DST Debt diary

duesouthtwin2 · 16 August 2021 at 5:01PM

Brilliant day at the show yesterday. Central London prices for food were ridiculous. I paid £2.50 for a large bottle of water which lasted all day as able to refill it. Got a large salad, chicken rice box for £10 which lasted me all day so not too bad. Looking around the show ground at drink etc- a jump of pimms was £30 and a bottle of Prosecco was £75! Riding lesson today was amazing and worth the £30. So many places nearby charge more but are not as good. Had 3 cups of free tea whilst there and my packed lunch. My partner is home from training for a few extra days so he’s done a food shop and is cooking me dinner which is nice. Back to the grind of work tomorrow on early turn but nice memories from the weekend to savour

duesouthtwin2 · 18 August 2021 at 5:30PM

Past two days were early shifts for me. Parked in the village and walked to the train station to get exercise and save the £50 parking fee. Packed lunches both days so no spend days for me. Get paid in two days and working out my budget for the next month. A colleague is devastated as they worked out that we have 5 Saturdays before pay day so they already know with their socialising that they won’t have money to make the end of the month. When I suggested frugal living, a budget etc they looked at me like I was weird. So glad I have more financial awareness now!

I’m getting paid £2150 roughly. The £150 will be horse riding. £25 to buy another premium bond. £40 to Yolt savings. £50 each to chip and Plum, £20 to Loqbox, £50 to my stock + share isa. Budget is £90 for petrol- still have half a tank, £450 for food/household stuff. £172.00 towards my credit card with surplus at the end of the month added. Student loan was £150 paid directly from my salary before I receive it. I achieved 13 no spend days this month so my target is the same for this coming month. Also added a new goal- 15 min of exercise (run, dance, yoga, hiit) each day no matter what. Already got one overtime shift booked but loads more coming out so I plan to get another two overtime’s at least. Little treat at the end of this week- Ninja Saving Kat (NSK) is in London Town so meeting her for lots of tea and a catch up. Vouchers at the ready!

duesouthtwin2 · 18 August 2021 at 7:27PM

Had raised a complaint with Virgin re lots of errors with my banking app. Have just spoken to a customer service representative and been given £25 for the inconvenience. Not sure how to feel about that as the agent barely listened to me and just talked about the money then hung up.

WinterWarrior · 18 August 2021 at 7:39PM

Well done on your excellent budgeting. Your colleague will learn…maybe the hard way like a lot of us did!

duesouthtwin2 · 20 August 2021 at 8:10PM

Work days for me but taking packed lunch so no spend days. Did buy another premium bond when I got paid and have moved money around to my savings accounts. Networking at work and am volunteering myself for overtime so that’s good. Going to dig out my kindle on days off and read a finance book. I sound so boring but all I do is work at the moment

duesouthtwin2 · 21 August 2021 at 3:52PM

Another work day, packed lunch. Used an Instagram account referral link to open a GIA account. Deposit £2 to get a free share- share should be £10 minimum but could be up to £200- I await the reveal in 7 days!

duesouthtwin2 · 21 August 2021 at 3:52PM

Also entered a competition to win a car and signed up to a product tester -first application is for a hoover

duesouthtwin2 · 24 August 2021 at 8:59PM

Busy few days. Met NSK in London and had a lovely catch up with some financial scheming involved. Lunch/tea budgeted for and we had extra tea paid for from my Costa points balance. Got taken out to dinner last night by my brother- £60! Was in a beautiful countryside pub and I had Prosecco and a lush chocolate mousse dessert. No special occasion but he earns a lot more than I do. Before my financial awakening it’s funny how I would just go out and spend this amount as “normal” on one meal then moan about not having money for horse riding lessons - which are one of my life’s main goals! Speaking of which I had THREE riding lessons today at £30 each- but due to their diary mess ups that last lesson was discounted. Worth every penny and I had an amazing time riding horses around the countryside. Took a packed lunch so £0 spend on meals out. Went to a garden centre between lessons and had a £1 tea in a beautiful floral teacup. Scored 3 free teas from the stables tea club. At the garden centre I bought a lavender plant to go in my late mother’s pretty floral vase- marked up as £10 but was £2.50 at the till. Food shop last night and tonight in supermarkets for packed lunches the next few days. Filled up on petrol today too but I lasted a few days on the half tank left over from last month. Overtime shift tomorrow night so I’m pleased. Life is good!

duesouthtwin2 · 24 August 2021 at 9:00PM

Update on my Virgin complaint- was paid £25 as compensation last week. Just noticed another £100 payment from them today in addition- this is basically my horse riding for today so a great result.

duesouthtwin2 · 29 August 2021 at 7:10PM

Just been working away as ever. Got a pay rise today so should be an extra £50pcm. Also got an overtime shift for the bank holiday tomorrow so double time for at least 9 hours- yay! Looking to join my local gym- who insisted they did not do any sort of discount scheme. I had a look around my work website and found a huge number of gym discounts including the local gym to me. Membership of the 2 leisure centres close to me for all gym, classes and swimming should be £47 a month but I will get it for £42. Glad I searched around to find a discount although the disgruntled receptionist is not happy with me.