Flamin' June!

Unfortunately I'm not referring to Lord Leighton's pre-Raphaelite beauty - if only!

June has been a hellish month in terms of spendaholism, I just never seemed to be able to keep money on my person for longer than a nano-second. Do you ever get the feeling that if you walked to the nearest drain, opened up your purse and chucked the whole contents down it, you'd have got better value for money? Well, I might as well have done exactly that last month as I have absolutely nothing to show for my spends!

It all started like this...

I really like the band Green Day and had been umming and aahing over whether to buy tickets to their Wembley Stadium show for, like, ever. Anyway, we decided that as I hadn't seen them live before (DH has - hmph) it would be a nice treat. So, like a little girl in a sweet shop being told I had 10p to spend on confectionery delights, I go trawling the internet for places to stay overnight. OK, so now I know that if you try to book hotel accommodation just a few weeks away from a popular band's only London show, it just ain't gonna happen, unless you want to stay at a Hilton... Oh yes, the Hilton Wembley Plaza still had rooms (yay), but priced at £199 for the one night with payment up front (not so yay). Anyway, me being desperate, decided this was a good buy, especially as it was a band I had wanted to see forever and we would not cancel for anything in the world etc. etc. A few clicks later, I had reserved our room of choice and my credit card was £199 heavier. Then of course I had to buy the tickets, so that was another £100, but by this time I was too euphoric to care about the hammering my card had just taken and all the promises I had made to save and not spend!

So the days went by and I was counting them down like an excited 15 year old going to her first live gig. Then it happened. A couple of days before the big event, I had a scheduled hospital appointment - I have problems with my ears and they need to be checked over every six months. Anyway, I'm sitting in the consultant's chair like a big brave girl and he starts checking my ears over and needs to do a bit of 'hoovering'. This always results in me going dizzy on account of inner ear balance (or lack of it!). Unfortunately, it was a different nurse than usual, so instead of letting me get my bearings back, she swung me right round in the chair so as to let my consultant have a look at the other ear. Now my balance wasn't having any of this and I found myself half falling out the chair almost into a heap on the consulting room floor (I was in my best suit too!), then flailing around like a mad woman trying to get back into the chair without looking like a prize idiot - needless to say it didn't work! I recovered my composure after a while but didn't feel so good after all that!

To cut a long story short, I had violent dizzy spells for the next four days. I couldn't move three feet without feeling like I was either going to fall over or be sick, or even both!! Unfortunately, this episode coincided with my Grand Day Out, which turned into The Biggest Flop of the Year when I had to cancel! The tickets we purchased were 'not suitable for those who suffer from a fear of heights or vertigo' and I had visions of me seated in the gods with a very real desire to vomit profusely over those in front of me, no easy way out and it all being captured on giant screens! Over-imaginative, me? Never! Either way, we lost over £300 (with train tickets and Oyster cards included - yes I'm that organised) last month on a dippy dream! Next time, I'll buy the CD and close my eyes and pretend Green Day are in the room with me, it'll be cheaper and much less stressful!

Until we meet again xx

Half Time Analysis

No, I don't mean the football, although my finances show remarkable similarities to the England team at the moment - disjointed, lacking control and completely clueless!

I promised to update you on my progress so far and, given that I'm now halfway through my self-imposed torture, sorry I mean challenge, it seems only right to let you see the proof of the pudding. In fact, things are looking incredibly good as far as my finances go - if you recall, January 2010 saw me with a whopping £21049.95 worth of debt. Well, drum roll please... that figure now stands at £13633.65!!!

OK, I do need to make a small confession here, in as much as two of my credit cards were swallowed up by my DH increasing his loan in order to accommodate them. That 'saving' equated to around £4850, making my personal in-roads to a debt free life around £2566. I can't believe I've managed to shave off that amount of money in just six months and I'm very proud of myself! However, I'm also horrified that, had life been different and I wasn't a complete numpty as far as money is concerned, I could have had all that lovely lolly for myself and my family, just goes to show how much money credit card companies make out of us!

