Aligning the Stars

redofromstart

I use an App called 'memrise' which is quite good for basic vocabulary recall.

Tired and nauseous fits with the start of the current cold here.

Starmummy

The cold/lurgy was my worry too Redo...so last night i made a huge (cauldron almost) veggie curry with lots of squash and lentils and spinach and turmeric to scare off the bugs. It should last the rest of the weeks lunches.

Also thanks for the tip on the app. I shall investigate.

I'm on target with my studying...10 weeks until my next exam and I only have 4 classes left to study before i can move on to the revision phase. The second exam I've already done the classes for. that should leave me at least 8 weeks of revision and exam question practice.
I've never been this organised. I hope it's a sign of the score to come.

I'm feeling really sure of my abilities these days it's such a good feeling. I've decided once these 3 exams are done (2 in December, 1 in March) I'll finish my case study (aim for June) then attempt to submit my dissertation in September to convert part of my studies into a bachelors degree too....Then take 3 months off/ spend 3 months trying to convince the powers that be at work to pay for me to do an MBA (my qualification will make me exempt from some modules but it's still £11k (rather than £16k)).:eek:

The MBA will take 24 months...so I've still got 3 years of studying ahead. I'm only 30 so it will put me in such a competitive position in my field in the job market....then Mr Star can be a kept man and raise the babies. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Trying to make some fun plans to balance the seriousness of study and work too because it is so important.
We are looking at the Canary Islands in February...lots of good hiking and sunshine.
Mr Star is away so much between now and March so weekends are few and far between but i'm determined to find some gigs/comedy/theater to break up the grey of winter.

We've done really well on the food budget the past two months and should do for the foreseeable (with Mr Star being away) so I'm hoping to reassign £100 a month from the joint account to date nights.

In relation to one of my *by the end of 2018* goals I bought myself some new wide leg trousers today...in the sale at a bargain £19.90....I hope they are as lovely as they look online and as the reviews suggest.
I don't own many clothes...I went from 2 wardrobes and a large chest of drawers when I lived alone to a chest of drawers and sharing a wardrobe with Mr Star when we moved in together. I am working on a capsule wardrobe of good quality pieces that fit right and suit me...if it's not perfect it gets returned. So we shall see if the trousers will work.

There are a couple of things i need to add to my capsule wardrobe over the coming months but I'm determined not to buy something that 'will do'.
I need:
*ankle boots
*black court shoes
*smart trainers (to wear with dresses/walk to work- cheaper than driving in my car in heels )
*fine knit crew neck jumper
*well fitting walking trousers (yoga pants are just too revealing on my shapely bottom for me to feel comfortable wearing them to anything other than running or yoga)

I also need to revamp my knicker drawer and buy some good hosiery.

Hmmmm sounds a bit spendy!
I've not even considered the dreaded C word yet ! coal in stockings all around :rotfl:

Starmummy

Morning Diary-land.

It feels very autumnal all of a sudden doesn't it? I'm quite ready for PJ's and roaring fires and all the good television dramas. We are really into Killing Eve at the moment,. The acting in it is fantastic and it's just so gripping. I would thoroughly recommend.

I've paid the balance on Star Child's birthday party this morning and we are just crawling along until pay day on Friday.
I feel so unorganized and not very excited for her birthday- I haven't even bought a card yet. We are both just so busy and she never complains or makes a fuss so it's easy to let things slip. I must try harder.
So the plan is to get Mr star to pick up some yummy breakfast things on his way home, I'll leave work at 4 and run into town for a card, collect a parcel from next (new boots and jeans for star Child), a little cake in M&S, and some wrapping paper...and look in w1lko for outdoor fairy lights to decorate her swing (which is her main present). Then run home to hide it all before picking star child up from school.

Mr Star is feeling so pressured. Work is not great for him at the moment, there is a real lack of direction in the company and lots of shouting and bad feelings going around. He was making work phone calls until 11pm last night. It's just not on. He looks so lost and there isn't really anything I can do to help. Lots of tea and a pair of ears may be the best remedy.:(

I have a confession to make...I've started on Christmas! :xmassmile
We tend not to buy 'things' for each other in favor of experiences which requires some forward thinking. So far i have...
*purchased tickets to see a comedian for Mr Star.
*Booked tickets to see Father Christmas for Star Child (probably last time *sob*)
*Booked time off work in Christmas holidays.

to do this week:
*looked at booking tickets for the panto.
*discuss where we will be at Christmas.
*write a list of people to buy for.
*think about sourcing xmas PJ's
*stockpile gin :beer: :rotfl:

I Think I need to go back to writing lists to keep myself focused...and to stop me going crazy on the budget.

Take care

SM

Lucifa73

Starmummy wrote: »

*stockpile gin :beer: :rotfl:

This is actually all you need to do for a successful Xmas...

Starmummy

Friday and pay day. The best day of the month!

Time for a round up.
The trousers arrived yesterday....they are going back. So that's £19 I can get refunded.

