**Insert witty diary title here**

Naomim

Keep strong M_F
 
I know it's lovely to have all these things but think of Martin's MSE mantra. Do I want it? Do I NEED it? Can I afford it? 

Maybe start making a wishlist and when it's your birthday ask for something from there? 

moving_forward

Thank you Naomin,we don't do birthday gifts as we have a joint household budget so our pocket money is to buy what we want no questions asked.   We have a little bit extra birthdays and christmas. Dont do family gifts.
I split mine into monzo pots and have spent some of the stationery and books budget already this month so I'm being careful. 
I could move some from my swimming pot as not going at the minute but I want to leave that there so when things get a bit more normal I have the money to go.  I also have a gardening pot which I am planning to spend on seed potatoes -I know how to party don't I  🤣🤣🤣  Its not household budget I'm planning to fritter so don't worry but thank you for the encouragement 😘

Naomim

We tend not to really do gifts either as joint budget. No point!  As long as you've got the money in your pots then thats ok. Maybe list the things in the order you want rather than getting them all at once.

My ynab has an awful lot of categories including a gardening one (all empty!). There's only so many things I can put money by for! 

moving_forward

Yes that's a good idea @Naomim. I'm using the save for later and Wishlist function on amazon for things that are an "didn't know I wanted it item but now I really want it" which is helping loads as I am learning how to wait.  Also the pots on Monzo are to stop me spending all my pocket money at once. 

I have pots set up for the things I like and when I get my pocket money (1st) I allocate small amounts to each pot.  It reminds me if I want to buy more of one thing (pens for instance) that I will have to take from another thing. Like ynab but without the rip off fee increase for early purchasers (can you see I'm still sulking about that one!).

I'm also conscious not to overbuy "Things" that will cause clutter.  Mr M_F is a huge encourager of buy it you deserve it (manages to save his money mind) or that should come out the joint spends (doesn't actually know what moneys in joint spends as leaves it to me) so I have extra work in ignoring him harping on at me to spend when I'm trying not to.  The freezer baskets were an example of that, he said I shouldn't use my money for them as for house but we don't have spare money for the house and garden so I use my pocket money for small incidentals and we can buy the bigger things when we have saved.

Its really helpful having the like minded souls on here encouraging pre-spend thinking.

WinterWarrior

I tend to buy small house things out of my spends too. 

My saved for later basket is huge! Huge!
What will you watch now you’ve binged witches?? We binged around the world in 80 days, which I really enjoyed…witches won’t be far behind! 

moving_forward

Only one left to go on 80 days. That be done tonight.
We have still some of agents of shield on Disney + to watch and the new boba fett but waiting so can be binged.
Also re watching CSI new Orleans from S4

As we think we stopped during season 3.
Pottery challenge is a fave but can't binge.

redofromstart

'80 days' really annoyed me for not being true to the 80s cartoons! 

moving_forward

Yes the cartoons were fab! 

Naomim

@redofromstart the cartoons were marvellous! And the Lost Cities of Gold.

I've done 4 eps of 80 days. Yesterday evening I caught up on Call The Midwife and Vera. 

Funnily enough M_F I was thinking about house spends yesterday. Theres quite a lot that needs doing but needs a professional to do them. But there's also things we need. New bedding for all, new towels. Not expensive stuff but just no spare money for them. 

moving_forward

All the old cartoons were fab. Lost cities was marvellous and dungeons and dragons he-man transformas thundercats not forgetting prince valient.
I have a spreadsheet (yes there's a surprise) cribbed from a what you need to live on in retirement one that lists all the mundane household items with prices and I've added dates last brought so I can see what maybe coming up and get idea of prices. Obviously it's a major work in progress but it gives me an idea of what I need to consider if any spare dosh comes in before I fling it at the debt.