taking responsibilty to get me where I want to be

efes_shareholder

Boy , what a week !
My supervisor is on holiday so I am covering both our work and I know about it - the workload was stretched between us already with an advert for a new member of staff currently running so covering an already stretched day is being a bit of a challenge
The boss has offered me a bit of overtime to keep our heads afloat as he has taken some of my workload and is pressed so since I didnt finish until 6.30 last night and was back in at 7.30 this morning I may as well be paid for it

Its only wednesday and it feels like I'm either at work or at the gym but the plus side is it stops me spending money - the downside is I'm shattered and I had to do a return trip home today as I thought my glasses were at work and they were in fact at home
I must pick up a second pair of cheap reading glasses to cover these times !!

Laptop is homed , had to let my potential buyer down as my dads has gone on the blink , hes been very good helping us with flight costs and costs for my brothers wedding so it was the right thing to do it although I did feel bad , no money had been exchanged

Gym tonight and then bed !! back in here early doors tomorrow and then hopefully off to see NM , he has his own troubles at the moment and seems a bit distant but time will tell on those ones

efes_shareholder

Hope everyone has had a good weekend

Took NM to the gym yesterday , he put me through my paces and shared his experience with me which was very beneficial

We went to the cinema Friday night and then for dinner which was lovely , decided to stay in Saturday as it was cold and miserable and leaving home didn't appeal to either of us.

Took a trip to the market and I did buy a new short coat but I have only a dressy going out coat or a long parka so it is something I need
I'm finding my jeans are getting baggier also but I'm hoping to sale through to the january sales before looking at replacements

Its payday on Thursday , it can't come soon enough
Will have to start catering for that festive period soon , I usually buy gifts for my close friends , just token gifts however one has said she would rather opt out this year so I took it as an oppurtunity to give others the same option and we just exchange cards.

efes_shareholder

Its payday Finally !!!

Have tallied up last months spends on my spreadsheet through my bank account to try and figure out where my figures are out and what I am spending on
Those haircuts , sunbeds and little supermarket stops soon add up

I have 7 hours overtime for next months wages , and a little cash perk from my dad for the laptop but I'm more then aware that xmas is coming and also have NM birthday in December
Have ordered a replica footie shirt from DHgate whilst sorting an order for my mum who wanted one for my nephew so thats a small gain.
Bought my great nephew a little toddler bobble hat and mittens for our favorite team , his mum is on very much on a budget so figured clothing rather then toys.
Already have a replica shirt for my smallest nephew and also ordered a wooden bath shelf complete with wine holder for my sister who loves nothing more then a glass when she soaks
So far thats all I've sorted out
The eldest wants things towards her new flat but they don't have the keys or exchange date yet and haven't decided colour schemes etc that could quite possibly be a late addition

Out with the girls this weekend but i am on antibiotics to I wont be drinking which is a bit of a touch really - NM is a last minute addition to a boys trip at Butlins. Rather sweetly he asked permission which I would never refuse but it was nice to be considered. I am not sure I would have asked myself , rather just told.
I'm actually a bit behind with my jobs at home and personal organisation as we have spent a lot of time together recently so its quite welcome to have a little bit of me time to sort my wardrobe and room out

efes_shareholder

I'm really not feeling the night out tonight but i will go as my friend is here from OZ and I may not get to see her again for quite some time
I'm under the weather hence the antibiotics so I'm blowing thee gym out until tomorrow and will instead grab a little rest and respite before we go out
hope to get in and out the gym tomorrow before the rugby starts

Payday yesterday - my budget seems to have got hap hazard since September , I've looked back through the last few months statements and tried to identify where I can make adjustments

I'm also trying to work out how much Christmas is going to cost me !! I will not accrue debt for this
I have an EF and if so I will use this as I intend to start a direct debit rolling in to this account in the new year and then forget about it.
I'm feeling old habits slipping back in so I need to address it once and for all.
One old habit I haven't slipped with is the obsession of short breaks and holidays - I do have my girls weekend and a trip to Amsterdam on the calender but no new 2020 trips booked.
I do intend to go away if I can but I am going to save the money firstly rather then book it and then save up for it

efes_shareholder

well where did the weekend go?

