Taking back the control

Thick_n_Thin

Onebrokelady- I don’t even know how to do quotes!
Yesterday I very nearly lapsed back in to my old ways, I saw an offer for a 2 night stay in a hotel that we have enjoyed before for a weekend next April which would coincide with my oh’s birthday, the cost was £340 with no up front payment required, I got up to the point where I was about to enter my card details to reserve it thinking o would start saving for it after Christmas, fortunately I was disturbed and had to close the booking form which gave me a couple of hours to think about it, I realised that I’d just be adding further financial pressures when I don’t need it, yes I probably could afford to do it but that £340 would be better spent else where for now! So I have made a deal with myself, if I can save the £340 I can book it but until then I can’t even look !

Onebrokelady

Thick_n_Thin wrote: »

Onebrokelady- I don’t even know how to do quotes!
Yesterday I very nearly lapsed back in to my old ways, I saw an offer for a 2 night stay in a hotel that we have enjoyed before for a weekend next April which would coincide with my oh’s birthday, the cost was £340 with no up front payment required, I got up to the point where I was about to enter my card details to reserve it thinking o would start saving for it after Christmas, fortunately I was disturbed and had to close the booking form which gave me a couple of hours to think about it, I realised that I’d just be adding further financial pressures when I don’t need it, yes I probably could afford to do it but that £340 would be better spent else where for now! So I have made a deal with myself, if I can save the £340 I can book it but until then I can’t even look !

You click on the little orange speech bubble that is under the post

Well done on resisting the weekend away :beer:

Thick_n_Thin

Thanks OBL, I will have a play about!
Well 4 more days until pay day so really not much happening now, sold another 2 items on eBay but for pennies really, somtimes it just didn’t seem worth the hassle but then I just keep thinking pennies make pounds and if I leave the eBay money where it is for now it won’t take long to build up. So what can I do until Friday to keep myself motivated, usually the week before payday is where I come unstuck, I get tired, funds are low and I end up frittering my overdraft away in pret! Determined not to this month so I am listing my achievements for this month so I can keep my motivation going for the last few days!
1, paid off £150 from overdraft, hopefully I can make this £250 if my council tax is taken on 31st!
2, £50 overpayment to credit card,
3, more in control of my personal spends and have not gone over this, have even cut done on my treatments this month as I couldn’t afford them
4, food shopping/ better this month however ran short at end of week 3, so now understands what’s pushing me over budget, alcohol, not meal planning and not making a list, will do better next month in this area!
5, a successful eBay month have made around £120, some of this used to pay my dentist bill( another learn) some for a little top up shop, the rest will stay in my account
6, secured another mortgage deal, just need to do the paperwork now
7, declined a night out in December ( unheard off)
8, discovers the joy of Tilly tidys, this is now my new obsession
I’m sure there is more but I’m pretty pleased with how my 1st month has gone!

Onebrokelady

Well done,I think k you've had an amazing first month
I solved my overdraft problem by not having a large one,I had to open a new bank account when I started my DMP and it came with an overdraft of £1,250 but I declined that and went for £100 which I have now reduced to £50 just for absolute emergencies,I consider it a personal challenge not to use it each month and so far apart from once when I accidentally went over by a couple of pounds I haven't touched it,I will never have a large overdraft again as I see it as extra funds and cant be trusted,whenever I check my bank balance I automatically minus the overdraft first so I don't accidently spend it

Thick_n_Thin

I know, I am hoping to pay of the final £100 on Friday and then cancel it completely as it’s just too easy to dip into it, thankfully I’ve never had a large overdraft I think the most it has ever been was £500 which I cleared when we consolidated however over the last 12 months I’ve started using it again and it’s crept up to £250, another sign that I’ve not changed my ways completely so it’s gotta go this week and I will feel like I have achieved something!
Some not so good news, OH has received a fixed penilty notice for £70:(, the good news is if we pay within 14 days it’s £35! The silly man thought he would try and save some money on car parking as it was after 7pm he didn’t think anyone would be about!!!!

Thick_n_Thin

So another 2 achievements to add to my November list, I have managed to save £12 in £2 coins, I had completely forgotten about this little pot!
I have not spent any cash on shop bought coffees, I had got into a really bad habit of buying a coffee every morning at £2.40 each day and it was really hard to break the routine however I have just realised I don’t actually miss it!
Had to do a little top up shop in Aldi for lunch stuff and some bread and milk this came to £38 so I will fund this from my eBay takings, I begrudge doing this but needs must, I might try and pay myself back over the next month or so!

Onebrokelady

Thick_n_Thin wrote: »

I know, I am hoping to pay of the final £100 on Friday and then cancel it completely as it’s just too easy to dip into it, thankfully I’ve never had a large overdraft I think the most it has ever been was £500 which I cleared when we consolidated however over the last 12 months I’ve started using it again and it’s crept up to £250, another sign that I’ve not changed my ways completely so it’s gotta go this week and I will feel like I have achieved something!
Some not so good news, OH has received a fixed penilty notice for £70:(, the good news is if we pay within 14 days it’s £35! The silly man thought he would try and save some money on car parking as it was after 7pm he didn’t think anyone would be about!!!!

It's good that you noticed you were starting on the slippery slope again with your overdraft mine was £1250 and I maxed it out before I came to my senses,my wages litteraly went in to my bank each month and were swallowed by my overdraft leaving me no choice but to use it again to live on
What a shame about the penalty notice, I bet he is kicking himself

Onebrokelady

Thick_n_Thin wrote: »

So another 2 achievements to add to my November list, I have managed to save £12 in £2 coins, I had completely forgotten about this little pot!
I have not spent any cash on shop bought coffees, I had got into a really bad habit of buying a coffee every morning at £2.40 each day and it was really hard to break the routine however I have just realised I don’t actually miss it!
Had to do a little top up shop in Aldi for lunch stuff and some bread and milk this came to £38 so I will fund this from my eBay takings, I begrudge doing this but needs must, I might try and pay myself back over the next month or so!

My little habit was a magazine here and there and when I added up how much I was spending a month I wasn't shocked,I don't buy them now and don't miss them at all,I do like a latte though so buy the Nescaf! instant lattes and use my travel mug if I want a caffeine fix,I take it with me on the bus when I go to work,they are £2 a box of 8 in Mr S so a lot cheaper than a coffee shop

Thick_n_Thin

I’m with you also on the magazine habit, I love a nice glossy magazine and sometimes would buy 3-4 per month and at almost £4-£5 each it soon adds up, I just buy my favourite one each month now and I then pass it to my mum who equals me in magazine addiction! Sometimes she passes me magazines that I think are new and then I check the date and it’s from 2016!! I also take s travel mug to work and have a stash of coffee and teabags to avoid temptation when I’m on my lunch, I worked out my coffee shop addiction was costing me well over £50 per month and tbh there where times when I’d buy 2-3 per day! I can’t imagine doing that now!!

Thick_n_Thin

So I have the day off today and after working a 6 day stretch I am truly shattered, I’ve been awake since 730am but I’m struggling to get going today and I’m still in my pyjamas (that’s a lie, I’m still in bed) but I feel so guilty about this!
I have so much to do, I need to wrap and send 2 eBay parcels and I really need to start looking at all the paperwork needed for our re-morgage application as I’ve had them for a week now but I hate doing stuff like this! 3 days until payday and I’m looking forward to playing about with my budget and seeing where I can squeeze in a mini overpayment this month, need to make a start with a Christmas list as well! Feeling really lazy today and to be honest I just feel like sleeping the day away!