Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

Less_Talk_and_More_Action

Agree completely with both of you.  I think because I buy lots of coffees in the drive thru parts of service stations, I don't enjoy them very much when I do go out to have something as a social thing as it doesn't feel like a treat of any kind, although I always enjoy the social aspect. I think the takeaway thing is right as well - I'd rather go out for an actual meal less frequently.  I've added how much I've spent in service stations over the past six weeks and it is more than three figures!!!!!  None of that is social so needs to stop.  I am going to set up a diary next week to assist my progress - both of you inspire me as to what can be achieved.   My husband is completely on-board so discussions underway about actions and plans.  I feel quite excited and will still be following for inspiration.   

Makingabobor2

Less_Talk_and_More_Action said:

Agree completely with both of you.  I think because I buy lots of coffees in the drive thru parts of service stations, I don't enjoy them very much when I do go out to have something as a social thing as it doesn't feel like a treat of any kind, although I always enjoy the social aspect. I think the takeaway thing is right as well - I'd rather go out for an actual meal less frequently.  I've added how much I've spent in service stations over the past six weeks and it is more than three figures!!!!!  None of that is social so needs to stop.  I am going to set up a diary next week to assist my progress - both of you inspire me as to what can be achieved.   My husband is completely on-board so discussions underway about actions and plans.  I feel quite excited and will still be following for inspiration.   

Brilliant idea. My diary has helped motivate me so much and everybody is so helpful and full of great ideas & tips. 

milann

I’m another who has reduced my coffee shop habit. I used to have a swim and go straight into the restaurant for either something to eat or drink because I got 20% off with my gym membership. Now I go occasionally if I’m with a friend. If I do have a cuppa in town ( I often need to rest before heading home) I go to a lovely stall on the market rather than the chains. £1.20 instead of nearly £3. 

foxgloves

Yes, I agree that a regular coffee shop habit really adds up the £££s. It's the 'habit' of it that both eats away at our disposable income AND lessens the enjoyment of when it is a really GOOD coffee experience & is a planned treat, rather than just popping into somewhere for a hot brown drink.
F

foxgloves

Hello Wednesday Pence Wranglers,
I have nearly run out of afternoon, which I am putting down to the fact that there seemed to be oodles of PA surveys around & I have spent longer on them than anticpated. Anyway, we had a lovely city centre night out last night & I awoke full of festive spirit & ready to tackle my day. Small budget-helping positives as follows:
*Did a few minor budget updates arising from yesterday,
*Postie brought my December credit card bill so I reconciled that to receipts & payments  - no nasty surprises.
*Had a free bending & stretching session in the garden today cutting back more of the biggest border & getting 2 big trugfuls into the garden waste bin ready for tomorrow's collection.
*Sorted clean laundry & ironed what required it. I will be putting a wash on tomorrow morning, then that's it for laundry until after Christmas, as I would rather festoon the house with festive prettiness than damp pants!
*Fed my sourdough jar ready to bake a loaf tomorrow. Used the pour-off/discard portion to bake a batch of sourdough rosemary & seasalt crackers.
*Use-it-up mission progressing nicely - roasted pumpkin soup defrosted for tonight's meal with toast, followed by one of Mr F's lovely cheese omelettes. Last of a soap also used up after my session in the garden & also cut open a body lotion & hand cream to access the significant amount left inside. I can't be the only person to get annoyed with pump-top bottles which don't work once the product gets to a certain level of cms as so much is wasted if a hacksaw or similar isn't taken to the bottle to prevent waste of both product & money.
*Made tomorrow's packed lunch & breakfast - another container from the freezer. There is genuine space appearing in there now!
*While dealing with today's admin/emails, I noticed I had received a reply from an email I sent to YouG*v a while ago complaining that I am unable to change my email address, meaning I don't get any surveys so am unable to earn the very few ££ required to reach the £50 cashout threshold. I have been trying to contact them for a long while about this as am beyond irritated that they have £47 of my money but I can't get to cash-out as the relevant security stuff goes to my old account. I can get into my settings & change my personal details, but not my email address. This was the 4th time I had emailed so was flabbergasted actually to receive a response from a human today. Email 1 was answered by a bot & contained the answer to a different question which I had not asked. Emails 2 & 3 were ignored. Email 4....well, it had been a while, but hallelujah, a response & another very prompt one once I had sent the confirmatory info as requested. No time to log into it today though because......
*Did several PA surveys. As soon as I finished one, another couple popped up, including one which paid me a bonus. In the end, I had to sign out because I just couldn't spend any more time on them. My Dec PA earnings now up to £38-14. Will keep at it as won't cash out until 31st.
*Wrote new library wish-list with a view to some January reading material.
And that is pretty much the day gone. Shall do a bit of cardi knitting tonight. Have swapped my usual wooden knitting needles for metal ones as there are a lot of stitches (body of garment is knitted edge-to-edge in one piece) & need to slide better. Right, must crack on with cat treat time or Soot will be coming up here telling me what a cr*p meowmy I am.
F x

milann

Well done with the survey response and subsequent surveys. 

That sounds like a lot of stitches….it wouldn’t grow fast enough for me - especially at the speed I knit 😂😂 Bet it’ll look lovely 👍

foxgloves

It will defo be a slow grower, @milann, but I'm not bothered as I mostly knit just in the evenings while watching TV. They are long rows, but of course the edge to edge style means I only need to knit the main piece & the sleeves, rather than sleeves, a back & 2 fronts. The border is knitted in Irish moss stitch & is integral to the main piece, so I shan't need to faff around picking up sts for knitting ribbing either.
F

Makingabobor2

I found P/fc excellent today as well, had a lovely 60 min one that has promised to send my results once the data is analysed. I do like to see how I did on these things

foxgloves

This  is the yarn I'm using for my cardi x

Makingabobor2

oh what gorgeous colours. I tried knitting again the other night, but only managed about 3 rows before my wrist hurt too much. I am trying desperately to get DGS3's blanket finished by Boxing day when they come round. Will try some more tonight