The Three C's - Coffee, Clothes & Credit Cards

misstara

Well done on your NSD, can't remember the last time I managed one!

Sarahwithlove

No NSD for me today, had to buy a new phone charger from @mazon, got a few bits from Mr T that I had forgotten when went during the week and football ticket for cup game. Expensive day all in all. But have updated my spreadsheet and planned the rest of the month. It will be tight but should be ok and will make me think twice on decisions in the future considering how early into the month we are. 

Sarahwithlove

Happy Thursday, today is my Friday, booked some annual leave tomorrow to take my dad to the solicitors and then got the theatre in evening providing I am well enough. I seem to have a chest infection as a result of covid at end of August so been given a week of antibiotics today. 

car insurance renewal has come through, did several comparison sites and then called my current provider and they gave me it £20 under lowest price. Still £150 more than last year which is crazy. Been an expensive month and the 0% credit card has taken a battering thanks to my car. Seems silly to take it out of my 5% saver whilst my card offer still has over a year left on it. 

I've been doing some more surveys on prolific, its a slow and steady process but all adds up. 

Have spent more on cough medicine this week but was good and resisted prime days, didn't buy myself lunch in the office and no takeaways despite feeling rubbish. I'll take the wins wherever I can.  

Aimingforthegoodlife

Hi Sarah, sounds like you are making good headway, it is so difficult to find a balance this days!

DancingInTheRain

Hope the antibiotics do the trick. You did well on the car insurance given how much they've gone up this year, totally agree with getting the small wins where you can.

Sarahwithlove

Aimingforthegoodlife said:

Hi Sarah, sounds like you are making good headway, it is so difficult to find a balance this days!

It really is. I feel guilty for spending my money but also know I need to try and enjoy life. But maybe I need to start saying no to some things. Work in progress i think. 

DancingInTheRain said:

Hope the antibiotics do the trick. You did well on the car insurance given how much they've gone up this year, totally agree with getting the small wins where you can.

Thanks they seem to be helping. Will see how I feel once I've had the full week. I was happy with them matching the quote, maybe I should have tried for less ha! I'll know for next time. Also less hassle if you don't have to change who your with. 

Had a bit of a sort out yesterday with my accounts. Trying to get over the fear of leaving my bills one with a zero balance. But all my direct debits have come out now and I do have a 0% overdraft if there is something I have forgotten. 

I've moved the interest from my saver that holds my ef and sf to credit card saver account and done some pads this week so it's looking a bit healthier now. I also got an email with my final energy bill and I'm due a refund of £375. I'll probably put 250 away for possible energy overpayments and remainder go to credit card repayment saver. I did think my energy usage might go down once my lodger moved out and previous payments are based on last year when she was with me for majority of it. I'm keeping an eye on my usage and if it looks like I will need to add more once I turn the heating on then so be it. But right now I'm managing to hold off with blankets and candles. I just need to get better at turning plugs off at the socket. Right suppose should do some work. 

CreditCardJunkie

Just caught up on your diary Sarah and you're doing amazing. The price increases are absolutely shocking. Wanted to say well done, you're doing amazing! Seen a few "feeling guilty" posts about takeaway and snacks, you work really hard. You should be able to have a few sneaky treats now and again!

Takeaway was always a weakness of mine, getting in and too tired to cook. I was very late to the airfryer trend but honestly I'd very rarely have takeaway now because its so handy! I do my shopping on the asda app late at night and get the delivery at 7am the next day so am much better at have food organised for dinner! 

Hope you're keeping well!!

joedenise

@Sarahwithlove - if you're feeling guilty about having takeaways and/or treats it's probably worth having a small amount of money monthly which you have budgeted for to take away those guilty feelings.  If you don't use it then you can roll it over to the next month and have a bigger treat then.  It's certainly something worth thinking about.

Sarahwithlove

CreditCardJunkie said:

Just caught up on your diary Sarah and you're doing amazing. The price increases are absolutely shocking. Wanted to say well done, you're doing amazing! Seen a few "feeling guilty" posts about takeaway and snacks, you work really hard. You should be able to have a few sneaky treats now and again!

Takeaway was always a weakness of mine, getting in and too tired to cook. I was very late to the airfryer trend but honestly I'd very rarely have takeaway now because its so handy! I do my shopping on the asda app late at night and get the delivery at 7am the next day so am much better at have food organised for dinner! 

Hope you're keeping well!!

Thanks. I do have a personal allowance for myself but last few months it's felt like I've had loads going on and it doesn't stretch far when that's the case. I think I just need to plan better and then can make decisions about what is important to me. I love my airfryer and generally quite good at bulk cooking but I forget to take it out the freezer. Maybe I need to set myself a daily alarm for it to take something out the night before. Yes that's a good idea I'm going to do that now! 

Sarahwithlove

joedenise said:

@Sarahwithlove - if you're feeling guilty about having takeaways and/or treats it's probably worth having a small amount of money monthly which you have budgeted for to take away those guilty feelings.  If you don't use it then you can roll it over to the next month and have a bigger treat then.  It's certainly something worth thinking about.

I do have a personal allowance for entertainment, eating out and takeaways
 But had a lot going on recently that's caused it to deplete quickly. Mostly clothes. Maybe I need to budget for that separately. I'll have a think about it.