Facing reality

Sarahwithlove

ohdearhowdidthathappen said:

Sounds like you're doing great.  Definitely worth decorating your room; if it's your bedroom AND work space, you must spend a lot of time in there, has to be a nice environment

Thanks that's my thinking as well. Eventually when my housemate moves out I'll have office in the spare room but that's not going to be until at least next year. Possibly longer now with the covid situation and her losing her job. 

Sarahwithlove

August has been expensive so far this month and i will be really glad when its over and payday comes around for me. So my desk of £55 ended up having to come out of this months budget along with some more paint and rollers as i ran out. My room required an additional coat unfortunately. I then brought myself and my housemate a take away for her helping me with painting my room as it would have taken forever on my own and we did it in the hot weather as well with a fan on us. Crazy. But my room looks great and my mini office is all set up in one corner of it. Made working at home so much easier for me and i feel a lot more productive with it as well. 

We also had the year anniversary of my housemate moving in and although sometimes she gets on my nerves (mostly when comes to money) we decided to spend the day together, went for a walk down beach, played some crazy golf and had lunch with ice cream. Was a great day and nice to get out the house as its first time i have actually left the house for something other then shopping since coved started in march. Crazy to think that but it made me realise how much i miss doing things. So have scheduled to catch up with my bestie this week for dinner on Friday. Think that's probably going to use the last of my spending allowance for the month though so no more takeaways for me.I have to be much better it's them as i am having one in some form or another about once a week on average which is not good. Especially as I did some batch cooking to get us through to end of the month with only small food shops so we need to eat those meals now as freezer is rammed. 

Finally given notice for my mobile contract so hopefully final bill will come in September. Going from £41.91 a month to £13 a month On sim only with VM who my TV package is with due to the broadband in my area being rubbish they are only one can get a half decent speed with. But i will have the same mins and texts and slightly more data so win win situation really. Sadly they wouldn't negotiate on my TV package but I get it at a discounted rate anyway so shouldn't complain really. 

had to buy my flexi season ticket for football this week but was able to use my credit on my account from last years ticket and still have enough on there for 2 games this season when we can eventually go back to watching so that's handy. Have restarted budgeting for 21/22 season though already as tickets usually go on sale in June/July time. Though not sure with Covid situation when the season is due to end. Really should look into it a bit more. But i sill have £250 saved from this years one so only another £150 to go and that should be sufficient I would have though as allows for any possibly increase from last years ticket prices. 

Credit card this month has been just basic £250 but even that's still better than nothing and will keep me on track to have it paid off by the time the 0% period ends. Hopefully soon will be able to go back to paying the £300 a month I was paying before. 

So this month i set up some new categories for my YNAB budgeting These include Hair and beauty (hair cut and massages), clothing, House fund, Holiday fund, Presents, Prime, YNAB and home insurance. These all have their goals set for when they are due and the other funds just have a monthly set amount to aim for. Took some adjusting of budget buy I have made it work and hopefully no more unexpected cost this month for me. 

So plans for rest of month are my massage tomorrow (last one this month) and then Friday is dinner with bestie, then next Tuesday my housemate goes away for 10 days so be just me and the animals for that time. I am really excited about this. As much as I do love her (most of time) it will be nice to have a break as we have been in lockdown together since March and she's had no job during this time and I have worked from home through the whole thing so it has been difficult at times making it work. 

The good news is at work I have now gone to what we call a 9 day fortnight. So i work an extra 45mins a day and then get every other Wednesday off. It's so nice having a day off in middle of week I got so much done last week which was my first one. Great for those odd jobs to be done around the house or to meet a friend for a coffee and just breaks the week up. 

Hope you are all keeping well, I'm off to have a look at my budget again and then start planning next months now that I know what payday is going to look like.

Sarahwithlove

So i had a look at the budget and did some rejiggling. I have taken £50 from car tax and car maintenance it's which aren't needed until November and December this year and budgeted to repay into it each month to get it back to what's needed. I have put that £100 towards the credit card which has brought the monthly payments needed for my credit card to clear it by the end of 0% period to £250 a month ongoing. I am now going to put the extra i was paying towards credit card into an emergency fund pot as right now I don't have one. Should be about £100 a month providing have no major unexpected expenses that cant be covered by all the different categories i now have on YNAB. 

