Shopping List

Since Tuesday’s good news, I am feeling a little bit more motivated and focused on actually getting things done to improve my circumstances, quality of life (I sound like some kind of terminal patient) and state of mind. In doing so, I decided to make a little shopping list of some of the things I need/want to buy in the next few months, so that I can try to budget and plan ahead, knowing that for a change I might actually be able to afford them!

• New glasses
My current ones literally fell off my face in pieces the other evening. After sitting blind and confused for a few moments, I was luckily able to screw them back together, but if it happens again, I don’t currently have a spare pair (or the funds to buy a new one…yet).

• Contact lenses
I do need glasses for the evenings and for days when my eyes are tired, but most days I prefer contacts. If I sign up to the monthly plan with my opticians, it is cheaper long-term, but means I have to pay for three months’ supply up front which hasn’t previously been feasible (between £100-£150 – see why?).

• Phone upgrade
I really want to get a Blackberry, mainly as it will help me write blogs on the go and keep track of everything, therefore making me more organised (ambitious plans I know). I am in two minds about which model to get – there are two I have been looking at and comparing online. The latest model of the two isn’t available on upgrade just yet, but when it is, I expect I might have to pay about £50 – luckily I will then have two old phones I can sell! The other one is about £30 to upgrade to. The only problem is that I have to pay for the email/internet services which is potentially an extra £10 a month. There must be a way around that, I’m going to do my research!

• External hard disk drive
Now even more essential than I previously thought, since my laptop hard drive crashed and I learned the lesson the hard way about regularly backing up my files.

• Office 2007
In addition to losing loads of file, I have to reinstall all sorts of programs, including this. Luckily, I can get it really cheaply because I work in education! Yay! I don’t help to educate people but I still get to reap the benefits. Woo hooski!

• Digital recorder/dictation device
For Bro-in-Law’s birthday on the 18th. I’ll be a bit late getting it, but he mentioned he was looking to get one to make taking notes at uni a bit easier and I thought it would be a good gift. I may just get him Amazon vouchers and send him links to ones that look quite good.

• Perfume
OK, by no means essential, but I have completely run out of my favourite one and it does make me feel a bit nicer to know I smell vaguely fragrant!

It is a little discouraging that most of these items aren’t exactly frivolous fancies or luxurious ‘treats’. I know some wouldn’t prioritise the number of electronic things that I have, lol, but they are all things that make life and contact that little bit easier for me. The fact that I am listing these items is helping me to focus on something to work towards. If these are the things I want to buy, I will therefore have to budget accordingly! Hopefully this will help me get more disciplined with my spending. October’s pay cheque is going to have to stretch a little further than it will want to, but I am so relieved knowing that in November, things might start to be a tiny bit easier. I can’t tell you how relieved I am and how much this has helped to improve my state of mind. I’m not ostentatious and it’s not really by style to show off about expensive things (or even buy them, for that matter!) or place too much emphasis on what people have, or own, or can afford. But being able to pay for things that make life a little easier, without having to constantly struggle or get into debt to do so, is something that I have been unable to do for some time. I’m not complaining or blaming anyone but myself, but it’s just such a big thing that I can’t help but emphasise how thankful I am for things moving a little way in that direction. It might be a little while until I can afford the perfume, though, lol. Perhaps it’ll be a new year treat. :o)