LonelyRat's (not so lonely) Road to Riches

lonelyrat

Thanks Oneday once I'm debt free my next goal will be to follow in your footsteps and learn to drive :eek: wish me luck haha!

Scott that's some good advice! It was genuinely something I didn't think I'd ever need, but now I know for future. Will take it as one of the many, many life lessons I seem to be getting :rotfl: How on earth could you nearly lose out on £1000? That's terrible!

Thank you Dusty :cool: I think I need to pinch myself... It doesn't feel real! The last time I had this little debt was before I started University in 2011! It's been a long time coming. My savings purely consists of the £250 so will be depleted soon enough, but it IS nice to know it's there.

Actually saving will feel so good... I can't properly get my head round how nice it's going to feel to see a savings pot growing rather than a debt shrinking.

Off work today so plan is head to the Lochs for a walk. Might take the doggos but unsure. We are dog sitting for OH sister at the moment while she is on holiday and the dog we're sitting is huuuuuge. She's a St. Bernard and she's the size of a small pony :rotfl: Far, far too strong for me but maybe OH can be convinced to let her come. Her and the dog that we live with are so silly together, they egg each other on and get so jealous when the other one gets attention. It's very funny!

It looks like it's actually going to be a lovely day today so am keen to get going but as usual OH still asleep. Will wake him up in the next 30 mins as I want to get going.

Am having to be super, super strict with the budget this month as I'm fearful of overspending and going into the overdraft. Have allocated £10 a day spending for the both of us max. If there are NSD's then the money gets put into the small savings pot to throw at the debt at the beginning of next month. Today will not be an NSD as need diesel and that will eat up the whole tenner, but other than that there's nothing we need (hopefully) for the next few days. Have started a spending diary to log everything... Something I always mean to do but forget/ lose interest in. This will be the month!

Will need to dip into the savings as I need to source a dress for OH's graduation (unless I can find one for under a tenner?!) and I also want to pay for photos on the day. Not very MSE, I know, but something I do want to do. He got them for me when I graduated (despite my protestation) and I sent one to my Dad and OH kept one and has it on his desk so now I want one of him! His parents will appreciate it too as they are very proud of him.

56 days

dustydigger

Go for it with the photos,as they will serve as reminders of a great day for years.I dont believe being a MSE means you have to be a total killjoy,it means mindful control of your finances,and making deliberate,considered decisions on how you spend your money.If there is surplus in your monthly spend,or you have some little savings then enjoy!If getting the photos meant you couldnt pay your next month's bills/debts then it would obviously be a no-no,but you have that windfall,so enjoy using it!

Silver_Queen

Definitely get the photos! It's a short term impact on finances but you will be so glad you got them in the end.

You're under £1000 now!!!!!!! I am SO proud of you and how much you have achieved and managed to pay back!

Scott-Weiland

lonelyrat wrote: »

Thanks Oneday once I'm debt free my next goal will be to follow in your footsteps and learn to drive :eek: wish me luck haha!

Scott that's some good advice! It was genuinely something I didn't think I'd ever need, but now I know for future. Will take it as one of the many, many life lessons I seem to be getting :rotfl: How on earth could you nearly lose out on £1000? That's terrible!

Thank you Dusty :cool: I think I need to pinch myself... It doesn't feel real! The last time I had this little debt was before I started University in 2011! It's been a long time coming. My savings purely consists of the £250 so will be depleted soon enough, but it IS nice to know it's there.

Actually saving will feel so good... I can't properly get my head round how nice it's going to feel to see a savings pot growing rather than a debt shrinking.

Off work today so plan is head to the Lochs for a walk. Might take the doggos but unsure. We are dog sitting for OH sister at the moment while she is on holiday and the dog we're sitting is huuuuuge. She's a St. Bernard and she's the size of a small pony :rotfl: Far, far too strong for me but maybe OH can be convinced to let her come. Her and the dog that we live with are so silly together, they egg each other on and get so jealous when the other one gets attention. It's very funny!

It looks like it's actually going to be a lovely day today so am keen to get going but as usual OH still asleep. Will wake him up in the next 30 mins as I want to get going.

Am having to be super, super strict with the budget this month as I'm fearful of overspending and going into the overdraft. Have allocated £10 a day spending for the both of us max. If there are NSD's then the money gets put into the small savings pot to throw at the debt at the beginning of next month. Today will not be an NSD as need diesel and that will eat up the whole tenner, but other than that there's nothing we need (hopefully) for the next few days. Have started a spending diary to log everything... Something I always mean to do but forget/ lose interest in. This will be the month!

