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So now what?

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  • debtfreeoneday
    debtfreeoneday Posts: 4,998 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    edited 13 March at 8:56AM
    Tuesday

    - £4.29 spend


    Wednesday 

    +£8.85 prolific 

    -£13.40 spend 

    - £7.29 spend 


    £103.98 in the spending pot.


    It really is an eye opener tracking spending like this. All of these spends are food, nipping to the shop for nibbles, so it doesn’t come out of the food budget and instead comes out of the spendy pot. The other spend was the chip shop. Again not budgeted for, but to be fair it’s been about 6 weeks since we had a chippy tea. 


    It’s absolutely whenever my spending goes off kilter is foody bits, snacky stuff. Having to own it on here is a tad uncomfortable but I can’t hide from it. It’s £25 in two days. 😬


    In other news, it’s been a busy few days doing this and that, nothing really of interest. Two loads of washing done yesterday but ended up using the tumble as it was raining here. Looking brighter today so off to do the fortnightly food shop and then out with some friends for the day. 

    DFW (08/08) £64,346.53 Gone (02/19)
    MFW (08/08) £118k Gone (09/23)
  • KajiKita
    KajiKita Posts: 7,297 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    We allow ourselves one takeaway a month (unless there are exceptional circumstances such as vast amounts of heavy DIY). That way we get a periodic treat but it doesn’t get too spendy. 

    Do you know what’s driving the food / nibbles spend? Is it not having snacks or lunch with you? Boredom? Thirst? If you can start to unpick this perhaps you can set up alternative plans? 

    And, don’t be too hard on yourself. You are teaching yourself more habits. It takes time 😊

    KK
    As at 15.05.25:
    - When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £235,841
    - OPs to mortgage = £11,338 Interest saved £5225 to date
    Fixed rate 3.85% ends January 2030

    Read 32 books of target 52 in 2025, as @ 28th June
    Produce tracker: £183 of £300 in 2025

    Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
    Watch your words, they become your actions. 
    Watch your actions, they become your reality. 
  • Watty1
    Watty1 Posts: 6,589 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Tracking spending was probably the biggest bestest thing I did to start rebuilding my pots.  It was eye opening to see the amounts and think about the reasoning behind why. 
    As a result I discovered a love of cooking again (when I am well) and accepted a higher food spend when I am not but also noticed random spends on "stuff" when i cannot sleep properly and figured out what that was about.

    That ramble might not help you at all, but for me it was more about what is behind the random spends and how can I deal with that than just owning random spends. 
    Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became

    In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!
  • LadyWithAPlan
    LadyWithAPlan Posts: 3,732 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Yes I think many of us get quite appalled when first looking at every spend - but knowledge is power :) 

    maybe you could start bulk baking biscuits or snacks to reduce the bought processed snacks as that way you can see the amount of sugar etc in them - they will be tastier and cheaper 
    I eat junk when I am bored or stressed 
    DON'T BUY STUFF (from Frugalwoods)
    No seriously, just don’t buy things. 99% of our success with our savings rate is attributed to the fact that we don’t buy things... You can and should take advantage of discounts.... But at the end of the day, the only way to truly save money is to not buy stuff.    Money doesn’t walk out of your wallet on its own accord.
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6289577/future-proofing-my-life-deposit-saving-then-mfw-journey-in-under-13-years#latest
  • debtfreeoneday
    debtfreeoneday Posts: 4,998 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    Yes I think many of us get quite appalled when first looking at every spend - but knowledge is power :) 

    maybe you could start bulk baking biscuits or snacks to reduce the bought processed snacks as that way you can see the amount of sugar etc in them - they will be tastier and cheaper 
    I eat junk when I am bored or stressed 
    That’s a great idea. Thanks LWAP. 
    DFW (08/08) £64,346.53 Gone (02/19)
    MFW (08/08) £118k Gone (09/23)
  • debtfreeoneday
    debtfreeoneday Posts: 4,998 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    KajiKita said:
    We allow ourselves one takeaway a month (unless there are exceptional circumstances such as vast amounts of heavy DIY). That way we get a periodic treat but it doesn’t get too spendy. 

    Do you know what’s driving the food / nibbles spend? Is it not having snacks or lunch with you? Boredom? Thirst? If you can start to unpick this perhaps you can set up alternative plans? 

    And, don’t be too hard on yourself. You are teaching yourself more habits. It takes time 😊

    KK
    Another great idea. Once a month is totally doable. We ended up having pizza last night to the tune of £27 and I thought afterwards about how long it took me to ‘earn’ that £27 
    DFW (08/08) £64,346.53 Gone (02/19)
    MFW (08/08) £118k Gone (09/23)
  • debtfreeoneday
    debtfreeoneday Posts: 4,998 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    Watty1 said:
    Tracking spending was probably the biggest bestest thing I did to start rebuilding my pots.  It was eye opening to see the amounts and think about the reasoning behind why. 
    As a result I discovered a love of cooking again (when I am well) and accepted a higher food spend when I am not but also noticed random spends on "stuff" when i cannot sleep properly and figured out what that was about.

    That ramble might not help you at all, but for me it was more about what is behind the random spends and how can I deal with that than just owning random spends. 
    I know it me totally emotional eating. Stressed, sad, happy or otherwise I eat. Hence the need to lose some weight!
    DFW (08/08) £64,346.53 Gone (02/19)
    MFW (08/08) £118k Gone (09/23)
  • debtfreeoneday
    debtfreeoneday Posts: 4,998 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    edited 17 March at 6:36PM
    I lost track a bit over the weekend with money in and out but today:

    £7.15 in from prolific 
    £10 in from shop scan to Amazon voucher 

    £110.17 in the spendy pot. 
    DFW (08/08) £64,346.53 Gone (02/19)
    MFW (08/08) £118k Gone (09/23)
  • debtfreeoneday
    debtfreeoneday Posts: 4,998 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    Over a month has gone by again. Got hit by horrible cold flu virus which literally took me off my feet for about three weeks!

    Current state of play. 

    £10 earned today from shop and scan. 

    £88.80 in the spendy pot. 

    Having a very lazy bank holiday pottering about. 
    DFW (08/08) £64,346.53 Gone (02/19)
    MFW (08/08) £118k Gone (09/23)
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