Dilemma, Dilemma, Dilemma

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Happy 2nd January! 

I had grand plans to update my diary yesterday but I was ill. Not sure what it was, kinda everything rolled into one. Myself and OH ended up staying in bed all day watching Series 1 of Broadchurch. Which is totally out of character. Day 1 of fasting diet didn't go to plan at all. Tried my hardest but felt so rotten it didn't work so well so although yesterday was no snacking or eating badly. I needed dried crackers to keep nausea at bay. So today am feeling brighter so giving it a go. I have a lot of educating myself on the rules of fasting but have the book and a little trepidly getting going. 

NYE was lovely, myself and OH was invited to a little houseparty by a lovely couple we met in our line dancing class. We don't really know many people where we live so we were greatful of the invitation and it was fabulous. There was about 8 of us and we loved it. They have a bigger house than ours with a games room. In the games room they had a half sized shuffleboard which neither of us had played before. We had some drinks and a shot. It was probably a hangover yesterday but didn't feel tipsy. What a way to bring in the new year though. Really glad we went and I think our social life has made a big step forward where we live! Hurrah!!

Today is a odd day, normally I would have been working but its first one where I am not working. I have some tasks to finish though with some tight deadlines so I will log on in a bit for an hour to get these completed. I'm feeling a bit peeved that I can't just hand it over as well there is no one to hand it over to and they are not prepared to pay me Everyone has some kind of gripe at work and this one is mine! 

Final year review still to complete. I am in all honesty a lot more relaxed about it that I have been in previous years. Getting through last year was an accomplishment in itself and being kind to myself at the moment is needed as for a bit of self care. I will say I really have learned that I can manage Full Time work, travel situ with the kids and really thats something I take away from it all but I don't know if it was sustainable as aspects of it was pushing me to my limits so would have to make some changes. 

My money goals for this year are simple. Hold on to as much savings while paying down the debt. Credit card debt sits at £20,381.32 and would like to get this down to £17,000 if I can by the end of the year. 

One final winner from 2025. Myself and OH have been quietly using Sprive app for small overpayments to our mortgage. I set up Sprive for OH in 2023 and thought he just had the opening £5 in there but no he had been paying in £1 a month (as I do!) and had £19! In my account I had £32.77 which was made up of earnings from surveys, some cashback from vouchers and from £1 per month deposits. Collectively we submitted these to our mortgage on 31st Dec and so a little extra overpayment after our normal monthly £55.34 overpayment. Today we made our most recent mortgage payment so I will log in later and see what impact this has on our current balance. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

debtfreewannabe321 said:

@Queen_of_the_Hive @redofromstart has linked a diet thread on my diary which I've joined...if you want some friendly help/ morale boost staying on track with dieting come join us 💖

I'm sorry to hear about the job going part time. Can you access any benefits to top up your income whilst you look for another job? 

A vision board is always my starting point. I'd put on mine, happy in my job (as I don't particularly like my job) and earning more money - pretty vague really as I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. We have the VB on our stairs, propped up,  as we wander past a few times a day I always read it and imagine it to be true, and a job literally landed in my lap right before Christmas. More money and I hope I like it better but that remains to be seen. Good luck with yours, fill it with things you love but also can imagine coming true ...not the lotto wins that might seem far fetched but a good full time position that was made just for you, or windfalls that might be just enough to see you through etc. 💖

Thanks @debtfreewannabe321 i've just joined the thread, thanks for letting me know

Queen_of_the_Hive

Fasting and exercise hasn't gone too bad today. The run was pretty hit and miss but was pleased to give it a go. Part of the run was on the beach which was lush! 

Have had a really relaxing day at home keeping warm in the living room. Tomorrow the tree comes down and cleaning of the house commences. Planning to go for a walk with OH on the beach and I think that will be about it.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Sunday!

We have snow! I was meant to post yesterday but didn't get the chance. 

Yesterday was NSD for me but OH bought us lunch. We went for a winter walk in the snow, took lots of photos and warmed up in a pub part way on our walk. I was good and although I'd ordered chilli con carne only had the chilli part and did not eat the rice although did enjoy a couple of nachos. For dinner we had steamed fish and veg with no carbs. It was nice although OH did say he needed potatoes or something to go with it. We did eat later than planned so it was fine as a one off. On our way home from the walk we experienced walking on snow on the beach! Never would I think to put the 'beach' and 'snow' together but there we are! A lot of fun! 

So the weekend obsession with Broadchurch continues and we are now on Season 3.. its been wonderful to watch in bed with a cuppa and the electric blanket on! We'll watch more before sleep time. 

The Christmas tree is down and deep cleaning the house has commenced. Its funny I normally get really sad when the tree is down but this year I just didn't get festive as much as usual and so not so sad its put away. I'm looking forward to spring and getting stuck into gardening more! 

Have not made any progress on my 'read 12 books in a year' challenge. Am part way through my Christmas novel so that one is my January one. Its pretty good easy reading. For Feb want to complete one i've been reading since last summer. Its not quite as good as expected but will continue to the end as I have already bought book 2 in the trilogy. A glutten for punishment! 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Friday, 

Its the 9th January and we can finally get out of the house and go for a walk again. After all the beautiful snow last weekend the ice has been horrendous around our way and cabin fever had set in. 

