So in my last blog I mentioned I'm planning travels later this year. 3 or 4 weeks of travel to far flung destinations isn't cheap. With today being a late start at work I've had opportunity to look at my finances.
Well I made a start...
A lot of filing (starting with refiling the stuff on the floor, then the stuff on the side, maybe tomorrow I'll make it into my drawer of stuff 'to file').
Spent ages trying to find the renewal for my breakdown cover, which I know is for more than I'm willing to pay given my current level of car usage is dropping, however found out it's still at my parents, so will have to wait to deal with that.
Being self-employed, I have the January Joys of an online self-assessment to complete. So I got a few more details into that. Sufficient for them now to do a calculation. Knowing I was overtaxed in my PAYE work this year, I was hoping it might balance out the tax on my self-employed work and student loans repayments that are due. Sadly it doesn't. I've still to enter a few more bits, which will reduce what's owed by a little. Still wish I hadn't left it so late to put everything in, like every year!
On the plus side, I found two £10 notes among my receipts and the receipt I've been meaning to claim from work worth £50. Woo...
But despite that, it's clear if I want my money to take me around the world, I need to be a bit more careful with what I waste my money on (so less take out and more home prepared food...)
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Smart (Price) Shopping...
Yesterday I had a days work, quite physical day, having had a pretty quiet week. I have a big scratch on my arm, and more suspicious marks and scratches dotted on my person...
I had a break of a few hours, and wasted an hour of it by trying to beat the next train to the next station on foot, missing the train (which is hourly on Sundays) and managing to fall into mud rather spectacularly. I had about an hour at home after I walked back and showered and rinsed my shorts, before I had to head back. To tail off a pretty physically demanding day, I cycled back in the cold. I got into bed, and laid there for a while, struggling to return to a sensible temperature. I ended up dragging out my sleeping bag.
Today was pretty much a write-off, spent the day on the sofa with a duvet and e4, really nice and has to happen occasionally, but I can't allow myself too many of those. This evening was house group, and we looked at 'lost things' in Luke 15.
House group night is the usual shopping night for me. The local 24-hour ASDA being in the same part of town. I'm having a bit of an issue with food, the eating and buying of it. With my finances being in poor health, I do have to be careful with how much I spend on everything, including food. I have though managed to develop that into a mentality that I have to suffer in my eating, I think some of that is punishing myself for wasting excessive money on food (e.g. take outs and dining out) previously. Last week I was so determined to not spend money that I did a weekly shop for £2.43. It bolstered the existing contents of my fridge and cupboards enough for most the week, but didn't make for a nutritionally strong menu by the end of the week. Maybe that's why I got so run down after yesterday.
This was in my mind when in Asda this week, and so spent a little more. Yes it was still largely white and green packaging on the conveyor belt ( aside: also take a look at this ), but I had a basket full of stuff rather than just three items. I conciously made sure I had protein and sugar, as well as quick-win and snack foods, as I'm aware that these are the things that will help me keep going.
Sadly unable to get the veg I was after though. The veg aisle was cordoned off for some lighting maintenance, so I was unable to pick up carrots or potatoes. I was also after a bag of value peppers, thankfully they reside in another aisle, sadly they weren't in stock though. Anyway, perhaps I shall take the opportunity to check out the market in town.
So today's total was £11.82, and has hopefully given me some more sensible and nutritious options for the week ahead.
I had a break of a few hours, and wasted an hour of it by trying to beat the next train to the next station on foot, missing the train (which is hourly on Sundays) and managing to fall into mud rather spectacularly. I had about an hour at home after I walked back and showered and rinsed my shorts, before I had to head back. To tail off a pretty physically demanding day, I cycled back in the cold. I got into bed, and laid there for a while, struggling to return to a sensible temperature. I ended up dragging out my sleeping bag.
Today was pretty much a write-off, spent the day on the sofa with a duvet and e4, really nice and has to happen occasionally, but I can't allow myself too many of those. This evening was house group, and we looked at 'lost things' in Luke 15.
House group night is the usual shopping night for me. The local 24-hour ASDA being in the same part of town. I'm having a bit of an issue with food, the eating and buying of it. With my finances being in poor health, I do have to be careful with how much I spend on everything, including food. I have though managed to develop that into a mentality that I have to suffer in my eating, I think some of that is punishing myself for wasting excessive money on food (e.g. take outs and dining out) previously. Last week I was so determined to not spend money that I did a weekly shop for £2.43. It bolstered the existing contents of my fridge and cupboards enough for most the week, but didn't make for a nutritionally strong menu by the end of the week. Maybe that's why I got so run down after yesterday.
This was in my mind when in Asda this week, and so spent a little more. Yes it was still largely white and green packaging on the conveyor belt ( aside: also take a look at this ), but I had a basket full of stuff rather than just three items. I conciously made sure I had protein and sugar, as well as quick-win and snack foods, as I'm aware that these are the things that will help me keep going.
