Don't hit me with those negative waves Moriarity

Rhyddid2026

I know lots of people who are using it well, but also my sister ended up in hospital last week after taking it. She'd been vomiting for 5 days at that point.

Anyway! It's good to have a little warning prod that could be easily salvaged. Keeps you from getting complacent. If you do want them, get them, but make the decision carefully so you don't get the regret, innit.

LzzyIsGod

🤣 it was the thought of spending all that money for potentially a very long time that put me right off my food today! Clearly I am still a spontaneous spender at heart but just not my own money

LzzyIsGod

So today is my penultimate day off work following a nice stretch off. It was much needed in hindsight.

I had an ambitious list of household jobs to achieve and I'm fairly pleased I've achieved a pretty decent chunk of this (including self valet my car, vax the carpets, decorating etc). I have though also been spending - as my dear virtual.friend Dave Ramsey says "like I'm in Congress". There's been 2 eating out trips (which is unheard of as diary followers will know), several.pub trips (not unheard of), 10 quid spent on Gold cup day (not a big better to be honest, usually just Gold cup and Geand National days and I was £4.30 up at the end of the day) and 1 frivolous purchase of a vintage jacket (not needed but omg I love it so much). These have all been cash flowed from my "fun/play money" pot with the exception of the infamous skinny jabs purchase which I have redacted and am waiting for a full refund!.

However Sensible Lzzy has returned and I have £17.50 left of "fun" money to last til payday. Groceries and petrol are covered by different pots and are budgeted for (old me would have been tempted to dip into these for other reasons).2 birthday presents purchased last week fully funded from the Present Pot. Genuinely I want to stick to my fun money budget and not dip.into the EF (which currently stands at £7800) because that's not what it's there for. So whilst there have been a few of the old habits creep in New Lzzy is still (I think) in control - old me would have probably spent twice as much and whacked anything over budget on the CC and i would have most definitely NOT Worried about getting into a long term finiancial commitment with no clear plan of how to pay for it moving forward.

Right that's my update. DH is working next weekend as he would.like to go on a mates birthday weekend trip and doesn't want to use his savings but a weekend extra work would cover it - how times have changed!! Now where's my paint brush?????

Mands

1 frivolous purchase of a vintage jacket (not needed but omg I love it so much)

I predict SensibleLzzy will get more joy out of that single item in the wardrobe than the last 10 items bought before the spending habits changed.

LzzyIsGod

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81926149#Comment_81926149

I bought it Thursday and have worn it every day since then other than yesterday when I didn't leave the house 🤣🤣

It's a proper old leather biker jacket - super heavy but what a thing of joy. We have a fab vintage 2nd hand shop in town and it's just a treasure trove of wonder. It cost me £54.99 (that 1p is important 🤣)

Mands

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81926176#Comment_81926176

I have a tiny, unpredictable, income stream in addition to the known stuff. Most months it's in the order of £25. About a year ago I decided I'm only allowed to spend it on 'fun' stuff. I get so much joy from that money, way more than from another of £25 in the budget.

A bunch of orange roses in the supermarket? Thank you very much. They wouldn't fit in the grocery budget but they can come out of my slush fund. Last week I was at a comedy gig with a friend. I knew the friend wanted to go but couldn't afford it so I paid for both tickets and framed it as an early birthday present.

Your jacket sounds like it's brought more than £54.99 of joy already :)

LzzyIsGod

Well the refund on the CC has been credited and is dated to Monday 16th so fingers crossed that doesn't upskittle the 0% balance that's ticking along on there. If it has though I have decided I will just clear the thing although I'm dragging my heels clearing the other 0%that ends on 31/03! It's funny how twitched I am about actually using the allocated money in the bank to get rid of them - it's almost like I need the reassurance of money in the bank

LzzyIsGod

Well good morning diary land and happy weekend. And no I am not working this one 😁 although I have lots of home DIY/ reorganising plans and no going out plans as I want to STAY IN BUDGET.

I spent some time doing a deep dive into the finances last night - no major changes but what I wanted to do was work out exactly how much the EF needs to be in reality. I have this tendency to overestimate and tbh the amount will never be enough to settle my personal worry wart and conversely I always feel dh is far too optimistic. So we need to find a middle ground. I still think £15k, he thinks £10k is fine so we will aim for 12k which should take a few more months in reality.

I have tentatively looked at if there are any things we could cut back on as I am determined to start paying down the mortgage. It's never felt big but now we are clearing the ccs (as the 0%s run down) it is the new focus of my money worry! Talking of 0% one of mine ends at the end of March and whilst half of me is going BT! BT! KEEP THE CASH IN THE BANK sensible me knows that is a ridiculous idea and a waste of money with the transfer fees. As Dave Ramsey says "its not a pet!! It doesn't need to hang around!" So I need to calm my inner panic and just blooming DO IT.

Right off to the "gym" - yes the home gym as I'm still not happy enough (aka too tight!) to sign up to another gym membership.

LzzyIsGod

Morning! Plans went slightly awry yesterday although I had a very productive morning including unblocking a drain which i was rather proud of. My mate was over my way so I went up to meet her and watch her lad play football (£7 spent) and then my dear Pops invited me for a pint (£10 spent). Last night was a birthday takeaway funded from the general pot - these definitely taste better now they are a rare treat! So money spent but still in budget.

I did realise yesterday it's nearly an entire year since I put a regular day to day purchase on a credit card (other than last Sundays slip which has been refunded and rectified). I remember even though I wasn't going to use it, still carrying one with me "just in case" as a safety blanket such was my dependency on it. These days they never even leave the house and it never occurs to me to put stuff on it. If the money isn't in the pot it doesn't get spent. No cash doesnt mean use a CC or overdraft! Ive been in and out of debt my entire adult life but maybe, just maybe, I can start to be cautiously optimistic that this time things really are changing for good.

jwil

Great result with the CC!