Don't hit me with those negative waves Moriarity

LzzyIsGod

Good vibrations

Car Gate rumbles on but I'm not going to dwell on that - positive waves only tonight!

Today marks the 1st Vinted sale for a good while so long may it continue -- £7.50 which will go to the "stay out the overdraft" pot if/when it arrives as this is my main focus of the month. 

Sadly one of my (3) side hustles is cancelled tomorrow due to the weather but tbh my fingers and toes are quite thankful as it involves standing outside for several hours. Even with appropriate clothing it really isnt much fun in the freezing cold when it takes you several hours (and inevitably several pints) to thaw out.  I haven't really counted the side hustles into my budget as they all can be either seasonal or sporadic but as and when they pay that will be used towards whatever that particular month's Lzzy MSE goal is. 

Big T has delivered this week's food shop and everyone has been warned off eating random bits from the cupboard without checking, especially eldest yoof and the crisps which he is particularly guilty of eating and then leaving me short for packups towards the end of the week. 

I did do a home workout tonight which has really buoyed my mood - I do rely on exercise for the old MH which was why I've been nervous to fully cancel the gym (it's currently frozen, bit like the ground outside haha)  but I'm a week into home "gym" and managing ok. The online (free!) trainer I use usually has a postive quote at the end and today's was " you dont have to be perfect to make progress" and that really resonated with me on different levels. 

And so Zebadee to bed (when I've stopped bouncing around) Let's see what this weekend brings.

LzzyIsGod

if it makes you happy....

Collected my winnings from the pub draw from last week and happily spent them 😂

Went to the pub tonight having done house jobs all day. 43 quid spent but by heck I had a nice time.  Yes maybe could have been 40 quid saved but it felt great 😂 short diary entry for once but still not.used the OD so that's my win for one day

LzzyIsGod

Down, down, deeper and down

Oops missed yesterday! But a productive no spend Sunday achieved which is always satisfying!

Today was just an essential spend day on petrol which was budgeted for - separating and ring  fencing out petrol money for the month has really helped this month in making sure I've got enough, its avoided any panicking and sticking it on the Never Never. Also, as its a separate bank account, I've been strict with myself and no buying of petrol station snacks so better for the old waistline and teeth too.

Another positive from all the frequent (obsessive!!) bank account checking is picking up on irregularities - turned out I paid twice in the pub Saturday night for my tab - fortunately a quick message to the friendly landlord has rectified this and everything is back in order.  In the past I was so disorganised I would have probably missed this so I'm taking that as a win. 

Today the last of the cc monthly payments went out and I took great pleasure in seeing the balance go down 😁 I've broken into the lower thousand bracket of my overall debt balance and it's a really good feeling.

 It's slow but steady progress, bit like a tank turning round but it is turning and moving in the right direction. Pay day next week and I actually can't wait to see my regular bank account filled nicely with all my wages rather than just the half outside the overdraft!

 Next months mission is to jiggle round that 300 quid that the 0% runs out on and start looking to hammer down the balance of the highest CC.

Onwards and Downwards!

Nintud

LzzyIsGod said:

Down, down, deeper and down

Oops missed yesterday! But a productive no spend Sunday achieved which is always satisfying!

Today was just an essential spend day on petrol which was budgeted for - separating and ring  fencing out petrol money for the month has really helped this month in making sure I've got enough, its avoided any panicking and sticking it on the Never Never. Also, as its a separate bank account, I've been strict with myself and no buying of petrol station snacks so better for the old waistline and teeth too.

Another positive from all the frequent (obsessive!!) bank account checking is picking up on irregularities - turned out I paid twice in the pub Saturday night for my tab - fortunately a quick message to the friendly landlord has rectified this and everything is back in order.  In the past I was so disorganised I would have probably missed this so I'm taking that as a win. 

Today the last of the cc monthly payments went out and I took great pleasure in seeing the balance go down 😁 I've broken into the lower thousand bracket of my overall debt balance and it's a really good feeling.

 It's slow but steady progress, bit like a tank turning round but it is turning and moving in the right direction. Pay day next week and I actually can't wait to see my regular bank account filled nicely with all my wages rather than just the half outside the overdraft!

 Next months mission is to jiggle round that 300 quid that the 0% runs out on and start looking to hammer down the balance of the highest CC.

Onwards and Downwards!

