Diary of a 30-something idiot

foxandflowers

I HAVE BEEN A NAUGHTY GIRL. 

I don't suppose anyone remembers the red coat saga from last year, where I spent way too much money on a lovely red coat, and it was a real treat and I felt awfully guilty about it? Well... Last week we were out for a walk and got caught in Storm Henk and not for the first time (actually probably the fourth time) it became incredibly apparent that the lovely red coat was not in fact waterproof. It was merely shower resistant, and it gave up resisting pretty quickly (see also: when we went to the free light trail before Christmas, I was soaked through my coat, jumper, tshirt and bra. grim). So I have been hunting in the charity shops for a proper waterproof beastie as I live in Wales where it is not known for being dry. 

On Monday whilst waiting for the bus stop I spied a gorgeous pink short sleeved boiler suit in the window of a charity shop. Said shop was closed, and I went home and pondered my chances of it still being here today, and being my size. Having decided those chances were slim to none, and having made some spare change selling things, I concluded if it was still here today, and fit, then I would get it. Lo and behold.... 

And in excellent MSE fashion it was reduced to half price! So only £6.50. I also spotted a gorgeous green coat from Salsa Jeans (their coats RRP at £200) for £7, and picked up Mr Fox 2 pairs of cargo trousers for £3.50 each. So, total was £20.50. Have spoken to Salsa Jeans and they confirmed the £7 coat is waterproof And it doesn't make the shushing noise that makes me want to rip my teeth out. So lots of wins. And as I have sold a hoody and a pair of jeans, I am technically sticking to my one in one out...  

Then I was REALLY naughty. I went into W H Smiths to return the filofax refills I got (having found cheaper online) and... didn't have the receipt. So I had to do an exchange. Sooo I bought 3 books. Which was another £14.98. Oops. That's my No Spend January a bit kaput. Sorry.

Back on the wagon now though. And at least I have a really excellent outfit for my first day at my new job. 

And this is my diary, so I suppose I have to be honest when I break my own rules too. Feel free to tell me off x

dawnybabes

Can you sell your red coat to recoup the books ? 

We’ve all been there and fallen off the wagon else we wouldn’t be here ?

SuzeQStan

Not sure I’ve ever seen the words ‘Wales’ and ‘Dry’ in the same sentence before 🤣

You look cute as a button in that boiler suit 😍And to be fair £7 for a waterproof coat sounds a proper bargain. 

and Chaza purchases are good for the environment /wallet/moral victories all round. You can’t go round with wet clothes under a wet coat xx

foxandflowers

I shall have a coat purge tonight. I have a denim jacket that is too small that can go on Vinted, and a long parka thing that makes the awful noise that can also go on Vinted. 

Regarding No Spend Days - do you as a consensus, count food shopping and transport as excluded or do you actually mean zero spends at all? Because if food shopping and transport are excluded I've only had three days of purchases - whereas if we include food, I have failed miserably on all counts. 

twiggy86

If it comes out of a pre-budgeted "pot" (e.g. petrol, dentist, hairdresser) then it doesn't count as spending re NSDs. I then also track both my "personal spend NSDs", "food spend NSDs" and total NSDs! Sounds blooming complicated when you say it like that! But this way if I need to buy e.g. milk, I don't use it as an excuse to spend on something else "because I've already lost my NSD so let's go all out"!!! 

PS. Love the boiler suit and am completely jealous!!! 

foxgloves

I do count food shopping. If I have bought groceries, then that's not a no-spend day for me. As I meal plan & we do one weekly shop though, this isn't a problem. I avoid frequent top-up shops as I know from my past endebted era that these add up to a lot of unneccessary spending. So our grocery shopping would usually only count as 4 'spending days' per month plus a couple of extra for visiting our local market for fresh stuff.
I think others may vary the sort of spending they count for their NSDs, but ignoring food spends wouldn't work for me. If I didn't plan at all & ended up visiting the supermarket pretty much every day, it wouldn't feel right to say those days were NSDs, because I would only be there because of my lack of planning, if that makes sense.
F

CMD79

So many congratulations on the new job; that is fantastic news and will really help. I don't think you need us to tell you what to do or how to do it, you're obviously really resourceful and can figure it out, but I do think you need us to give you a little nudge every now and then to help you stay on track. Which, to be honest, is probably why most of us are here. The minor misdemeanours in the charity shop I think you deserve those quite frankly. If you want to spend £6.50 on a cute little boiler suit, you've earned that. The issue is, and has been since you started your diary is the lack of support you're getting. You're paying for E -V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! The only way this cycle stops is for that to change. You're spending, I can't recall exactly, but probably £150/£200 on household entertainment. That is a lot. But the issue is not that amount, it's that you're the only earner. 

Sorry, I know that's not our business, but I (useless with money myself, so this isn't judgement) am really worried about you, and you shouldn't be managing this financial issue single handedly.

PS - Kitchen, so far looks amazing! And I hope that when you get your pay rise that will help hugely.

slm6002

Back in October you mentioned OH doing a couple of qualifications that would make him able to apply for certain jobs.  Did he ever do this?  I am afraid him finding some income will be the only way to stop you ending up in the same place as before.  Remember this house is your fresh start, and to do that not only the house needed to change.

You are doing really well knowing where the money is being overspent (the odd charity shop purchase when needed is fine) and learning to budget.  These things take time but you are heading in the right direction.  Be proud of what you have managed.

foxandflowers

@foxgloves I actually think that's a really smart idea. I mean to meal plan, and then am inevitably so unorganised it doesn't happen, and you're definitely right in that it adds up really quickly when you are nipping to the shop almost daily (especially as my local shop is Coop and its not exactly cheap). 
I think I will not count transport as it is budgeted for, but I will count it if it is outside the budget (ie not just going to/from work or getting the kids). And I think I will include food in my NSD. So as it stands I am on a big fat ZERO. But after tonight's food shop, I shall be more motivated to continue.

slm6002

Do you use the bus for work and getting around?  If so do you buy individual tickets or does the bus company do a monthly / weekly pass that might work out cheaper?