One day at work down!! Start new job next week on Tuesday! More than I thought but not quite 20k year. Am on 23.5k but pro rata for part time three days. I cannot wait! Will have to do some tax credit wrangling and council tax and re calculate budget but ho hum such is life. Lots to do tomorrow - regards the paying of bills. Tonight I have the joys of beef salad with chilli sauce ( sweet chilli dipping sauce) The weeny girl will go for tuna probably which we will recycle for lunch tomorrow. The European ironing mountain also beckons as does some planting of seeds. DO I invest in compost... probably yes. Only 2.25 a bag and I will spread it about a bit. Any tips on anti slug treatment much appreciated. I think you can use coffee grounds and remnants from a cafetierre not that I drink proper coffee.
Need to work on the budget tomorrow. Tax credits have decided that I am not entitled to the full amount for child care this month only £185 leaving a deficit of 200 to pay. Grrrrrr I will discuss my position with them tomorrow. Sneaky gov cuts!!! Will only pay a max of 70% of all child care which is pants. Basically I get nowt from any WTC or CCT as it all goes towards child care. Am hoping that the new bill will be covered. Up to £540 a month from next week. Eeek may have to eeek out some more!!!
Showing posts with label Budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Budget. Show all posts
Monday, 4 April 2011
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Frugaling and creative debt juggling!!!
20 months interest free on balance transfers with Barclay card! This is worth looking into. I have also contacted child tax credit and got loan amount for repayment - 3.5k Will be less in a few days as I will have paid a wee bit more off the balance. I think I can be more creative than the CAP people and def more frugal.
I get the saving bit - that is now essential for me. I need to save £71 per month for car stuff etc etc etc. However I feel over £200 on food /household per month is ridiculous!!!! I do fine on £40 and often have change when I am not feeding Biggles! We always have fruit and yoghurt's and veg with chicken or other lean meat. Hmmm I think If I meal planned more and if it was just me and darling Roo girl weeny one it would be less than £40 per month on a regular basis (though I do like to take advantage of a bargains and stock pile!!
I also need to get the results of council tax investigations to help me. I wasn't impressed with the drop the mobile phone and also cut the uncuttable fixed price or pay a penalty BT package. (Eyes roll)
Will put them on hold and not piss off my creditors Just yet! I may have to borrow from family for the loan till the house goes which is not ideal but .... If all else fail s Roo and I are going to move into Biggles house when he moves ( posted with work - yes he is a bit military hence Biggles) and live at a much reduced rate and so can pay off debt.I may be in Carlisle or want to get to Carlisle so will look more into renting for a year. Will still have to add to cover the mortgage but will cross that bridge when I get there.
Mortgage companies are really annoying. I now get paid on the last working day of the month. The latest the Mortgage can come out is the 28th of the month - This is fine...... mostly. Hmm before I paid on the 17th or next working day to 17th. I can't go back to that either or else will cost myself an extra payment. FFS
So tomorrow/initial list to do.....
Ring council tax
Ring loans people again
Whinge at child tax credit to get realistic figures for actual salary . FFS how complicated is CTC and WTC!!!!
Work out and draw up new budget to appease CAP!!! If this all goes to plan I will need to cnage my bank accounts back to my old favourite bank not the new one - I really cannot be arsed to remember another sodding password/ pin number.
A hippier more positive Eeek and damn I look good in my charity shop clothes - Could do with a hair cut though. lol ( No provision for haircuts in my budget btw not even a trim tut tut or money for the window cleaner - an indulgence but necessary and only a fiver once a month or every two months. Maybe I will cancel it - upstairs would never get cleaned!! Eurgh!
I get the saving bit - that is now essential for me. I need to save £71 per month for car stuff etc etc etc. However I feel over £200 on food /household per month is ridiculous!!!! I do fine on £40 and often have change when I am not feeding Biggles! We always have fruit and yoghurt's and veg with chicken or other lean meat. Hmmm I think If I meal planned more and if it was just me and darling Roo girl weeny one it would be less than £40 per month on a regular basis (though I do like to take advantage of a bargains and stock pile!!
I also need to get the results of council tax investigations to help me. I wasn't impressed with the drop the mobile phone and also cut the uncuttable fixed price or pay a penalty BT package. (Eyes roll)
Will put them on hold and not piss off my creditors Just yet! I may have to borrow from family for the loan till the house goes which is not ideal but .... If all else fail s Roo and I are going to move into Biggles house when he moves ( posted with work - yes he is a bit military hence Biggles) and live at a much reduced rate and so can pay off debt.I may be in Carlisle or want to get to Carlisle so will look more into renting for a year. Will still have to add to cover the mortgage but will cross that bridge when I get there.
