Flying solo

twiggy86

Good weekend overall, but more spendy than I would have liked and I hit a few snags on the crochet blanket! 

Had a great day with my friends on Saturday but going out is expensive! I managed to get a lift to meet everyone and I tried to be sensible, but drinks just cost quite a lot! I went to a bottomless brunch and that alone was £37, followed by further drinks after and then a taxi home. It was for one of best friend's birthday's though, so I don't begrudge it. Spreadsheet has been updated and I had given myself extra this month as I knew I was going out. 

I felt a bit hungover yesterday and between parents over, running kids around etc, didn't have as much time as I would have liked to work on the blanket. Plus the yarn I had ordered wasn't working out, so had to spend some time working out the solution. Which means I'm feeling very behind! I am now on to the making the sunflowers around the edge, but there's about 30 of them and so far I've only made 4!!! I was hoping to have it finished and handed over this weekend, but that may be very optimistic now! However, I am working from home for the rest of the week after today, meaning I can work on that. BUT I had intended to work on something else on my lunch breaks, so worried if I push that down the priority list that I then won't get that finished in time! 

Anyway, enough waffle and on to today's list...

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Print label for something I sold on Vinted (so £5 due to come in)
• Update spreadsheet 
• Work on a crochet project at lunch 
• Return some yarn on the way home - colour didn't match 
• Do food shop with bf - will split the cost 
• Dinner from stores 
• Work on crochet blanket 

twiggy86

Don't feel like there's too much to report today. Did the food shop last night but need to text bf the amount so that he transfers over. We did treat ourselves to a gingerbread house kit as we're going to have a competition on who can make the best one! Unnecessary expense but will be a laugh! We forgot to get dog food last night so had to pop out this morning and get some, but I also posted off something I sold on Vinted which made it more worthwhile! Thankfully I'm working from home for the rest of the week so I had time otherwise pooch would have been hungry as she was completely out! 

Today I have/will:

• Post Vinted parcel 
• Snap receipts 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Wash towels on 39 degree quick wash 
• Lunch and dinner from stores
• Work on a crochet project at lunch 
• Finish wrapping Christmas presents - use up ribbon in stash, although I wanted to buy some different stuff as this doesn't match completely!  

twiggy86

I think I paid my CC too early! Checked my account and looks like the minimum is still due, so it must not have all synced up correctly! Good job I had set aside some money for an overpayment (to the other card) which I hadn't yet paid, so can utilise that. I will wait a day or so and see if it still shows as due (not actually due until 1 Jan) before I make any payments, as ideally I'd like to pay down the other card which has the smallest balance. 

Other than spending £2.85 on a bag of dog food, I didn't spend anything yesterday. Well actually half that amount as bf has paid me for that and the food shop. Today's only spend should be for acro tonight. I did debate not going to acro to give me the evening to work on the blanket but it's the last class before Christmas. I am now half way through the sunflowers so will need to find time to work on it but think it's unlikely I will get it done by the weekend as I had hoped! 

Working from home today, so my list looks like...

• Update spreadsheet 
• Load of washing on 30 degree quick wash 
• Hang washing on airer
• Lunch from stores - "dinner" will probably be toast when I get back from acro 
• Work on crochet at all possible breaks!!!  

_Dolly_Rocker_

That is annoying - something similar happened to me last month with my Very account. 

Glad you've got the funds to pay it.

twiggy86

Serves me right for obviously being too impatient! I checked the actual statement and can see the payment showing in my previous statement, so I have gone ahead and paid the "minimum" (rounded up to the next £5 mark). So that's another £65 knocked off the debt, regardless of if it's gone to the "wrong card"! 

I may or may not make a few smaller payments during the rest of the month, but if I don't it means I will have paid off £4,280 this year! Not bad going! 

twiggy86

Great last class of the year at acro last night! I opted to pay the most expensive amount as a small sign of Christmas generosity - not much but I know it all helps. The have a system where you can pay £7, £10 or £12, so I paid the £12. That was the only spend from yesterday, which comes from my fitness pot so technically a NSD (according to the way I work it anyway!) Tonight is netball, so that's another £5.90 from that pot. Should end with about £20 in that pot as when I did my budget I wasn't sure when acro and netball would finish for Christmas. 

