21 days of pain - AGAIN!!

charhen19

Hiya - I successfully did this challenge near the end of last year and intended to continue it into the next month using £1 less per day at £9 and then £8 per day the following month etc until I found a level I couldn't reduce any further. Unfortunately life, a poorly cat, Christmas, then a poorly husband took over and I just wasn't able to commit or concentrate on anything MSE related.

BUT - now I'm back! So here goes.

21 days of pain - AGAIN!!

I'm currently paying off a DMP and although my situation isn't dire at the moment I could certainly try harder. I feel I need a challenge to focus me and reset my MSE ways back to super charged!

So - OH and I have agreed that from 30th January (happens to be our wedding anniversary) it will be 21 days until next payday and we will use that time trying really hard, focusing on using up bits in the cupboards, packed lunches every day, spending as little as possible and hopefully using any spare time wisely, jobs indoors and ebaying etc. It's only 21 days - surely we can make a difference in that time right?!

Here's how it is:

By 30th January all of my monthly bills will have already come out of my account so I will be ready to begin.

The aim is to withdraw £10 per day starting 30th with anything left in my account on payday to be paid as extra towards a debt along with any ebay money I've made.

So out of my £10 a day I'll have to account for:
*Valentines & 1 birthday card
*Petrol (will deffo need around an extra £20 worth during the 21 days)
*Food (whilst trying to use up all random & store cupboard bits I will need some meat, veg and milk throughout the 21 days)
*I'm doing the "penny a day" challenge again this year - I'm a few days ahead of myself but I like to keep on track if not ahead
*We have a family theatre trip planned. Tickets are already paid for but I'm not sure if the plan is to have a meal/drink/coffee before or afterwards so will have to guage that nearer the time.

I know there are people a lot worse off than this situation I just thought it would be good to set myself a personal challenge - I'm not expecting anyone to follow this, just needed to get it down in writing for myself :rotfl:

Obviously between now and starting the challenge I won't be allowed to stockpile food or petrol as I'd consider that as cheating. I'm just using this week to pay out for the things I have to (work lottery etc) then I'll be ready to begin!

Anyone fancy joining me?

charhen19

Here were my thoughts/observations at the end of the last time I did this challenge:

So a few things I've learned doing this challenge:
*I'm a lot better when I'm dealing with physical cash. I can see what it's going on and how quickly it disappears.
*I'm much more in control when I have a daily limit - when it's gone it's gone and there's not much I can't survive a few hours without.
*I don't NEED to go to the shops every day just in case I miss something
*It's amazing what you can come up with when you "shop" from your own cupboards (about 5 litres of shower gel)
*YS items can be a saviour - so long as you're realistic with yourself as to whether it will actually get used or not
*ebaying is actually pretty painless these days - must make myself do this more regularly

ImpulseSpender

Glad to see you back and kickstarting the challenge again. I was umming and arrring about doing a £12 a day challenge but maybe seeing your diary was a sign that I need to start :rotfl:

I'll start from Monday next week and follow your lead of reducing it down by a £1 a day each month until its physically impossible. Thanks for the kick up the bum Charhen :j

charhen19

Welcome Impulsespender! Do whatever works for you, if that's £12 per day then that's what's right for you this month! Good luck - we got this :T

charhen19

The last few direct debits will come out of my account today & tomorrow and then the challenge begins!

I listed a dress on ebay yesterday and will hopefully get another item on there tonight. I'm aiming for one item a day - I find it too daunting to spend a day listing the whole lot!

charhen19

One item sold on ebay! Ok so after fees and postage I get £2.54 BUT that's £2.54 I wouldn't have had otherwise, it gets rid of something I wasn't going to use and someone else has had a bargain. Must stick to listing an item each day.

adindas

Well. You are up for challenge. You will make it ...

NeverendingDMP

Following again cos you absolutely smashed it last time. Good luck.

charhen19

The challenge starts tomorrow!

In addition I also have:

£3.05 on my oyster card
£1.78 nectar card
£4.17 co-op card
£10 M&S voucher
£52 restaurant voucher


Will be utilising these for sure :rotfl:

charhen19

Day 1/21

£10 in my purse

Breakfast - toast from a communal loaf in the freezer at work!
Lunch - soup and a bread roll
Dinner - as it's our wedding anniversary we have booked a table to eat out, however, I'm hoping the £52 restaurant voucher will cover all/most of this!

I'll be going to the pub at lunchtime (it's the only day of the week we can all get out together at the same time) So estimated spends = half a shandy £2.15

charhen19

Hmm so a slight spanner in the works:

This Saturday myself and some friends have a theatre trip planned - tickets already purchased last year. Now in the "where & what time shall we meet" discussion someone has mentioned a meal beforehand.

It's £30 for 2 courses and "bottomless bubbles" plus there will be a service charge. That's at least 3 days cash :eek:

No, I don't NEED to go but I would LIKE to. But not for the sake of failing in my 21 day mission

Now, this is just about do-able I think. I have £8.04 of today's £10 left and can't see me needing to spend it on anything now. If I'm super savvy with tomorrow and Friday's £10 I might be able to scrape it together as I don't need any shopping etc. I don't need to confirm my attendance until Saturday morning so will hold off until I know how I'm doing.