misstara's debt diary 2024

misstara · 2 January 2024 at 7:35AM

Slept incredibly well last night so feel raring to go this morning which never happens, hoping that means I get lots achieved at work today.

Having had a look further into maximising the LISA, my usual contributions come to £2500 so £1500 extra is needed which is £125 a month. Easily doable since I currently pay £130 a month to the credit card. I won't be able to start this until June once the credit card is paid off but over 10 months, it's £150 extra a month so still achievable.

misstara · 3 January 2024 at 10:53PM

Yesterday was a NSD other than various direct debits going out

Today I spent £20.02 on food, £10 on a gift for my gran and £6.99 on a humane mouse trap. A few items in one of the kitchen cupboards have been nibbled on so hopefully can catch the mouse and then release it on the golf course across the road. I wasn't expecting to spend as much in the supermarket but we also needed cheese and yoghurt in addition to fruit and bread plus I got some ys sausages and baked goods which have gone in the freezer.

Day off work today so popped round to see my gran for lunch and spent the afternoon with her. My aunt was also there visiting which was lovely as I haven't seen her for a few years.

£5.15 added to the car maintenance fund today from cashback on ch@se account and I also completed an 11p PA survey!

misstara · 4 January 2024 at 11:44AM

Day off again today but was up at stupid o'clock so went to the gym early. Since it has been quite a while since I last went, I kept it simple and did 40 minutes fast walk on the treadmill and 20 minutes light weights and stretching. The gym app has various workouts on it so will have a look for future visits, might also look into doing couch to 5k again as I would like to start running again regularly.

It is a pretty miserable day here so don't imagine I will go back out but will hold off on declaring a NSD just in case. The plan for today is mostly food related - stew some apples for putting on top of yoghurt/porridge, make a red thai chicken curry for tea tomorrow and make some banana muffins. I'm working late tomorrow and usually I just grab a ready meal from the supermarket to take with me and OH has one at home but want to get in the habit of making something that we can both heat up quickly. There is a packet of microwave rice in the cupboard so will split that between us.

My ch@se round-up account resets today so the money there will get moved to my current account. It is £274.83 which is amazing considering I really didn't notice the money coming off. Just need to decide exactly what I'm going to do with it, thinking £100 to LISA, £100 to car maintenance fund and £74.83 to emergency fund.

Completed a £3 PA survey this morning but there was an error message at the end so hope I still get paid for it.

misstara · 5 January 2024 at 7:51AM

Yesterday was a NSD

The money from the round-up account was split as above and not only did I get the £3 for the PA survey, there was a bonus payment of £9.80

Have cashed out £16.41 from PA and sent it to the car maintenance fund.

Boodedoo · 5 January 2024 at 1:35PM

Lovely start to the New Year - that round up account was a 'very' good idea and the surveys are still continuing to add to your pots :-)

Do you have enough room in the freezer to maybe make double amounts of a meal when you have time to cook and freeze the extra for the times when you need something quick n easy? Though I don't do the salaried entertainment any more I still batch cook and have 'home made ready meals' stashed in the freezer - though if you have limited space then its not quite so practical.

misstara · 6 January 2024 at 11:26PM

Thanks Boodedoo. I used to do that a lot but have sadly got out of the habit. The freezer is unfortunately quite small and full of random bits at the moment but once we've eaten whatever is in there, I plan to do some batch cooking.

Yesterday I spent £12.30 out on brunch with a friend before work, today has been a NSD.

misstara · 8 January 2024 at 12:51AM

On a late shift again today so went to the gym this morning, did a wee clean of the flat and went to the supermarket. Spent £15 on food and £10.50 on washing powder. Meal plan will take us up to Saturday so hopefully won't need to buy anything until then. Had a rummage in the freezer and took some leftover roast beef and tatties from Christmas day for tea at work.

In other news, the mouse has been caught and released. Have reset the trap in case it had a friend.

misstara · 9 January 2024 at 11:50AM

NSD yesterday

I finished work late after a very full-on shift which is usually when I would go off meal plan and grab something on the way home because I couldn't be bothered cooking. But not yesterday - avoided the supermarket, came home and made sausage, mash and peas which didn't take long.

£100 direct debit has gone to the credit card so it now sits at £478.48

Day off work today so have had a fairly lazy morning, tried a couple of PA surveys but had technical issues with both. Heading out shortly to meet a friend for a walk and lunch. Then will need to go to the supermarket as OH has already eaten all the fruit I bought on Sunday, we could also do with bread and butter.