Until we meet again xx

Tut tut - Must try harder!

Many many apologies, I really can't believe it's been over 3 months since I posted!! I'd like to say time flies when you're having fun, but in reality, it's been 3 months of sheer hard bloody work! My job, you might say, has been quite topical over the last few months and it has been a tad stressful to say the least. However, every cloud, as they say...

The result of these hardworking months has been that I haven't even had time to think about shopping, let alone indulge! My lunchtimes have consisted of nipping out to get a sandwich in less than 10 minutes flat and that was a long lunch break! I never noticed the transition from spring to summer season in the stores, never heard of before. Internet? What's that again?!

Anyway, the stress is finally behind me and I can learn to live again, without excessive shopping though, naturally! I must say, these last few months have made me realise that I don't need to shop constantly or even think about what I'm going to shop for next! I now find myself wandering round the town centre at lunchtime and not feeling a compulsion to go back to the office laden down with bags. OK, so I had a splurge on Amazon the other day, just for a fresh supply of DVDs to keep us going (TV reception is worse than poor and we don't have Sky), but everything was heavily marked down so I could justify the spree. I now seem to shop with a more discerning nature than ever before and certainly scrutinise each and every purchase before trotting off to the till to be parted from my cash!

Debt-wise, there's still a big chunk to pay off, but I can certainly see a chink of light at the end of a very long tunnel! Next post, I'll have figures and we can see just how well I hope I've done!

Until we meet again xx

It pays to compliment...

Well, I made it back from Blackpool, thank God and National Rail! I have a nasty cold to treasure as a souvenir, not quite the traditional stick of rock, but hey ho.

My quest to live a little more thriftily this year has led me to the world of free samples and trials. Another MSE find (thank you, thank you, thank you!); a thread that MSE-ers posted their stories on various freebies they've received. Well, I already got the 10 x organic tea bags and Yorkshire Tea samples (recognise a pattern here anyone?), started the Purina ONE challenge (no, I haven't started eating cat food in a bid to save money, yet...) and gathered various other money-off coupons just by tapping a few details on screen, so where else was left to go? Well, I'll tell you.

You know how most of us complain when we've been given bad service, bought shoddy goods etc? Well, think on the reverse of that. How many of us actually compliment a company's goods or services?? No, me either, until now! Anyway, I thought I'd give it a go. It's really easy, all you do is go to the company's website, hit the 'Contact Us' link and you're away (alternatively, of course, you could use the tried and tested paper and pen method)! I've emailed several companies over the last week or so, telling them how much I enjoy using/eating xx product and thank you Mr Corporation for bringing this enjoyment into my life etc. etc. Most of the time I've had a response within a few days thanking me for my email and positive comments and, wait for it, saying that they would send me some vouchers as a thank you if I would just be kind enough to let them have my address!! I was stunned the first time I got a response like this, really, I was! OK, so some just email back saying thanks, but hey, that's kinda nice too huh? Now, I wouldn't advocate just emailing out to anyone, I mean what would be the point in billing and cooing to the makers of , say, Marmite when you really couldn't stand the stuff? - absolutely none, geddit?

Oh yeah, and make a note of who you send your emails or letters to, could be a tad embarrassing otherwise! Anyway, mwah to all those nice people who have emailed back and double mwah to those who have sent me some lovely coupons or sample freebies!

Until we meet again xx

Illuminating Blackpool!

Well, Happy February everyone! Can't believe we're into the second month of the year already, it seems to be flying by! So, what am I doing in order to celebrate the new month? Um, sitting in a crappy hotel room in Blackpool actually, counting down the hours until I can go home! Yep, I'm at yet another conference for work, but simply cannot get enthused at all. This one is even worse than the last, with all the sad muppets glamming themselves up for an evening in the bar getting well and truly rat-arsed! I tell you, I was almost knocked out by the mingled fumes of at least five different (mostly cheap!) perfumes last night in the lift down to reception! Sorry, maybe I'm the weird one and not everyone else! I just cannot see the attraction of these events, I mean, I wouldn't choose these people as my friends under normal circumstances, so why should I have to socialise with them??

