Aligning the Stars

lonelyrat

Hello Starmummy! Just had a nosey through your diary - had been meaning to for a while as I'm sure someone elses diary had said you had some good ideas for decluttering! I love a good spreadsheet too so think I will follow suit and list everything I have clothes/ accessories wise. Have decided today is the day for me to get started so hopefully I'm as successful as you have been!

Your diary has been really motivational, you've done amazingly well in such a short space of time and not just with the debt, with everything. Sounds like you and Mr. Star are communicating quite well at the moment and Star Child sounds fab! Hope the exams go well when they come :cool:

Starmummy

I'm glad I've inspired you Lonely rat and thank you so much for your kind words.
I'm still really benefiting from smoother morning routine.
I may have to end the shopping ban though. "The news" means spending a bit of time travelling back an forth to a colder climate...my 2 jumpers just aren't going to cut it and I'm going to need some decent but smart boots...and a wooly hat at the very least.

I think I need to revise the list of things I REALLY need and restart the shopping ban in the new year.

Starmummy

Now my debt payment is one monthly amount I'm struggling to find things to update.

I'm still waffling on as it keeps me focused.

I broke the shopping ban this weekend. I purchased two jumpers (see above post) but I'm sending them back. Not because I feel guilty but more because I just don't love them. Anything I buy going forward needs to be really needed and really loved.

I've updated my signature with my new savings totals. I should really split the EF amount though and only £600 is really EF, £100 is travel savings. I need to keep an eye on social spends this time of year.I ate out 3 times this weekend, all 3 had been planned though and budgeted for.

We may struggle on the grocery budget, I've let Mr Star take control and it's at £176.68...there are still 11 days to go this month and £50-£75 left in the budget...need to get him to reign in on the 'nice bung in the oven stuff' if nothing else my waistline could really do without all the pastry.

As I said, there isn't much to report.

Have a fantastic week folks.

SM

lonelyrat

The "news" sounds very exciting! Don't keep us in suspense too long

You honestly did... You've made such great headway and are saving as well. Catching the cleaning bug has been so great. I feel so much more happy/ relaxed having gone through everything. 100% feels like a weight off my shoulders, it's fab!

Good idea with lifting the shopping ban temporarily. If circumstances are changing and you need things, then you need things. Not much you can do about it!

I'm taking a similar approach to clothes etc. If there's even a tiny niggling doubt about them they aren't getting bought/ kept. No point spending your hard earned cash on something you don't love and won't wear. There was a book I wanted to buy about decluttering ages ago called "Spark Joy: An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying". I never did buy the book, but the premise of only having things that make you truly happy and 'spark joy' makes sense and can filter into shopping.

3 meals out sounds lovely! And the fact it was planned is even better :cool:

My OH could not be left in charge of the food shopping.... All we would ever eat would be Doritos and fry ups. I feel a bit unwell just imagining it!

redofromstart

Good for you starmummy, I'm trying to be more disciplined about purchases, has to be absolutelyright to earn its place regardless of cost. Anyway, thin layers are better than big jumpers. If you layer big jumpers you end up looking like the Michelin man regardless of initial thinness!

Lonely rat - it was me who said about starmummy and decluttering so it's nice to see you posting here. I read the sample chapter of the spark joy book and thought it was really rather odd, but the underlying ideas are good.

lonelyrat

redofromstart it was you! I knew it was someone but couldn't wrack my brains who I know, I'm sure I read that there's a certain way to fold clothes which "spark joy" but I 100% do not have time for that :rotfl: This is why I haven't actually committed to the book! I do like the idea with regards to shopping though. Anything promotes slightly more mindful purchasing is good for me really. Lord knows I need all the help I can get :rotfl:

lonelyrat

How are you getting on Starmummy?

Starmummy

*Sneaks back in after a month away*

Well what a spendy month it has been.
Temporarily the debt has gone up! I put Christmas on the credit card...but it was only so i could monitor exactly what I had spent. Mr Star has been away most of the past 3 weeks so I've bought and paid for everything ready for us to sit down, discuss and split the bill.

I bought a couple of quality clothing items for work too, so personal spends were high.
We spent £50 re-painting/decorating Star Child's room., which actually worked out far cheaper than planned.

I've also spent £270 on a hotel for a weekend away in the summer.

I've still put £500 in savings, split equally between travel and EF.

Basically Mr Star's job is taking him away more that ever, from next year we will effectively be living in different countries Monday to Friday so there will be a lot of travelling for the 3 of us. Planning our day to day lives has got that much more complicated.
With some complicated exams at the start of the month, Mr Star being away, the news on his job and the general crazyness of stressful jobs and raising children has meant I've dropped the ball. We have spent more than normal on Christmas, days out and enjoying each others company while we can. It's not that we can't afford to do this, we just need a bit more forward planning.

One thing to note, I don't feel bad for overspending, I'm not stressed about money, I've enjoyed spending every penny and I haven't created a financial problem.

The Credit card will be paid off before interest is incurred, I'm still in such a better financial position than last year.

Starmummy

Happy new year you lovely lot.

I can't believe I've reached the 1 year point on this journey. It's just whizzed by.
t may not sound very humble but I am so proud of myself. I've worked hard and it's been an amazing year.

My Debt has reduced by £7560.51
I've also managed to save £1831.45

Along the way we have decorated half the house, had some amazing holidays, I learned to surf, I studied hard, I really got stuck into my new job.

I feel I really lived 2018.

Here is to hoping that 2019 is just as kind to us.

My goals for the year ahead.

* Be debt neutral (savings outweigh debt/ debt totally paid off)
* Become fully qualified.
* Travel (we already have 3 sets of flights booked)
* Take on a new physical challenge
* Get a bike
* Continue mindful/minimalist consumption.
* Do more yoga and mindful meditation
* Read 1 book a month.
* Spend less time on Social Media.

This could become a long emotional post so I think I'll stop here for now.

Take care

SM

WelshKitty85

You have every right to feel proud of yourself, you're doing so well! Wishing you a fabulous 2019.