Don't think there's anything else "exciting" to report, other than I'm still feeling stressed about getting my various crochet projects done! At this stage I'm thinking my mum might get one sock and an IOU!!! 

Today's bits and bobs...

• Update spreadsheet 
• Lunch and dinner from stores
• Make small CC payment 
• Work on crochet at all possible opportunities!!! 
• Park for free at netball - game isn't until 9:20 so usually I would meet my friend at the pub beforehand, but thinking I should probably spend the time working on the blooming blanket!

twiggy86

Managed another NSD yesterday! Other than food shopping and my hobbies (netball and acro), I haven't spent any money this week! However, I do have a few plans this weekend. Me and bf are going to try today to get last minute tickets for a football game on Monday, although may not get lucky so we'll see. Then tonight we were meant to be going ice skating with his work mates, but they have all pulled out so not sure if we will still go (bf used to play ice hockey, so skating is his "thing"). Tomorrow I have friends coming over and then we are going out for a few drinks. So I need to buy some nibbles and a few beers for me to have here - then will spend whilst out, but hoping not too much! 

Over the weekend I would also like to dye my hair and wax my legs! I need to check if I have any hair dye here, but I definitely need some wax strips! However, will save me money doing this myself - as I have done for years! Over thing for the weekend is to finish the blanket! I feel like I am getting close now - although I had planned to do some before work this morning but me and bf slept in! My alarm kept going off but I snoozed it until 8am!!! 

Plans for today...

• Update spreadsheet 
• Lunch and dinner from stores
• Work on crochet blanket 

Hmmm, surely there must be more money saving things that I can do!!! 

twiggy86

Another festive weekend complete! 

Friday night we didn't end up going ice skating and instead stayed in and built gingerbread houses from kits we'd bought! We did however have pizza delivered and to be honest, it wasn't that nice! Saturday morning I dyed my hair and then had friends over for a couple of hours before we went into town. Plus side was that I have lots of snacks left over that they bought round! Downside is that I spent £49 and budget is looking rather depleted, so may have to reallocate some money to see me through the month. Then yesterday I had a quiet day at home whilst bf played golf with his friends - I finished the blanket (woohoo!!!) and waxed my legs, before taking pooch for a Christmas lights tour! I.e. I went round different streets than usual to see what people had put up! Then watch a film whilst working on a crochet rabbit! 

Speaking of crochet - I had made bf a hat and he was saying on Saturday that he needed to buy a woolly hat for golf, so I ended up giving him that present early! Didn't make sense to let him spend money on one when there was one wrapped up ready for him! He was very appreciative! 

I have a busy-ish week ahead...Tonight we are going to watch a football game, so will grab something to eat there. Tomorrow is maybe going ice skating. Wednesday maybe acro - no class but some people are still meeting up. Thursday is netball whilst bf goes to his Christmas party and think I'm picking him up after. Then it's Friday again and we have bf's kids! 

However, let's get back to today's bits and bobs... 

• Make lunch to take to work (nearly convinced myself that I didn't have time!)
• Update spreadsheet 
• Have pooch with me today so will take her for a wander at lunch meaning no crochet time! 
• Park for free for football

Hmm, again a very short list and feel like I'm slipping slightly in my MSE ways!

twiggy86

I received the £5 from the Vinted sale so that has been sent to my "holding" pot for now, whilst I see how the rest of the month pans out! I also did the same with the £5 reward money I got from my main account. 

It also turns out that I am going to be working from home Wednesday and Thursday this week and then next Monday(which is my last day before Christmas closure). Currently have half a tank of petrol and £98 left in my petrol pot - it costs about £65 to fill up my car. Also still have £190 in my food budget - I put extra in this month to account for Christmas. So I definitely have resources to call on if I need to, so I'm not concerned I just don't like "over-spending"! 

Sarahwithlove

Its frustrating isn't it when you have to take money from other pots to cover extra spending