Budget with me one week at a time

DFB35

I did spend £12.58 yesterday on Father’s Day 😊 Such a small amount but very fun retro sweets, son is getting a card from his money. £56.32 left for this week. 

Also got my Nationwide £100 share payment! Wooo completely forgot about it, I’ve put it in my savings will update sig. 

Food shop coming tomorrow about £80, will know exact price once they collect it, still we will be under which will balance last times we were a bit over. 

Personal account £256.32

Week 2 - £56.32
Week 3 - £100
Week 4 - £100

Food shop - £296.30
week 1 - £104.08
week 2 - £96.30 - £80 ish
week 3 - £100
week 4 - £100

WatchedByOwls

DFB35 said:

I spend between £5-£10 on lunch at work so definitely need to look into taking packed lunch!

Averaging that to £7.50 each lunch and buying it 3 days a week (with 4 weeks annual leave) totals £1080 a year. Putting it at £10 for 5 days a week is £2400 annually.

Batch cooking and bringing in leftovers or making sandwiches and taking them in a lunchbox can cost less than £5 a week, which would save you hundreds of pounds a year!

I often found that when I did buy lunches at work they're really quite disappointing - rubbish meal deals, insipid salads or overpriced street food that just isn't very good. So I was spending hundreds of pounds a year on forgettable meals that I should never have bothered with. Now I'm much better (though definitely not perfect!) at bringing food with me and I enjoy it much more knowing it's costing me much less 

DFB35

Food shop came to £80.25, I’ve updated my tracker below

I don’t really have plans for weekend so would be good to hold on to the £56 and split it between savings and interest bearing card. But I’m not being super strict just incase husband wants to go out to lunch or anything for Father’s Day. 

Personal account - £256.32

Week 2 - £56.32
Week 3 - £100
Week 4 - £100

Food shop - £216.05

week 1 - £104.08
week 2 - £80.25
week 3 - £100
week 4 - £100

DFB35

Not been for a few days, we didn’t manage to hold on to the £50 from week 2, given some money to son as he went out with friends. I know I should be stricter but he’s 15 and is a very good boy. We also had a take away and I’ve bought a decorating set as have to repaint some walls. 

Then we tried to replace the mastic/ silicone around the shower as it’s gone mouldy but it was a disaster so I have to call someone to have it done properly. They quoted £80 which is not too bad I thought. And good timing our toilet flush has broken so the man will have a look at that too (cost is unknown at the moment). Man will come next week. 

Personal account - £180.51

Week 3 - £80.51
Week 4 - £100

Food shop - £216.05

week 3 - £88.35
week 4 - £100

DFB35

In the end it was £210 to fix the bathroom with new part for the toilet. So my savings are back to 0 and took some money from personal account. 

We are now in week 4 and payday is on the horizon wooo hoo

Personal account - £76.26 (plus 50 I lent to parent)

Week 4 - £76.26

Food shop - £124 so a bit extra on top of £100 budget

Week 4 - £100

I am happy how I manage when I am mindful and the finances are working even with unexpected expenses. It just shows how badly I mismanage the money when I end up using the credit cards. 

I have cancelled two of my credit cards but think I will need to completely cut myself off from credit. I have two which I use Amex and FD but I need to probably balance transfer from Amex to FD and shut that down. So the only remaining credit cards are on balance transfers and then shut down when they are paid off. 

RelievedSheff

We found that closing down cards when they are paid off really helped us.

Obviously it stopped us spending on them but equally it gave a sense of achievement that we had paid each one off and closed them down.

We now just keep two open and balance transfer between the two when necessary. That said we have just made our final balance transfer so we could close one of the cards now.

DFB35

Just popping in quickly to record Son’s school trip 320, paid 50 deposit. Took some from food + personal acc

Personal account - £50 (plus 50 I lent to parent)

Week 4 - £50

Food shop - £100

Week 4 - £100

Amex statement come through estimated interest next month is £21. I’ve updated my sig

DFB35

Payday re set woo hoo. I have managed to keep hold of £100 so put £50 towards Amex and £50 to savings. 

Food has been reset to £400

Personal has been reset to £400

Sent £250 to savings and £50 to another credit card. 

Will update my sig. 

DFB35

Checking in. All is ok

Personal account - £388

Week 1 - £88 remaining 

Week 2 - £100
Week 3 - £100
Week 4 - £100

Food shop - £400 will do a shop later in the week

Week 1 - £100
Week 2 - £100
Week 3 - £100
Week 4 - £100

Well I say all ok that’s the financial side. Maybe I will also make it my mental health diary as that’s not going well. I have been in a slump/ low mood since mid May. Not as bad as I have been in the past but struggling a bit. My main struggle is motivation to do anything, it’s very very hard to motivate myself to come in the office, I went yesterday but maybe will wfh the rest of the week. Although if all my team goes in I will try my best on Wednesday or Thursday. 

Another thing I struggle is waking up, I just can’t wake up and so so tired. Yesterday was in the office and didn’t know how I will make it through the day, at home is easier as I can have a nap at lunch time and don’t get up until 8.30. 

And things like personal care, I have to make sure to brush my hair but my clothes are from floordrobe and I wear them few days in a row. I obviously wash and put nice clothes when I’m in the office. Need to force myself to go get my teeth brushed, I do do it but not first thing. I know it’s disgusting. Waking my dog, have to force myself (but not on weekends? I love walking him on weekends??) and obviously social side. I have a summer party next Monday and really forcing myself to attend. I’m so awkward around work people other than my team.
I am back on my meds but they not kicking in. And then after few months I will be super hyper. It’s cycle I’ve been on for the past couple of years.  

Hope it was ok to share it’s more for my records but I’ve already identified a pattern. I know I will feel better soon!

DFB35

Quick check in. I did end up going to the office yesterday. It was very hard to get up and get going but I seem to feel better than on Monday.

Will have a few no spend days now. I also will try and go to an event on Monday. Need to try on some outfits today so hopefully won’t need to buy anything new. 

Personal account - £356

Week 1 - £56 remaining 

Week 2 - £100
Week 3 - £100
Week 4 - £100

Food shop - £400 will do a shop later in the week

Week 1 - £100
Week 2 - £100
Week 3 - £100
Week 4 - £100