Anyway, back to the purpose of the blog, spending!!! Or, should I say, lack of it! The January Grocery Challenge has come to an end and I only went a teensy bit over budget - £1.16 to be precise. Was really quite chuffed with that and, in all seriousness, the challenge has kept me really focused and aware of my grocery spends. February Grocery Challenge kicks off with a £200 budget once more, although I'm going to try and come in under that if I possibly can!

Crazy Clothes Challenge 2010 is still looking good at £20.99 out of £100 spent. I know this should really still show £0 out of £100, but we all know I had a 'moment' with the bargain boots!! Have to say though, so far I really don't seem to be bothered about clothes and the buying of new ones. Could I be turning over a new leaf? Or simply have too many clothes unworn and forgotten in my wardrobe that I'm suddenly re-discovering? Hmmmm, might need to ponder that one.

Now for a new challenge... My love of MSE has prompted me to join yet another challenge, this time for No Spend Days (NSDs). I have pledged to attempt at least 10 NSDs this month. This will be a real challenge for me as I tend to buy 'something' most days, even though the spend could be quite legitimate (eg. food etc.). I would really like to wean myself off doing this as I'm too used to spending each and every day so, when I don't, it kind of feels a little deflating. You know what I mean? Anyway, I'll give it a go and see what happens!

So, it's month 2 of the year and I have (so far) 3 challenges on the go. Not bad going huh?!

Until we meet again (hopefully not in Blackpool!) xx

Falling off the Wagon and finding Freecycle!

It's happened. I succumbed to a fashion fix, so there, my halo has finally slipped! Admittedly, I was hoping to keep it polished until at least the end of the first month, but hey ho.

I'll begin at the beginning... The first couple of days this week at work had been hellish. You know the kind of day where you don't stop, but still don't seem to have achieved anything by the end of the day? I didn't make it out to lunch on Monday things were so hectic, and Tuesday wasn't much better as I had one of those really popular lunchtime meetings, because 'that's the only time everyone can make it'. Uh yeah, that's because it's lunchtime!!!

Anyway, I had been really good and only bought grocery items, so no worries there. Then, during the early hours of Wednesday morning, I woke up and couldn't move, literally. Why do these things always happen in the middle of the night, when it's dark, your DH is asleep and you can't seek medical advice? Anyhoo, turns out I suffered a trapped nerve in my shoulder and had to have a couple of days off. This was mainly due to the inability to move and also to save my colleagues the irritation of listening to me 'oohing and aahing' every time I had a muscle spasm! The sympathy would have soon run out, let me tell you!

So, after a couple of days resting, I was back to work. (Shoulder's still sore by the way,but I'm coping like a brave girl!) Now, there's nothing like a little bit of upper body paralysis to focus the mind and I got through loads in the morning. However, during my 'confinement', I obviously suffered subconscious shopping withdrawal and found myself in every shop that had a sale on. It didn't help that I had seen on the interweb that Boots had reduced their sale items even more (although it looked more like a plague of locusts had descended on my local store by the time I arrived), as had Body Shop. I was very good and didn't buy anything in either store, but then I happened upon the Clarks sale. Their sale had been on for a while and the last time I went in there, I wasn't impressed, but I thought I'd take a look. Well, that was a bad move! They had a pair of black leather ankle boots in there, reduced from £69.99 to £20.99, in my size (believe me, to find any shoe sale with items in my size is a miracle as I have ridiculously small feet), so how could I not try them on? A part of me was really hoping they would be too big, so I could walk away without a problem, although I knew this was unlikely as Clarks shoes fit me really well. So there we have it, I fell off the wagon for the sake of £20.99, but they are a bloomin' nice pair of boots and I did need them (yes really, I did). It made me feel even better when I found a thread on the MSE forum relating to this bargain and concluded that I must have purchased them in the interest of money-saving. That's my story and I'm sticking to it ;-)

