Learning to live within my means

Sarahwithlove

That's such a fab idea I had a sort out recently of my stuff and each time I do it I manage to get rid of a bit more from it. I love the idea of a capsule wardrobe but can never manage to do it myself. 

astrocytic_kitten

Thanks @Sarahwithlove, yes I’m not sure I’ll ever reach a capsule wardrobe (already have a couple of things in the ‘like but don’t love’ category trying to sneak back in), but I can try!

astrocytic_kitten

Have made 7 sales online, with £74 in my paypal account after postage, before fees......but also after I spent £9 on buying something 🤦‍♀️ This is the problem when I start selling stuff, I also start buying. I’ve been sneaking around looking at online shopping too, and seeing work dresses I now really want to buy even though I have absolutely no idea when I’ll next set foot in an office and more often than not I work in pjs these days.

Hoping making a confession here will help keep me on the straight and narrow! I really need that banging head against the wall emoji back 😂 

redofromstart

I was catching up on your diary as you posted on mine.  i think the £5 book allowance is sensible and realistic.  Mine is about the same, usually on the 99p deals. 

astrocytic_kitten

Thanks @redofromstart, yes I’m a big fan of the 99p deals too. I have a wish list of books I want to buy and check it every so often to see what’s at 99p...currently nothing so I haven’t had much temptation recently.

Continuing to sell on the bay, though having a few frustrating encounters with buyers. I’ve been selling and buying there in spurts for years and never encountered some of the things from the past month, but according to google I’ve just been very lucky up till now. Have bought 2 things in the midst of selling - a top I love but that is a tiny bit small so I’m not sure if I should sell on, and a dress I adore (it’s one size up from a dress I love that is now too small, and I’m so happy to have found it). Have managed to avoid other online shopping too!

Have quite a few wintery things to sell so I’m holding off on that for a bit. Have already sold some colder weather stuff that I could probably have got more for by waiting, but getting things out of the house seemed much more important! Still have a small pile of things to decide what to do with, taking a break from it for now though. There’s also some handmade clothes I’m not sure what to do with. I can’t be bothered remaking them, other sewists donate clothes they won’t wear any more to charity but I don’t think these are good enough quality for that.

in_need_of_direction

The charity I work with gets money for recycling the clothes it can’t use.  Even if you don’t think your things are good enough for selling on, your local charity shop may still be able to get some pennies and save them from landfill.

redofromstart

Should I even mention https://uk.ereaderiq.com/track/
I have alerts set for offers on my favourite authors.  I probably shouldn't 

astrocytic_kitten

Ooooh @redofromstart that is a dangerous site indeed 😆 thanks for sharing!
And thank you so much for that info @in_need_of_direction, I heard a while back that some charity shops didn’t want things not in good condition / not saleable so I’ve been donating good stuff and putting the rest to rags, but if some can get money from them that’s an excellent idea. I’ll ring round a few to make sure I’m donating them somewhere that can use them.

astrocytic_kitten

Well, I have bought some more plants, and pre-ordered a hardback book to support an author I like who seems to be struggling a bit. The excuse on the plants is I emailed a local plant shop to see if they would be getting a particular plant they used to carry, and they said they’d order it in, and I then felt I had to buy one because they’d ordered it in specially (never mind that they’d got a few and from the website they’re selling fine without me). Then I realised I couldn’t actually walk as far as the shop so would need to order online so I then ordered a second plant I’d had my eye on to get free delivery - basically spending £23 to save £5 🤦‍♀️ I’m aware that isn’t the most logical thinking and I’m not trying to excuse myself for it.

Have shuffled money around and after emptying the clothes pot of the £30 that was in there I can cover it all out of my normal spending money. Every month I think I’m going to get ahead with my daily spending and have enough in the account to keep me going till the very end of the month on YNAB instead of having to top-up at payday. Has never happened yet! 

I’m trying to work to a relatively tight budget (£300 per month for all ‘discretionary’ spending including groceries, toiletries, meds, mobile phone, yoga, cleaner, travel costs, socialising) and for the most part I stick to that, I might just need to make peace about constant shuffling between categories. It feels quite daft to be counting a cleaner and yoga amongst the essentials (and they’re responsible for £100 of the spending), but given my precarious health they’re definitely more essential than plants and books. 

I’d mostly just like the £300 to run from calendar month to calendar month (rather than payday to payday as it does now) to make ynab all nice and neat 😂

Anyway, not much to report other than that. Waiting to get paid so I can make another overpayment on the loan, though I need to check my payslip tomorrow to see how much of an overpayment I can manage. Expecting it to be at least £300 though. If I can manage a £400 overpayment every month I’ll be debt free in July next year 🤞

joedenise

Don't worry about having to move the money around on YNAB, if it's one of the things you need to do - they call it Roll with the Punches!  At least you have the money to move around and don't need to add to the debt.  You'll get where you want to be eventually.  For now just try to stick to the budget and you will get to the calendar month to calendar month, and then get a month ahead and more.