A welcome wake up call

twiggy86

Eyebright - thanks for making me feel like I'm not a terrible human for having multiple takeaways! No more though!!!

evebeme - a friend said about champix as well actually. I did manage cold turkey for 7 months a few years ago but don't know why I don't feel I've got it in me this time. But I will keep trying!

Clickerty-click - thanks for the suggestion, I'll look into this!

evebeme

The reason you can't do it now is because men and women start smoking for different reasons. Men because it's macho, women because it fulfills an emotional need.

You'll make it. Possibly not right away, but you WILL make it. If I did, you can.

twiggy86

I've just realised that the only money I've spent this week has been on the food shopping! I never normally managed any NSDs, let alone 3 in a week! (Shouldn't need spend anything today)

This has pointed out a fact to me - I must spend on my lunch breaks more often than I think. The reason this has become apparent is that due to the marathon training, my lunch breaks are now taken up with running or a gym session meaning I don't have time to do anything else. It's quite interesting to realise as I really thought I haven't been frivolous at lunch and thought that weekend's were my issue!

Just shows how I'd probably still be spending without thinking. Not that I think I was wasting money left, right and center at lunch, but still an interesting point to note!

Eyebright

twiggy86 wrote: »

I've just realised that the only money I've spent this week has been on the food shopping! I never normally managed any NSDs, let alone 3 in a week! (Shouldn't need spend anything today)

This has pointed out a fact to me - I must spend on my lunch breaks more often than I think. The reason this has become apparent is that due to the marathon training, my lunch breaks are now taken up with running or a gym session meaning I don't have time to do anything else. It's quite interesting to realise as I really thought I haven't been frivolous at lunch and thought that weekend's were my issue!

Just shows how I'd probably still be spending without thinking. Not that I think I was wasting money left, right and center at lunch, but still an interesting point to note!

It's great that you've had this realisation, as becoming aware of a problem/danger area means you can take steps to avoid being in that situation in the future, and can make you more self-aware when you are in those situations so you can talk yourself out of unnecessary spending.
Also hope your marathon training is going well

twiggy86

Eyebright - It really is quite interesting - thought I was aware of my spending habits but obviously not! I'm only on week three at the moment, but it's going better than I expected after two years of no running!

Yesterday was a NSD! And today I managed to make another CC over-payment as I received £25 cashback from switching my energy supplier via this website! Hoping to make another payment later as I've currently got £5.24 payable on prolific, but also got another £3.75 so will wait until later today to cashout in the hopes a bit more becomes payable. OH gets paid today so will see what he gives me and maybe pay a bit more!

I'm currently £211 away from my monthly target. Think I've said, but my goal for the year is to pay off at least half my total debt from the start of the year - which was £11k. That means I've got to pay at least £458 a month. Next week I'll transfer any unused money from my parking and petrol pots - at the moment there's £90 left so that will be a big help!

I've got quite a few things to pay for next month but as it's a council tax free month that will be an "easy" £155 to help the over-payments!

savvyplanner

Just found your diary, you're doing amazing!

I'm back on the boards too with a new 8K debt mainly on credit cards. Trying to budgets, build up my emergency fund (have zero savings so thats a must right now) and earn extra on the side.

Look forward to following your journey, hopefully pick up some great tips on the way

twiggy86

Thanks for your kind words savvyplanner. Emergency fund is something that I really should prioritize higher. However in totally honesty I know I could borrow money from my parents and whilst I still have interest accruing debt I just can't justify putting money towards one in my own mind. I know that is probably a poor attitude to have, particularly at the age of 33!! I appreciate not everyone has this option but I'm lucky enough to have parents who have never earned mega bucks but have been very frugal and careful with their money - wish more of it had rubbed off on me!!!

clearmydebts

Twiggy - I am so with you on the paying off debts v's doing up the house. It's so difficult isn't it?

We are also guilty of the multi-takeaway thing too. It is also a danger area for me!

PurpleFairy26

twiggy one thing that helped with reducing takeaways here was to include the cost of the takeaway in your food spends. As you could have obviously eaten from home if you'd not had a takeaway. It does focus your mind on them. But getting those 'intermediate' ones from the supermarket are definitely cheaper than the full on ones.

Poppy1984

Hi twiggy86 :hello:
Thought I'd pop along to your diary after you kindly posted on mine.
You sound like you're doing well and have gotten your head around things.

My house could do with a bit of TLC too but I'm hopeless at diy and can't afford to "get a man in" well I say I'm hopeless I've never really tried and just don't know where to start. I'm scared I'll make a big botch job of it.

How boring is Budgeting!!! Urghhhhh so boring but it's the only thing that works for me, if I take my eye off the ball And don't record my spends it all goes wrong for me.

Poppy