2020++ - smiling and waving and looking so fine

mark55man

They are still in very good nick DIA - the salesman did a great job - honest/helpful and I'm still happy with them - I may look for another pair when I next head in that direction, but maybe not as even 5k steps a day is not that much really

savingholmes

I love the clearance stores. There's one near us and we can get them for like 50-70% off. DD loves it.

EssexHebridean

My fave running shoes are Nike - sadly a discontinued model but I'll definitely look at their shoes again when I need to replace (which as Strava keeps telling me how many 100's of miles I've covered in them, I probably do, actually!). My original pair of that model came from an outlet store, and the current pair were tracked down on eBay unworn when I realised they weren't in the shops any more. They're "minimalist" enough to let me wear them in the gym too which is useful. 

mark55man

Another busy week - big deadline coming up just before Easter then will have a few days off.  Was away overnight on Thursday which was fine, except I forgot to charge my fitbit on Weds so that's the best part of 2 days steps lost.  It was OK though I took the lift everywhere as it didn't matter and saved a load of effort - that work office is on the 7th floor!!.

Plus, while I'm moaning, which fashionable hotel trend setter foodie thought it was a good idea to serve garlic mushrooms for breakfast - true, I didn't HAVE to eat all of them, but I hate waste!!  nobody made a comment at work, but my free breakfast did cost me a pack of trebor extra strong mints

savingholmes

Lol at garlic mushrooms.

Good luck with the trainer's.

EssexHebridean

I love a garlic mushroom as much as the next girl, but not sure I'd fancy them at breakfast time! 

mark55man

well another week done - deadline mostly achieved, just some undemanding tidy up activities to go - then hopefully more leisurely month after that including a few days in the North with relatives - how stressful can that be

just doing my budgets and tracking will be back with some reports, although don't hold your breath for anything exciting.  building work nearly finished, except more ideas keep springing up - but the budget can't really cope with them

mark55man

That was sobering, significantly overspent in most discretionary categories - when I'm super busy at work, I tend to forget about making lunches and do more coffees.  I do get some expenses for super long days but most are out of my pocket.  It will be easier in summer as I can fit in a walk to the shops and be a bit more frugal and also drinking cold water is more acceptable

Car costs were almost £250 more expensive than last month, although as I explained above I will probably get most of that back down the line.  Sometimes even experienced MSE's have a bad month and not just because of bad luck.

In other news I am now a MSE Ambassador - so the (virtual) Ferrero Rocher are on me! - not done the training yet but I'm hoping to pay something back and also a slight extra reason to read the boards that keep me on the straight and narrow  

savingholmes

Well done on becoming an Ambassador. Sorry the spends went off track. I agree we all slip sometimes. 

EssexHebridean

Ahh good - that confirms I was correct about the Ferrero Rocher gag then!  

As for the overspending - the difference between now and pre-LBM is that now you KNOW there was an overspend - and will be more mindful of it this month, where as before it would just have been absorbed into an overdraft, no?