Budgeting by the beach

savingholmes

Sounds like you are on top of things. 

I've not started decorating yet. I have my sis's family coming over at the weekend and I'm hoping the kids will want to help.

DaisyCheerings

Thanks savingholmes.  I'm feeling like I'm finally getting some control over my life.

Having help to put the decorations up will be great. It's feeling a touch overwhelming for me at the moment.

DaisyCheerings

I've just read my first post and everything I wanted to change, has had no real progress.  I'm still spending more than I should on things that I can live without and really don't need.  So I'm going to spend December regrouping and planning for a better fresh start in the New Year.  Just when I thought I was actually getting some control 🙈

I have cancelled my Amazon prime and I have genuinely not felt any difference.  I need to order £20 minimum to get free shipping, and that's actually worked well for giving me time to decide if I really do need the item.  It's like a cooling off period and the last few items I have ordered have been needed.  Next year I am considering a challenge to stop me spending on Amazon!  Hmmm.  Watch this space.

I did indulge slightly in Black Friday but mostly for an expensive gift my Mum asked for, and then for some thermal door curtains as I have a major draught in my hallway.  Oh and I also bought a sinus steamer (it's a facial steamer with a sinus attachment) as I get fairly constant sinus infections.  I also ordered some menthol crystals as they reportedly "blow your head off" so I'm just waiting for those to arrive.  Lastly, I bought a soldering iron for some side work I do.  Maybe I should note here whatever I buy as I think it'll be a wake up call if I do buy things that are frivolous. 

The Water company sent me a text to say I'm in credit of £19 and that I could either get a refund or reduce my bill by £1 a month!!!  So I decided that receiving the refund of £19 was better than a discount of £12.  My bill for next year is slightly less than this year was.  Sadly the £19 got swallowed up with November's overspend, but most of that was necessary spends and it was a surprise refund, so it just helped me catch up on those overspends.

Some of that overspend was also on a sight test and glasses, which I've now put my claim in for at work.  They won't pay it all back, but I can claim just over half of what I spent.  I keep getting the request sent back for minor reasons so I'm hoping that's all sorted and I'll get that expense paid back in the next couple of weeks.

So now I feel that I've given myself some decent tools to keep an eye on finances although I know I have some areas where I could be doing a lot better.  I'm going to work on putting together a list of goals and then I'll update that second post on this diary so that I can keep referring back.  Since Covid I've stopped doing new year resolutions but I'm considering starting that up again, along with a word or statement for the year as that did used to help to keep me focussed.

I also put my heating on this morning, although I think I need to put my heating and hot water on earlier as it hadn't even taken the edge off when I got in the shower.  I'm pleased I managed to naturally hold off until December before it went on.  My bill is due around 10th, so I'll see how much the past 3 months have cost.

All finances today as I've only got that to report other than working all day.  I did manage to change my bedclothes after work, so have a nice fresh bed to get into later.  I'm off tomorrow as I have a hospital appointment, but I can have a small lie in too.

I hope everyone is having a fabulous week.

DaisyCheerings

Hospital appointment done.  They need me to go back for a cystoscopy based on previous test results I've had.  I was initially really worried about it, but a search online has helped to calm me.  I haven't diagnosed myself 😃 but I have seen many causes for my symptoms and most aren't that scary.

As I got myself worked up on my way home, it should be another wake up call.  I'm the happiest I've ever been and live in a place of outstanding beauty (in my eyes) and I'm not making the most of it.  In so many diaries I hear about people saying how much they'd like to live in a coastal area or an area of high nature, and where I am is coastal and has lots of forest and park areas which are just stunning, and I already seem to be taking it for granted.  I'm so good at saying "I want to do this or that" but I'm not so good at putting action behind those words.  So this will be added to the things I need to be doing in the New Year, but I will put my health items into practice now.  That's going to be quite a list when I'm done.

I have been thinking about the things I'd like to change and have come up with the following list so far:
Curb the mindless spending.  Buying online is too easy for me, so I need to make sure I'm more mindful when it comes to quick and easy purchases. Maybe a cooling off period, or starting a savings pot for things I want, which will also act as a cooling off period.
Stop wasting time with stupid phone game apps.  These games are designed to keep you going back regularly, so I'm going to delete them now as they offer me no benefit. I don't pay anything for games or in app purchases, so that's a positive, but the time wasted could be better spent elsewhere.
Read more.  I used to love reading, but rarely pick up a book now.  I'm going to charge up my kindle and add a few books to my bedside table to keep that in focus.

Health feels a bigger hurdle as I've got into terrible habits.  I know I have some health helpful gifts coming for Christmas, so I need to come up with some meal plans that work better for me than ones I've created in the past.  I know where I've gone wrong previously as I have put together plans that all use very different ingredients.  Cooking for one means that it's too easy to waste half a tin of things, or half a bag if it doesn't crossover into the next day or two's meal.  I don't have a microwave either so batch cooking doesn't work too well.  My oven takes at least 20 minutes to heat up, so it's not particularly economical.  So that needs more planning than I've done in the past.

I need to either create a few meal plan themes, or invest in a microwave so I can do more batch cooking.  Having both options sounds good, so I may start a little microwave saving pot.  My Mum mentioned that she doesn't want her one anymore as she hasn't ever used it, so I'll see if she still wants rid of it.  It's really heavy though so I'm not sure how I'll get it home if she is happy to part with it.  It's a really fancy one that does all sorts of things as well as microwave, so may be a nice little addition if I can get it home.  I doubt it'll save me money though as I'll get her a more simple microwave to replace it.  But I will get an all dancing version for the price of a basic one.

savingholmes

I can't imagine not having a microwave - and with current prices it's one of the cheapest cooking methods.

Best of luck with getting out more and enjoying your local area.

savingholmes

PS Stop beating yourself up .... that applies to all of us

DaisyCheerings

Thank you @savingholmes. I do need to take a step back.

I've not had a microwave in years and never missed one as I previously had a tiny freezer, so couldn't batch cook and freeze things.  Now I have a large freezer I can now plan ahead better, but need a microwave to put those plans into action.

DaisyCheerings

I had so many plans for today, and ended up doing nothing on my to do list, but I have been productive.

I've recharged my doorbell, and cleaned off the solar panel for my garage camera.  The doorbell is still charging.

So I've given my workshop a bit of a clear out and tidied up the utility room.  I had some boxes in there which are now in the garage, and I've also managed to install some motion detector lights in my hallway as the hall light switch is quite a distance from my living room so it just helps me see a bit better late at night.

Earlier I gave my log burner a clean out and also cleaned the window.  I've lit another fire now and it's lovely seeing the flames through a clean window.  My tree lights are also on and I've lit a few candles to give a warm glow.  I haven't needed to put my heating on for more than an hour a day so far, but the temperatures are getting below 0 now, so I may need to put it on more.

I'm starting to note down the changes I want to make for 2023 and it's really motivating me.  If I keep a note of everything and refer back to it through journaling and here then I should stay on top of it all - that's the plan, anyway!

savingholmes

I find it satisfying seeing progress. Nothing ever goes quite to plan - but some things are ahead and some behind so in the end it usually feels balanced. 

Love the sound of your fire and xmas lights. Well done on the home maintenance. 

DaisyCheerings

I agree it's good to have a plan but not to be too rigid on it.  I just need some help focusing really.

The fire is amazing.  I'm so glad I had it installed.  In front of it again now which always feels like such a treat.