Dreaming of a life after debt

WannabeFree

Well done on getting the Xmas shopping done

Sounds like you've had a lovely weekend, even if the snow made changes to your plans.

Have a good day x

HairyHandofDartmoor

You must have enjoyed seeing your sister. Do you wish she lived nearer? My sister lives in Scotland and I only see her twice a year .

I don't envy you the snow as I dread our car getting pranged and not being able to pay for it :eek:.

Well done on getting the Christmas shoppinng organised :T.

Munchin

Morning :hello:

SS/WF/HHD - thank you for your lovely comments xx. I would love my sister to live closer but after a weekend of chaos it’s nice to put house back into order . I really notice it when she’s upset and you can’t just reach out and give her a BIG hug 🤗 and things have been tough for her these past few years.

Plans went a bit up the left this morning, was planning to get up 30 mins earlier to be ready & have leisurely breakfast etc. I woke up early & put duvet over my head. Now on slightly later train... road has up graded from ice and snow to black ice..kind of wish other drivers would be a bit more considerate.

Eating front - good session with counsellor who is now away on holiday for a month. A lot of my issues are more thoughts than reality & mindset is starting to get that but it’s so slow.

Money front - going strong on NSDs, one of the therapist things is actually helping the money front.. making a shopping list and sticking to it. No random popping into the shop:o.

I’ve not been in work since Thursday...will be interesting

Seasidegal58

I know how you feel about putting your head under the duvet and staying there Munchin - I often feel like that during the week - especially waking up to these cold dark mornings!

Good news on your positive counselling session and you must be happy that things are going in the right direction.:j

Munchin

Morning,

Last week flew in and hopefully the week ahead will do the same:). I had 2 work Xmas lunch/dinners but managed to not be too spendy by sticking to soft drinks. There were some slightly tipsy peeps and I wouldn’t like to be them heading into work tomorrow :eek:, but we’ve all done it.

OH and I are going to a Christmas carol event on Thursday and then I’m on leave on Friday and not back to work until the following Thursday:).

OH & I are going to have Xmas day together. We usually go to my Mum’s but my brother and his wife & their squad of kids have invited themselves to mums and OH couldn’t cope with the noise. There will be other family members there as well. I know Mum will miss us as I’m chief prepper, assistant cook & washer upper but it’s for the best. Mum was upset telling me but it’s not her fault ...there has to be a pr*tt in each family:D. Brother always goes to in laws so not sure why the change 🤔. Will still visit family on Xmas day.

This week I’m visiting old colleagues, 1 volunteer meeting and going out with current colleague for a hot chocolate in the Xmas market. Time to get ready and pick up Mum and the rest of the day will be very lazy.

Munchin

Update

Money - 18 December 2017

Groceries/Household - £20/£xx spent

Surveys & Voucher

Swagbucks - xxSB (999SB = £5 paypal)
Receipt Hog - 1065 coins (1500 coins = £5/ 2850 coins = £10/ 5300 coins = £20/12000 coins = £50)
Topcashback -£0 Payable, £xx Confirmed & £xx Pending
Prolific - £0

Weekly Spends

Sun 17th - NSD
Mon 18th - £8.90 (rang Translink but can't claim anything back - that will teach me.)
Tues 19th -£17.10 Tesco & £30 diesel
Wed 20th - £5.50 (photo gift) + £14 (final work lunch out)
Thurs 21st -
Fri 22nd -

Total = £70

Munchin

Hi again

The New Year is nearly on me again and I'm planning on a more relaxed spending fast more like a spending diet....where I will try to stick to needs but a few wee wants are not going to break the bank. Trying to do moderation in everything for once.

As I'm hopefully going to be debt free in a few short months it is an attempt to live the life I want going forward. With money in pots ready for most eventualities. Look who fell out of the right side of bed this morning .

Guidelines

• 30 day cooling off period for big purchase or out of the ordinary.
• Beauty items/Clothes/ Shoes etc - buy when I run out and am 100% certain I need it.
• Books, magazines or papers limited (kindle books & library will do...unless it's a holiday).
• Reduce the frittering monster.

To stay accountable I will write my spends on my diary. I think that for other shopping that isn't groceries I will leave it to once a month rather than popping into shops and spying things that I 'must have'.

Ok time to do some work.

HairyHandofDartmoor

That sounds very sensible re the cooling off period for spends. I try and do that. Sometimes it works and I no longer want the item, other times I'm still desperately craving it after a week or a month .

It's a shame your Christmas day plans have been railroaded :eek:.

Munchin

Morning,

Final final Xmas gift sorted this morning .... I think 🤔. I had sent a pic of OH & brother away to get tidied and it was emailed back late last night. I’ve emailed through Tesco photo app so should be able to pick it up this week and now I just need a frame for it.

I’m heading out for lunch today with a colleague but hopefully will be able to get home super early. Nephew has event tonight I’m going to so looking forward to that.. and it’s free .

Spendy rest of week unfortunately- I have volunteer thing tomorrow, which I will need to pay parking. Tomorrow night I’m at the beauticians. Thursday out for dinner and staying over at hotel so I’m thinking £60 if we go Dutch. Sat - a few extra odds for Xmas and then hopefully a few NSDs.

Hope everyone survives this manic but fun week .

Munchin

Planning my 2018 budgets... there could be a few tweaks before 1st Jan:o

2018 Budget aims

Groceries & Household -£2,000
Health & Beauty - £300 (Beautician, chemist & hair appts)
Electricity £1200
Fuel - 600
TV, telephone & Internet £500
Insurance - £500
Clothing & footwear £300
Work - £400
Gifts - £400
Sundries £300

Total £6500