taking responsibilty to get me where I want to be

efes_shareholder

wow this weather is something else - I'm not complaining since I'm really getting to use the convertible for the reason it was bought

Another hour and 15 minutes on the gym floor last night , off which 50 minutes was cardio - set myself a goal of 6 miles on the fat burn programme on the bike but it was so hot I couldn't make it past 5 and a half.
Also did 4000 metres on the rowing machine and then a circuit of weights on different areas - the air con was not working well so this was a challenge and very uncomfortable !!

I spent £3 of my remaining £50 budget on a set of bluetooth earbuds for the gym as I don't listen to music whilst working out and think this would kill the boredom , later on the new man messaged me to say he had bought me a set (I'd been talking about it over the weekend ) , talk about great minds think alike !!!!

Been giving a lot of thought in to making my finances work - I need to be more accountable and as I mentioned before the card has resurfaced and to be brutually honest , using it does completely throw my budget out of keet and means I lose control
Am trying to cull this habit , I like to have it in my purse for emergencies but I'm obviously still reaching for it

THIS HAS TO STOP

efes_shareholder

Not one to complain about the sun abroad but give me an overcast day at 19 in the UK any day other then this heat !!

Not sure whether by dedication or madness I will be back in the gym after work tonight , I will need to spend on car park if my work mate doesn't come too and also I need some laxative !! this healthy eating malarky is all very well but it pays havoc with your system
Must look to introduce more fibre !!

its now 6 days until payday - early signs are fuel should last until payday however my son is coming home for the only weekend of the summer this weekend so I do anticipate some kind of spend.

I've got my eye on a samsung fitness tracker for £35 in argos and also a kettle bell for home ( not feeling confident using them on the gym floor and supposed to be great for core strength) however I am going to refrain until much much later in August if at all

August's goal - get back on track and buy only things that are needed ...........It's going to be along month and I need to play the long game

It is wage review at work this month so I am hoping for a little raise which would be nice

This weekend I will once again be with NM when I am not with the kids - he wants to go out somewhere on Saturday night which I am looking forward too

efes_shareholder

Not much to report on.................Spent the weekend with the NM , had intended to go to the coast for the evening but the weather wasn't great so we just went for something to eat locally and then chilled out with a few films
Took the kids shopping for a new laptop for my daughter and was able to chill at the house with them as their dad and the new GF was away which was really nice

Relatively spend free time however £3.58 overdrawn until payday on wednesday which I guess isn't too terrible - I need to just clear the essentials and then let the month pan out before I decide anything else , I don't have a lot on the calender , a day at the coast with my best mate and a trip to the football with my nephew but other then that its relatively free
I do however have my daughters 27th birthday so need to take care of that - fortunately its early in the month.

NM has suggested we look at a weekend in Amsterdam , I am taking this as a sign that he is keen - I hate these early days when you are working out where things are heading but I think he is too old in the tooth for mind games , just my history of dealing with wrong men makes me a little cautious about letting anyone in too soon

efes_shareholder

Well pay day is finally here.
I just want to look at it , I don't want to send any payments just yet I want to look at it and imagine live without historic debts !
I thought it was wage review this month at work but sadly its not - looking back through my account it looks as though it takes place in August , generally its about 3% so another calender month and we will know.

Went to the gym last night after a few days off - managed to hit 60 minutes of Cardio , 5000 metres on the rowing machine and 7.2 miles on the fat burn programme on the bike , felt pooped after but at the same time revitalised , got on the scales in the gym and have shifted 5lb in the last 2 weeks along with 1% off of my BMI and my body fat mass.
Really pleased with this , I'm expecting a plateau in the next couple of weeks which I am told is time to switch this around
Looking at some of the pics of me in June on Social media I only wish I had started this journey earlier

efes_shareholder

Once again , not even a week since payday and the account is pretty depleted
I'm not sure if its because I haven't got an accurate grip on my outgoings , I'm still committing to much or I am thinking I need more money in my account then I have once everything is paid !
This month I shall be closely monitoring - I know the tap of the card hasn't been helping off late and I've addressed this and have a very small balance for the end of next month and haven't been tapping so that is now under control
I've had a bit of a spendy time this weekend , I had a lovely day out at the coast with my best friend on saturday , took my nephew to the football yesterday and then took the NM out to dinner. I insisted on covering this time as he has so far on every occasion and I don't want to be a free loader or thought of one , its my way I have always paid my way.
We are still taking things slow , its slightly complicated that he is a friend/acquantiance of my ex who incidently still contacts me and presses me to reconsider and take him back as according to him "hes changed"
He was about to get a real earful from me and told where to royally go but I've since learnt he is under going various tests for lymph cancer
I wouldn't wish this on anyone so I have been offering a supportive ear but I don't want it all on my shoulders or to give the wrong message
At the same time , it seems awful timing to tell him to go away !!

just roll with it I guess , it will all pan out

efes_shareholder

Not much to update

Had a triple charge for one journey across the toll bridge on the m25 , have called and had it refunded although they wanted to put it on credit
it wasnt my fault , their system told me twice the payment had failed when it hadn't

Still plugging on with the gym , have upped the usage on the rowing machine , I'm covering around 5000 metres ( about 3.2 miles) in around 28 minutes.
Taking the approach of trying to cover the distance in a shorter time rather then increase the time spent rowing - after nearly half an hour my bum is no numb I'm ready to get off.