Now for Freecycle. Again, I'd read on various forums that Freecycle was the way to go, helping people find new homes for their excess stuff and helping the planet along the way. For those who don't know, Freecycle groups exist in most, if not all areas. The only caveat to signing up to your local Freecycle group is that any items you offer must be completely and utterly free, that's it. I desperately want a sewing machine, but knowing how I go through many fads over the course of a year, I didn't really want to pay for one. So, I signed up and within a couple of hours, there were emails pinging into my inbox from loads of freecyclers either wanting or offering things. By 'things', I mean absolutely anything. one man's trash is another man's treasure, as the saying goes and they're not wrong!! I've emailed my group asking for a sewing machine, had no offers as yet, but I'm ever hopeful!

Until we meet again xx

Hotel Haul and Crazy Clothes Challenge!

Well, it's been a busy few days for me! I have been on a training course away from home for a couple of days. Now, I'm not really the type who enjoys going away of these types of training courses, I'd much rather be tucked up at home with DH! Everyone on the course seemed to view it as a real social event, a way to let their hair down for a couple of nights away from the hubby and kids etc. It always strikes me as terribly funny to see these seemingly normal, rational people go mad, get drunk and belt out karaoke tunes into the wee small hours!

Anyway, I've had to stay over at a hotel for a couple of nights, obviously. I've never been the type to take the toiletries from the hotel room, in fact, that kind of behaviour has always slightly embarrassed me. Not in a snobbish way really, more of a 'why would you want cheapy hotel toiletries when you already use Miller Harris' way. However, this year is obviously different, with me living to a more thrifty set of rules. To this end, I duly pocketed the mini toiletries (body refresher/2 in 1 shampoo & conditioner/body butter); they were nothing ultra-special, only Gilchrist & Soames, but even so not to be sniffed at (excuse the pun!).

I then, for some unfathomable reason, decided to try my luck at breakfast. I can only assume that the dinky, mini marmalade pots were calling to me, so I slipped a couple in my bag for DH. He's currently wading his way through sub-rate marmalade, so I thought this would be a treat for him! I then made my way up to the fruit basket, choosing a couple of choice pieces to keep me going through the day. It was then I spotted it, the stuff of childhood dreams, individual Nutella portions, aahhhh! Needless to say, I now have enough to keep me going for a few days at least! Am I embarrassed? Yes. Am I proud of my haul? Oh yes. Would I do it again? You bet!

I'm also very pleased to add that I have completed one No Spend Day this month! This may not be an achievement for the majority of the population, but it sure is for me. I'm used to spending something at least once a day, every day! OK, so I know I was holed up in a training session all day, but it still counts!! The MSE website is proving invaluable in my challenge, albeit a little addictive.

Speaking of challenges, I have now joined the MSE 'Crazy Clothes Challenge for 2010'. Simple rules, you are permitted to spend up to £100 (or another figure of your choice) during the year on 'at home' clothes. The challenge doesn't include bags, shoes, underwear etc. but, in a nutshell, non-essential outerwear. I've signed up to £100, but I know and you know that my real challenge, according to the rules, is a bit fat £0. It can be done and will be done, trust me!

Until we meet again xx

Freebie Fun!

I almost fell off the spending wagon on Tuesday! I had been so busy at work the previously day, that I decided not to go out at lunchtime. Nothing odd there I hear you say, but panic must have set in when I found myself restricted from lunchtime shopping! So... Tuesday I decided to have a longer lunch in order to compensate. I was doing really well, there were a couple of basic bits I needed to buy and, rather than rush into the first shop I knew sold these things, I put my sensible head on and did a store comparison on price. This was working really well, until I strayed into the devil's lair, aka Boots' sale aisles!

I'll explain in a little more detail here. After Christmas is out the way, I tend to hit the sales with a vengeance (as all good spendaholics would do!) and Boots is one of my favourite stores in which to do this. I know they do sell some tat in the 3 for 2 Xmas pressies, but the majority of it is actually pretty good. Anyway, as we all know these items are slashed to half price as soon as the festive season is over. I would usually pick up a few bits, some for presents throughout the year (see, I do have some financial forethought!) and some for presents for me. I usually 'do' Boots literally just after Christmas, then I'm stocked up. Naturally I did the same this year, job done.