I've just balanced the end of month accounts and things are looking OK, not great, but OK.
I overspent on both Star Child's birthday and our holiday so had snuck into my overdraft. If i'm well behaved this month I should be able to rectify the mess.
The only real expenses I should have this month is paying out for my exam fees. £420 ouch!) I should be able to claim most of this back from work. I also need to transfer the balance I paid on Star Child's party from the joint account.

The joint account is empty until Monday, not great when I need to purchase a cake for the party and there is no fuel in the car.
But the budget has been so stretched this month and we still survived, we spent over usual monthly costs:
* £516.42 - car hire and spending money for holiday
*£75 birthday party deposit

Amazingly we have the food bill down to £240 in September and barely used the car so only spent £45 in fuel.

Work is so busy at the moment, I was up working until midnight twice this week, tiring but it's good to be needed and I'm starting to build a really positive reputation at work.

***GOALS FOR OCTOBER*****
- No personal spending ( I don't need anything)
-Make sure I claim my work expenses as soon as I pay things out(it's all online I have no excuse)
- Keep up momentum on study/revision.
-Keep food budget to £240...should be doable Mr Star is away for work 11 days this month.
-Replace the car (yep still not done this, have until 14th when the insurance runs out)
-Try to put £200 in savings.


Here's to a wonderful weekend and a productive new month.

Take care

SM

Starmummy

I've just thought of a couple of other things...

1) I've joined the bring your lunch to work challenge for October. I know we have 1 work birthday lunch and I also have 3 days off at half term. So I'm aiming to bring Soup/Salad in 19 days (out of the 23 working days in the month)
I hope this helps the food budget as well as my waistline.

2) I cashed out for a £15 amazon voucher on the survey site I use. I just don't seem the demographic that they want...it's taken me since March to build this up and my time is far better spent studying (I get a pay rise with every exam passed)

3) I need to have a second think about savings 'pots' at the moment we don't really save specifically for holidays/Christmas we just pay out when it comes up...technically we can afford to do this but the lack of control does leave me a little anxious.
I'm not sure if pots for my gift/travel expenses will work as It feels like i'm spreading myself and having to keep up with it all. I want there to be a bit of flex in what the savings are for and I don't want to constantly be thinking of money. This journey so far has been life changing I am far less stressed I don't want to add to the stress if I don't have to. I know I will feel deflated at xmas because I won't have built up enough to cover gifts.
I guess I could try pots and see if it works. If it doesn't then it's no real loss.

NelliePie

From what I've learned reading diaries, you have to figure out what works for you. Not all of the tools will work for everyone and you have to give them a try to see. If it's not going to hurt, give the pots a go. Anything that helps make your life a little easier is definitely worth trying.

Starmummy

New month, new week, new balances on savings and debts.

If all goes to plan this time next month my savings will be £900+ and my debt will be in the £11k's.

Some nice milestones which is really good for motivation. I feel like I'm getting a suitable balance between budgeting, paying off debt and enjoying life a bit.

I am aware with the big C around the corner I must not get carried away and add to the debt.
My only real personal Christmas expenses will be Mr Star's present (already purchased), the work Christmas party and presents for my parents.
Everything else should come out of the joint account...and with Mr Star away with work for 29 days between now and December I should have more control of the joint budget so I can start putting money aside.
We just need to figure out where we will be spending the holidays and who with.

With finances ticking along most of my attention is on my upcoming exams, I feel so much motivation for them at the moment. I can almost taste the qualification it's been a hard 4 years but the end really is in sight. I must maintain focus. I can not wait to have letters after my name on my CV and linked-in...and to be able to wear a cap and gown when I get my degree shortly after...even if it is 10 years after most of my school friends. pah I've always been one to take my own path and I can't say not going to Uni and having a kid has held me back.

Here's to an optimistic October.

Happy debt slaying lovelies.

Take care
SM

Starmummy

This week is whizzing by.

I can't get used to the dark already, I'm going to be awful when the clocks change.

I've done 2/3 days of bringing my own lunch this month... the failure was going out for a paid for business lunch so I should really count that as a double win.

I've not done any study yet this week as work has been so hectic. I'm going to try and set an hour or 2 aside this evening as we have no clubs/sports/plans. Then i can treat myself to an episode of Killing Eve in front of the wood burner.

There is no change on the money front but i *should* have some pennies left over before pay day as I have no social plans or things in need this month...maybe getting some boots re-heeled and a new eyebrow pencil but we shall see if i can put them off and achieve a bit of a no spend October.

Mr Star has put down the deposit on the new car so will pick that up some time soon. I've decided I'm just going to scrap my car now the windows don't work and the headlight units are faulty, despite it being mechanically sound I'd feel too guilty selling it any other way in it's condition. I've had a quote for £191, it cost me £1600 exactly 2 years ago so a cost of £58.71 a month for a car (plus insurance and tax) is a total bargain. I think I'll actually miss her.
We don't need 2 cars for the foreseeable, I only use it once a week, so I can put the money I'm saving on tax and Insurance towards a newer one in the future.

Take care
SM

efes_shareholder

Is it not worth selling it but listing the faults as known

A DIY mechanic could probably fix and sell on relatively cheaply and you will recoup more then scrapping