Balancing not just the budget

ooops how come I always forget how expensive it is to have a social life?:rotfl:

I've had such a lovely month so far - out for meals, to exhibitions, to conference... and it has made rather a dent in the budget, though not an irreparable one. I get paid soon which is just as well because I haven't seen my balance so close to the overdraft in a while! Well, actually about 6 months I suppose. So nice to see that my habits have changed for the better .

I have also bought books and clothes (snuggly winter pj's )and tickets for things coming up, and yet more expensive b***** cat food. But there will be some expenses coming back into the pot too.

A few things to remember...

• YNAB is not magic, it can't sort my money all by itself. I need to update it regularly so that I can spot issues and because it's much easier to handle inputting and checking a week's worth of receipts than 3 at once. I will try and set a day to do this (am going back to FlyLady principles... ).
• I am getting most pleasure from spending money on small things - tickets, eating out, petrol to see people. I don't think I need or want to drastically change my lifestyle, just enjoy having the money to do this and allow for it in the budget.
• Being organised helps everything run smoother - and I'm going to need that as the new job gets busier and studying does too. I'm trying to take a little time to get things untangled now so that they will run better later.
• Nobody can do everything at once. I feel so much less stressed for deciding that the next 6 months is just about getting through the new job and college. I'm spending a ridiculous amount of money on eating out and prepped food, and that's fine because I need to stay healthy and trying to cook on top of everything else would just tip it all haywire. When I'm finished college, I can cook and garden as much as I like

Rosa xx

Well I'm feeling very proud of myself... I have tidied my bedroom :rotfl:and no it isn't because my mum shouted at me!

I've finally sorted through my receipts and stuff pile, my filing pile, and a whole load of other things and it is all tidied away - a few things haven't made it into the actual files yet as that would involve shifting other things out of cupboards, but they're identified and ready to go.

I have a 'call-forward' file set up with the pretty box file I bought ages ago and haven't really used, and another file ready to use as a planner til my Desire Map one turns up. This also means that with a few small exceptions (a couple of things to go to Ebay and one day I need to go through my 'souvenirs' box files) my bedroom is decluttered. Since this is a very small flat :rotfl:, that's a good bit of the sorting done. I've also tidied a few things in the living room and if I set my mind to that over the next couple of weekends, that can be rapidly sorted too. It may involve having to face the shed :eek: but I'm sure I'll manage. I will also need to swop over clothes in the next couple of weeks but that should be very simple now that I've pared them down. I will need some winter clothes - boots for certain - so will look at that after I've swopped things.

I'm surprised to find how much of a relief it feels to be getting back to being organised. I used to run a near-FlyLady system before / during the MSc and it did save my butt many times, but once I got ill everything rather fell apart and I hadn't caught up with it because it all seemed too scary. Now I feel differently - I am going to do what I want to do and I am not going to miss out on anything, so I'm going to keep track of all this fun stuff! :j:T


Rosa xx

moneyonmymindsam wrote: »

QUOTE : Hopefully he's heading back to his beach side house and talking to his dog about how good it would be to have someone to cook for

Oh He does sound perfect ...lol I just laughed out loud ..he already knows how to sweep you off your feet.

perfect for me at any rate... I think you guys are right, he's gotta be out there somewhere!

moneyonmymindsam wrote: »

QUOTE: I've finally sorted through my receipts and stuff pile, my filing pile, and a whole load of other things and it is all tidied away -

This part I just fainted ...I hate sorting receipts ...so cheers to you for that :T:T

I hate it too but now I hate not knowing what's going on with my money even more. All YNAB's fault :rotfl:

moneyonmymindsam wrote: »

Mine : all two bin liners full That I am hoping might just disappear ( actually wishing I had a moth again to eat them..... lol that's not including the one bag strategically placed under the bed ..:)

Shred them then. Seriously, you can't need them that much or you would have noticed by now and there have got to be much better uses of your time than filing it all.

I used to keep every blinkin receipt for aaaaaages and it was just pointless as there was no need. Now I file them in 'This month', when that gets full it's swopped into 'Last Month'. What comes out of 'Last Month' is checked for anything that needs to be kept for a guarantee or claim, and the rest gets shredded. Receipts for guarantees etc live either in the item box or a lever arch file that has all the gadget etc instructions there too. Haven't come across anything I wish I'd kept yet.


Rosa xx