My year of living dangerously

doingitanyway

Seasidegal58 wrote: »

I think you're right to cancel the gym membership if you know you're not going to use it. You know you don't like gyms so the payments will just be wasted to fulfil a wish that isn't going to happen. I'm sure you'll find another form of exercise that you will be committed to - you have a lot on your plate at the moment so give yourself time - and at least you are having some AF days!

Thanks SSG. You helped me feel better about cancelling the gym and as you say I will find another form of exercise I can commit to. I am thinking of walking and cycling as I enjoy them both but I need to sort suitable footwear and repair my bike tyre now

beanielou wrote: »

Enjoy the G & T

Thanks Beanie

savingholmes wrote: »

With regards to works do's - the best bit of being an adult is you don't have to explain or justify - you can just say - sorry that's not going to work for me and leave it there.

You are of course right SH I did that and I won't be going and the organiser was fine about it.

doingitanyway

I don’t like to be beaten so when I put my mind to achieving something (within my control) I usually do. I remind myself I paid off £24,000 debt in under 2 years so how can I be beaten by my groceries???

EXCEPT Groceries are my biggest monthly cost and this has always been the case. :mad: I STILL spend too much money on food. I buy good food and don’t like ready meals. I have got better since being here: I use the budget supermarkets for 80% of my shopping. I YS whenever the chance arises. I shop offers too, but I STILL spend too much!

I am getting rid of my no additives almond milk (saving £10 a month) for a start.

My new dastardly plan is more vegan meals and a fortnightly veggie box from a local farm. (Just phoned them and left a message so they can call me) Any money left over from my Ald1 shop into a jar for treats or for top-up shops. Will it work?

Week one Ald1 shop for a fortnight (50)

Week two Veg box for a fortnight (18)

Week three Ald1 shop for a fortnight (50)

Week four Veg box for a fortnight (18)

This works out at £140 a month or £35 a week and that should be more than enough. Leftover money will go into a jar for food treats/top-up shop. This will have to work as my new more limited budget kicks in at the end of the month! :eek:

Hope you are all enjoying your Saturday.

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Hi there DIA,
Just popped in to say well done on your progress.
The groceries plan looks good. I too cook from scratch and love a challenge of utilising ingredients. Hardly ever throw anything away.
Congratulations on cancelling the gym. Better to realise that it's not for you and cancel rather than pay and not go. I'm sure there are other things you could try and enjoy.
Don't forget how far you've come already. You'll get there.
Best wishes and enjoy the G&T.

mark55man

me too - my problem is just how unpredictable the groceries are from month to month so good luck - but food is to be enjoyed - a treat in your own home so every now and again a bit of YS luxury isn't too sinful

doingitanyway

Mrs_Boo_Boo wrote: »

Hi there DIA,
Just popped in to say well done on your progress.
The groceries plan looks good. I too cook from scratch and love a challenge of utilising ingredients. Hardly ever throw anything away.
Congratulations on cancelling the gym. Better to realise that it's not for you and cancel rather than pay and not go. I'm sure there are other things you could try and enjoy.
Don't forget how far you've come already. You'll get there.
Best wishes and enjoy the G&T.

Thanks Mrs Boo Boo

mark88man wrote: »

me too - my problem is just how unpredictable the groceries are from month to month so good luck - but food is to be enjoyed - a treat in your own home so every now and again a bit of YS luxury isn't too sinful

Thanks Mark88. I'm all for food enjoyment and sin-free eating but I do need to get the budget under control as my income is about to dive. Luckily more time should lead to lower grocery bills and healthier eats. I should be able to have treats too on the new food shop plan so giving it a go

savingholmes

Good luck with the groceries. Have you tried a weekly envelope for food with cash so that you only spend that - I am planning to try envelopes again after payday for a few categories.

jwil

Good luck with the grocery plan. I spend too much too.

doingitanyway

savingholmes wrote: »

Good luck with the groceries. Have you tried a weekly envelope for food with cash so that you only spend that - I am planning to try envelopes again after payday for a few categories.

I will be using a cash system but a jam jar instead of the envelopes

jwil wrote: »

Good luck with the grocery plan. I spend too much too.

Thanks jwil

another_casualty

I've been catching up on your diary DIA. Everything seems promising.
Great stuff on the bursary . :T
Understandable about the gym too tbh. So many people can't get on with them . You seem to be conscious about keeping fit so whatever works for you . You eat far more healthily than I ever can , so plus points there already .

Regrading work do's , if you can avoid them then do so .
I used to like them but the older I got ( and the horrid companies I was employed with in later years ) I lost interest .
I do remember coming out with a white lie , in the most spectacular of fashions imho. I was about an hour away from going home time , and I got approached from a very slimy colleague from another dept.
He asked if I was going out for his birthday / leaving drink which I knew nothing about . I was unprepared , but just said in a flash of genius that I had to pickup my sisters cat from the vet before it closes
Phew ! Got out of that :rotfl:
I'd better stop rambling and just say, keep going

doingitanyway

Thanks AC You saw my gym plans were doomed to failure as soon as I posted. Turns out you were right. Ah well, I will find an alternative...;)

I have another 2 works do's this week. I successfully made an excuse for another 'do' next week...Win some, lose some

One of my lovely neighbours gave me vegetables in pots. I failed 3/4 potted veggies, but I kept one pot alive. I now have chilli peppers! Yesterday he left 2 lovely cucumbers on my doorstep. He seems to have given up on my ability to grow things and is now just given me the produce instead. Anyway I pot roasted a YS chicken yesterday so a chicken salad beckons

Washing machine started bleeping and misbehaving but I stayed in denial instead of taking action. (I do think out and out denial is an often overlooked strategy Anyway it seems okay now, but that may have been a warning sign. It is over 10 years old so I can’t complain. When I had debt I would have been thrown into a panic wondering how on earth I could replace it. Being debt free and having even a small emergency fund is a much calmer place

(Redo I think being here is helpful for people working to become DF because it is important to see life after debt, so I'm staying unless I get thrown out because I feel comfortable here. I hope you stay on DF diaries too)

Ironing sitting on the ironing board for 4 days. Probably time to do the ironing and pack away clothes and board. Off to do that now...

Wishing you all a lovely evening