Sadly unable to get the veg I was after though. The veg aisle was cordoned off for some lighting maintenance, so I was unable to pick up carrots or potatoes. I was also after a bag of value peppers, thankfully they reside in another aisle, sadly they weren't in stock though. Anyway, perhaps I shall take the opportunity to check out the market in town.
So today's total was £11.82, and has hopefully given me some more sensible and nutritious options for the week ahead.
Saturday, 7 March 2009
In the end...
I didn't clean the bathroom, but eventually did put in one job application. It's for a company I've applied to before, although for a different role, so opened up the application form from last summer and had it alongside while I completed the one for this job. Last time I didn't get shortlisted for an interview, and today, looking at the application form, I can kind of see why. So hopefully this one's a bit better, and I'll have a trip up to Yorkshire.
Application forms aren't my favourite things, especially the open questions, where you have to 'draw on your experiences to illustrate how you match up to the requirements as laid out in the job description', sort of thing. I never really know what to put down, and how to present it. I do think I'm beginning to improve my approach, but still don't know how close to getting it consistently right I am.
The other thing is finding all the information... A lot of detail isn't on my CV, as it would be very cluttered if it was, so today I was Googling for the addresses of a couple of my recent employers.
Aside from that I had a good play of my piano this morning, and well I'm not sure what else I actually acheived today, apart from about 100 refreshes of Twitter, Facebook and regular checks of my RSS feeds. Oh and a Moogle Gap of 10-mile, 20-mile, 30-mile and 40-mile walking radii from my home.
I'm working tomorrow, and because I'm trying to not spend so much money at the moment, I made extra pasta and sauce for lunch to take with me. My pasta sauce is absolutely gorgeous, if I do say so myself.
Application forms aren't my favourite things, especially the open questions, where you have to 'draw on your experiences to illustrate how you match up to the requirements as laid out in the job description', sort of thing. I never really know what to put down, and how to present it. I do think I'm beginning to improve my approach, but still don't know how close to getting it consistently right I am.
The other thing is finding all the information... A lot of detail isn't on my CV, as it would be very cluttered if it was, so today I was Googling for the addresses of a couple of my recent employers.
Aside from that I had a good play of my piano this morning, and well I'm not sure what else I actually acheived today, apart from about 100 refreshes of Twitter, Facebook and regular checks of my RSS feeds. Oh and a Moogle Gap of 10-mile, 20-mile, 30-mile and 40-mile walking radii from my home.
I'm working tomorrow, and because I'm trying to not spend so much money at the moment, I made extra pasta and sauce for lunch to take with me. My pasta sauce is absolutely gorgeous, if I do say so myself.
Thursday, 5 March 2009
An Introduction
Hello
Welcome to my blog. Please wipe your feet or take your shoes off as you come in.
Somethings about who I am:
I'm in my twenties, and have been working in live entertainment for the last few years. However, at the moment I'm "between jobs" or "resting" as it's also known in this industry.
Life is getting pretty hard for me, I'm gradually running out of what money I have, as the little I'm earning from bits and pieces of casual work isn't covering rent and my other monthly costs. For about 4/5 days over this weekend I was completely unable to spend anything due to being out of cash, having a maxed out credit card, and my debit card while not at it's overdraft limit, a pre-authorisation meant I couldn't withdraw on it.
Yesterday I was able to get a tenner out of the cash machine, but am concerned that I've got to survive on that and the canned food and staples found in my cupboard.
My parents have been great and bailed me out a few times, and there's always a bed and well-stocked kitchen to retreat to, but that's not an option I'm wanting to resort to.
I trust God to look after me, and family and church are two ways he's supporting me already.
That's it for now I guess...
Welcome to my blog. Please wipe your feet or take your shoes off as you come in.
Somethings about who I am:
I'm in my twenties, and have been working in live entertainment for the last few years. However, at the moment I'm "between jobs" or "resting" as it's also known in this industry.
Life is getting pretty hard for me, I'm gradually running out of what money I have, as the little I'm earning from bits and pieces of casual work isn't covering rent and my other monthly costs. For about 4/5 days over this weekend I was completely unable to spend anything due to being out of cash, having a maxed out credit card, and my debit card while not at it's overdraft limit, a pre-authorisation meant I couldn't withdraw on it.
Yesterday I was able to get a tenner out of the cash machine, but am concerned that I've got to survive on that and the canned food and staples found in my cupboard.
My parents have been great and bailed me out a few times, and there's always a bed and well-stocked kitchen to retreat to, but that's not an option I'm wanting to resort to.
I trust God to look after me, and family and church are two ways he's supporting me already.
That's it for now I guess...
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