Diary time

Cornish_mum

Hi HotDog,
Just wanted to pop by to say hello. Please don’t feel downhearted - it is a tough time and staying out of debt is a big achievement.  Good luck on your journey CM

HotDog2020

Hi All,
Good and bad news:
Good: I have an emergency fund of £2000
Bad news: I may need it - I have been made redundant.
Good News: I have two interviews coming up.
My CV looks quite good thanks to the last job, but I have had three interviews, one person actually said that I didn't sell myself very well, of course I didn't think that was what mattered when you went for a job, just that you have the competency for doing the job, skills experience etc. I do not know perhaps because that particular role didn't inspire me, it is hard to be inspired when you are desperate for a job!
Moan over!
Here are the stats:
Credit card: 0.00
Emergency Fund: £2000
Mortgage: Still No OP
Goal: Get a job and be very savvy with money!

HotDog2020

Hi All,
It has been a while since I last posted, just heard some promising news on the job front I had an interview a few months back and they said that I interviewed well, however I would be more suitable to a permanent role and that if anything turned up they would give me a call.....yesterday they called! Fingers crossed.
I have found not having a job and being in lockdown and planned motives, I have become a lot more savvy in diet and money although initially I have put on weight, I am now a Slimming world (SW) representative - not consultant I just mean someone who religiously follows the diet (although not perfect all the time). 
Money wise, every month I spend less and less, more out of need then anything, but I feel okay not spending, now I have SW, studies and several projects I am contented - just need now to get paid and start making overpayments.
Here are the stats:
Credit Card: 0.00
Emergency Fund: 0.00
Mortgage left to pay: £51,911
Goal Get a job and remain money savvy and dieting queen!!

SpendingPennies

Sounds like you have done very well. Keeping fingers crossed for you on the job front. 

caeler

well well done for keeping your focus despite furlough and redundancy. Good luck in the jobs front. @HotDog2020

HotDog2020

Hi All,
First a shout out to Caeler and spendingpennies, thank you for your responses.
Well I am going to be employed again so that is some great news! I have planned what I want to do with all my heard earned cash, with the current pandemic, I feel I can put a lot more away, what do you all think to the following:

Bills	Budget
Mortgage	400.00
Bal Chg and gd rent	350
Service Chg	165
Council Tax	125
Heat and light	70
Water	32
Phone&Internet	23.98
TV	26.25
Car service	16.02
Lotto	10
Contents Insurance	4.43
NHS prepaid	12
Total	1234.68
Sainsburys	390
Total	390
GRAND Total	1624.68
Wages	1627
Total	1627
Remains	2.32

The Mortgage is set up for an overpayment of £200.63p it is normally 199.37.
The Sainsburys is credit card and it includes: 250 food (technically 50 per week, 60 on petrol and 80 on spend.
Bal Chg and Gd rent: is as stated, but it is also for car (8,000 over 4 years), mot, tax disc, car insurance.
Anything I don't spend in the month will go towards a new treadmill.
Thank youX

SpendingPennies

Brilliant news on the job, well done and congratulations. I don’t feel experienced enough to comment on your budget, only to suggest that maybe give it a try for a couple of months and see how it works out for you. 

HotDog2020

Dear Diary,

Thank you spendingpennies for your previous comment.

The good news is I have kept up with the overpayments, the bad news is I have no other savings. I know martin Lewis suggests not fitting into a budget and be fair on yourself (if i am wrong correct me!) and I know not all savings would have been lost had the oven not gone on me amongst some reckless spending, but I would really like to stick to a hard budget, one I could be rolling in it! two if i stick to my healthy eating plan a lot of money could be saved so it is also good for my health, and 3  I know I should use some of that money to buy something nice for myself to replace the food treats, but surely I should be able to do this if I put full power behind it?

I am thinking realistically now that actually I cannot stick to a hard budget because we are just not designed that way unless we need to be and sometime not even then!, what I will do is stick to planning for the best outcome, which is more money to use for overpayments, but then start to get a picture of what changes I can make with my spending habits, it would help if I had a few cheaper hobbies. I have joined a walking club, but at the mo I am too big to walk, I am trying to lose weight I have good days and bad days, I'll aim for good days here also.

I guess I have things to work on, and I need to get some savings together for rainy day, I won't give the stats as they are not drastically different, next time I will though.

All the best

HotDog2020