LonelyRat's (not so lonely) Road to Riches

lonelyrat

Plans for today:
1. 30 minute walk
2. Research walking routes near where I live to see if there are any nice walks I can go on. I'm bored of walking around estates / through town.
3. Organise closet/ drawers as I've still not done this
4. Clean out makeup box
5. Make dinner
6. [STRIKE]Make little party hat for birthday rat (have everything I need to do this already so no spends)[/STRIKE] Not done this but don't really feel in a party mood re: ratties.
7. Shower

Some of the things I put on here shouldn't really need to be on a to do list. Who needs to remind/ force themselves to make dinner or shower? Me - unfortunately. When I'm in a bad place I don't want to do anything other than stay in bed and sleep life away. Writing down things (even small things) makes me more likely to do them.

doingitanyway

Don't worry. Write the small things down. When I am down or overwhelmed I list everything I do as it motivates me. I can then look back and see at least I have done SOMETHING with my day

lonelyrat

Thanks doingitanyway... I do find it helps me feel less useless! Sometimes I think I even need to write "get out of bed" but I feel that could be a step too far :eek: Not been particularly productive the last couple of days. Woke up to a winter wonderland outside today though - very snowy! Planning on going for a snowy walk soon if OH wakes up

Today
1. Snowy Walk
2. Organise closet/ drawers as I've still not done this
4. Laundry (wash AND sort when dry)
5. Make little party hat for birthday rat (I think this will be off the cards indefinitely. I just can't bring myself to do it).
6. Shower (OHs parents had a new shower fitted today... very excited to try it. The old one was more of a dribble than anything else and I have really long hair so was quite awkward washing it).

lonelyrat

Today
[STRIKE]1. Snowy Walk[/STRIKE]
Was lovely Went out for about an hour. There's some fields and woodland near where we stay so we walked through them. Very, very freezy cold now after getting caught in what felt like a blizzard on the way back! Managed to get stuck in a field as well and had to walk for ages to find a gate to climb!
[STRIKE]2. Organise closet/ drawers as I've still not done this [/STRIKE]
Finally! Feels good getting everything sorted. I can be quite messy sometimes so really need to stay on top of keeping things organised.
4. Laundry (wash AND sort when dry)
[STRIKE]5. Make little party hat for birthday rat (I think this will be off the cards indefinitely. I just can't bring myself to do it). [/STRIKE]
This just isn't going to happen.
6. Shower

OH currently making me eggy bread and I'm snuggled up in bed defrosting :A

Plans for this evening are watch a film with some popcorn and have a couple of glasses of wine.

Watched a film yesterday called "Hector". It follows a homeless mans journey from Scotland to London at Christmas time... It had some really sad moments in it and made me consider just how lucky I really am and made me want to do something more to give back. It made me consider my situation and how privileged it really is. My debt isn't crippling me anymore (although sometimes it still feels that way), I have a roof over my head, I have my OH and I don't have many outgoings thanks to OHs parents letting us stay at theirs. I am really, really very lucky and I wan't to do something productive with my newfound free time. Not sure what though - will need to have a think / Google.

Potentially payday tomorrow - not so sure, it could be Thursday. Ideally it's tomorrow so I can get cracking making some payments. Small payments unfortunately this month but payments nonetheless. Will keep all the extra rat money in savings and then we'll see where we stand once they've both visited the vet. Maybe nothing will be too pricey but I'm prepared for the worst :eek:

lonelyrat

Today was such a lovely day.

Snowy walk was really good and felt nice to get out and about doing something other than going to work or the shops. I've just had a lovely shower so feeling very cosy. New showers got an adjustable head so I could make it really powerful which was great! Currently in my dressing gown in bed with a glass of wine researching how to make candles

I noticed recently I spend far too much money on candles :eek: £2.50 at least a week usually (apart from towards payday when all spending stops!)... Not very MSE so I'm going to start making my own. I need a hobby as I feel like I spend a lot of my time just faffing about. I'm also thinking of starting to knit a big blanket now for OHs Christmas this year.I always start knitting when it begins getting cold but never end up finishing anything! Probably will take me almost the whole year to get it done

My New Years resolutions were very limited: Drink more water and be Debt Free . But upon reflection I think I will add to them. I want to use my new free time well. I went part time to help my mental health but having free time and not doing much with it probably wont help much :rotfl:

Going to spend this year learning new things and getting creative. I want to: make candles, knit the blanket, learn to cook well and maybe start painting again. May make myself a wee list!