Mortgage companies are really annoying. I now get paid on the last working day of the month. The latest the Mortgage can come out is the 28th of the month - This is fine...... mostly. Hmm before I paid on the 17th or next working day to 17th. I can't go back to that either or else will cost myself an extra payment. FFS
So tomorrow/initial list to do.....
Ring council tax
Ring loans people again
Whinge at child tax credit to get realistic figures for actual salary . FFS how complicated is CTC and WTC!!!!
Work out and draw up new budget to appease CAP!!! If this all goes to plan I will need to cnage my bank accounts back to my old favourite bank not the new one - I really cannot be arsed to remember another sodding password/ pin number.
A hippier more positive Eeek and damn I look good in my charity shop clothes - Could do with a hair cut though. lol ( No provision for haircuts in my budget btw not even a trim tut tut or money for the window cleaner - an indulgence but necessary and only a fiver once a month or every two months. Maybe I will cancel it - upstairs would never get cleaned!! Eurgh!
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
And so the descent to insolvency begins...........
More dealing with debt day today - spent the day moving direct debits to the new bank account and such then had my meeting with the folks from CAP.
Bad news - according to their budgeting which includes saving £70 per month for car type stuff, household maintenance, saving for clothes essentials for both of us etc it will take over 20 years to pay off my just under 5k debt. (I still have to hand in wage slips for council tax benefit and also get child tax credits rejigged but given new government policy I have little faith)
I have to get rid of my contract mobile £25 per month and am unable to save a poxy £10 a month for my daughter straight into her child trust fund account. I don't use the landline as they all have mobiles, my landline package only affords me free calls at weekends so I do not use the phone till then etc For £25 per month I get 300 mins. I text lots. But ok it has to go. More issues with the phone company to face.
My petrol is limited to 100 per month - This is what I aim for. I get an extra £10 for food per week and £15 for leisure per month.
Anyway the upshot is they feel I should apply for a debt reversal order - poor mans bankruptcy so I am told but I get to keep the house????? not my credit reference however. I suppose this is not too much of an issue as I have no intentions of getting any debt ever again however I will have to remortgage at some point and I do want to own a house as I have a long time to pay rent. I so hope it sells soon. I love living here but .......I am also unable to take a mortgage break if I go back to uni. I am going to drop the price on the house again by 5k. If I am lucky I will get some of my 15K deposit back. I don't even want to think about the state of my pension............ non existent.
Oh well so much for frugalism as a lifestyle choice - (Choosing it so you can reap the rewards and make progress is very different as well I know) Ha frugal sounds better than poor I suppose but lets face facts I ain't got no cash and def no spare cash or disposeable income for owt.
Cheers Dave thanks for taking my career, self respect, financial independence, credit rating. Before being made redundant on my 29k including maintenance and child benefit I could be frugal and make progress now on 16,500k its time to go backwards. I get the austere times and the cuts ( kind of maybe not as harsh), VAT rise didn't bother me - choose wisely I thought- luxuries like booze and fags, Chelsea tractor 4x4 cars, expensive hobbies designer clothes. primarni every week for the latest t shirt/item to fit in, made in sweatshops for buttons - that's your choice wants not needs unessential and as such choose wisely. Even faced redundancy - I had a plan I will sell up - be prepared to move just as Dave said to retrain/find work where ever I can.People need to move to the jobs he said!! I will out of necessity uproot my daughter from all she knows, our support network, friends and start again somewhere..... hopefully cheaper........ No sale, no interest either!
The gorgeous one is missing out too - she has stressed mummy, no swimming lessons and is desperate to begin ballet like her little friends. I am sure she will survive without them plenty other kids do but that doesn't really cut it with me. I used to make the choices being frugal, buying preloved etc so that we could do these things. I couldn't afford the petrol to get there on my budget anyway! We don't heat the water at night for a bath either - its just showers these days. Short ones. Got to get that electricity down.
Only one family have viewed the house in 7 months. If I was getting viewings I would be happier but no one is buying starter family homes. My end of the market has come to a griding halt.
Ahhhhh feck it - nowt I can do but ride the wave - all in the lap of the gods now..... nice bit of fatalism why the hell not!!!
