Spend less now, work less later...

EscapingTheAlarm

I’ve finished work for Christmas! Hooray! It was also payday yesterday and I managed to finish the month with £1000 intact to put towards debts. I’m really pleased with that and hope to be able to do the same this month (although it will be really tight as I’m waiting for some backdated pay at work and so my wages were £170 down this month) so I’ve prepared DH that we need to be really strict in order to get there.
We’re going away for a few days which has the potential to be pretty spendy but I’ve given us a budget of £100 while we’re away (our weekly entertainment budget) and that should be completely doable. We’ve got a few meet ups planned but not with anyone who wouldn’t understand if I had to tell them we couldn’t afford dinner, drinks etc so I think we’ll be fine!
I’m feeling very festive!

EscapingTheAlarm

We’re back home now and managed to stay just within budget! We had a lovely few days and really enjoyed doing the same sort of things that we would do at home (we went for nice walks and sang carols in a pub with friends etc...) rather than feeling like we needed to spend lots of money on doing ‘fun’ things just because we were away. Lesson learned for the future!
We do need to keep our budget really tight for the next few weeks though as I find that I spend so much more while off work than I do when I’m in work as I have more exposure to things I might want or need (let’s be honest, it hardly ever need) to spend money on. I’m still really hoping to be left with another £1000 at the end of the month, but I think that’s probably wishful thinking. We shall see!
Happy Christmas!

EscapingTheAlarm

I’m panicking slightly. DH and I run a business alongside our normal work (which has its own account and isn’t in debt so I keep the finances on it very separate normally) and we’ve just agreed to make a big purchase for it which will wipe out almost our entire buffer in the account. :eek:
We’ve spoken to friends in the same field and family who know their stuff and they’ve all said that making the purchase is a good idea so I know we’re doing the right thing but it makes me feel very vulnerable and will do until we’ve built our buffer up again...
I think I’m going to transfer the savings that we’re making towards paying off our personal debts into the business account while we’re waiting to accumulate enough to pay off each debt in full so at least there’s money in the business account incase we need it but I’m worrying that some of our savings will be eaten up and the whole thing will be slower.
I need to stop panicking and try to get back into the Christmas spirit but I’m so good at worrying that it might be easier said than done!

Chrystal

..... and take a deep breath.

You know it all makes sense and will work out fine, so put it on the back burner and enjoy Christmas, knowing that your purchase will improve your business ... and make life a bit easier? ((hugs))

EscapingTheAlarm

Thank you! I need reminding that it will work out ok sometimes as I always question big decisions. Deep breath has been taken and I will at least try not to worry until after Christmas!
Have a wonderful Christmas yourself!

EscapingTheAlarm

I managed to put money worries to the back of my mind yesterday and had a lovely day. I am in fact still feeling a bit better about the whole situation today. I’m pleased that I’ve started saving so that I can put it into the business account otherwise I really would have reason to worry! Every cloud I suppose!

We’re actually heading to the hospital today to give some staffroom snacks and cards to the different departments that looked after DH last year so when I put this set of worries next to the worry of DH not making it, I think last year’s me would have wanted to give this year’s me a slap for even thinking this situation is important!! So I’m going to continue to look at it that way for now.

I have also decided to give up drinking. I think I drink more when I’m worried or stressed which I don’t think is a good habit and it also stops me from sleeping properly which isn’t good. I don’t drink in excess but I still think it will be better for me to stop completely. Funnily enough, I actually think it is going to be more difficult for me to do this than it will be to pay off these debts. Amongst my friends, I don’t feel at all uncomfortable about saying ‘oh I’m skint, I can’t afford that at the minute’ as most of us are pretty much in the same situation for one reason or another. However, I have a few friends who I know will find it difficult not to crack open a bottle of wine over dinner or on NYE. DH is going to give it a go too though so at least we can be sober together! Wish me luck!

camz2017

Just caught up I think it's great your husband got a pay-rise, I think his car isn't that big of a deal now, as he can afford to fix that.

RE the big purchase, if logically it will make you money that's good. I do not see why you worry at all, you aren't using debt to buy it, and you know it's a good idea that will help with the business - how is that bad? If businesses didn't invest there would be no business.

Drinking - I personally do not drink a lot, for 3 reasons 1. Family members drink too much and I don't like that and 2. I want to stay in good shape 3. Expense.

I definitely think everything in moderation, to say no drinking is possibly unrealistic. Why don't you start with no drinking at home or when stressed? When out with friends and everyones having a glass of wine, I think go for it - if that'll make you happier. I will go on dates, or to birthdays and drink a whole bunch. There's nothing wrong with that in my view, but there is a challenge where you are drinking to cover emotions / struggling to get decent sleep, so deal with that.

Whatever you do - best of luck!!

EscapingTheAlarm

Thanks Camz, I think that’s good advice!
I’m going to hold off the drinking at home but not feel guilty if I’m out etc... I like the idea of all in moderation! DH starts his new job in April which I think is actually better than starting now as it gives him time to prepare and us both time to get used to our current budget so that we can really feel the benefit of his pay rise.

The big purchase is going ahead!! I feel much better about it today as we had some good business news yesterday which eases things slightly. I’m Wondering if it would be useful to add the business to my SOA actually. We really try to keep it seperate normally but if I’m still rambling on about it next month then I could pop it in.

Other than that, there’s not a lot to report money wise today. I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for another £1000 this month and I think that the next few weeks are the ones when no one expects you to spend much money so hopefully we’ll be alright! I just need to keep NYE cheap...

EscapingTheAlarm

I had a bit of MSE luck today! I took my car to be serviced and have it’s oil changed and it didn’t cost me a penny even though they had quoted me a price on the phone! I even checked so that I didn’t get an unwanted bill later and they said it was all covered by my warranty! And to top it off, I even got a lift into town while I waited instead of having to get the bus! Hooray!

EscapingTheAlarm

Happy New Year! I’ve had a busy few days doing the last Christmas meet ups and spent NYE with a group of friends being very MSE and only spending money on petrol to get there and back! It was really nice to be in bed by 2! This group of friends are the people I have been friends with since I was little and are good at telling me as it is so it was good to have a laugh about my situation with them as we’re all in similar places and it makes it feel far less enormous when I feel like we’re all in it together.

DH has been visiting his friends as well and he came back with completely different tales! His friends are all great guys and I really enjoy their company but they live a different lifestyle to us. They were talking about spending too and one of them said that he spends between £500 and £700 a month on going out and alcohol! Every month!! He earns better than I do but it does make me worry for him that he’s going to end up feeling like he’s wasted thousands of pounds! Each to their own I suppose, I’m just glad DH isn’t emersed in that lifestyle too often!

We’re heading to our friends’ house later today to celebrate the new year as none of us spent it together and it’s always nice to catch up. As a group, we try to have a challenge for the year that we do together so it will be fun to start thinking of that! I need to start thinking of my own MSE goals too...