Flying solo

_Dolly_Rocker_

Go for it!

I do like the idea of a new diary for a new year. 

satchmo1

If you do receive a fine from stopping in the coach station, tell them that bf's dad is terminally ill and can't walk far or fast?

twiggy86

Well last night wasn't as planned... bf got all the Christmas decorations down!!! We put the tree up together and then he left me to decorate it whilst he put lights around the banister! I was more "reserved" with the Christmas tree decorations as we have very different aesthetics and I feel this is somewhere in the middle! Of course I put my Christmas jumper on to do the decorating and pooch was sporting hers as well! House now needs a good hoover and we need to sort out where the empty boxes are going to go for now, but it feels lovely! 

Today is bf's payday so he's transferred me his half of the bills - which has been shuffled away ready for my new budget month, which starts on Friday. He also sent me a link to the trainers he wants as his main Christmas present - they were on sale, with an extra discount code and I went via TCB, so savings were made!!! I will buy his present once the Christmas pot has been topped up on Friday. I also spoke to him about presents for his family (as various people have asked what I want) - he said he will buy for his family from both of us, and then I will do the same for mine. So no extra presents for me to buy. The exception is that I have bought presents for his kids, which have already been purchased. 

I have made a decision to use the £100 window money for debt repayment. That is my number one priority at the moment and so that is where I should use it! Yes I want the house progressed but I'll just have to save for it slowly and/or prioritise it slightly more next year. So that plus another £50 will be sent to the CC today - leaving £150 to clear the Virgin CC. 

On to today's bits and bobs... 

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Update spreadsheet
• Snap some receipts  
• Make CC payment 
• Work on crochet present at lunch 
• Pay lowest amount at acro 
• "Dinner" from stores 
• Work on crochet blanket 

twiggy86

Had a great acro class last night - I opted to pay £10 (instead of the lower amount of £7). This was an intentional decision to "show generosity" as I had the money. Usually if I pay £10 it's because someone is stood by me and I don't want to seem tight, whereas last night wasn't that! I then just had some toast when I got back, but didn't sleep well so I'm tired and hungry today! 

Could really do with a quiet night and spend some time catching up on things, but I'm going out to meet friends! Looking forward to it but also wished I had a night free and then was meeting them tomorrow instead! We're just going to a local place that has late night opening, live music etc. It will be really nice and I think bf is coming - although he is also tired and drained so he always has the option to stay home instead. Will have some food out whilst I'm there which will pretty much use up the remaining "fun money" for the month - however it's pay day tomorrow! 

Speaking of the lack of time... I've been asked by a friend to make a crochet penguin! I need to decide whether or not to say yes I'm already worried about getting everything done! However, I also feel so grateful when someone wants me to make them something! Still haven't managed to post the item I sold on Etsy though, will try catch the post office on my way home tomorrow! 

On to today's bits and bobs... 

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Update spreadsheet
• Get petrol on way to work - was hoping would last until tomorrow but traffic is really bad at the moment and don't want to risk it! 
• Snap receipt
• Work on crochet present at lunch 
• Eat out but be mindful of spending
• Possibly work on crochet blanket depending on when we get home 

twiggy86

Let's start with the biggest news... I've cleared the Virgin CC!!! I worked the budget so that I could clear the remaining £150 so, as today is payday, I have cleared that! It also means that I have now cleared over £4k this year and I have dipped into the 8's!!!! Woohooo! This means my remaining debt is split between two credit cards:

• MBNA CC - £2,800
• Natwest CC - £6,185

TOTAL - £8,985

The other "exciting" update is that I managed to finish the crochet hat yesterday, so that's another Christmas present finished! I have looked through my yarn this morning and I may need one ball for another thing I plan on making, but everything else will be from stash. I have sorted one into a project bag so that I can pick it up when I have time, must do the other one to get that all ready as well.

Oh and there was something else I wanted to check if I had in stash as well! I bought an "advent" in January for 50% of the usual price - this is 30 mini skeins of yarn, with the original plan to pull one out of the package each day in December (as wasn't an official advent so not individually packaged). However, it's looking unlikely that I will have time to actually work on it during December, but I may still "open" it in December and then maybe work on it next year gradually! So the thing I wanted to check was if I had a neutral colour to go with it. 

I did go into the office this morning but the internet was playing up, so I've come home for the afternoon. This means I can sneak in a bit of housework as still playing catch up from last weekend as had a busy week! I've also just finalised the money shuffling so everything is in the right accounts. I've been slightly more generous with the personal and food budgets as December tends to be a busy month, so would rather plan for it. 

Today's bits and pieces...

• Make lunch to take to work (although I have bought it home again!)
• Two loads of washing on 30 degree wash 
• Hang one load of washing on the airer (towels will go in the tumble dryer)
  
• Sort out yarn/ project bags 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Shuffle money as per budget 
• Make CC payment! (Will wait for statements to come in before I make the other payments)
• Order Christmas present for bf (from my parents) as it's in the sale 
• Work on some sort of crochet project - was going to start on something for my mum on my lunch break, but as I'm home I may work on the blanket instead (as it's too big to take to work with me but as I'm home I can do it)

Not sure on plans for this evening, hopefully something chilled but festive! 

satchmo1

Love your diary, and the progress you have made since the waste of space flounced off.

In terms of drying your towels, try part-drying them on the airer and finish them off in the tumble drier (or vice versa) so you get the softness from the tumble drier without the full electricity cost.

Have you decided whether to crochet the penguin yet?

twiggy86

Thanks @satchmo1 - loving "waste of space flounced off"!!! I asked when they needed it by and the answer was February so actually there's no issue with me having enough time!! 

LilSmiler

twiggy86 said:

Let's start with the biggest news... I've cleared the Virgin CC!!! I worked the budget so that I could clear the remaining £150 so, as today is payday, I have cleared that! It also means that I have now cleared over £4k this year and I have dipped into the 8's!!!! Woohooo! This means my remaining debt is split between two credit cards:

• MBNA CC - £2,800
• Natwest CC - £6,185

TOTAL - £8,985

Woohoo bet that must feel great..! One card down and two to go, going in to the weekend and the festive season feeling awesome 🎄🍪🎁

_Dolly_Rocker_

Amazing!!!

Sarahwithlove

Great news about the card being paid off. Always nice when you can get rid of a debt.