So it Begins - The Accountability

weenancyinAmerica

If you are happy there, it is worth it to stay. Besides moving costs money - and who knows what you will run into in the neighborhood.

Dakota_Rose

For what it’s worth, I think you should stay in the current flat if it’s a happy place. Feeling safe and comfortable is priceless. Also, moving costs money, however cheaply you plan to do it.

Is the lease on your current place long term?

sams247

@weenancyinAmerica @Dakota_Rose Thank you. I really appreciate your input. I think thats a very good consideration, and it sits with me well. I was very unhappy in my last place and I would have leapt at this new one in a heartbeat. But, yes, I am happy now. I hadnt even thought of the moving costs! Very good point. I can stay in my current place long term, well unless anything happens unplanned I guess. The landlady is keen on long term so…..

joedenise

I would say stay put. You're happy where you are and have no idea what the new flat would be like to live in - it might have horrible neighbours who would make your life a misery. You've also got 2 bedrooms currently whereas the other one is just a studio so not even a separate bedroom which can be very limiting.

sams247

@joedenise thank you for that. Its in a community for over 55, but its very true it may well have people I dont get on with and in a community there'd be no escape! I think its just simply the wrong time. Maybe in 4 or 5 years….

sams247

What do they say about best laid plans? Well I was feeling quite pleased with my efforts to get an emergency fund up and going. But it would seem that the universe has heard that I'm doing this, as I've got a big bill coming in. I have two months to pay it and my emergency fund will cover about half of it. So whilst I am, of course, please I've got at least half of it sitting in the bank ready, I am frustrated that my emergency fund will be back to 0 before I've even reached my goal. But I guess that's how these things happen.

Talking of being pleased with myself……. I went to Costa today and this is a very challenging place for me to be if I'm trying to limit spending. It is literally like throwing me into the middle of the fairground and asking me to find all the free candy floss. But I was determined to stick to a budget and a very low one at that. I gave myself £30 to spend as I knew the items I truly needed would come to about 25. I also knew that if I bought everything I wanted it would be more like £100 upwards. So I ignored all the treats and temptations and special offers and everything else and I simply bought the things that were on my list. I can't tell you how much determination this took! And my budget of £30? I spent £31.60. So I am well pleased with that and mainly with my determination not to slide into buying everything under the Sun.

Breakfast today was shredded wheat. I haven't had this in awhile but thought I'd give it a go again. I just had it plain with milk. Then for lunch I had a slice of pizza at Costco, making sure I had it before I went shopping, so I did not shop hungry. For tea I had prepared some fish, I had these with cheesy potatoes and beans.

sams247

Went to bed late last night trying to juggle my budget in order to pay the bill that has arrived. Essentially this was like trying to fit my size 26 body into a size 18 dress, no matter what way round I twisted it just wouldn't work. It seems I have the type of brain that always thinks if I just think a bit more there is a perfect solution. 

I am going to try and find more things to sell on Vinted, I'm going to see if there's any more overtime I can do, and I'm going to try and be really really dedicated on my budget this month, particularly with the Food.

I read an article ages ago that said people with money have the luxury to think of the future, people without money think month-to-month. And that's so true. Even in my budgeting I never budget beyond one month at a time, starting an emergency fund was the furthest I've ever got to planning a future beyond that one month and that next paycheck.

Breakfast today was muesli, some fresh blueberries and some dried apricots with Greek yoghurt and a drizzle of honey. Lunch is a pizza slice, I start with plain margarita and today I'm going to add some fresh tomatoes on top and a smattering of mozzarella. Tea tonight is going to be ‘chicken’ pie with mini roast and vegetables.

I am feeling down today, I feel defeated by the constant climb to improve my finances. I'm sure I'll get over it. #goes-in-search-of-chocolate.

ladybird1106

I have no advice to offer, so sending virtual hugs instead.
love 🐞

vampirotoothus

Hi could you contact the organisation concerned and ask if they can help you spread the cost over a few months, just to save you the panic? Good luck V x

sams247

I have endeavoured to inspire myself by looking at zero hour jobs as a supplement to my wages, things to sell on Vinted, and I have ploughed many a website for ideas on cutting back budgeting et cetera et cetera. I'm becoming obsessed with the idea that August might break me and drag me back to debt-ville. I'm going to really really try not to let that happen but I have to say I'm feeling pretty gloomy about finances at the moment and I was so happy.

@ladybird1106 vitual hugs most appreciated and def needed thank you

@vampirotoothus Thank you. I was not clear that this is a dentist bill. I have put it off for ages, but I cant avoid it, I have to have work done to save teeth and as I am now into my sixties teeth are kinda needing tlc before they pack up and leave

Today's breakfast consisted of muesli with fresh blueberries, Greek yoghurt, pineapple chunks and diced pear with a drizzle of honey. Lunch was a wrap made with Philadelphia, sweet chilli jam, tomatoes, cucumber, iceberg lettuce, and a little grated mozzarella. Tea will be Panko prawns. I take raw prawns, coat them in mayonnaise and dip them in a mix of Panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan. Then I shallow fry them. Sometimes I bake them in the air fryer but I don't have that to use today. I serve these on a bed of rice with raisins and sweetcorn in and I add a drizzle of Coronation mayo over the top. Coronation mayo is made by mixing mayonnaise with a little curry powder, little mango chutney and a fraction of lemon juice for the sharpness.