I went out out on Friday night , ended up drinking despite my pact to myself and then falling victim to the generosity of my friends boyfriends I overspent my budget with token rounds to their many - I am even more sure that the drinks are watered down in that place as I was more then coherant come the end of the night

Saturday I woke up early and took my nephew to macdonalds for a take out breakfast to watch the rugby final , I then decided to sort my wardrobe/room out but ran out of steam and retired to bed instead

Sunday I got up and went to the gym before the shoppers crammed the car park - got on the scales and I am now 1LB off of where I want to be with my target weigh and within my recommended BMI , in fact all of my levels so I'm feeling very proud of myself even if I did have a naughty weekend with the calories

NM got back from his weekend away last night , he checked in with me several times whilst we were away and I went over to see him last night.
I missed him more then I thought I would as we have seen a lot of each other recently so it was nice just to get my cuddle quota
Things aren't ideal and there are a few external influences that are holding us back right now but I am determined to do what makes me happy

efes_shareholder

took another workmate to the gym last night which livened things up slightly as she is a bit of a charachter , then shower , home for dinner and across town to the NM
He isn't at work at the moment so I seem to be over there most nights - I think once he goes back I am going to struggle !

Have booked my car parking up for both my brothers wedding and the trip to Amsterdam with NM - both were £20 each but seemed worth it when blagging lifts etc would amount to having to donate the same for anyone doing us the favour plus the car is there so we can just go

I for one moment thought I had had a no spend day until I remembered those two transactions.

Work is manic but I have 7 hours overtime to go on the board which is a plus and will cover my PCN for the bus lane last month so not all bad
I'm heading off early for a doctors appointment later and actually looking forward to avoiding the rush hour traffic

efes_shareholder

Thoughts for Tuesday

Why are parking permits so difficult to fill out !! spent ages deciphering the scratch off panels and thought I had done it right ( not much guidance on the ticket) to return to a £40 Ticket !!

GRRRRR - I'm not happy about that !

efes_shareholder

so today i have a £40 parking ticket to address - obtained outside my friends as it turns out they gave me an incorrect parking permit
my friend assures me its covered however its not paid so I will keep an eye on it over the next few days and if the status doesn't change , I shall make the payment myself
Could do without it to be honest but these things happen

The sludge to payday is making me even more determined to get a firm grip on my budget and how I am handling it - I have a fund but I don't appear to be adding to it and its basically not working out that well.

I am going Xmas shopping with my daughters on saturday and this is an area where I do need to be a lot more aware of costs running away.
My kids aren't babies , two earn their own money now - one more then me and I should know longer need to compensate for us not all being in the same home since they are all now in different places themselves

the girls particularly can buy anything they want themselves so I am heading toward quality rather then quantity

Spent Monday evening with NM - we are out at the weekend , once to an event on the music scene we involve in and then to watch the football.
I went to the gym last night , have a new recruit on the work team but fortunately she just gets on with it
I'm a few pounds off of what I want my ideal to be and purchased my first lower size at the weekend - my work trousers are literally hanging off of me but I'm hoping I can swerve those until the January sales
I was so tired after I went home and just went to bed

Tonight I am popping in to see one of my best friends who is visiting her grandson on a whirlwind visit - I may share the news on NM however we are out publicly on saturday so I think the rumour mill will start spinning then
Once I've seen her I am going over to see him , armed with my £10 off if you spend £40 in lidl and my cookbook as I am going to teach him to cook !!
It appears he has led a charmed life in that area , but its never too late to learn
We have both been looking at the benefits to veggie/vegan diets but I'll look for a fish dish to take small steps

efes_shareholder

Checked the PCN and my friend has covered it - I think they felt responsible for giving me the incorrect permit
I will express my gratitude

So glad its Friday , just wish it was a friday payday ( 2 weeks today)

Barclaycard payment went out today @£102.00 - last payment this month and a payment of £47 is going to be going in from Quidco

Over to NM tonight and then xmas shopping tomorrow before going out with him tomorrow night for what is potentially our first public outing
Am interested to see how the gossip mill turns after. I shared the news with one of my friends during the week and she is going to tell me what is fed back to her on the grapevine ( sometimes i wonder if my friends really are my friends)
Sunday we are going to watch football - we support opposite teams but mine has a new stadium and he wants to see inside so this is the cheapest way as its a ladies game

Hoping I can sail through this weekend relatively cost effectively , I've already told my daughters that they can cover brunch in return for my driving

efes_shareholder

Happy monday people
Well I've had a great weekend , Ended up being taken for dinner Friday night , had a shopping trip with daughters saturday , back to New man and a cooking lesson and then we went clubbing and then Breakfast with his friends yesterday , then on to the football and finally dinner out again in an indian

Hes working away this weekend as security at an event so I made the most of having him about , although to be honest 5 days without him will seem a bit weird but give me a welcome chance to catch up on all the things that are sliding when I am away

He paid for the majority of the weekend including the entrance to the club which was £20 each -its nice to be treated.

Started the xmas shopping with the daughters and picked up a few bits - have told them it will be quality over quantity this year

Also looked at an email from the credit file people and it said I had a 90% chance of a BT card at 0% for 22 months so I've bit the bullet and applied - I haven't made as much progress as I would have liked with my Barclaycard so this would be great to be able to shift everything over - Don't ask , don't get I guess.