Frittering funk to Frugal fantastic - well that’s the plan… 3 May 2022 at 7:29AM in Debt free diaries 22 replies 1.7K views

Munchin

Morning Diaryland

So I’ve been on these boards a long time and just recently started a new diary which I’ve abandoned for this shiny new one. So this morning was scary money wise… I opened my NatWest account and was minus £500 and I don’t have an agreed overdraft!!! Totally freaking I transferred savings to the debt and then looked to see what had happened - I had forgotten to cancel a standing order but to be totally honest I had frittered so much away since pay day that even with forgetting to cancel the standing order this shouldn’t have happened.

I earn a good for me salary but I fritter and I’m beginning to think I’m a spendaholic. I see something on instagram … think wow 🤩… that would be amazing and the next thing is I’ve bought it!! In my previous diaries frittering was my problem but because I could cover it with savings I didn’t think I had that big a problem. I recently bought a new to me car which I’m paying off and this is my only debt but I hardly have any savings and continue to waste money on things I don’t need.

I have spends already planned this week - beauticians, cinema with friends and friends b’day weekend away. Next week I have a friends b’day breakfast which I don’t want to cancel but  I’m now waiting for the standing order to return to my account and £280 I’m owed from work to appear to get me through the month.

I still free stressed because I’ve robbed Peter to pay Paul, but the point of this diary is to be accountable.  There is nothing I need but a lot I want 😞….. so going forward I will put my spending diary on here and for once I will keep it up to date and accurate - wish me luck 🍀 

Munchin

Weekly spends - 

Monday - xxxxx
Tuesday - £4 papers (Mum)
Wednesday - NSD
Thursday - £10 (membership) & £3.50 (papers & bananas)
Friday - £40 diesel + £5 groceries + £10 beauticians
Saturday - £170 weekend away
Sunday - 

Total - £243.50 & 1 NSDs

Seasidegal58

Hi there Munchin!🤗. I just noticed that you have a new diary and have subscribed. 

As a former fritterer I fully sympathise with you.  But you've worked your spends out for the week which is excellent so off to a good start. 

Munchin

Morning all,

Hi SSG - lovely to see you, how is retirement for you?  I will go catch up on your diary.  Thank you for your words because I was continuing to stress about what I had to spend because it is all fun and not needs but I hadn't thought of it as being more positive in that I  know where the money is going to and these are times and events I will never get back.

I do fritter on silly things, like for example I wanted to get a really nice bottle of champagne to share with my friends this weekend but in reality we aren't champagne people and I have a nice bottle of prosecco I got at Xmas and I know we would all be happy with that.....so money kept in purse and prosecco put in fridge.  

So y'day I met up with a friend and went for a run which always makes me feel more balanced.  I then did some stretching which is a pain but to keep injury free it's a must.  Sister and I took nephew to a match last night and his team lost but they were playing a much better team, so I told him it was a learning experience and I got a disgusted look that I expected . 

Today is a busy work day and tonight I'm meeting with a friend to go see Downton Abbey....I have never seen an episode but I know what it is about.  I'm going to keep her company and maybe I'll enjoy it.

WinterWarrior

I love Downton Abbey, I hope you enjoy it.
I always fall for the Instagram links, then look at the prices, put it in my amaz*n wish list and then forget about it. I’ve got out of the habit of actually buying.
The trouble with taking from savings is that eventually you have no savings and then what do you do? Much better to learn to spend a little less…though I absolutely know how hard that is!

Seasidegal58

The bottle of Prosecco sounds very sensible - you're still getting plenty of bubbles and a celebratory style drink🥂. 

Enjoy Downton - I hoping to see it soon now that my 'cinema' friend is back from hols!

Munchin

Thanks WW and SSG

I totally agree that the savings have slowly eroded and I need to get them heading back up again - living within my means has to be done. 

This is how bad I've been lately...I had to tidy up my work desk (at home) this morning to find a membership card for renewing my Running club membership - it is £10 a year.  My desk was like a bombsite and when I lifted all the papers etc I found a £20 note hiding under the papers - honestly this would never have happened in the past.  Yes I'd find the odd bit of change in my pocket but not £20...talk about leaping off the frugal wagon then setting it on fire.  Last night I was watching a You tube running thing and the presenter was testing out a new running watch at £400.... I actually thought 'I should save up for that'..... then put down the ipad because I have a pretty good garmin that is still working and does what I need.  At least my head is in the right space now.  

I didn't get to see Downton as my friend was sick - so will watch it when it comes out on TV eventually.  Saved myself a few pennies at least.  

I've been out already and done my morning run, voted in our Assembly elections and then spent £10 on running club membership and £3.50 on papers and bananas.  I think that is all my spends for today.  Tonight is another football match with nephew but it should be no spends.

Hope you all have a good day.

Seasidegal58

As you have written above, your head is in the right space now. You always were very good at budgeting in your previous diaries so I'm sure everything is now on track for you!😃

Munchin

Hi all,

I’m back from my weekend away and in total I spent £170 which covered the hotel, taxi, meals out and drinks. I’m not long home and will not be travelling too far tonight.

My friend who flew over for the weekend told me she has been doing a no spend challenge since January so we are going to motivate each other for the next 8 months. So no spends on clothes etc until Xmas. I’m on leave the next 2 days and I had plans to spring clean and sort out wardrobe for spring summer but I’m now looking after my niece so the tidy plans will be postponed.

Seasidegal58

I think £170 was a good price for your weekend away as it has encompassed everything!👍
The no spend on clothes challenge should be good. I think we all have too many and I've been trying to declutter ruthlessly recently. I took another bag of summer style raincoats and a jacket to the dress agency the other day. Hopefully they'll sell!

Munchin

Hi SSG, I was happy with the spends for my weekend and it was a lovely weekend.  I need to follow your example on sorting out my clothes.

Today has been knackering because I had my toddler niece all day. I love her to bits but she is just a bundle of energy apart from 30 mins when she slept.  I did get some spring cleaning done before she came at 9 - kitchen cupboard doors cleaned as well as front and back door. We went and said goodbye to my friend and then returned a parcel, bought Mum’s papers and some medicine in chemist. Hopefully it will be dry tmw so we can spend more time outside.

babysitting tomorrow and then back to work Wednesday.

Weekly spends - 09 May

Monday - £12.13 Spar & Chemist
Tuesday - 
Wednesday - 
Thursday - 
Friday - 
Saturday - 
Sunday - 

Total - £12.13 & x NSDs