Will need to dip into the savings as I need to source a dress for OH's graduation (unless I can find one for under a tenner?!) and I also want to pay for photos on the day. Not very MSE, I know, but something I do want to do. He got them for me when I graduated (despite my protestation) and I sent one to my Dad and OH kept one and has it on his desk so now I want one of him! His parents will appreciate it too as they are very proud of him.

56 days

I changed departments years ago i went from being on the local business team on lates to a nightshift pilot team.

Because it was a pilot/secondment we were told at the start of the pilot our ratings and bonuses would be frozen for 6months so what ever we got pre the pilot we would get again six months later then they would review things. See how the department was going etc call voulmes blah blah etc

On the nightshift pilot i had a team leader who was an idiot. We at the time would be rated A to D every six months, and that would decide our 6monthly bonus and each rating would go towards our annual pay rise.

A was round 2500-3000
B was around 1100-2500
C was around 500-1000
D was under performing so nothing

The pilot started in the June and i had to have an unexpected surgery in August/September on my back. Net result i was in hospital/rehab off work untill the beginning of October. The stupid TL tried to rate me a C i had came onto the pilot as B plus rating £1750 bonus.

She tried to give me a C rating which was around 775 i think. I went mad she tried to lower my rating due to sickness which isn't legal to the level she was trying, i had had no absence in 8years of being with the company. She was an idiot she was adamant she was right even the guy who set up the pilot was on my side lol and my floor manager at the time.

The union tore her to bits and i put in a grievance against her
etc and I got my money as I had contracts/letter re the pilot etc she stopped then speaking to me after that lol

doingitanyway

lonelyrat wrote: »

Actually saving will feel so good... I can't properly get my head round how nice it's going to feel to see a savings pot growing rather than a debt shrinking.
I can so relate to this. This is my next project. It's great that you are so close to realising this for yourself
Off work today so plan is head to the Lochs for a walk. Might take the doggos but unsure. We are dog sitting for OH sister at the moment while she is on holiday and the dog we're sitting is huuuuuge. She's a St. Bernard and she's the size of a small pony :rotfl: Far, far too strong for me but maybe OH can be convinced to let her come. Her and the dog that we live with are so silly together, they egg each other on and get so jealous when the other one gets attention. It's very funny!
Love this view into doggie land. You are lucky to have such natural walks to do

Am having to be super, super strict with the budget this month as I'm fearful of overspending and going into the overdraft. Have allocated £10 a day spending for the both of us max. If there are NSD's then the money gets put into the small savings pot to throw at the debt at the beginning of next month.
I find NSDs super useful in making my money stretch.
Will need to dip into the savings as I need to source a dress for OH's graduation (unless I can find one for under a tenner?!) and I also want to pay for photos on the day. Not very MSE, I know, but something I do want to do. He got them for me when I graduated (despite my protestation) and I sent one to my Dad and OH kept one and has it on his desk so now I want one of him! His parents will appreciate it too as they are very proud of him.
This will only come once so please don't worry about being MSE just have more NSDs to make up for the spends...
56 days

Have a lovely day

lonelyrat

It's decided - photos will be had OH is not excited at all, but I am! No joy on the dress front just yet, have been looking but can't find anything I actually like in budget. Will just keep my peepers peeled and hope something turns up.

Doingitanyway the dogs are very, very funny! It's interesting to see the relationship between Resident Dog and Temporary Dog and how it's developing. They are very much a terrible two-some and so, so jealous of one another. Was giving Temporary Dog a belly rub and Resident Dog got really upset and kept headbutting my arm out the way and staring at me with her big, sad eyes. I felt like I was betraying her by playing with TD and that was 100% her intention :rotfl: The walks are lovely I do really miss living in the city and dislike the commute, but it's really lovely being able to get lost in nature from near our doorstep.

Oh Scott what a mess. At least it all got sorted but I can imagine that would have been really stressful.