Now back to Tuesday... I suddenly found myself in Boots, down the sale aisle, pondering the merits of half price beauty products. I knew I couldn't really justify buying anything, but really, really wanted something!!! Then, lightbulb moment. I had accumulated points on my loyalty card throughout the year, normally I spend them as soon as I get them, but for some reason, had left them on the card for most of the year. Because of this, I had 965 points to spend, or in real terms, £9.65. Oh the joy of having some unexpected shopping funds, it was almost as good a feeling as having found a £10 note in your coat pocket or hidden amongst a whole heap of receipts in your purse! Needless to say, I scooped up my bargains and tottered to the till as fast as my little legs would carry me! 936 points later, I was a very happy bunny who'd just bagged £18 worth of sale goodies at half price for free! I am so easily pleased!

Until we meet again xx

Weekend over...

Another weekend over, but this time, a weekend with a difference! I would normally spend my weekend with my darling husband, yep you guessed it, shopping!! We would have a mooch round town or browse among the antique shops near where we live. However, he would be content to window-shop, while I would be frantically calculating how I could afford some little treasure that I just couldn't live without! But not this weekend!! Admittedly the snow dampened my shopping ardour, so to speak, especially when we had to make several trips in the snow to get shopping for elderly rellies etc.

I did get a shopping fix in the supermarket (yes, I am that sad!) as the panic-buying goblin managed to hijack my body and send me into overdrive! Having said that, I concentrated on offers only and was selective in my purchases. I even lowered my own high standards as far as toiletries go and bought a cheapy cleanser. I know the rules don't dictate I must buy skincare cheap, but it was only £1.99 and recommended for sensitive skin. In for a penny I thought and chucked it in the trolley (small trolley mind, didn't want to get too carried away!). Have been using it for three days now and not an eruption even on the horizon, let alone in sight! So, forget my rantings in my first post - cheap and cheerful can work! For anyone interested, said item was Morrison's own creamy cleanser for sensitive skin.

Checked payslip on system and the overtime I did in November has been paid, yay! Now I can begin to pay my overdraft back (yes, I have one of those too...) and aim to clear this by the end of the year. Just to clarify, my overdraft isn't that huge that it will take a whole year to clear, it's just that I don't get the chance to earn much overtime at work!

Grocery challenge is not looking brilliant as the spend is now around £134, but the panic buying episode at the weekend has, ahem, stocked the larder shelves for a little while. Am determined to stick to this challenge, it will make me see that, even if I can't save any money, I can stick to the budget for at least a month!!

Until we meet again xx

How much????

OK, so we all know how the whole country's in the grip of a winter chill? Well that's nothing compared to the chill that ran down my spine when I finally added up all my outstanding debts... a grand total of (drum roll please) £21049.95!!! So, not as bad as it could be, I hear some of you cry, but believe me, when you know this particular round of debt was only accumulated in the space of around three years, then that's pretty scary! Hmmm, that's an average spend of £7000 each year, or £584 a month, or £135 a week - ON NOTHING!!!

This shameful amount of money is spread across 4 credit cards and 3 loans. The last two loans were supposed to pay off the credit cards, but that zero balance just looked too inviting on my statements, I swear the cards were luring me to spend again. Which, duly, I did, right up to the goddamn hilt again. You know how it is though, you think this time you'll be able to control the spending. You think you won't close the card accounts, but keep them for an emergency. Then some truly fabulous item comes across your radar (usually in the sale, just to be even more of a bargain), so you think that's OK, I have a zero balance on my card(s), I can just buy this one thing, but I WILL pay it off next month. Next month arrives, as does another truly sparkling bargain, you may the minimum amount because you got caught up in other bills during the month and we're on the credit merry-go-round once more, la la la la la!!

