks for me and only a small amount for DH and DS (no beer for DS obviously )

Can i ask where you got the food plan from, hope its not a dodgy one with zero carbs in

XSpender

Scott-Weiland wrote: »

Can i ask where you got the food plan from, hope its not a dodgy one with zero carbs in

From a local gym and fitness centre. It's not too low carb as I have just stuffed my face with a big bowl of porridge and blueberries

XSpender

We have had a lovely weekend. Yesterday DS went to sports training and played brilliantly. We were really proud of him. We then took the dog out for a walk at a new location although it probably was a little too far for the dog at 1 hour and 20 mins. He has been asleep since! DH ironed and I put away a lot of the laundry and made the beds.

I have read the meters and booked an appointment at c1@rk5 for DS shoe fitting before 8am this morning

All my talk about changing the way we eat as a family has sunk in with DS who ate porridge for the first time this morning and liked it. I've tried him on ready brek before and he hated it.

The book I am reading is making me think about different areas of my life, not just money.

Today I will see if I can book DS a climbing session for later in the week, book my eyebrow wax (but think it's shut on a Monday), a short walk with the dog, finish the laundry and text my friend about meeting up later in the week. DS also has a kinetic set he wants to build.

To Do on Holiday (not including activities with DS)

1) [STRIKE]Submit meter readings -[/STRIKE] Done
2)[STRIKE] Fringe cut (it is desperate but may try trim myself as going nowhere and haircut is due bank holiday weekend) [/STRIKE]It looks OK and I can see again

3) Eyebrow wax (desperate but hidden by fringe at the mo.)
4) 7 gym classes (5 plus 2 catch up sessions) - 2 session & 1 catch up done
5) 8 x 1 hour cardio sessions planned a 5 hour walk for tomorrow but this counts as 1 - 1x3.5hr walk, 1x1.3hr walk
6) Update CV (seen a job I may apply for) reconsidering applying for the job
7) Register CV with 4 agencies
8) Decorate guest room (new plaster paint coat and ceiling. Poss walls if have funds for paint)
9) Put furniture back in guest room and sort front bedroom where it has all been stored
10) All laundry done and put away - almost done with DH help
11) Deep clean house(Living/dining/kitchen/utility/conservatory/bedrooms/bathrooms)
12) Finishing reading Your money or your life- still at it
13) Clean guest room, DS room and living room carpets (will ask DH to do)
14) [STRIKE]Energy comparison/swap to cheaper tariff with existing supplier[/STRIKE] done a comparison and still on best tariff
15) Day pass at friend's gym or visit at her house
16) 'Snagging List' of the little jobs and repairs required as we are not doing any big jobs until 2020
17) Spend some time researching how we want to eat as a family after my 6 week plan as healthy changes need to be made - found lots of lovely recipes but need more child friendly ones
18) Agree our goals for the remainder of 2018
19) Dust off bullet journal and start using again - I feel that I need to be achieving more both at work and home - used every day I've been off so far
20) Read a couple of books and watch a few movies for fun - 2 movies watched
21) Make DH lunch everyday to stop him spending a fiver in the shop! -3/2 and 2 days off

Scott-Weiland

XSpender wrote: »

From a local gym and fitness centre. It's not too low carb as I have just stuffed my face with a big bowl of porridge and blueberries

Good as long as it has carbs in and they are clean, ie oat meal/sweet potatos/ brown rice or quinoa etc

A lass at work got a plan from a gym, the energy source was purely fats no carbs ie salmon/nuts/eggs she lost weight but felt like !!!! for 6 weeks she passed out at work. She then later in the week showed me her diet it was horrendous.

The only people i would of seen doing her diet would be bodybuilders cutting pre contest. ie no carbs at all

Suffolk_lass

Scott-Weiland wrote: »

Good as long as it has carbs in and they are clean, ie oat meal/sweet potatos/ brown rice or quinoa etc

A lass at work got a plan from a gym, the energy source was purely fats no carbs ie salmon/nuts/eggs she lost weight but felt like !!!! for 6 weeks she passed out at work. She then later in the week showed me her diet it was horrendous.

