Finding Strength and Balance

armchairexpert

What a lovely new diary, I am completely charmed by you already and have subscribed.

The rent/mortgage thing does seem frustrating, but I can see how you arrived at that. Presumably if you'd already bought your ex-partner out of his 30% you'd be paying that much extra in mortgage, and he'd be able to increase his equity on another property or use it as a BTL. So it does seem fair (to the extent that I understand it!) but it'll be good to have the whole thing settled and divided so it's cleaner.

You're already on top of the budgeting, I just wanted to come and cheer you on!

helsbell

armchairexpert wrote: »

What a lovely new diary, I am completely charmed by you already and have subscribed.

The rent/mortgage thing does seem frustrating, but I can see how you arrived at that. Presumably if you'd already bought your ex-partner out of his 30% you'd be paying that much extra in mortgage, and he'd be able to increase his equity on another property or use it as a BTL. So it does seem fair (to the extent that I understand it!) but it'll be good to have the whole thing settled and divided so it's cleaner.

You're already on top of the budgeting, I just wanted to come and cheer you on!

Thanks, I'm not sure I've ever charmed anyone before, what a lovely thing to say
I thought I was on top of the budgeting, until I realised that I hadn't put any money in a pot for home insurance Saying that, this is the first time I've not had money aside, or enough unallocated to pay something since I became single over a year ago so it's not that bad. I'm a bit frustrated that I'm going to end up robbing another pot to pay it, but it's a lot better than putting it on a credit card, which is what I used to do with the car insurance every year.

I've had 2 NSDs in a row :j and tomorrow might make 3, we'll see.
I've still not eaten out this month. This is unheard of
I've thrown away less food. This does seem to be coinciding with DD1 having a period of complaining about everything I serve up. I haven't changed the offering so not sure what that's about. Sausage, sweetcorn and rice have all been separately rejected over the last few days. I'm not offering an alternative (I'm too lazy :rotfl:) so she'll be hungry enough to stop such nonsense soon :rotfl:
I've taken lunch to work every day this month.
There have been no top up shops this week, and possibly last week too (can't remember).

Being ill last week has made my chronic condition flare up this week so there have been a few extra paracetamol and lots of early nights. I think this is the latest I've been up in a fortnight :rotfl: I'll be back asking for sleep advice at the weekend, if not before:p

Honeysucklelou2

Well done on the NSDs. I was catching up on reading your diary and had to smile at having hea both children read when they wanted to. I find that a huge achievement if I've had chance to hear the little ones read!

armchairexpert

We all forget things sometimes. I started budgeting in February, and I went back over several months of statements to check that I had everything but I completely forgot about an annual charge that comes out in September. So roll around September and I'm suddenly up for $500 I hadn't budgeted for at all. It's a learning curve!

helsbell

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

Well done on the NSDs. I was catching up on reading your diary and had to smile at having hea both children read when they wanted to. I find that a huge achievement if I've had chance to hear the little ones read!

I'm normally really bad at getting round to listening to them but we seem to be off to a flying start this year! The downside is that as soon as she's read it they give her another one (rather than changing it once a week or something). Great for her learning, terrible for my time management :rotfl:

doingitanyway

Well done on the NSDs. Once you get going they can be addictive
Less food waste and not eating out is also huge as food is where our money leakage happens most (well mine anyway)
Have a positive day

helsbell

Well, I managed to make that 3rd NSD in a row. I got up this morning and realised that I hadn't sorted out any lunch for today. My first response was 'must remember to stop at the supermarket on the way in'. But that would have ruined 2 streaks - NSDs and taking my lunch to work every day this month. So I made a sandwich, using the ham that needs using up anyway and some plum chutney that I found in the fridge. I'm not normally a fan of sandwiches but I actually really enjoyed it - bonus!

Hope you've had a good day, I'm off to bed!

helsbell

Yesterday was NSD #10 this month, meaning I've reached my target on the challenge thread :T

I've also felt my mood lifting a little. Not sure what's brought me round, but it's possible that some honesty from a good friend helped me to accept that I was struggling as much as I kept denying I was, thereby pressing the reset button (even if only halfway down ). Not sure that makes sense to anyone except me but hey, that's all I've got

DD's birthday is coming up this weekend. Presents were bought last weekend, despite a major lack of input from the girl herself so hopefully she'll like what I chose.

Honeysucklelou2

Well done on the 10 NSDs! An excellent achievement...I am still trying to meet that target...for the last 3 months.

doingitanyway

helsbell wrote: »

Yesterday was NSD #10 this month, meaning I've reached my target on the challenge thread :T

A fab number of NSDs