All change..... Determined to be solvent, single and successful

DD265

I had to laugh at the 'hound from hell' comment - I bet there'll be a big sigh of relief when it's gone home.

I'm glad you're feeling better today MT!

mumblingtaff

Was thinking about it being half way (almost) through the month already and wondered how far I'd come on the goals for January .....so here's an update.

mumblingtaff wrote: »

1. Lose weight - I need a stone to disappear and want I make a good start on this in January -4lbs down
2. Get back into the habit of running again - I feel so much better when I do and the winter nights should not be an excuse - going well, running 3 times a week
3. Drink less - there really is no need for a glass of wine after work - have cut right down, Friday nights seem to be an exception though.....
4. Go back to being a total vegetarian - I've eaten chicken once or twice a week but am happier when veggie. Once the fridge is cleared of the few bits left that's it. - done, not missing chicken at all, so the right decision
5. Investigate a new kitchen using the PPI refund - [COLOR="rgb(255, 0, 255)"]the break in has put pay to this, will reevaluate when all of the insurances, car etc are finalised[/COLOR]
6. Get the downstairs loo properly fixed - it's usable but not totally right - not done yet
7. Economise for January and pay off £400 from the credit card again, the unexpected expenses of the break in have scuppered this but I will pay off between £250 and £300
8. Buy a new night cream and use it! - done
9. Read books - have fallen out of the habit because I think I'm too busy - that's an excuse and I have lots of new books that are unopened - [COLOR="rgb(255, 0, 255)"]read half a book so far - could do better[/COLOR]
10. Use up things that are in the house - food, toiletries, household stuff - before buying new. - been quite good with this one, stocks are dwindling

Not too bad I suppose. Need to keep going with some........

crazy_cat_lady

I'm always amazed at how much you get done. You've had a cruddy start to the year but you're still going strong.

mumblingtaff

Well, the family have been and gone thankfully..... Could have quite happily smothered them at 3am when all three were snoring their heads off and I had to get up for work at 5.15...... But, my house us now my own again, just me and the dog tonight and it's lovely and tidy and quiet

Had a long day at work including the trip to Leeds for the afternoon but the traffic was fairly good coming home so managed to be back by 5.30. Took the dog for a nice long walk and have had a diet friendly tea and a nice bath. Just having a quiet evening, making the most of the peace and quiet.

It's pay day tomorrow so will spend some time trying to work out the finances - it's quite difficult to know what I need to pay out until the insurances are sorted - the house insurance excess has been paid and I don't need to think about extras on that front but still waiting for the car insurance to settle. Might need to pay for my own hire car in 3 weeks if I can't get a car ordered soon, but don't want to order one until it's all sorted.

Early night tonight, Silent Witness then bed......

Little_Miss_Winner

Just caught up, so sorry to hear about your burglary - absolute scro@tes need locking up!! I would be absolutely furious.

Take some much needed you time and look after yourself, sending hugs xx

mumblingtaff

Little_Miss_Winner wrote: »

Just caught up, so sorry to hear about your burglary - absolute scro@tes need locking up!! I would be absolutely furious.

Take some much needed you time and look after yourself, sending hugs xx

Thank you LMW - your thoughts are much appreciated.

Well, it's pay day at last and I've spent an hour sorting out the finances. It's not as bad as I thought (unless I've forgotten something huge).

Have paid off all the bills and transferred money into savings accounts for holidays, house and garden, Xmas and general savings. Have also put money into the contingency account and some aside for extra petrol, a haircut and the dog's vet bills.
Have budgeted £200 for groceries but hope to spend less than that, and £300 general spending money for the month. There's not much in the calendar for this month, going to a friends house for dinner on Saturday and have a works night out late in the month but other than that no big commitments. Hopefully, I can economise a bit more as the month goes along.

Some good news at last - the car insurance have settled the car finance for me and it's not cost me a penny. They even included the excess in the settlement so I don't have to cough up that in cash. £350 less to worry about
I've been to the showroom tonight and ordered a new car that should arrive in about 2 weeks - they've been really good too and have promised me the free use of a car in the interim period between me having to give the insurance hire car back at the weekend and delivery of the new one. I think they're understandably desperate for business this month.

Just waiting for the new windows to be fitted at the end of January and then I'll be back to normal at last. The claim for the stolen/damaged items is progressing and anything I get back is a bonus. The new alarm system is being fitted on Thursday and my neighbour is installing another external security light for me so I'm as protected as I can be going forward.

It's 4 and a half weeks to the next pay day which is the day we break up for half term and so the end of January/beginning of February has the potential to be frugal if I try hard. I'd like to try to rebuild a bigger cushion of savings and try not to dip into the contingency money. I've paid £200 off the credit card today and have kept another £150 to one side in case I need it but, if not, that can go towards the card too later in the month.

So, it's going to be a month of use it up and stretch it out - there's quite a bit of food, household stuff and toiletries in so my aim for this weekend is no more than £25 on groceries - might be tricky and take some thinking about but it's doable if I'm careful.
My aim for this pay month is to recoup, regroup and recover (in more ways than one), get some small jobs round the house sorted and to just have a quiet life!

Honeysucklelou2

Just catching up with you diary and sorry to read about your recent burglary. Hope the repairs etc go smoothly.

Glad the car insurance were able to sort out the car out for you.

System

MT I have caught up with your diary today , I am sorry to hear about the burglary whilst you were away. I have a feeling you may live close by to me , if it's the area I am thinking off there were indeed quite a few break ins over that period of time .

You have carried on remarkably well I would have been a nervous wreck,. Anyway as you said nobody was hurt and goods can be replaced.
Your weight loss is going well , in fact all your goals are doing well , keep going and am sure you will be successful at them all.

Glad to hear your new car is on order.

enthusiasticsaver

Sorry to hear about the burglary and your car and such a rotten start to the New Year. At least things can be replaced though and you have a new car on order. Such a pain to sort it all out though. Hope they catch the thieves.

Moneyfordreams

sorry to read about your burglary
Thank goodness you are a strong woman and are really keeping it together. Glad your neighbours are helping too.