I've still not heard anymore about pay rise. It went to vote with union which results should be in by end of august so hopefully if they agree it will be in Septembers pay packet and will be worth about £30 a month for me after tax, NI, pension and SL, backdated to April. I also applied for the tax llowance for working from home as been told its going to be for the long term future. At least until end of the year and then at end of January are office closes anyway. Considering we only go in for two afternoons a week and that's just to send stuff in post its unlikely we will be going at all anymore as all forms are now electronic so get uploaded rather than posted. So that's about an extra £20 a month for me as well. I feel happy that i am finally at a place with my budget and debts that i can work with long term. My debts are being repaid using my rent money my housemate gives me so when she leaves (not likely to be until at least late next year as she's been made redundant) i can still keep to the budget that's been set and i am comfortable with. Happy days. Now to try and increase my non spending days. 

shoppingobsessed2020

What a rollercoaster you’ve been on.  Sorry to hear about your mum, I can’t imagine what you’ve been threw with that as it changed your life upside down, shows what a strong person you are though to have got to were you are now and having paid off a huge chunk of debt to now with a plan in place to clear the rest.

i don’t envy the living situation, made me look back on my flat share days and made me grateful I’m out of that, it was the cleaning for for me as well that was the bugbear.  Bathroom and kitchen especially.  I’m not a clean freak but some common courtesy is nice and just push the hoover round once in  while not a lot to ask.  I’m glad things seem to be improving though and I’m looking for3rd to reading more of your journey

Sarahwithlove

shoppingobsessed2020 said:

What a rollercoaster you’ve been on.  Sorry to hear about your mum, I can’t imagine what you’ve been threw with that as it changed your life upside down, shows what a strong person you are though to have got to were you are now and having paid off a huge chunk of debt to now with a plan in place to clear the rest.

i don’t envy the living situation, made me look back on my flat share days and made me grateful I’m out of that, it was the cleaning for for me as well that was the bugbear.  Bathroom and kitchen especially.  I’m not a clean freak but some common courtesy is nice and just push the hoover round once in  while not a lot to ask.  I’m glad things seem to be improving though and I’m looking for3rd to reading more of your journey

Thank you it really has been a roller-coaster of emotions for me over the last few years. I still have days where its hard thinking about how I will never see her again. 
Sadly that is biggest bugbear for us and money. She's been made redundant so on UC and I try to let little things slide like today got her chocolate from shop and spent £2.50 and other day she had a few tins of tuna and salad bits that came to like £5 and I didn't ask for it back because she says she's poor. Then in next sentence she's like oh how much is ferry ticket as going on a date in Saturday. Oh its OK I'll put it on my credit card. Why is a date more important than buying food! Or how about she's driving to Scotland next week to go camping for 10 days with a friend. Says they will do it on cheap last time she went her 50% of petrol was £100 without anything else 🙄😩 now I'm winding myself up over it 

Sarahwithlove

Good morning all. So I am happy to say my phone contract is now switched over to sim only for £13 a month saving me a whopping £28 a month. I have also had my application to switch to H@lifax for their £100 bonus agreed so that's now in progress. I have gone for the £5 a month reward option as none of others appealed to me. It may be close as to whether or not I spend £500 a month on my card but I should be around that figure with my good shopping, spending money, massages and usually my housemates shopping as she transfers money to me after. If not then its not an issue as I just don't get the £5 that month. Getting low on foodie bits so think a small top up shop may be required tonight but I have £100 left in food shop fund to last until end of month which is plenty considering my freezer is full of bulk meals I prepared.
Im off to see if there's an easy way to close down some old bank accounts and credit cards whilst my credit score has taken a beating (11pts😂) from my hard searches for phone and bank account switch I might as well get it all done at once.  

Mx_Emmin

Subscribed! I wont have time to go through your archives unfortunately but I'm with you from now on 
 
My phone contract also just went from sim+device to sim only... I've decided to start putting aside the amount in was previously spending on the device plan to start building a nice chunky deposit for my next phone, whenever it so shall be

ryanm8655

Sarahwithlove said:

shoppingobsessed2020 said:

What a rollercoaster you’ve been on.  Sorry to hear about your mum, I can’t imagine what you’ve been threw with that as it changed your life upside down, shows what a strong person you are though to have got to were you are now and having paid off a huge chunk of debt to now with a plan in place to clear the rest.

i don’t envy the living situation, made me look back on my flat share days and made me grateful I’m out of that, it was the cleaning for for me as well that was the bugbear.  Bathroom and kitchen especially.  I’m not a clean freak but some common courtesy is nice and just push the hoover round once in  while not a lot to ask.  I’m glad things seem to be improving though and I’m looking for3rd to reading more of your journey

Thank you it really has been a roller-coaster of emotions for me over the last few years. I still have days where its hard thinking about how I will never see her again. 
Sadly that is biggest bugbear for us and money. She's been made redundant so on UC and I try to let little things slide like today got her chocolate from shop and spent £2.50 and other day she had a few tins of tuna and salad bits that came to like £5 and I didn't ask for it back because she says she's poor. Then in next sentence she's like oh how much is ferry ticket as going on a date in Saturday. Oh its OK I'll put it on my credit card. Why is a date more important than buying food! Or how about she's driving to Scotland next week to go camping for 10 days with a friend. Says they will do it on cheap last time she went her 50% of petrol was £100 without anything else 🙄😩 now I'm winding myself up over it 

Haha! Can completely relate and it is frustrating when you help people and then see them frittering money on other things... The day out sounds nice and much needed though and I don't know how you both coped with painting in that heat On the plus side you get a 10 day break...

