Oops, back again...

Been thinking a bit about my goals for the next year after reading someone else's diary on here.

2016 was the year of really doubling down and almost clearing my debt. 2017 has been the year of doing things, trying to get out there and try new stuff etc, although it has tapered off a bit recently as funds have been tighter. I want 2018 to be the year of saving. I should've really done that this year but I just wanted to enjoy being debt free for the first time in 10 years... I've got £1600 in various savings pots, but only just under £600 is my emergency fund, so I really need to focus on that for a bit, especially as it's like to get decimated by the roof repairs as and when we get a price (seems to be taking ages). So I just need to save. I'm studying anyway so going out is limited as my free time is limited, so I'm sure I'll be able to do it. It's just a bit of short term 'pain' if you will for long term gain.

Evening all :wave:

It was a busy weekend as expected. Did all of the above. Especially enjoyed my experiments with the slow cooker, made some veggie chilli, chicken curry for OH and a fudge cake (yum!). I'm not much of a cook, but I've had the slow cooker for such a long time, I really should've used it more. Going to try another recipe this weekend. It's such an easy and cheap way of cooking, I'm definitely a convert! :rotfl:

We went to the rescue centre and were paired up with some bunnies, had the home check today and should be able to collect them at the weekend. Iove having animals in the house despite the bit of mess and the expense. However I've learnt from the past and am getting insurance this time!

Finances are ticking along nicely, I get my credit card bill in a few days so will be able to update my signature. Current totals are:

9/18 healthy days
10/15 NSD's
£16.15/£25 spent on household/toiletries

Ah Monday again already

Weekend was good, although Saturday was a little spendy I must admit. Went to the museum as planned, I always enjoy it and got to see the new whale in the entrance, it's rather striking. I spent £16 on travel :eek: plus £5 on a donation to the museum and £11 on the exhibition I wanted to see. It was expensive but it was a treat, and I'm trying to do a bit more of that from time to time as a study reward. Speaking of which, I got my first essay result back and did MUCH better than I could've ever dreamed! :rotfl: I start the next one soon but don't think I'll do as well as I'm not as au faix with the topic.

Sunday I kept spend free. The weather was fab so we enjoyed a lovely hack out in the sunshine. Can't imagine there'll be too many more weekends like that for a while so have to make the most of it!

Still waiting for some direct debits to go through but mostly just looking forward to December. I still have some presents to get but am going to try and sort most if not all of it out by the end of the month. I'm hoping to come in under budget for the first time in.... Well I don't know but the first time in a long time that's for sure!

Been thinking about the usefulness of this and other diaries in helping me clear my debt again. I desperately don't want to end up back here again a third time so have joined the emergency fund thread to try and spur me on and really get me into a savings mindset. I missed my old diary at times, and will miss having somewhere to jot down my progress again, even though 99% of the time it's just me rambling to myself :rotfl:

Off to London tomorrow for a conference and am feeling pretty unmotivated to go tbh. Whenever work is quiet I really lose motivation so I think that's what's happening here. I also hate social situations where you have to network, I'm always that awkward person in the corner, so part of my reluctance is probably due to that as well. Still, it's a short day so I won't complain, and I'm working from home on Wednesday as well. Hoping to pick up the rabbits, they're all that's missing from Project Bunny now!

Forgive me diary for I have sinned...

After all my shpiel last week about having money left and being good this month, I was naughty over the weekend... I bought a few bits I needed, one of which was quite pricey (a homeopathic pain remedy), and then I got sidetracked and ended up in Primark, where I spent £22 on my credit card :eek: definitely wasn't a necessity to spend that money, particularly when I'd already put £18 on the card earlier in the month...

I've amended December's budget and will get it paid off so it's not the end of the world but still, it just wasn't necessary and I should've been more disciplined!

Payday tomorrow so budget resets for the next month. I did manage more healthy days than I wanted and more NSD's, although some of that work is undone by my credit card spending, must do better next month. Part of me does think I should chill out, it was only £22 after all, but I know what I'm like, one minute it's £22, the next it's £200 and before I know it I've spent thousands, so I have to be hard on myself and stay disciplined!

Evening all, a late check in following the weekend. Haven't been doing too well on the NSD front so far this month, today is only my second NSD. On the plus side I have got 95% of the Xmas shopping done, I'll do the final bits this weekend, and I got everything I'd already bought wrapped up, so am feeling way more organised.

Most bills have gone through, just a couple of bits left to pay. My work Xmas do is this Friday, I was debating getting the train in so that I could relax and have a couple of drinks but I had to get the train today and it took me nearly three hours to get home because of various issues... So I think I'll just drive as normal to be honest! I don't really drink anyway and it's probably best not to get tipsy in front of work colleagues!

Picked up the rabbits last week and they're settling in really well. I love having fur babies in the house (until they wreck something of course!).