Crunchy pays off the loan early, and other stories

crunchy_time

pennywisepoundstupid said:

I think there is gremlins at play this morning, my sig had also gone back to the old one.

Interesting!  It looks like it is the most recent one now.

crunchy_time

Morning all!

Just worked out if we manage to stick to the food budget of £150 for the next two Fridays then we will have about £80 left that can go on debt!  We have loads of food so this is possible so long as we don't do top-up shops.

I have decided not to chip into the emergency fund for the car service for now.  We finally scrapped the old car today and got £340 for it so that money has gone towards it.  We will also not have to pay council tax in Feb/March which is £193 so that can go towards it as well.  

We also have about £500 in the slush fund that I am trying to hold on to for the time being so that we can get used to holding onto money rather than running ourselves to the bone and paying things off.  I get paid in 10 days' time so I want to hold onto the money until then.

Still haven't sold anything on ebay but I do have a big pile ready to go!

Crunchy xx

pennywisepoundstupid

Sounds as though you have everything under control. I'm also trying to eat up what we have and  keep the grocery budget under  this month.

crunchy_time

pennywisepoundstupid said:

Sounds as though you have everything under control. I'm also trying to eat up what we have and  keep the grocery budget under  this month.

Sometimes it feels like it does and then it all goes to pot. I’m determined this year to be cautious and more prepared for when it could. I think it’s going to be slow progress for a while but after our big holiday this year we can make some serious dents.

Forgot to say that new car that we have had a month is not liking the cold mornings. So husband has had to boom it in to be checked over. It does have a warranty though. I just need to ring up about it on Monday. Always something that needs doing isn’t there. Always.

crunchy_time

Evening!

I finally got the December childcare bill and it was £100 more than I had calculated.  They were right and I was wrong so I must have only calculated for one child rather than 2!  Oops!  Good thing I haven't chucked all the extra money sitting in my bank account at debt otherwise we would be in trouble and I would be robbing pots so it has just been absorbed.

I  have also chucked a little bit of money at the oil fund as we are running low.  We only have £50 out of £300 roughly needed for another half tank so I have funneled the £100 I had saved for Christmas to this pot and added another £50.  Another £50 will be available when I get paid next week.

Other than this, so far good.  Feeling in control and making good choices.  Using up leftovers for lunch.

In other news I am trying to lose 22 pounds of excess weight this year and for good.  Not by calorie counting but by making better food choices so I have started a food diary to keep me accountable.  

I've not put anything on ebay yet but I have returned a Christmas present I bought by mistake and waiting for an £8 refund!!

Roll on payday!!

Crunchy xx

remote_control

I might start a food diary, I've never tried that. I need to sort myself out too. I don't need any more recipes or diet tips, I know what to do. My problem is sticking to it and motivation and not emotionally eating. (I have quite a few problems!). I will join you in this challenge. I will also write some gratitude along with the food. 

crunchy_time

remote_control said:

I might start a food diary, I've never tried that. I need to sort myself out too. I don't need any more recipes or diet tips, I know what to do. My problem is sticking to it and motivation and not emotionally eating. (I have quite a few problems!). I will join you in this challenge. I will also write some gratitude along with the food. 

Great to have some company!  I've had some failures this week but failing is the prelude to success so I am feeling good.  I wrote down some boundaries I want to implement around food in my journal.
1) I don't eat cakes from the staff room or canteen at school.
2) I only drink at the weekends 
3) If I have to eat a snack, it musn't come out of a packet - only apples, carrots and hummous etc etc.

I can't comment if it works but I felt good today after a good breakfast and no snacks at all!

Good luck!  Got 20 pounds to go.

crunchy_time

Evening all!

Another Sains food shop done and toilet paper sub out leaving only £100 in the food budget for another week but we have plenty of food so long as we are creative with what we have got!!  Our Monzo account rounds up transactions and there was £20 in the pot so I have slushed that towards the food hangover from the summer reducing it from £440 to £420.  If I manage a smaller shop than normal next week I shall chuck more at this as this is my plan to reduce it.

Another quiet weekend on the horizon which is good for the finances and energy levels as I am feeling very tired after the first full week back!

Still haven't got anything on ebay - hoping to make a start this weekend!

Crunch x

crunchy_time

Morning all

One step forward, two steps back. New car (that’s 7 years old so not at all new) needs a new cam belt. Not covered under warranty. Grrr. £500.

All the more reasons to knuckle down, consume less and have more frugal fun this year. Oh I do hate it when all the big bills come in at once! At least we have the emergency fund. 

Crunchy xx

PS: I’ve lost 3 lbs in 2 weeks despite stress eating at work! 19 lbs left to go!

pennywisepoundstupid

Sorry to hear about the car but like you said at least you have emergency fund and it's not going on a CC.
Well done on the weight loss.