Accountable

Pinknails101

Trying to keep myself up to date with this, and a little space for my thoughts.

Up with the foxes this morning, quite literally, watching them out of the window. They're cute until they start attacking the bins.

Put a stew on this morning in the slow cooker, this will do for tonight & tomorrow.

I've been working from home this week, I've never done a full week from home before, and it's been lovely. I'm enjoying not putting make-up on, perhaps I can start to brave not putting make-up on for when I'm in the office haha.

I Got paid 2 day's ago, I update my spreadsheet as my bills go out.

Something I'm going to try this month for my allowance.. as I seem to have no control when I look at it as a monthly or weekly figure, so I thought about doing a 3 day allowance, start small and work my way up. 

£400 for the month / £100 per week / £40 every 3 days.

So for my £40 for the 3 days, 2 will be a NSD (tuesday & today) I spent £9 yesterday on some bits for the stew. Therefore, £31 has been paid towards my CC.

Current CC balance - £534.62 (I can clear this in March, however I would like to chip away at it this month so it's not as much of a big hit).

I'm annoyed at myself over the past couple of months, I had such a great plan, but I overspent, had some unexpected expenses crop up, hence the CC.

Once the CC is cleared I'll start tackling the defaulted debts again; still making payments, albeit small.

But, I'm sat here and I am grateful that we have a roof over our head, food in the fridge and clothes on our back. Trying to keep that at the forefront of my mind and not dwell too much.

Set backs happen, can only try again.

xoxo

InDebtEnby

I have a spreadsheet with a monthly budget organised into categories, but I also have a daily amount which is worked out by dividing the amount of money left by the number of days until payday. I track my NSDs but also any days I've spent money but it's less than my daily "allowance". I've found this really helps and I like to see the daily increase if I don't spend that day.

I also have a section where I write down all purchases, how much, and what it was because I couldn't always remember what I bought when it was in the "other" category 

Pinknails101

InDebtEnby said:

I have a spreadsheet with a monthly budget organised into categories, but I also have a daily amount which is worked out by dividing the amount of money left by the number of days until payday. I track my NSDs but also any days I've spent money but it's less than my daily "allowance". I've found this really helps and I like to see the daily increase if I don't spend that day.

I also have a section where I write down all purchases, how much, and what it was because I couldn't always remember what I bought when it was in the "other" category 

I love this. I'm still finding my feet so to speak with my spreadsheet. I have a section with all my bills/dd, and I tick them off as they've been paid.

I also have a separate part for the allowance, which I have broken down to every 3 days, but still tick off each day that is a NSD.

Writing down all purchases does sound like a good idea, I imagine it is good to look back on at the month end and then ponder if it was really necessary?

Pinknails101

I've had a cold that I haven't been able to shake for about 2 weeks now, and in all honesty I'm finding it extremely irritating. I also woke up today with a cracking headache, must've slept in an incorrect position.

So today is my 3 day reset; £40 for the next 3 days/£60 for the rest of the week. Today should be a NSD!.

I do appreciate that my allowance is quite high, however I'd rather it be too high for now until I can actually master what I spend.

Quite a busy weekend planned; visiting a friend tomorrow morning (need to fill the car up, but that will come out of the fuel fund) - just going round to her house for a coffee and a catch up, so not intending to spend any money there and then meeting up with some other friends tomorrow evening for dinner & a show - therefore expecting to spend some money. However, no alcohol, and I will be driving. So I think I will be able to keep it within my £40 budget (show tickets purchased a long time ago).

Sunday, will be housework - how exciting.

Glad it's Friday though, quite happy to see the back of this week. In other news, a project is coming up at work with overtime available for the next 3 weeks. So I'm thinking about hammering out as much OT as possible, and then using that money to solely put towards my debts. However, increase in wages means decrease in universal credit, so I need to work out if it will actually be worth doing if that makes sense? I suppose I can give it a go, and then I'll know whether to do it next time or not (as it appears that there will be future projects in the near future).

xoxo

twiggy86

Sounds like you're doing really well at setting up a system that works for you! You asked re sinking funds, so I thought I'd set out mine:

• House/DIY 
• Car insurance 
• Home insurance 
• Holiday
• Dentist
• Medical
• Xmas
• Gifts
• Beauty
• Pets 
• Clothes

I also have monthly pots for personal/ fun/ nonsense(!), groceries, petrol and fitness (I have a number of sporty hobbies). Sounds complicated but it's a system I've worked out over a number years and it works for me - although also gets tweaked from time to time! 

Pinknails101

twiggy86 said:

Sounds like you're doing really well at setting up a system that works for you! You asked re sinking funds, so I thought I'd set out mine:

• House/DIY 
• Car insurance 
• Home insurance 
• Holiday
• Dentist
• Medical
• Xmas
• Gifts
• Beauty
• Pets 
• Clothes

I also have monthly pots for personal/ fun/ nonsense(!), groceries, petrol and fitness (I have a number of sporty hobbies). Sounds complicated but it's a system I've worked out over a number years and it works for me - although also gets tweaked from time to time! 

Those are some good sinking funds!

I really need to have a think and consider what else I need. I know I need a health one (i.e. prescriptions, glasses, & dental) - Perscriptions are few and far between, but I did have to get one last month and I nearly fell to floor when I had to spend the best part of £10. I've also broke my glasses, I've lost the screw and the lens has popped out. I'm hoping if I pop in an ask nicely they'll fix it for me free of charge... I do have a spare pair, so it's not overly urgent, I just don't think they suit me. As for the dentist, I go when I need to, but I know eventually I'll have to go at some point

Pinknails101

Had a lovely day yesterday, came in under budget with £2.50 remaining. So I've just put that as a little payment towards my CC.

I did however mess up my calculations which is annoying, somehow £20 is unaccounted for in my "allowance". Nevermind, but I can draw that back as today and tomorrow will be NSD, and my weekly allowance will restart on Tuesday (£100 for now until I master it).

CC Balance - £532.12

xoxo

Pinknails101

So a couple of months ago I mentioned that I had paid off my CT arrears, I thought I had, but then it turns out I hadn't. Very long story short, I can say with absolute confidence that today I have. It actually brought a tear to my eye when I logged on this afternoon and read; there are no accounts with a balance.

So, in my silly years, I have been paying my council tax over 12 months, but I have just updated my direct debit details to pay over 10! and when I say I am SOOO looking forward to those "2 free" months next year I actually cannot believe it! I know I still have a way to go, but at least it is a step in the right direction, and if anything it motivates me more.

In terms of my budget, another NSD today. Weekly reset starts tomorrow.. so fingers crossed I can keep up the momentum. I am expecting a spend on Saturday as I'm going to see another show (tickets bought last year), but we shall see how this goes

xoxo

joedenise

Re your glasses your optician will definitely repair them for you as long as you haven't lost the lens.  They'll probably put a new screw in though so no need to worry if you lost that.

Pinknails101

Another NSD yesterday, spent £27 today. £73 remaining until next week.

All of my bills have been paid out of one of my accounts, £31 was left remaining so I've put that towards my CC. Will do the same with my other account once the last couple of things have gone out.

CC Balance - £501.12

Yes the glasses! I need to get those sorted, will do that over the weekend.

xoxo