I met a mate for lunch the other day, I paid as I could use the AMEX shop local deal. It meant it only came to about £6.80 for lunch for the two of us with the 50% discount plus my £5 cashback from AMEX. When we departed he joked about sending me the £3.40 for lunch as if it wasn't worth bothering about. I know it's not very much but this is the same friend I've often ended up buying the first and last drink of the night with in the past, so it always seems to be me paying those small extras, hence it has kind of annoyed me It's silly but there you go...these diaries are useufl for getting out those frustrations He's on furlough but then talking about buying his 3rd property, while I'm paying for his lunch

You're doing great and after all that's happened I think a few treats now that things are opening up are more than desrved.

Keep it up!

Sarahwithlove

ryanm8655 said:

Sarahwithlove said:

shoppingobsessed2020 said:

What a rollercoaster you’ve been on.  Sorry to hear about your mum, I can’t imagine what you’ve been threw with that as it changed your life upside down, shows what a strong person you are though to have got to were you are now and having paid off a huge chunk of debt to now with a plan in place to clear the rest.

i don’t envy the living situation, made me look back on my flat share days and made me grateful I’m out of that, it was the cleaning for for me as well that was the bugbear.  Bathroom and kitchen especially.  I’m not a clean freak but some common courtesy is nice and just push the hoover round once in  while not a lot to ask.  I’m glad things seem to be improving though and I’m looking for3rd to reading more of your journey

Thank you it really has been a roller-coaster of emotions for me over the last few years. I still have days where its hard thinking about how I will never see her again. 
Sadly that is biggest bugbear for us and money. She's been made redundant so on UC and I try to let little things slide like today got her chocolate from shop and spent £2.50 and other day she had a few tins of tuna and salad bits that came to like £5 and I didn't ask for it back because she says she's poor. Then in next sentence she's like oh how much is ferry ticket as going on a date in Saturday. Oh its OK I'll put it on my credit card. Why is a date more important than buying food! Or how about she's driving to Scotland next week to go camping for 10 days with a friend. Says they will do it on cheap last time she went her 50% of petrol was £100 without anything else 🙄😩 now I'm winding myself up over it 

Haha! Can completely relate and it is frustrating when you help people and then see them frittering money on other things... The day out sounds nice and much needed though and I don't know how you both coped with painting in that heat On the plus side you get a 10 day break...

I met a mate for lunch the other day, I paid as I could use the AMEX shop local deal. It meant it only came to about £6.80 for lunch for the two of us with the 50% discount plus my £5 cashback from AMEX. When we departed he joked about sending me the £3.40 for lunch as if it wasn't worth bothering about. I know it's not very much but this is the same friend I've often ended up buying the first and last drink of the night with in the past, so it always seems to be me paying those small extras, hence it has kind of annoyed me It's silly but there you go...these diaries are useufl for getting out those frustrations He's on furlough but then talking about buying his 3rd property, while I'm paying for his lunch

You're doing great and after all that's happened I think a few treats now that things are opening up are more than desrved.

Keep it up!

Glad it's not just me. I don't usually mind buying stuff for mates as long as your gonna appreciate it and return the favour. I used to have a friend who when we would buy drinks etc on offer like 2 for £2 I would say don't worry about the £1 but she would ask me for it every time. I don't mind paying my own way but be nice if people did the same. On other hand me and my friend who go to football with take it in turns. Same way it they buy me a drink or summit I return the favour. Or if I drive they give me petrol money and vice versa.
We ended up having a MacD today which she transferred me the money for. Can waste £10 on a maccies but not pay me for food shop. 🙄

Sarahwithlove

Today is payday hoorah! My new H@lifax account is all set up just can't use my debit card as post is so slow and my pin hasn't arrived yet. That's fine been paying on my credit card and then transferring the money straight away via online banking. Got my £100 bonus which I topped up some of my savings pots with. I did however also get my £25 from mse for changing energy suppliers so have put that in my spending allowance for this weekend as a treat to myself as I have none left due to some unexpected expenses this month. Need to do a food shop later but that still has over £40 left in that category so that will be plenty for me. Especially as I have been quite unwell this week with a tummy bug and now have lost my appetite as a result and having to watch what I eat. Boo.
Will help with the weight loss though. 🤣🙈
No plans this weekend for me other than to take my dad into phone shop to sort out his sim only plan and his data plan for a tablet he no longer uses as its broken 🙄 I want to try use this weekend to sort out some old phones etc and put some clothes on EB@Y OR fb marketplace as still have tags on and I'm not sure will ever fit back in them. Even if did my tastes have changed as I'm bit older now. Anything that helps make some money. My housemate went away Monday and isn't back until next Wednesday so just me and the animals for a bit. The cat has taken tk sleeping on my bed with me but she's such a bed hogger and curls up right in middle of it. And then scratches my face when she wants some loving. 😕😩 Not sure how I feel about this arrangement.