Time to turn this around

FiscalPickle

I've had written confirmation that the PPI tax refund is correct and it is mine. That is the good news. The bad news, I can feel my motivation very much on the wane. I don’t know if it is because the road ahead is still long, or if the day to day reality of debt-busting is starting to grind. I’ve had to re-jig my budgets as I’ve already overspent on my entertainment category, I do miss being able to just say oh yes I’ll come along to that, or yes I’m free for day out. I yearn for the day all this debt is gone, but the reality of getting rid of it is hard, boring and tedious. To look on the bright side, at least I haven’t accrued any more debt, so I’m emptying the lake with the teaspoon rather than topping it up.

FiscalPickle

Not much planned for this weekend spend wise other than going for afternoon tea for a friend’s birthday, which is budgeted for. If the rest of the group want extra Prosecco I’ll bow out in the grounds of Weight Watchers points. Wine is hideously pointy so I might have a gin later :beer:

FiscalPickle

I've been thinking about redoing my budget to allow for things like getting my nails done and a little more in entertainment, I've worked out this will only add 1 month to the DFD so I think it'll be worth doing. I feel like the nice things are cut to the bone at the moment, I know I have more than some people but for me a feeling of deprivation inevitably leads to a binge, whether that is money or diet. If I carry on I may end up asking for one of my cut up CCs to be reissued then going on a mad spending binge for all sorts. That needs to be avoided like the plague...

FiscalPickle

The above post, along with recent events and the situation in general, has got me thinking about my mental health. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster all of my adult life, I've had depression on more than one occasion. A pattern I have noticed is that most of the debt was accrued at a time when I was feeling down or vulnerable, I think spending and food have been my main emotional crutches. I can feel myself teetering on the brink of a depressive episode so I am trying to be mindful of cash flow, debt repayments and not undoing my hard work to date. I had a very bad time last summer which was directly related to work, I spent a lot on cards.

I think recognising this correlation is a big step forward for me, I've said it before but I do need to be kinder to myself. Just because something hasn't gone perfectly to plan isn't a reason to throw in the towel and go nuts with the spends. I'm trying to channel my 'wants' into inexpensive or free things, like bubble baths, a drink at home (even nice tea will do!), library books. I need to form a habit where I'm not telling myself that spending makes me happy, because spending outside my means has the exact opposite effect.

Drawingaline

Sounds like a good idea. I definitely have a link with mood and food. On top of that seeing my mum battle chronic obesity all her adult life makes me very concerned about my weight.

I don't tend to spend loads of money when down, but will overspend on food!

Recognising this is a huge step forward, and a relax in the budget for a little while to find your balance again is better in the long run

Be kind to yourself

FiscalPickle

Drawingaline wrote: »

Sounds like a good idea. I definitely have a link with mood and food. On top of that seeing my mum battle chronic obesity all her adult life makes me very concerned about my weight.

I don't tend to spend loads of money when down, but will overspend on food!

Recognising this is a huge step forward, and a relax in the budget for a little while to find your balance again is better in the long run

Be kind to yourself

I am exactly the same, when my mood is low my takeaway consumption goes up and they are so expensive. I'll also be in the shop buying more snacks and it quickly adds up. The wheels have come off the budget a bit this month and it's down to exactly this. Sometimes I don't know how to stop myself

FiscalPickle

Monday again, I have no idea where the weekend just went.

Weight loss efforts are going well, I've lost 2lbs so far. I'm a very slow loser so I'm happy with that since 23 Jan. I can't make it to weigh in tomorrow so I'll have a weigh in at home, it's not ideal as I've been far from sticking to plan. I can usually get a loss through plenty of exercise, but I had a wisdom tooth out on Friday so I had to take it easy.

Speaking of which, another £128 to the dentist :mad:
Still, I'm glad I didn't sign up for DenPlan when my previous dentist started offering it, I very rarely need dental work and £20 a month wouldn't have been good value for money for me.

As far as the week ahead goes, I'm going to try and reflect on what has gone right so far instead of what has gone wrong. I'm in a much better position than 3 months ago, as I now know exactly what I owe, to who, and what the interest rates are.

I've decided against applying for another balance transfer when the £1174 part of the MBNA balance starts accruing interest. I'm paying the minimums at the moment then will pay £1175 (to be on the safe side!) to MBNA the day after the offer runs out. This will save a little in transfer fees, but it means the Virgin will be paid off later than June. I'm OK with that, this plan makes me feel more in control and less like I'm spinning plates.

FiscalPickle

I'm out for dinner with a friend tomorrow, which I'm really looking forward to. I've checked online and they do a £23 menu which looks like good value, my friend is bringing a bottle of fizz for us to share as the restaurant doesn't have a licence. They have a BYOB policy, which is more budget friendly.

It'll be great to catch up, we used to work together and I really miss her. I've been in my new job for 4 months now, I'm really starting to get the hang of things, learning a lot and finally starting to feel useful to the rest of my colleagues.

Drawingaline

Have fun, I love set menus in restaurants, nearly always my choice if dining with friends.

I miss my old work mates too, left my job in October and went self employed. It was the right decision for a whole hosts of reasons, but I miss the job and people so much, my self employed work is dull and boring and I tend to be on my own. But it is paying the mortgage and allowing flexibility with the kids so is worth it in the long run.

I am meeting up with my old work mates next week, stupidly excited lol!

FiscalPickle

Mondays seem to roll around quickly, here we are at the start of another week. It's so cold here, I thought the beginnings of spring were happening. It's nice that the mornings and evenings are noticeably lighter though. I missed my WW weigh in last Tuesday so I'm looking forward to tomorrow, as I know I will have lost weight. I'm hoping for 2lbs over the 2 weeks.

The only money spent this weekend was £62 on the food shop, I find meal planning ahead then basing the shopping list on the plan so much easier budget-wise. I think it's all helping with weight loss efforts as I can research WW recipes ahead of time. Trying a few new ideas this week, such as veggie quiches made in soft taco shells that look like little boats.

£3 spent today on a V-Day card for Mr P, we've said we're just doing cards and no gifts this year. I hope he sticks to it, we won't even see each other that day because of work patterns. Cynical old me thinks it's just a marketing scam! :rotfl: