I didn't take lunch today. I'm dobbing myself in, and then I can start afresh tomorrow. I was being lazy this morning and chilling when I should have been getting ready for work, and I ended up leaving in a rush without making a sandwich. I did make lemonade out of lemons though, by making it worth having forgotten food. I treated myself to M&S rather than a Tesco meal deal and went to the park with a colleague to eat rather than sitting at a desk feeling a bit sad.
On the other hand, I have agreed to cover at work over the weekend provided I can do some studying. I'll miss some of the sunshine we'll be getting, but I need to be studying anyway, so I might as well get paid while I do it. That also has the upside of meaning my study time is structured, so when I leave work it will be my time and I can do nice sunshine things without guilt.
@KeepOnKnitting - it might be worth making your sandwich the night before and put it in the fridge overnight. That way there won't be any need to buy a Meal Deal at work. You could also make up a whole loaf of sandwiches and freeze them but you'd have to watch the fillings! Things like ham and cheese work well. You can add salad or pickle on the day if you want to. If you get it out in the morning it will be thawed by lunchtime or you could get it out the night before to defrost in the fridge.
Great that you can get some study done over the weekend whilst you're at work and getting paid to do something you need to do!
Thanks @joedenise, I always intend to make sandwiches in bulk or the night before. To be honest I am just getting over covid so I'm pretty exhausted anyway, plus studying for this exam and even with an evening nap I've not had the energy for sandwich prep of an evening.
I did manage to take a sandwich on Friday, even if it was a quick morning one, rather than a luxurious evening one.
Last night I took some salad and wine to the beach with a book, and then picked a little bit of litter before I came home. For some reason everyone mistakes the beach here for a rubbish tip, so I always try to leave it a little cleaner than it was before I arrived.
This morning I've sorted out my friend's birthday present, and done the mountain of washing up that was overwhelming my kitchen. I did spend a little bit of money yesterday for work, so the water will come back on expenses, but the ice lollies I bought are a treat from my pocket.
Yesterday after I posted, my friend got in touch and we went for a walk before I went to work.
I went to work, and managed to get home by about half 3, so I went to the beach and had a swim, before going back to the beach for a fire in the evening. Got home late and now I'm back up for work. Bedsheets in the wash to be hung before I leave.
I stopped at the garage shop for bread, chocolate and yellow sticker avocados, but that was all I spent yesterday on such a fun day.
One of my colleagues has volunteered to be my subject for practicing on for my exam, so that's really good. Today should be another great day. Might go to the beach again when work is done if the weather is still good.
I'm home from work, the laundry is on, I've chatted to my mum. I'm allowed a moment. I wanted to see if I could do a mid-month status report.
I've spent about £400 since my last tracking entry in my google document. Rough breakdown is: £150 gas/electric bill £55 petrol £100 planned purchase (Gift for my friend. We have gig tickets.) £100 groceries, window cleaning, shoe laces, mobile phone bill etc.
I only really need a top-up shop this week, as I have quite a lot of food in. I just filled up the car with petrol, so that will last until the end of the month. Realistically I can see me putting well over £400 towards debt by the end of the month, plus my overtime money. I'm overall pretty happy with that. The tickets were more than I had intended to spend, but I am really looking forward to it, and I am still maintaining the right pace and direction in the rest of my budget so I am very comfortable with my decision.
Target 1) Prioritise health & social connection 2) Write regularly 45,509/70,000 words Book 2 and 10,787/70,000 Priestess book, 30,000/95000 Memoir Prep 3a) Get to £10K EF/Savings Now £5,641 3b) £1.6K Savings for DD Car (Achieved) 4) MFW starting at £201,999 Nov 21 with 264 248 payments to go. Now £191,648) Mortgage neutral progress via pension £2,787 invested since Nov 21 6) Declutter 7) Invest in fun and frolics - and not just future self! 8) CC Debt free April 22 (now stay that way!!)
Woo! My sandwich is in the fridge ready for tomorrow!
We're going to see Scouting For Girls and McFly. It's a bit of a road trip, but it will be fun.
I've not quite had a no-spend day, but the only spend was a £5 top-up for a work phone, so that's more like a bill than actually buying anything. I should be able to get it back anyway. I took salad for lunch and then had avocado on toast again for tea. Now it's raining out, which is fantastic for my garden as it has been so dry here for ages.
On the downside I've just found out about the student loan interest rate going up to 6% something soon. I had a really small loan, so I am one of the few people for whom the interest rate matters as I will pay my loan off. That makes my student loan once again my most expensive debt, and it makes sense to contemplate making overpayments.
Target 1) Prioritise health & social connection 2) Write regularly 45,509/70,000 words Book 2 and 10,787/70,000 Priestess book, 30,000/95000 Memoir Prep 3a) Get to £10K EF/Savings Now £5,641 3b) £1.6K Savings for DD Car (Achieved) 4) MFW starting at £201,999 Nov 21 with 264 248 payments to go. Now £191,648) Mortgage neutral progress via pension £2,787 invested since Nov 21 6) Declutter 7) Invest in fun and frolics - and not just future self! 8) CC Debt free April 22 (now stay that way!!)
I picked up the replacement toilet seat today. I bought some fruit, cereal and milk and nothing exciting. I may be about to adopt a second cat. I've been thinking about this for a while to keep mine company as she's now a bored indoor cat. Someone from my old village is having to rehome theirs, so I said I could help. There may be the need for some extra cat supplies, but I'll be trying to minimise cost wherever I can.
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On the other hand, I have agreed to cover at work over the weekend provided I can do some studying. I'll miss some of the sunshine we'll be getting, but I need to be studying anyway, so I might as well get paid while I do it. That also has the upside of meaning my study time is structured, so when I leave work it will be my time and I can do nice sunshine things without guilt.
Great that you can get some study done over the weekend whilst you're at work and getting paid to do something you need to do!
I did manage to take a sandwich on Friday, even if it was a quick morning one, rather than a luxurious evening one.
Last night I took some salad and wine to the beach with a book, and then picked a little bit of litter before I came home. For some reason everyone mistakes the beach here for a rubbish tip, so I always try to leave it a little cleaner than it was before I arrived.
This morning I've sorted out my friend's birthday present, and done the mountain of washing up that was overwhelming my kitchen. I did spend a little bit of money yesterday for work, so the water will come back on expenses, but the ice lollies I bought are a treat from my pocket.
I went to work, and managed to get home by about half 3, so I went to the beach and had a swim, before going back to the beach for a fire in the evening. Got home late and now I'm back up for work. Bedsheets in the wash to be hung before I leave.
I stopped at the garage shop for bread, chocolate and yellow sticker avocados, but that was all I spent yesterday on such a fun day.
One of my colleagues has volunteered to be my subject for practicing on for my exam, so that's really good.
I've spent about £400 since my last tracking entry in my google document. Rough breakdown is:
£150 gas/electric bill
£55 petrol
£100 planned purchase (Gift for my friend. We have gig tickets.)
£100 groceries, window cleaning, shoe laces, mobile phone bill etc.
I only really need a top-up shop this week, as I have quite a lot of food in. I just filled up the car with petrol, so that will last until the end of the month. Realistically I can see me putting well over £400 towards debt by the end of the month, plus my overtime money. I'm overall pretty happy with that. The tickets were more than I had intended to spend, but I am really looking forward to it, and I am still maintaining the right pace and direction in the rest of my budget so I am very comfortable with my decision.
Eating picnic style with a friend sounds nice.
£400 is a massive amount to pay down so well done 👏🏼 What gig are you going to?
We're going to see Scouting For Girls and McFly. It's a bit of a road trip, but it will be fun.
I've not quite had a no-spend day, but the only spend was a £5 top-up for a work phone, so that's more like a bill than actually buying anything. I should be able to get it back anyway. I took salad for lunch and then had avocado on toast again for tea. Now it's raining out, which is fantastic for my garden as it has been so dry here for ages.
On the downside I've just found out about the student loan interest rate going up to 6% something soon. I had a really small loan, so I am one of the few people for whom the interest rate matters as I will pay my loan off. That makes my student loan once again my most expensive debt, and it makes sense to contemplate making overpayments.
Have fun at the concert