Giving every £ a job

Blackcats

Hi Savingholmes.  I've seen on your diary how poorly you've been. Your work are being supportive which must make it a bit less of a worry for you.  I hope you get some answers and treatment soon x 

I have to confess that while the pink leather gloves look beautiful they are probably not the warmest gloves I've ever owned ☃️

In my teenage years fingerless gloves were the height of fashion so obviously I had a few pairs of those - fashion statement triumphed over the need to keep warm.  There was also a craze for stripy socks with individual toes in different colours - took an age to fit each toe into its appropriate space and it was sooo uncomfortable.  Probably cut off the circulation to a few toes each time I proudly wore them. 🤨

A good day today .... I had nearly £100 of vouchers for Laura Ashl*y so had a very pleasant time there.  I bought some nice clothes in the sale, some sparkly jewellery (I must have been a magpie in a former life) and some lovely gifts for forthcoming birthdays.  There was a sale on plus an additional 40% off which resulted in a huge haul which I only needed to add £10 of "real" money to.  And ....I walked past a Yank*e candle shop without even going in.  Straight past it, eyes front, not allowing any temptation to creep up on me.  

Making a tapas style dinner tonight and there's a bottle of crisp white wine chilling in the fridge.  I shall light a candle or two (from existing stock) later.  

Dottles1

Hi Blackcats, a lurker here.  I think I may have found my spiritual home!!  Stocks of candles, spare stationery and leather gloves that are unworn, this could be me writing.  I have got much better though.  I love receiving candles as gifts and always have a few in reserve, in fact I have just started lighting the one I got for Mother's Day last year, then there is my Christmas stash as some fragrances are more suited to winter than spring or summer.
I'm the same with note books, I have several that I was waiting for the "perfect time" to use them,  crazy.  I now do not buy candles or stationery (or toiletries) until I've used up existing stocks.
Reading your post I realised that I have 4 pairs of smart gloves tat I never wear as I don't want to "spoil" them for heaven's sake.  I tend to wear woolly ones when walking the dog as they can be washed but the others are in really nice colours.  I think it's time to use them or let someone else enjoy them.

savingholmes

We all did fingerless gloves I reckon at some point - but for dexterity reasons. 
My DD made me declutter loads of stuff last year - which underlined how much of everything and anything I bought. I have got a lot better. My current fad is painting though (art) so over-spending there. Need to find a way to rein it back in. 

Franalamadingdong

Well done on your trip. I love Laura Ashley. I have some lovely things from there. 

foxgloves

Ooooh, the gloves sound fab, Blackcats & certainly would have attracted a 2nd look from me back when I was spendy. I have a long pair of gloves made from black lace, which come nearly up to my elbows. I bought them for a performance I was in many years ago......just one occasion, but of course it had to involve a spend! Now they only really come out for the occasional funeral. They are lovely, but if it is cold enough for wearing gloves, then it is of course too cold for lace ones. Another waste of money from the pre-LBM Foxgloves everlasting overdraft!
F

Blackcats

Ah Dottles - a kindred spirit.  Dig out those gloves and enjoy them.  After I'd courageously walked past Yankee yesterday, 2 shops down was Papercha*e and I walked past there too.  But only because I got a gorgeous notebook with post-its for Christmas.  I'm definitely not cured but at least I now exercise some self control. 

Yes Laura Ashley has some lovely things, pretty and delicate.  Many, many years ago a so called friend who thought she was very cool used to call me Laura Ashley as an insult 🥺
foxgloves I can imagine that I would also have very happily purchased black lace gloves as a one-off - the old me wouldn't have thought twice about that.  Trouble is I wouldn't actually be able to find them now! 
my accounting month end is on Thursday so I'm creeping towards the end of quite a good month spending wise.  Interestingly I haven't felt like I've missed out on anything but I've spent significantly less than I usually do.  I know that some savings have come from using points/vouchers etc, however the amount leaving my purse is definitely less than usual. 

Franalamadingdong

That's great. Hopefully you won't be tempted to spend the cash when the vouchers run out... I usually spend the voucher, then spend the same amount in money, because the other stuff didn't cost anything because I used the voucher... And I'd do it a few times over. Lol. I'm so daft.

savingholmes

I relate to the voucher spend issue Fran - my worst is when I return stuff and just respend.
Blackcats it sounds like you are really changing your habits - so glad it is reflecting positively in your money situation.

Blackcats

Yes indeed Fran and Saving Holmes - I have the ability to rationalise how I spend money in a completely irrational not rational way.  I saved £x when I bought something so I still had £x plus a bit more if necessary to spend on something else.  Trouble is I hadn't planned or budgeted for the original spend so there was no saving made just cost incurred!

Blackcats

Waiting for this month's credit card statement period to end so that I can do my end of month totting up. i pay for all my spends on the card (except for small cash spends) and pay it off in full.  It's easy to categorise the spends against budget.  I've overspent again on eating out.  I don't want to increase that budget category because it's already generous so I need to change some habits/behaviours.  I will aim to stick to that budget next month - that will be an achievement.  

In the past I often only made minimum payments on my numerous credit cards  I was usually close to my credit limit too and they were very high credit limits.  At the time I tried to kid myself that it was fine and It was all under control but I realise that money was a constant underlying worry.  Even so, I still didn't change my habits for many years.  In fact I'm still in the princess of changing my habits but I do feel so much better about money than I used to.