Mother has slipped in to another bout of depression - I don't really know what to do
I knew the dog would be missed and although she now has some freedom she doesn't seem to want to use it and is spending an awful lot of time laying in bed
Bit frustrating that my sister has only been calling round to use the washing machine as hers is out of service and despite not working at the moment isnt offering to take her anywhere etc.
I guess we all have our stuff to get on with

NM is still on the scene , seen a little of each other this week. Its difficult as my gaurd is up but I can feel myself catching feelings no matter how cool I am about it and that makes me feel insecure.
I know alot of this is the fact that I have been around so many cheating men in the past that I automatically look for little signs that they are not being sincere.
Trying so hard not to do this but obviously not be completely blinkered either - Its frustrating that the wrongs of other people can make you this way , need to take a chill pill and just roll with it and not get too involved

efes_shareholder

So tonight I am having dinner with my daughter for her birthday which was yesterday
She has picked pub grub but its certainly at the higher end , apparantly she wouldnt let her dad pay for her when they went out but i have a feeling she will let me !!
Went to the gym last night and beat my time on the rowing machine by 40 seconds , i was pleased with this until I got in the car and felt the blisters I now had on my hands from the friction !!
I will go back tomorrow but I will be cycling i think and resting the hands and the painful sores
Following that I've paid out a fiver for some work out gloves on ebay hopefully so they don't reoccurr

efes_shareholder

Happy monday people
With the exception of my daughters birthday meal , a relatively easy weekend on the pocket
Had a chilled out weekend with a trip to the gym and a couple of nights in with wine.
Received an invite to my brothers wedding in Scotland , had a bit of a chat with my dad about it and agreed that we could share the driving in my car however my dad isnt sure he will make it yet as he has to come from overseas so its on a bit of a back burner for now.
I won't attend without my dad ( we have different mums) as I won't really know anyone and as its a single invite it would be slightly lonely.

having ordered my daughter a laptop on account a couple of weeks ago , I was surprised this weekend to recieve a second unit. Have checked my account and I haven't been charged for it
Both units were signed for so I think for now I will keep quiet and see if they realise their mistake

efes_shareholder

My dad is now keen on me coming along to the wedding however costs are going to pretty high - my dad said he will help me out with that but I'm 45 I should be able to cover this myself
the plans have now changed to fly to scotland as he is really told old to do that drive , thats fine with me but the hotel of the ceremony is £300 for two nights which borders ridiculous
I've said I will find cheaper digs nearby and get a taxi in , its very much at the research stage at the moment

I've just paid out £40 to park the car when I take the kids to barcelona next month , again thats ludicrous - I am going to see my dad in a few weeks and flying out of gatwick where the parking was going to cost me well over £60.00 - fortunately I have a friend who lives nearby who said I can park at his house and he will drop me off and pick me up from airport - this is great and again saves some cash

I'm down to the bare bones of my wages , I should be able to scrape through until pay day as long as I am cautious and only spend on fuel and essentials - I think I'll be spending more evenings in the gym to while away the boredom and time.
the downside of my new improved shape ( 1stone 6lb off since I started ) is that my work trousers are now starting to hang off of me so I will have to look at acquiring a few pairs in a smaller size should the trend continue.

Still not sure what to do with the additional laptop thats landed on the door - for now i think I will keep quiet and see if they realise their mistake

efes_shareholder

THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY !!

Its been quite a hellish week and I have nearly lost my shizz on more then one occassion !! lots of pressure at work and a few tribulations with the kids but a large glass of chardonnay and dinner out last night with the NM have restored harmony and balance to my persona

Have managed 2 further gym visits this week but am bailing this evening - I have the period from hell and also some kind of office bug and I just want to go home !!

Planning a trip to costco tomorrow and then a visit to my best mate ( via the gym) before heading over late to the New man after he finishes work
He works shifts and the next oppurtunity to see him will be midweek , at the moment its nice to get to spend time together whenever we can.

I literally have £100 to last me until payday which has to cover my fuel and bits and pieces so its bare basics this month , there is around £13.00 to hit my account which may stretch to a sunbed which I haven't had forever