Why is spending money so easy......

Snwps

Can you believe it, my washing machine has packed in. Why does this always happen? As soon as I think right here we go lets get cracking, get these figures down, something comes along and I'm back to square one.

At least I don't have to worry about where that extra pay is going now, it's going on a new washing machine. It's only 4 years old. I never seem to have any luck with washing machines. So this time I'm not spending a fortune on one like I normally do I'm getting a basic no frills one for £239. See how long this one lasts. It's just one of those things that you can't go without.

Drawingaline

I ways say my car has some sort of connection to my bank account and knows when I have some extra funds. It always promptly breaks.

quintwins

HI Snwps I"ve just been reading threw your diary and I can really relate so much.

Also not sure if you got ur insurance sorted but I did pizza delivery and I had to get it added on. Was 15% of my premium.

Your doing really well with your budgeting and planning. Your washing machine breaking would have been way worse if you hadn't been saving your emergency fund. Keep going you'll get there.

Snwps

I'm not sure if there's anyone else that does this, but I tend to be an over thinker/planner. I make lists upon lists (or spreadsheets) of 'if I pay this much this month and this much each week then I'll be here... by this date'. Then something unexpected comes up (like my washing machine scenario) and completely !!!!!!!! up that idea and I feel crap about it for a few days. Then I brush myself off, make another plan and so forth. This cycle goes round and round and at the moment it feels like all this work is not getting me anywhere. So I'm at the feeling crap phase at the moment. I know it will pass but meh!

This isn't a cycle that's just for my debt journey, the same thing happens when I try to loose weight. I always have trouble keeping up momentum.

I cant seem to be able to just think 'right we'll throw all spare money towards the debt and when we get there, we get there'. I need to meticulously analyse and calculate everything and write it down. If I let it float around in my head I honestly think I'll lose the plot.

So tonight I'm going to go home do another SOA and snowball calculator and go from there. This will be the 294th time of doing this lol

In other news, washing machine purchased this morning and to be delivered anytime on Saturday (had free delivery but means having to stay in all day). DH can plumb and fit it no problem.

EF down to £379.62 and I have £39.18 in my cash pot. Everything budgeted for this week until DH gets paid next Tuesday. Should be able to save £120 from DH's pay next week so EF will then stand at £499.62 (will round this up to £500 from cash pot).

Date night tomorrow with DH, we're both off work. This never happens as he works nights and I'm out on job #2. We've got some steaks in the freezer so having a quiet night in front of the tele.

Snwps

quintwins wrote: »

Also not sure if you got ur insurance sorted but I did pizza delivery and I had to get it added on. Was 15% of my premium.

Hi quintwins, thanks for your post. What type of insurance did you have to get? I've not sorted this to be honest as the company I work for have a blanket insurance. I need to check if this is sufficient.

Andyjflet

Dont forget to take out the transit bolts in the back of the washer !Knew somebody that didnt do this recently and burned out the motor on a brand new machine.

quintwins

Snwps wrote: »

Hi quintwins, thanks for your post. What type of insurance did you have to get? I've not sorted this to be honest as the company I work for have a blanket insurance. I need to check if this is sufficient.

Just be careful, we know a few locals companies who claim they offer insurance but they actually can't. The company I worked for tried to put this in place and we tried several insurance companies and none of them could offer it to us as a blanket cover, we could only insurance each person individually. Yet we know the companies claim they do to the drivers as it's not them getting in trouble if stopped. But I know the big company starting with D have there own special insurance so do offer it. I had to get delivery of goods insurance, similar to what courier drivers need. I phoned Axa and they talked me threw it.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Another overthinker here, I find it quite exhausting, but can't seem to stop. Unfortunately, it tends to me setting unrealistic targets and then feeling poo when I don't meet them.
Gutting about the washing machine, I tend to think the no frills ones last longer... less to go wrong!!

Drawingaline

I over think constantly. Always changing and tinkering with the budget.

Snwps

Well I have a better outlook on things today. I sat down last night and worked out that if I paid the minimums plus the extra salary from job #2 plus my annual work bonus from job #1 we could clear it all in 2 years. Then I realised that my mobile phone contacts are due to expire in November, it's been 2 years and crikey how quick has that 2 years gone!!?? The next 2 years will go by just as fast.

So I'm back on the positive band wagon and have decided on the set monthly target instead of cutting the budget to the bone which has been unachievable until now. This should give me some more breathing room and if we did have any surplus, great, it we don't that's OK to.

I used the snowball calculator last night but it didn't sort the debts in the order that I thought it would. I've been looking online at some others today using spreadsheet layout. Does anyone use a different one to the stoozing.com website?

Also been looking at our food budget. It looks like we'll still be hitting the £350+ mark for the groceries this month, despite trying the new way of shopping. DH seems to think we need to change our menu a little. We buy in bulk on the meat and freeze it in bags. We meal plan and cook from scratch. However he seems to think I'm over ambitious with the meals. For example he thinks we should have a few days a week where we have sausage egg beans and chips/egg and chips. My menu plan is like fajitas/curry/lasanga/pasta bake etc.

Any tips on how to keep the grocery shop down? I have been reading other posts and challenges on this for hints and tips.