Yesterday was my first non working Thursday of the year and I had a little treat - an Indian head massage. It was the first time I'd had one and it was lush! I'm going to book myself in for another one next month. 

Well I am pleased to report the diet is going well and I have lost just shy of 1kg by doing fasting and heavily cutting down on the wrong stuff. Exercise hasn't been as good as I hoped because of the weather but hopefully now the snow has nearly gone I can get back on the wagon. 

Money wise - its been an expensive week school wise for the two kids. The eldest is in secondary school and his school sent an email that his year are now looking to move to a computer based learning in the summer and they are giving us the option to purchase a laptop outright or on a long term payment plan. There didn't seem to be the option to rent a laptop which would have suited our cirumstances more as there is a possiblity that my children's father may move house which will mean a change of school. I'm going to email the school for a bit more guidance. Then the little one his school send an email with details of his residential trip early next school year. The cost has jumped up. If we proceeded with both laptop and residential trip its a good 1k. My eldest also had the opportunity for a geography field trip and that was over 2k. The letter for this came out just before Christmas and was one of those oversubscribed trips. We put him down but to my bank's relief he didn't get a place. He wasn't too bothered. This is on the back of me now loosing £700 p/m as my hours have reverted back to what they were before going full time so its been a bitter pill. I will of course put my kids first and will book DS 2 on the residential trip - the cost is shared equally between myself and ex H and the laptop situ we will investigate if there are any other options and make an informed decision. I would eat beans and toast so they get the same opportunities as other kids. Thats what mums do. 

The rest of today is playing admin catch up and surveys as they come through plus a bit of my paid job as I have a lot of work to complete on a project and the deadline is looming! 

Oh before I go.... exciting news! So after I'd made the Sprive overpayment on NYE, I checked the balance and it was a funky £102,005.52. So I couldn't leave that number... so have overpaid the £5.52 and just waiting for this to clear on the balance. So we are now down to £102,000.00! I also discovered how to do overpayments on the lenders website so now plan to round up my payments each month for the rest of the year. Love the idea of pennies savings pounds and its another little way of getting our overall debt down! 

debtfreewannabe321

Afternoon QofH, I am another one watching broad church at the mo! Also on 3rd season shame it's the last one as i'm enjoying it. I have finished one book this year, but I think it is because I had a free audible of it as well as physical copy, so I was listening to some in the gym, then reading some at bedtime so it was read really quickly. I'm also aiming for a book a month. 
And I have eaten beans on toast, and JPs and mince based meals for months on end when I have had to pay for things for the kids before.  

Queen_of_the_Hive

Its been a wonderful afternoon catching up with some of the diaries I follow on here. Lots of inspiration and motivation! 

Today I've recieved one of the cashout from survey companies I do. Its £25 and moving this in to "side hustle" pot. This pot I haven't topped up in a long time. It was a float from the little bit of match betting but haven't done any match better for months. Not sure yet what it will be used for but for now just trying to build another pot. Total in this acc £44.57 and know I have money sitting in some bookies that I must cash out too. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Saturday, 

Been out and about running errands today and completed some jobs that needed to be done so happy and productive morning so far.

First bit of cashback on Sprive has been earned. Needed some carpet cleaner and bought some via the app and gleamed 13p. 

Jobs for today - catch up with current season of traitors, read more of the current book. Its the Christmas one so really want this one finished as Christmas is over and raring to go with the next book. Need to book train tickets on the sale and really that will be about it for today. 

Diet going well, need to get out and up todays step total, currently sitting on 3.7k and want to be closer to 10k. Ice is all gone... hurrah!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Its a very blustery, icy cold sunday! One of those wrap up warm with a blazing log burner going and a hot chocolate day... 

My lunch is cooking, its not that exciting, having a boiled egg on toast for a kinda of brunch meal whilst waiting for my phone to charge before heading out for a walk in this January weather. 

Yesterday was a bit of a planned expensive day - myself and OH bought the train tickets we needed in the train sale. My bill came to £242 of which am taking this from my savings to cover the cost. EEK! but we are at least hopefully covered now to the Easter holidays. Still need to book some accomodation but as this is one of our main expenses after the mortgage it feels like a wise spend.

We are having a roast chicken dinner later using up more of the Christmas 5p veg. Other than that will be reading a bit more of my Christmas book and a bit more work in prep for work tomorrow. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

OOOPS thought I'd updated diary before today! 

This week the diet is not going well and not sure why, maybe hormonal not sure? Need to reign it in. Had some Christmas chocolates over 3 days and bought mint imperials yesterday. They are my downfall. Feel I need to write a meal plan to put back a bit of control. 

This week has been quite quiet and nothing too exciting going on which means haven't been spending money. I do get bored easily so it can feel like a slump but I am on a go slow in Jan to save spends for when the kids are back. Christmas book is nearly finished and getting excited to start the next one. 

Surveys are also on a go slow. Seems to be a quiet start to the year, only sitting on £6 out of £25 on Prolific. Hope everyone else is having a bit more luck than I am having. One bit of exciting news - having cashed out on some of mthe survey sites end of December. Two have paid out a few days ago £50 on one and £20 on the other! This is now sitting in "Side hustles" fund. This brings this fun upto £114