Lost 0.6 kg again yesterday which is better than I expected. I loosened up a bit with the calorie counting the past week or so as was OH's birthday and there was cake and other party foods. Will get back on it properly tomorrow. Took yesterday off walk-wise as I have done something to my leg. It was really sore yesterday and still a bit sore today but I have no idea what's happened. It sort of feels like it needs clicking back into place with my hip and when I walk it's like a weird kind of pain/ pressure. Thought I would rest it yesterday in the hopes it would feel better but it's still not great so will just push on and hopefully it sorts itself!
Beautiful, beautiful day here today and apparently weather going to get up to 28 :eek: Plans had been to do some housework and bits but think I'll go for my walk instead then spend the rest of the day in the garden reading

Money still looking good. Have stayed under £10 and today will be a NSD. OH more on board this month (maybe because he now has no student finance to rely on!) and has also cut down his drinking a lot which makes me inwardly happy. I think it's maybe just coming about naturally for him because I stopped. I'm now 2 months Alcohol Free and very happy about it

dustydigger

Well done on the alcohol front lonelyrat.:T

I too am keeping AF.110 days in a row now,and all but 12 days for the whole year. Its got to be doing my liver some good,and gives less work to do for my dodgy thyroid!.:j

And leading by example can def motivate others,the horde are drinking much less when they come,probably to save my feelings I'm not bothered at all by them having a drink,but I keep that quiet so that they will drink less!:rotfl:
I am saving a lot of money being AF,maybe £30-£40 a month probably,which will pay for most of Xmas without a sweat! Cant be bad!:D

lonelyrat

Aw Dusty 110 days, wow! That's amazing... Can't wait till I can say that too! Definitely is helping moneywise I think. Had a bit of a spendy month this last month with OH's birthday but am hoping to see more of an impact this month

Was absolutely gorgeous here today.... Until I finished work and now is cloudy Still roasty though which is something. Am going to get the sun lounger out in preparation for if it makes a re-appearance.

Overtime offered at work for the first time in months so have an hour and a half a day before my actual shift starts. It's not much but it's better than something Will maybe give me an extra £45ish for next month which would really help.

lonelyrat

So toasty today! Was amazing Finished work at 2 and went for a potter around town. OH's graduation tomorrow so got a nice pair of tan, suede heeled mules (£12) and nail varnish (£4). Have just given my legs a tan and painted my nails now going to faff around and watch TV for a bit. I don't get dressed up very often so am looking forward to it quite a bit. OH in a bit of a funny mood about it all and doesn't really want to go but won't tell me why. Am hoping he does OK tomorrow and actually does have a good time.

Money still looking good...Not great but not terrible. OH not got a job yet so holiday plans are firmly tabled. It was probably a bit silly anyway.... Will re-evaluate in a few months and maybe book for next year.

Overtime has been pretty dire but just need to keep thinking that it will help in the long run. Off tomorrow (hallelu) so will spend some time in the evening snooping around diaries. I always feel so out of it when I'm not on in a couple of days

49 days

lonelyrat

Graduation was lovely OH looked very smart in his robes and me and his Mum were whooping, very excitedly, while he went up on the platform to get capped. There was a reception outside afterwards which was really nice as was super sunny. There was also a gentleman playing the bagpipes so felt very patriotic! Had 1 bucks fizz so technically no longer sober. It didn't result in any more drinking though (was likely 95% OJ as was free anyway :rotfl:) so that's something to be proud of.

OH Mum treated us and some close family to dinner in the evening which was also lovely. Was nice to hang out with everyone Was quite a spendy day as I got the photos and got OH a university hoodie as well. Not the end of the world though as money still looking OK-ish. Have about £50 left to last until the 18th of July which should be fine for us. Am slightly concerned as when we were in town we did get a bit muddled and ended up turning into a bus lane and then couldn't back out again safely. Didn't see any cameras around but am still worried we will end up with a fine. If it happens it happens I guess, can't really be helped. Have added it as an expense next month on my spreadsheet just in case.

Diet/ walking took a back seat for the past week or so but am fully on it as of yesterday again. Didn't weigh myself though as I was very confident it would be a gain. Will just work hard this coming week and then hope for a loss next Saturday. My leg/ hip finally seems to be sorted as well - I had been getting a wee bit concerned as was sore for longer than I anticipated but seems OK now

Week of overtime hell is now over so am very happy. Hopefully OH will get a job soon and I never have to do it again :rotfl: Off today and we're off on an adventure again. Going to Balmaha on Loch Lomond - never been there specifically before so quite excited. Loch Lomond is lovely and the weather is set to be scorching all day. Have set aside diesel and lunch money already and other than that there shouldn't be any costs.

There is a hill there (Conic Hill) that I want to climb as the views are meant to be amazing .... Buuuut I think we may be too unfit at the moment still. May size it up when we get there and see how we feel. It isn't that high but apparently quite steep. Might be fun to push ourselves though!

Once again I've been a bit rubbish coming on here. Have been all go with the overtime then the graduation. Next week will be more quiet and normal so will get back into more of a routine.

46 days