Which is the best way forward?

tenmah

Well I had a NSD day today :j

However I can't seem to stop eating chocolate. Having lost a stone and a half I can't believe I am letting myself slip when I still have a stone to go!

I really must give myself a signature so I can do a countdown on my debts (hopefully)

Tenmah

tenmah

Another NSD for me :j

Another boring day at work, but I think tomorrow will be better as I am going to visit someone in the morning and then got a meeting to go to in the afternoon (I work at the local council in the housing department, so there are always meetings to go to!)

Tomorrow evening, we are going to pick up a double bed from a freecycler for my daughter. Hope it is ok. I am always worried that stuff is not going to be okay and then we are stuck with it. But my daughter really needs another bed because the one she sleeps in now has broken slats and she is worried about turning over during the night in case she crashes to the floor!

tenmah

Hi bountiful

What was your son studying at Uni and what made him give up? It is good that he has a weekend job though. I worry about all these kids leaving Uni and then perhaps not being able to find any work!

My daughter still has a year to go!

cantcope

Well done Tenmah, maybe instead of the chocolate go for a walk instead... great ideas tend to come to mind when you are just strolling along.

Freecycle is great and i'm sure if the bed is that bad you could just refuse to take it. Personally anything i've ever given away had been in great condition and the same for things i've taken.

Lets hope the NSD's continue and dont forget when you do spend something to write it down.

bountiful

Congratulations on TWO NSDs!
My son was doing an HND in Photography and Digital Imaging - which he was just totally into for the first year - then it gradually dwindled - he got rather into YouTube and vlogging etc - he has been doing lots of extra hours at Sainsbury's - I am letting him have his 5 weeks in America to think about what he wants to do with the rest of his life. The way I look at it, he has another 50 years to work - so there's no hurry! Maybe I am too relaxed a parent (it's the hippie generation thing!)

tenmah

Thanks cantcope - that is a good idea about going for a walk.

Well my daughter and I picked up the bed last night from a freecycler. My daughter was very embarrased because it turned out to be from someone she knew!!

I think we must be missing part of it though because there don't seem to be any legs to it. So it actually came in handy that my daughter knows the girl because she has contacted her by facebook to see how it goes together!

Another NSD yesterday, but tonight is my dreaded weigh in so will be paying out for that, but that is in my budget.

Have now arranged for two money transfers from credit cards into my bank account but was a bit annoyed that when i tried to set up a direct debit to my A&L card, the only two options were minimum amount or full balance, whereas with my Egg card there was an option to pay a fixed amount each month. It isn't a problem, but I will just have to remember to pay an amount each month rather than it coming direct from my account.

Well better get ready for work!

Tenmah

tenmah

Surprisingly I lost another pound at my weigh in last night!

Spent £1.58 on two cookies (for after weigh in!) and a paper. Also £2.55 on sausage and chips (also after weigh in!).

Also spent £3.00 at SW class for some hi-fi bars and the raffle.

Total: £7.13

Oooh just remembered I got three keys cut at a cost of £8.00 so actual

Total: £15.13 aaarggh

I have got this afternoon off :j

tenmah

What a waste of an afternoon - I fell asleep! Too old I think...

Spent £2 on some flowers (uneccessary I know, but I do like flowers and £2 not too bad)

Also £1.25 for wrapping paper and 59p on a birthday card.

Total: £3.84

cantcope

ok.....Firstly well done on the weight loss

Now a few comments...
next time you need wrapping paper buy a roll... you can get them in most places, primark do them for £1 and you can get them on markets etc... if you buy just a striped paper this will last you a few times.

sausage and chips after weigh in can go too, you can buy a whole pack of sausages and a bag of frozen chips for that amount.... no comment on the cookies as i used to buy a custard tart after my ww classes years ago...i understand lol

Falling asleep isnt so much a waste, you cant spend while you're asleep and with all the stress of your debt you probably needed it.

Great news about the bed, maybe it doesnt have legs? My friends bed doesnt. No need for your daughter to be embarassed, these are lessons she can take with her when she leaves uni to save money.

I don't know if this would work but it did for me so i'll suggest it. Each time you spend on something you didnt really need (treats after SW and flowers) put the same amount that you spent in a jar.
I did this all the time and was surprised by how much i'd spent on unecessary things.. it was a way of saving extra and a wake up call for me. Worth a try.

If you see how much you've spent at the end of each month you should automatically cut down the following month.

have a great weekend

tenmah

Thanks cantcope for the great ideas and comments - much appreciated.

Well today I just had a spendfest! Spent about £37 on bits and pieces (this included one present for my daughter's birthday in July) and some things for her bedroom which we are decorating - well not painting but buying new bedding, curtains, ornaments and pictures etc. Our landlady said we could paint but if we were to leave we would have to paint it back in cream so it is a neutral colour to assist her in re-letting it.

We are not thinking of leaving anytime soon but the thought of painting it once and then again does not appeal, so we have found creative ways to make it look different.

Then I spent £10 in Asda plus £10 cashback.

And the worst thing of all is during the transfer of bank accounts there was a !!!! up with my Virgin Media direct debit and they stopped all our services, so i ended up having to pay two months worth in one hit on my card which was £120!!!

So not a good day moneywise but had a lovely day with my daughter, visiting friends, then lunch out (paid for by my daughter!) and then shopping together. It was fun...