That’s a good set of plans and the visual image of a tanker turning is very apt. Slow progress IS progress and will get you to where you want to be.

i have an expensive month ahead. Car accident repair, new passport, start of 2025 leaseholder payments, flights to my Dad to book. The tanker will only turn a degree or two, but it WILL turn.

LzzyIsGod

Nintud said:

LzzyIsGod said:

Down, down, deeper and down

Oops missed yesterday! But a productive no spend Sunday achieved which is always satisfying!

Today was just an essential spend day on petrol which was budgeted for - separating and ring  fencing out petrol money for the month has really helped this month in making sure I've got enough, its avoided any panicking and sticking it on the Never Never. Also, as its a separate bank account, I've been strict with myself and no buying of petrol station snacks so better for the old waistline and teeth too.

Another positive from all the frequent (obsessive!!) bank account checking is picking up on irregularities - turned out I paid twice in the pub Saturday night for my tab - fortunately a quick message to the friendly landlord has rectified this and everything is back in order.  In the past I was so disorganised I would have probably missed this so I'm taking that as a win. 

Today the last of the cc monthly payments went out and I took great pleasure in seeing the balance go down 😁 I've broken into the lower thousand bracket of my overall debt balance and it's a really good feeling.

 It's slow but steady progress, bit like a tank turning round but it is turning and moving in the right direction. Pay day next week and I actually can't wait to see my regular bank account filled nicely with all my wages rather than just the half outside the overdraft!

 Next months mission is to jiggle round that 300 quid that the 0% runs out on and start looking to hammer down the balance of the highest CC.

Onwards and Downwards!

That’s a good set of plans and the visual image of a tanker turning is very apt. Slow progress IS progress and will get you to where you want to be.

i have an expensive month ahead. Car accident repair, new passport, start of 2025 leaseholder payments, flights to my Dad to book. The tanker will only turn a degree or two, but it WILL turn.

It's funny, my feelings change within hours rather days at the moment between thinking I can do this vs omg this a long climb/it's all going to go terribly wrong. Feather weight touch vs juggernaut pull turning this tank around. You're doing brilliantly though @Nintud although I feel your pain with the car expenses.

Sarahwithlove

I use monzo and have different pots for everything. Like you say it's good for keeping petrol costs separate 

LzzyIsGod

Coffee and TV

The good thing about work days is (when I am organised, which is increasingly often now i am on a debtbusting mission) they are often NSDs with the exception of petrol. Petrol will always be one of my biggest outlays but that's the job and I am good at claiming back what I'm entitled to each month. Work do not cover drive through (or otherwise) coffees though so this month I dug out the flask to stop the temptation - the only downside to this is that you can't use their facilities for a toilet break and I'm not brazen enough to waltz in and out without buying something 🤣 

Nearly down to single figures to payday although there is still money in my "frivolous spending" pot aka play money. My little mini challenge to myself is to see if I can not spend it all before pay day, although this may be thwarted by a routine dentist trip next week. The buggery thing about getting older is the dentist always seems to find issues with my teeth - gone are the days of "yes everything's fine see you in 6 months" and now it's "hhhmmm hhmmm, <insert problem> " which inevitably costs money.  Still probably cheaper than false teeth or turkey teeth in the long run, and I'm still quite fond of having teeth.

Couple of long days coming up but still aiming to home gym each day as my stay active at home mission is going quite well just using free, online workouts via the TV or laptop.  Only issue I can see is needing more weights. You can never have too much exercise equipment as long as you use it right??

LzzyIsGod

Sarahwithlove said:

I use monzo and have different pots for everything. Like you say it's good for keeping petrol costs separate 

Honestly I have no idea why I have never had a petrol pot before now. I have pots for everything else! 

LzzyIsGod

All the small things

I chose this title today because it's often the culmination of little things in life that seem to either make life better or tip you over the edge.

 For me today it was one small thing that broke the proverbial camels back and the last few months of stress (not just money just everything) came flooding out. Doesn't help that I'm cold, tired, and emotional. I feel that I may need to make big decisions ahead this year around work and the car and I'm not good with uncertainty and I can be terribly indecisive about Big Things.

Another NSD though so not all super bad. 

As Blink 182 sing "turn the lights off, carry me home" Well to bed any way. 

in_need_of_direction

you’ve just given me an ear worm