The only people i would of seen doing her diet would be bodybuilders cutting pre contest. ie no carbs at all

You are right - there are lots of fad-diets and unqualified people offering so-called expertise without actually understanding what they are talking about. Don't forget that green veg also offers a source of carbs - not just grains, and starchy things.

The British Heart Foundation published an excellent book some years ago on balanced diets (as in everyday health, not primarily losing weight). I believe there is a PDF of it available for free - I will go and look...

Suffolk_lass

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

You are right - there are lots of fad-diets and unqualified people offering so-called expertise without actually understanding what they are talking about. Don't forget that green veg also offers a source of carbs - not just grains, and starchy things.

The British Heart Foundation published an excellent book some years ago on balanced diets (as in everyday health, not primarily losing weight). I believe there is a PDF of it available for free - I will go and look...

Yes, I googled British Heart Foundation diet PDF and there it is, updated too - it used to have less carbs and more veg in my version

XSpender

DS and I went swimming yesterday which was great fun as they had some big floats and rings in the pool. We also took the dog out and watched a movie. Nothing planned today but still have DS cookie kit to make and some craft stuff to do. I will get some housework done too, finally book my eyebrows and we could do with a small top up shop.

It looks like I will miss my class tonight as DH is going to be in late from work again I knew it was going to be a struggle to stick to the exercise plan when DH went back to work as I should be doing an hour on the days I am not at the gym but with DH leaving at 6.30am and back at 8pm and having DS with me it is a bit of a struggle this week.:(

I have a hair appointment Saturday morning and DS is training again on Sunday. We also want to fit in an 8 mile walk at the weekend too. We need to increase our mileage from next week so it may be too far for DS.

I am looking forward to seeing DH wages on the 28th so I can start budgeting on YNAB. We are not sure if he will be emergency taxed as he lost his P45 he will get the last week of July's pay but has been told he will get a guaranteed bonus so no idea what it will be. My pay will be a bit lower as I have more personal fuel to come off from when we were down to one car.

To Do on Holiday (not including activities with DS)

1) [STRIKE]Submit meter readings -[/STRIKE] Done
2)[STRIKE] Fringe cut (it is desperate but may try trim myself as going nowhere and haircut is due bank holiday weekend) [/STRIKE]It looks OK and I can see again

3) Eyebrow wax (desperate but hidden by fringe at the mo.)
4) 7 gym classes (5 plus 2 catch up sessions) - 3 session & 1 catch up done
5) 8 x 1 hour cardio sessions planned a 5 hour walk for tomorrow but this counts as 1 - 1x3.5hr walk, 1x1.3hr walk
6) [STRIKE]Update CV (seen a job I may apply for)[/STRIKE] reconsidering applying for the job
7) [STRIKE]Register CV with 4 agencies[/STRIKE] - put on hold
8) Decorate guest room (new plaster paint coat and ceiling. Poss walls if have funds for paint)
9) Put furniture back in guest room and sort front bedroom where it has all been stored
10) All laundry done and put away - almost done with DH help
11) Deep clean house([STRIKE]Living/dining[/STRIKE]/kitchen/utility/conservatory/bedrooms/bathrooms)
12) Finishing reading Your money or your life- still at it
13) Clean guest room, DS room and living room carpets (will ask DH to do)
14) [STRIKE]Energy comparison/swap to cheaper tariff with existing supplier[/STRIKE] done a comparison and still on best tariff
15) Day pass at friend's gym or visit at her house
16) 'Snagging List' of the little jobs and repairs required as we are not doing any big jobs until 2020
17) Spend some time researching how we want to eat as a family after my 6 week plan as healthy changes need to be made - found lots of lovely recipes but need more child friendly ones but DS now eats porridge :T
18) Agree our goals for the remainder of 2018
19) Dust off bullet journal and start using again - I feel that I need to be achieving more both at work and home - used every day I've been off so far
20) Read a couple of books and watch a few movies for fun - 2 movies watched
21) Make DH lunch everyday to stop him spending a fiver in the shop! -4/4 and 2 days off

redofromstart

Not easy fitting in the exercise with your DS. Mine used to willingly run with me, but it took all the pleasure out of it as I prefer solo running. Can you find a park with some outdoor exercise equipment? Go out for a cycle together? Take the dog out together for an hour but make it a fast walk. Is he is old enough to be left doing stuff on the bike/skate ramps while you do fast walking circuits of the park so you can still see him?