Just realised today was an NSD. I have so few of them ... it really needs to change. But feeling proud nonetheless

doingitanyway

Love a powerful, hot shower. One of life's pleasures

lonelyrat

That's very true doingitanyway! It's beautiful outside today. Snow's still on the ground but got lovely blue skies so think I'm going to go another snowy walk and then have a roasty shower

Feeling a bit worse for wear after my wine last night so very tempted to have a nap... hmmm.

Not been paid yet so it must be tomorrow. I feel like all I do with my life is wait for payday to come around :rotfl:

lonelyrat

Got paid! Woohoo :cool:

I only got £715... :eek: First part time wage and I'm already stressed out. I had budgeted for £700 this month though so an extra £15 to play with (lucky me!) My rail ticket payments already come off the wage as well so that's £93 I don't need to worry about.

Transferred money to RBS to cover my loan payment and 52p of overdraft interest (this will be my last lot of overdraft interest - feels good). Two more loan payments after this then I'm FREE! Consolidation loans are silly.

Put £200 in Monzo for groceries and misc. spending this month and put some money in a savings account for ratties vet visits. Bills money is sitting in my direct debit account prepped and ready to go.

I think this is my favourite thing about getting paid... It's not so much having money again but being able to organise everything. I find it very satisfying. I'm such a nerd :rotfl:

Once the dd's have gone out my new balances will be -

Current Debt / Debt at first DFW post

Loan £194.11 / £770
Santander CC £2000 / £2770.90
Very BNPL £150 / £288.98
Virgin CC £775/700

---

Total Debt £3119.11/ 7203.13

Not a great reduction but it will have to do at the moment. Still no overtime posted so slightly worried next month will be the same... Fingers crossed though!

Any spare money this month will go to the Santander CC. I had thought it was £2000 last month but got myself muddled. I think I got my calculations wrong :eek: I had paid the rail season ticket money to it so the balance wasn't a true reflection of my debt and I think I was confusing myself. Anyway just actually bought my rail ticket and made a payment to the card of £50 and we're sitting at £2000.

I do have a spare £50 in my direct debit account (in case anyone takes the wrong amount) but if everything goes as it should I may transfer that to the credit card. We shall see!

Feeling positive (as always when I've just been paid ) .. Just hope I can make it through the month without any emergencies as my spreadsheet leaves very little wiggle room!

lonelyrat

Today:
1. Email HR with proof of rail ticket purchase
2. Figure out my Clubcard (got the Tesco Pay+ app but never actually got a physical Clubcard so can't find the number anywhere so can't access the Clubcard app. I'm confused )
3. Go to Hobbycraft
3.1 See if it will be cheaper buying my wool there or on Amazon
3.2 Buy felt tip pens
4. Make steak and ale pie for dinner (Get OH to make roasties)
5. Shower AND dry hair AND straighten hair

Try not to go crazy spending all my limited money
:cool:

lonelyrat

Today:
[STRIKE]1. Email HR with proof of rail ticket purchase[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]2. Figure out my Clubcard [/STRIKE]
Emailed them and they replied saying they will post me a physical clubcard so that I'll have the number.
[STRIKE]3. Go to Hobbycraft
[/STRIKE][STRIKE]3.1 See if it will be cheaper buying my wool there or on Amazon[/STRIKE]
Cheaper on Amazon
[STRIKE]3.2 Buy felt tip pens [/STRIKE]
4. Make steak and ale pie for dinner (Get OH to make roasties)
WIll have this for dinner tomorrow as didn't have enough time today. Had jacket potatos, carrots and parma ham chicken today which was lovely.
[STRIKE]5. Shower AND dry hair AND straighten hair
[/STRIKE]And repainted my nails
[STRIKE]Try not to go crazy spending all my limited money
[/STRIKE]
Made it through a day without spending too much....
- Groceries in Morrisons £28.95
- Withdrew £150 cash for the next three weeks
- New knitting needles £2.50

Currently in bed watching Once Upon A Time on Netflix It's very silly but I'm quite enjoying it.

It's snowing here again so fingers crossed no issues with my train to work tomorrow :A