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

Sarahwithlove

biggerpickle said:

Catching up on lots of diaries this morning! You have lots of nice red crossed out lines on your signature, well done you! 

Thank you for mentioning the N/wide more ethical current account switch - have just started my application from nastywest as that's something I've been meaning to sort for a while.

Thanks just the big one to my dad left now. But hes very chilled about it. Keeps saying pay what you can, it dies with me. 

I find them much better to bank with in general so I'm glad ive made the swap. I will keep monzo for daily living though

Sarahwithlove

Been having a play around with my budget again as all the different small categories were becoming a bit much. So narrowed some down and merged the Sinking fund as some of those expenses have dropped off or now have their own fund. 

New budget 
£250 for food shopping per month (just me) so should be doable with a bit more planning on my behalf. My freezer and cupboards are rammed so need to do an inventory this week. 

£150 a month personal money for eating our, activities etc. This doesn't include my haircut or massage. 

£100 a month transport. That should do nearly 2 tanks of petrol or pay for train tickets etc. 

£35 a month football fund - this is to purchase tickets for away games as annual season ticket is in my sinking fund. 

£80 health and beauty. That's one massage a month at £35. Haircuts every other month at £40 and buffer for painkillers, cold flu and dentist.

£100 a month miscellanous. This is general household bits like new batteries, tea towels, etc but also cat food as I bulk buy that as much cheaper. 

£25 a month for clothing fund. 

These will all roll over to next month when money left over. Think it also gives me a good work/life/debt balance. 

I then have usual utilities and my dad loan repayment which starts again from January at £100 a month. 

For savings I will be putting £150 a month into my sinking fund, £100 into savings and £100 into my fab at forty fund. 

This would leave me about £40 a month buffer before overtime which I am still doing alot of at the moment. So plan is to get the sinking fund up to £2000 as quickly as possible. Then that payment can be reduced and I will tackle the sofa finance which I need to add to my signature. My hope is by end of 2026 the sofa finance will be gone and I can start saving a bigger buffer and have savings at £5k in total including emergency fund. They currently stand at £2625. 

I think alot of it will depend on how long the overtime lasts and how much I can get done whilst it's available. I am going to ask for more overtime clients as I know we still have a waiting list and I have my others in a steady place now. I'm sure my manager will be more than happy to facilitate it. 

Sarahwithlove

Happy Tuesday, not much happening here. Majority of bills have come out, think i only have one or 2 now that I haven't moved to 1st of month which is handy. I thought yesterday was going to be a no spend day but then had to pay for postage for 2 items. How expensive are stamps these days!

I resisted going to Tesc0 and made do with the items I have at home. Though at some point I will have to get some avocado for my lunches. My GP finally gave me a prescription for the painkillers I was having to buy all time so that's good as have a prepayment certificate to cover those. 

Gym membership has been cancelled as injured my back again and its not recovering well. So I think I may have to put the spare £40 in my budget into health and beauty pot to pay for a 2nd massage. I will see how it goes. 

Still haven't done the freezer inventory which if at all possible is now even more full as I squeezed to yellow sticker chickens in there. Tonight's dinner is leftover Lasagne from when went to lunch on Sunday at my aunts. She gave me a portion to bring home so will make myself some garlic bread to go with it as have no salad left. 

Tomorrow's packed lunch will have to be a ham and cheese sandwich as I refuse to buy salad for one day. Though I do need to get some petrol before tomorrow or I won't make it to the office. 

amber03

I joined the leisure complex in August, already thinking of cancelling. I joined mainly to swim but since then found out I can’t swim when the swim exercise classes are on, then if teaching classes are on you cant trying not to hit another swimmer.use those lanes. Leaving the rest of us scrunched up in the remaining 2 lanes, as Im not a fast swimmer I am conscious of holding others up. I love walking and would rather be doing  that than . You’ve just reminded me I need to send my one Xmas card that I send to my DB, think this is the only time I post a letter.

Sarahwithlove

amber03 said:

I joined the leisure complex in August, already thinking of cancelling. I joined mainly to swim but since then found out I can’t swim when the swim exercise classes are on, then if teaching classes are on you cant trying not to hit another swimmer.use those lanes. Leaving the rest of us scrunched up in the remaining 2 lanes, as Im not a fast swimmer I am conscious of holding others up. I love walking and would rather be doing  that than . You’ve just reminded me I need to send my one Xmas card that I send to my DB, think this is the only time I post a letter.

Yes my local leisure centre is similar, the times I would want to swim i can't. Very annoying I have to say. Thinking about getting myself a new walking pad, see if I can fix my old one first. 

Sarahwithlove

Happy Friday, I put my Christmas Tree up last night, it's nice being able to sit with the lights twinkling in background. 

Busy weekend for me, off to London today and tomorrow. Both activities whilst there are already paid so it's just food money I will need. I have budgeted £25 for each day, hoping i won't need that much but will see how it goes. 

Been playing around with my budget spreadsheet, going to use it to start tracking my day to day spending. I am hoping it makes me think twice about some purchases. I.e coffee and cake in office. 

CreditCardJunkie

Sounds like a lovely weekend Sarah! Just been catching up and your budgeting is going so well! 

Just a thought, would you not clear the creation with your savings & call your dad's debt a direct debit? From what you said previously your dad isn't concerned about getting repaid quickly (or maybe even at all). I really think that switch could flip your mindset if you were debt free, it seems you've the budget nailed and are unlikely to get into debt again! Might just be freeing!

Sarahwithlove

CreditCardJunkie said:

Sounds like a lovely weekend Sarah! Just been catching up and your budgeting is going so well! 

Just a thought, would you not clear the creation with your savings & call your dad's debt a direct debit? From what you said previously your dad isn't concerned about getting repaid quickly (or maybe even at all). I really think that switch could flip your mindset if you were debt free, it seems you've the budget nailed and are unlikely to get into debt again! Might just be freeing!

Thanks, I have considered it but there's something about having savings that reassures me. Creation loan is also 0% so whilst it would be nice to have it gone I'm not in a massive rush. My dad is still very much not in a rush to have it paid back and happy with his £100 a month. But again part of me is like it will be nice when its gone. But you could be right, treat it like another payment. 

Given me alot to think about 

CreditCardJunkie

Sarahwithlove said:

CreditCardJunkie said:

Sounds like a lovely weekend Sarah! Just been catching up and your budgeting is going so well! 

Just a thought, would you not clear the creation with your savings & call your dad's debt a direct debit? From what you said previously your dad isn't concerned about getting repaid quickly (or maybe even at all). I really think that switch could flip your mindset if you were debt free, it seems you've the budget nailed and are unlikely to get into debt again! Might just be freeing!

Thanks, I have considered it but there's something about having savings that reassures me. Creation loan is also 0% so whilst it would be nice to have it gone I'm not in a massive rush. My dad is still very much not in a rush to have it paid back and happy with his £100 a month. But again part of me is like it will be nice when its gone. But you could be right, treat it like another payment. 

Given me alot to think about 

Ahh yes 0% didn't think of that! Fair enough! Sounds like you've got a really nice balance of budgeting and enjoying life!

Willowtree222

I also have a 0% creation and savings and have had that dilemma loads of times. I always come to the conclusion that whilst there is no interest, having it in savings is best, but then, like you, wonder what it would be like with it gone.