XSpender

redofromstart wrote: »

Not easy fitting in the exercise with your DS. Mine used to willingly run with me, but it took all the pleasure out of it as I prefer solo running. Can you find a park with some outdoor exercise equipment? Go out for a cycle together? Take the dog out together for an hour but make it a fast walk. Is he is old enough to be left doing stuff on the bike/skate ramps while you do fast walking circuits of the park so you can still see him?

He would run with me but, like you, I prefer to run alone. I was planning to go out on the bikes today but forgot that the rear mudguard on DS bike lost a nut on its last outing and rattles about and DH will need to fix it. I will ask him to do it tonight as DH is at work on Saturday and we can go then. We will take the dog out for an hour this afternoon instead.

Yesterday morning DH said it was unlikely he would be back in time for me to get to my class. I was feeling under the weather yesterday (TOTM) and didn't get ready only for him to turn up at the time I need to leave to get there! I am now back to needing to do 2 catch up sessions

Didn't stick completely to plan yesterday but I must say I didn't enjoy the sausage chips and beans as much as I do my chicken, sweet potatoes and asparagus!

I spoke to the mortgage broker yesterday who said it is possible to apply for a remortgage with consol now. We have updated our details and she will ring later today to see what our options are. The consol will save £500/month and a better fixed rate will save about £100/month.

I am considering setting myself a challenge of not buying any new clothes between now and the end of 2019. The only exceptions to this will be a new waterproof, winter walking coat for the 3 peaks which will be my early Christmas gift and tights for work. If I lose a bit more weight I will have more clothes to wear so that is an incentive. I already have a dress and shoes to wear to an event in December, I don't go 'out-out' that often to need lots of going out clothes and I have plenty of summer clothes for next year's holiday. I will still need to budget for dry cleaning and shoe repairs and clothes for DS. DH can fund his own clothes from his personal spends but will no doubt need white shirts and some trousers for work which will come from the budget.

I have also decided not to go on the girl's annual trip next year. It is with some friends of a friend who are having big birthdays but the timing is too close to half term and DS birthday so I will give it a miss this year. I would only be going for a few days when the others are going for a week or 10 days so my not going doesn't put any one out. I pay for this out of my personal spends so doesn't impact the budget.

Our grocery budget is looking on target for once. Top up shop done at Morries yesterday for GF quorn sausages, fruit and squash. I have just over £81 to do next week's shop at the weekend and we will have come in at £400 which is amazing for us as we are always way over what I want to spend. Shows how much we were spending on c*ap since I have been on this plan and we have cut down. DH and I agreed at the weekend we aren't buying crisps anymore. I have had the odd packet on this plan (cheating!) and they have given me indigestion so I am cutting them out.

Finally getting my eyebrows done today as they will be on display when I get my hair cut on Saturday morning. However I will be going to the salon with my grubby hair tied back as our boiler has gone off and the pilot light wont relight. Once it goes out it wont go back on again and the engineer has to come and sort it out. I'm so pleased I didn't cancel the boiler cover last month! Unfortunately they cant come until Friday afternoon which means I won't get the opportunity to meet up with my friend this week:( DH and I were discussing just how long we think we can get away with the boiler constantly breaking without them condemning it. I am hoping for another 2 years!

It's taking me ages to read my book, I've only read 67% of it so far which is not like me! DH and I went to bed early to read and I lasted about 15 minutes before I was asleep!

My £50 prepaid mastercard from changing my broadband has arrived so I will use that to pay for DS new school shoes on Friday morning. He also needs trainers and possibly trousers for school and a mouth guard for Rugby.

We have also received a 'DD Refund' with no indication of who this is from and it was not expected. It's not a massive amount but I like to keep a track of what's coming in and out of the account.