Fixing Today for a Brighter Tomorrow!

SavingAFuture

Remembered to bring lunch to work today.
Small victories.

Staying home tonight to do some wedding planning, drink some wine and play some board games.
Happy Friday all! xx

pidge04

Wow, you are doing really well. I find this very inspiring. Is it 5 more credit card payments left? Whoop whoop!!

SavingAFuture

Yes! Just five more credit card payments left to go. The first of which will be later this week when I get paid. This will take me under £1000.

I feel another small confession is in order.
I went up to London yesterday and I spent far more than I budgeted. My Dad had already paid out for the activities so I thought it would be a cheap-ish day.
I'd put £20 aside for the train and a coffee but I ended up paying for the train for my OH (I felt bad that he had to pay to come to a family thing) and then 2 rounds of drinks at £20 each… :mad:
Bit of a setback. I've got the horrible creeping guilt today. But I didn't reach for the credit cards, I actually had money "spare" to cover it. Even if it means beans on toast for the rest of the month!! :beer:

SavingAFuture

Being in debt can feel something like a prison sentence.
I'm really thinking about changing my career and moving to a new job internally but it would mean taking a bit of a pay cut and spending out more on travel. I think it's the right job for me and a good career move in the long term but being in debt keeps me feeling trapped where I am, chasing the money.

My current job pays well and is local to home but it certainly doesn't make me happy. I'm not inspired.
This new job makes me feel excited. I think I'm going to sit down with my partner tonight and have a long talk about how we can manage our finances better so I can go for the job.

Possibly involving him getting a job more suited to someone of his age and pulling his weight…but I've been fighting that losing battle for a long while!

ImpulseSpender

Just caught up on your diary from the start and I must say, you’ve given me a good kick up the !!!! to stop spending on lunches and coffees etc.

Regarding your job, I feel like doing what you love and enjoy is much more important than the amount you earn but it is so hard when you’re paying off debts and trying to save for the weddding to take a pay cut. I think in the long run though it’s better for you to do what you enjoy.

SavingAFuture

Hi Impulse Spender - welcome to my diary! I'm glad to have motivated you
The little spends are my ongoing struggle but I'm aiming to bring my lunch to work every day in December. Except the work Christmas lunch of course! (Paid for by the company).

No decision on the job front yet. Was planning to speak to my current manager today but he hasn't rung me back yet, even though he said he would. Standard.

SavingAFuture

Big News, People!
My credit card bill is under £1000. A momentous day!!

CrazyMoose9324

Oh my goodness I SO relate to this. I am often over generous, it feels SO good to give... but it can be so damaging! I also so relate to one of your earlier posts about how you just want to put all your money on your credit card and be done with it! I'm like that too... the patience is one of the hardest things for me. Slowly...slowly... making progress..

Best of luck to you!! :T

SavingAFuture

Thanks CrazyMoose! I just love giving gifts and treating people. Christmas is the worst so I'm trying to be super strict this year. At least with the wedding coming up I have a less embarrassing excuse than "I can't buy you a gift this year because I'm in debt". Shame!

But it will all be worth it. Let's be patient together and we can crack this :beer:

SavingAFuture

So…I did it. Applied for the new job and got it. I'll be starting in the New Year!
I really needed this change. I'd been feeling really frustrated and unmotivated at work which is horrid when you spend so much time there. Now I am excited and energised and can't wait to get started.
Of course I've got the terrible nerves that go along with it. I haven't been the "new girl" for a number of years but at least I already know a handful of the people I'll be working with. Just got to get through the next couple of weeks of handover and I'm away (sort of).
It's a lovely way to head into the Christmas break.

I've done the sums and I think I'll be around £180 worse off each month. I'm looking at ways to mitigate this but also hoping that I'll impress and be eligible for a payrise at some point in the next 12 months, putting me back to where I was.

Sometimes you have to take a little step back in order to move forwards.