First Steps to Solvency

alt80 · 26 August 2021 at 10:37AM

@SanguineGina thank you. I have a few of the techniques. Banked that for when something stops working but a couple are working ok rn and sounds odd maybe but keep to 2-3 was getting caught up in something new try that, next thing try that being impulsive about it.

@Andyjflet thanks mate. Is the the etron gt? If so is it based on the Taycan? Actually think the Audi version looks better on the outside and the Porsche on the inside. I didn’t step so far over to the dark side as to buy an Audi lol but driving around in an EQC and enjoying it I probably owe you (and others on here) an apology for telling you to !!!!!! over the electric car suggestion early on.

Hope all well with you? Not quite month in isolation ha but she approves me buying a !!!!!! coffee and her free rein with the spends card told her it’s not really right ha.

alt80 · 26 August 2021 at 2:39PM

After the working day so far and a problem with one of my houses to deal with quite looking forward to the long bank hol weekend tbh 😆

Managed to drop into town to get a cable I needed for the office and not be too annoyed at not buying anything else. Had my lunch and straight back. Quite nice in a way not to buy anything knowing I’m staying on track etc. Idk getting a bit of satisfaction from the discipline.

alt80 · 26 August 2021 at 10:58PM

Day 84 / 12 weeks clean. I definitely can't believe I've made it this far. Few staff going out tomorrow night, I'm off work for the long weekend now. Have to say first time in a little while I started to think I miss it a bit - really don't, just my head remembering a few good nights out. My senior guy knows I shouldn't go out on a big one ever again. I've said the company will as usual fully pay for Christmas night out but I'm not going to be joining them, they can have a good night without me there bit awkward with a few of them anyway and my Mrs has said she's going to organise a lunch time meal out somewhere nice. September always a funny month - back to school mentality not sure it ever fully leaves after school but more intense with a school aged child and start thinking about Christmas more or we certainly do in this house ha. Son is excited to be going back, we're very lucky he has no problems with school not the best behaved or cleverest but he loves it, good circle of friends etc and gets on with staff generally well. My boy is going into the junior years he's not a little baby anymore really wants an iPhone 13 pro for his birthday ha fml know where he gets that.

Spent the evening wrapping a few things up didn't stay in the office, worked in the sitting room with my Mrs. She helped out actually I !!!!!! wish she'd want to work on a regular basis know she did it to take her mind off what's going on in the world, she's really struggling to deal with the news rn seeing mothers handing babies to troops in Afghanistan etc. We're safe here, lot to be grateful for when you think about it like that. It's awful had our son asking us about it, he'd seen some of the news - can't get away from it these days but how the !!!!!! can any of it be explained to a little boy idk.

Had a look at the September projection - wife reckons she's going to get through this month without spending anything fml here we go again lol. Anyway she doesn't spend beyond allocated beauty/ entertainment etc spends and with no sales I'm looking at a total reduction of £3050. Ended last month on £29935 left on the cards. This month will see the Sainsburys !!!!!! off for good unless they have a decent 0% deal on again soon lol and if we don't go mad will be ending the month with £26885 outstanding. I'm seriously thinking about trying to get this under £20k to start 2022.

Other money news; I am allowing myself access to my company card for expenses from Wednesday. I !!!!!! up once and it's going back in the safe. I've not put it on my phone and no reason I should !!!!!! up considering its a company card and not my own.

FootyFanDan · 27 August 2021 at 6:14AM

Well done mate, the progress you have made is absolutely brilliant. I am so pleased that you have managed to turn it around and you seem to be in such a better frame of mind. Christmas is never off the mind in our house !!!!!!...honestly she would plan it all year round if i let her hahaha. Have a great weekend

getmore4less · 27 August 2021 at 6:18AM

Stonking 12 weeks.

Can't remember the planned for the next 4 months probably a bit more than that last couple with Greece and Xmas in the mix, if you hit £3k Sept and the other 3 that £20k target is in sight, if you hit the average of Aug/Sept you could scape a bit more off

I can understand not getting involved in the nights out these days, we had a few works do's that got seriously silly but the what happens at the xmas do stays at the xmas do avoided any dismisals.

We also had the odd company lunch which were much better, start a bit late and have the afternoon off.

Pretty major turnaround on the low/no spend lifestyle, turns out the £20 a day has been a good way to reset the spend button, it has been said before habits take time to get changed brings me back to something you said yesterday..

She did make me laugh last night told her I don’t mind the low budget lifestyle she said the planned later purchases say otherwise haha. She’s started putting together her own list now lol.

Wish lists where you sleep on things rather than the instant gratification are good, more time to think about the real value of what you want and you also have time to research the price cycles and look out for the deal.

Quite important to try to stick to the list and not get back into the habit of it's on sale must get it
One of my weak points, check HUKD every day.

Now you have the BBQ you can keep an eye out for charcoal the savings won't be massive but enough to get the good stuff for the price of regular also you cannot have too many BBQ accessories.

warby68 · 27 August 2021 at 6:34AM

12 weeks - that's a decent probation period for a job and you've passed with flying colours.

You (and wife to some extent) both seem much more aware of the balance thing and are enjoying life together quite a bit more. All good. You might need to get son on board next though if he's talking iPhone 13 at 7 or tell his mum to rein in the chat about material stuff.

Christmas dos - had many which started with a 'civilised' late lunch with everyone present and then the most senior would leave before it got messy. If they didn't see it, didn't have to do anything about it. You could shift to that kind of thing. Not always great to have the boss there for everything for both sides anyway. Some distance is generally good.

Sun_Addict · 27 August 2021 at 7:27AM

12 weeks clean is an amazing achievement. You must feel better in yourself.

We always have our work Christmas do as a late lunch followed by drinks afterwards for those who want to carry on. You could pay for the meals and drinks to go with it then leave them to it.