Then, the shock comes. We hit a credit crunch and suddenly all the financial institutions are no longer your best friend, in fact they totally abhor you. So, when you decide to take another loan out to cover the newly maxed-out cards and consolidate the other loans, where are they? Now you know what it means to be left out in the wilderness. Now I'm not blaming anyone but myself for getting into this situation. The card and loan companies did not stand over me with a gun pointing at my temple insisting I sign the agreements. No, it was my choice, just as it is now my choice to do something about it.

So, in addition to the 'rules', I have been trawling around looking for more ways to cut my spending and, hopefully save even more to go towards paying my creditors. To this end, I've spent quite a bit of time on the Martin Lewis website, MoneySavingExpert.com. I would recommend the forums if you're a newbie (like me) at this money saving lark, as they're packed with useful tips, info and challenges. I've just joined the 'January Grocery Challenge' where people decide how much they're going to pay for groceries in the month and, hopefully, stick to that budget. I've got mine set to £200 for the month, so I'll let you know how I get on (evidently not very well at the moment, as I've spent around £65 already!). This might sound like a load of old cobblers, but it sets you thinking. I can only liken it to the same feelings I had when I joined Weight Watchers a few years ago. You're being weighed publicly each week, hence you develop a mindset that doesn't allow you to fail, i.e. put on weight, because you don't want to be publicly perceived as failing. To post how much you've spent on groceries for everyone to read is a similar thing. OK, I may be talking complete rubbish, but it works for me!

Until we meet again xx

First Foray into Bearing My Financial Soul!

I've finally decided to bear my financial soul, and what better place than on a blog, for everyone on the interweb to read/snigger at/ponder/turn off (delete as appropriate).

I know this kind of this has been done a gazillion times, believe me, I think I've read most of them, but I just decided that this might be a good way of trying to work out my spending problems. Well, when I say problems, I don't mean that I have a problem with spending money, far from it! I seem to have a genetic inability to hang on to any currency for longer than about three seconds before it wants to spontaneously combust in my purse and I have to spend it like, RIGHT NOW OR WE'RE ALL GONNA BLOW!!

Who knows where my 'problem' started? Could it stem from being an only child, ergo, spoilt? Maybe. Could my parents' ever-so-slightly-lax attitude to money have been a contributing factor? Possibly. Could the credit card company 'encouraging' me to apply for a card at 18 years old be to blame? Probably. Wanting to have something right now, even though I know I don't have the money to pay for it? Definitely. There are a million excuses I could give for not having better control of my money, 99% of them being someone else's fault! All I know is, that for the past twenty years, money and I have had a volatile relationship and now is the time to say enough is enough.

So, this year I've set myself a challenge (OMG, what have I done?!), so simple a three-year old could manage it. In fact I'd probably have done a whole heap better if I had let a three-year old manage my finances! Anyway, back to 'the rules' for the next 12 months:

• Definitely no spending on clothes, shoes or accessories unless it's a complete and utter emergency (or the elastic in my pants perish);
• Essential purchases only e.g. food (duh!), toiletries, pet stuff etc. I do have to put in a caveat here though in as much as I do have really sensitive skin (really, water has been know to bring me out in blotches) and try as I might, cheapy products just don't do the business for me. Sorry.
• All spare (!) or saved (!!) cash will go on repaying my debt (which stands at a figure slightly lower than the national debt and will be covered separately when I have gotten over the shock of seeing it in black and white)
• £50 per month to be saved for Christmas, birthdays etc.

(Before I go on, I must give more than a nod here to Alexis Hall, the writer of 'In the Red' where the idea for baring my financial soul stemmed and her 'rules' play a big part in mine. Alexis, you rock!)

Right, I know this won't be easy (ha ha!) and my work colleagues have already corpsed at the mere mention of my self-imposed challenge. This may have something to do with the amount of bags they usually see me come back from lunch with and the amount of Amazon parcels that tend to grace my desk of a morning (hmmm.) I'm fully committed to at least one tantrum a day for the first few months, but then I'm hoping it will be something akin to sciatica, you know it's always there, but more often than not it's just a little niggle.

Until we meet again xx