Life By The Seaside

beanielou

Also you have budgeted for a 5 week month which it won’t always be so that gives you a wee bit of leeway. Keep plodding.

Blackcats

I'm sorry to read that your health is not great at the moment. Self care is really important and so is having nice things to look forward to at the weekend. Mind you, football can raise you up or strike you down as we both know 😉. Even so, I really enjoy my Saturday afternoons watching our local lower league team. Least said about my premier league team the better as far as last season is concerned.

Your freezer looks very well stocked. I know it takes some upfront effort but could you batch cook some meals? Each week I try to have 1 day when I cook once, eat twice and freeze the second meal and give myself 4 "free" dinners for the last week of the monthly budget. Batch cook lady, which is on channel 4 I think, has some really nice, practical meals.

I think you used to have a lodger (and it was not great) but is this something you might consider again?

Catscoffeecake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033228#Comment_82033228

haha yes football can have ups and downs, but I enjoy the social side of it just as much. But I haven't considered watching my local team, that could be an option on weekends when I don't have my usual football. Hopefully you have a better season this year.

Yes I go through phases with batch cooking as I find I prefer the types of meals that freeze well more in the winter, in these warmer months I prefer to have salad and new potatoes with chicken or some kind of meat. So think its just about planning better, especially lunches, that's my major downfall. But I will look at batch cook lady for some options thanks.

Having lived by myself, and just having a friend staying for the weekend, I don't think I could go back to having a lodger. I know it might help in short term financially, but I think I would rather find other ways to save money. But we will see, as my friend is struggling living at home with her dad, but I just know it will be testing of our friendship. I don't know if I want a complete stranger in my flat.

Catscoffeecake

Thats my thinking :)

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033214#Comment_82033214

Catscoffeecake

Happy Saturday, woke up not feeling too great today, went to my slimming club, where someone brought in their omelette maker for people to try. Think it could be a game changer, so of course with my impulsive purchasing I went and got one for £12.00 from B&M. Its come out of miscellaneous pot. It was nice, i do have lots of eggs in fridge, and will be a good lunch option for this week. But I also ended up buying some snacks, toiletries and some fresh food items. I also brought the last 7 milks in mr T, and some veggies/salad for my freezer meals so that should last me 2-3 weeks. I am hoping I won't need to buy very much else for next few weeks as I don't have much food budget left over. But its been a bit eye opening for me today, I realised I shop when I am bored or have no plans. So I need to make plans on weekends for myself, even if its something simple and make sure its either free or low cost.

No plans to go out tomorrow, need to make lunch for Monday tomorrow so I take it with me on my work visits rather than buy something. I have a free coffee on my app, but am saving it for when next go for coffee with a friend. The next couple of weeks are definitely going to be a learning curve for me.

Catscoffeecake

Feels like a long week and we are only half way there. I have to say last few days have been quite eye opening for me when it comes to spending. I hadnt realised how much of an emotional spender I am and how much of it is linked to my emotional eating. I am spending alot more on eating out/takeaways/bakery/coffee/confectionary then I realised and mostly because I am tired and stressed from work. Good news is that we had our "audit" meeting today, and I got through my part ok and thats been my biggest worry the last few weeks since I was told my clients were part of the audit. Its basically our equivalent to Ofsted I suppose is best way to describe it. But I of course rewarded myself with a coffee and cake at office as you do 🙄 and then because I was "off plan" and got stuck in traffic on way home from office, ended up getting a chippy tea and some sweets for football tonight. So basically ended up spending about £15.00 from my spending money leftover. This means I am down to £31.00 for next 2 weeks which is going to be very tight and I may end up stealing money from another pot to get me through. Sadly work isn't going to get any easier for me over next few months, in fact I would probably guess it won't ease off until the new year. But then that comes with its own challenges with all changes coming to LA in next 2 years.

So trying to make most of overtime being offered as not sure how long we will get it for, I would again guess until the new year, possibly just before or just after depending upon how recruitment goes and timescale for getting new staff in place.

Anyway moral of story, I need to find a better way to cope that doesn't involve eating out, or "rewarding" or "commiserating" with food. My waistline will also thank me for it. A friend reminded me that we can get "therapy" sessions through LA health services so I am going to look into that as life isn't getting any easier for me at the moment so I need better coping mechanisms. Though looking back over my dosette box it seems I have been as consistent with my medication last few weeks as should have been either, which really doesn't help.

Now on to the financial side of things, my first loan direct debit came out this month, and balance has updated, its currently sitting at £9441.00, so under £9.5k which is nice. For now though I am going to just be making the standard monthly payments whilst I refill my sinking fund and pay off my credit card. I need to go to a cashpoint tomorrow to take cash out for cleaner on Friday, and then Friday out for fathers day meal, I have a 25% off food voucher but will be paying for my dads meal as his fathers day gift. Its what he decided he wanted. No plans for the weekend currently, I am going to try use the time to put some items on vinted and marketplace, and do some surveys etc.

Catscoffeecake

Yay my ability to have a signature is back, wahoo! as you will see my credit card went back up this month due to loan overpayment by accident. But its been taken off my google pay and put in safe so its out of reach and can't be used for anything other an a dire emergency. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen.

My overtime from end of last month (after payroll) and this month so far has been authorised so should have a good amount to put towards my sinking funds to bring them back to where they need to be. I will then look at selling items, surveys and PADS to make extra payments towards credit card. But I think from Septembers budget I should be able to put the O/T towards the credit card. Hopefully by then we will have a decision about the payrise as well and get our backpay to April.

Catscoffeecake

Final post of day as I am off to bed. Sorry England! I decided to cancel my netflix membership as not getting enough use. I still have it until 29th but if I want it in future think it should come from my spending money. Its one less coffee a month. I only got it for new Bridgerton at start of year and never cancelled it. So easily done. Anyway PAD of £5.99 made to credit card.

Chocolatefund

I hear you on the eating out to treat yourself after a stressful day at work.

What worked for me is finding a sweet treat that you can have at home. A couple of Xmas' ago I got a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser that I absolutely love. Most nights I look forward to making a yummy hot chocolate and snuggling into the sofa. It makes me look forward to getting home rather then eating out. The sachets aren't the cheapest out there, but it's sure as hell cheaper then takeaways.

"Create an environment that you don't want to escape from". Can't remember who said this. Hard to do at work, but deffo achievable at home.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Love Br!dgerton!

Sounds like you’ve got quite a few ideas to make extra payments which will all add up nicely. Fingers crossed for a nice pay rise and a good sum of backdated wages too.

I’d second a velvetiser, it makes such a good hot chocolate, it does feel like a treat 😋