Bad news - according to their budgeting which includes saving £70 per month for car type stuff, household maintenance, saving for clothes essentials for both of us etc it will take over 20 years to pay off my just under 5k debt. (I still have to hand in wage slips for council tax benefit and also get child tax credits rejigged but given new government policy I have little faith)
I have to get rid of my contract mobile £25 per month and am unable to save a poxy £10 a month for my daughter straight into her child trust fund account. I don't use the landline as they all have mobiles, my landline package only affords me free calls at weekends so I do not use the phone till then etc For £25 per month I get 300 mins. I text lots. But ok it has to go. More issues with the phone company to face.
My petrol is limited to 100 per month - This is what I aim for. I get an extra £10 for food per week and £15 for leisure per month.
Anyway the upshot is they feel I should apply for a debt reversal order - poor mans bankruptcy so I am told but I get to keep the house????? not my credit reference however. I suppose this is not too much of an issue as I have no intentions of getting any debt ever again however I will have to remortgage at some point and I do want to own a house as I have a long time to pay rent. I so hope it sells soon. I love living here but .......I am also unable to take a mortgage break if I go back to uni. I am going to drop the price on the house again by 5k. If I am lucky I will get some of my 15K deposit back. I don't even want to think about the state of my pension............ non existent.
Oh well so much for frugalism as a lifestyle choice - (Choosing it so you can reap the rewards and make progress is very different as well I know) Ha frugal sounds better than poor I suppose but lets face facts I ain't got no cash and def no spare cash or disposeable income for owt.
Cheers Dave thanks for taking my career, self respect, financial independence, credit rating. Before being made redundant on my 29k including maintenance and child benefit I could be frugal and make progress now on 16,500k its time to go backwards. I get the austere times and the cuts ( kind of maybe not as harsh), VAT rise didn't bother me - choose wisely I thought- luxuries like booze and fags, Chelsea tractor 4x4 cars, expensive hobbies designer clothes. primarni every week for the latest t shirt/item to fit in, made in sweatshops for buttons - that's your choice wants not needs unessential and as such choose wisely. Even faced redundancy - I had a plan I will sell up - be prepared to move just as Dave said to retrain/find work where ever I can.People need to move to the jobs he said!! I will out of necessity uproot my daughter from all she knows, our support network, friends and start again somewhere..... hopefully cheaper........ No sale, no interest either!
The gorgeous one is missing out too - she has stressed mummy, no swimming lessons and is desperate to begin ballet like her little friends. I am sure she will survive without them plenty other kids do but that doesn't really cut it with me. I used to make the choices being frugal, buying preloved etc so that we could do these things. I couldn't afford the petrol to get there on my budget anyway! We don't heat the water at night for a bath either - its just showers these days. Short ones. Got to get that electricity down.
Only one family have viewed the house in 7 months. If I was getting viewings I would be happier but no one is buying starter family homes. My end of the market has come to a griding halt.
Ahhhhh feck it - nowt I can do but ride the wave - all in the lap of the gods now..... nice bit of fatalism why the hell not!!!
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Wardrobe shuffle!
Nothing like a good wardrobe re organisation to cheer me up!! I moved alot of stuff to the recycling pile. I also have a box of things that I love but am not wearing at the moment IYKWIM - Eg really soft black leather pencil skirt, some dresses, lace top thing - one day just not right now! I change my wardrobe according to the seasons - jumpers away or jumpers out. summer tops in or summer tops out. Very satisfying! Also played stylist wiith a few items - took stock! Am now after a waistcoat - black fitted one - will know it when I see it!!! Shoes, skirts, jeans etc Also called in to the RSPCA shop. It has been maryised - re decorated and repriced - no more sale rail of cut price items and lots of items now over priced if you ask me but such is the way of things..........
Would love to find some jumble sales - proper jumble sales with lots of jumble to rumble through but never see them advertised locally. Carboot maybe at the weekend.
Collected vouchers for the residents festival - Cragside is a must not sure for other days - some attractions are doing two for one which is still in the case of Alnwick Garden adn Castle £16 plus child price! tut tut
Uni Interview has been put back which is excellent - so have more time to prepare at a more sensible pace.
Debt - opened bank account today, need to transfer direct debits tomorrow, and also carry on with the care home search for the returning mother. We are on lots of lists and are waiting.........
Checked out Iceland today - needed milk and fruit, not bad for some items.
More debt sorting tomorrow and I may even dig out my camera software if there is time!!! I have lots of treasures to show!!! lol
Would love to find some jumble sales - proper jumble sales with lots of jumble to rumble through but never see them advertised locally. Carboot maybe at the weekend.
Collected vouchers for the residents festival - Cragside is a must not sure for other days - some attractions are doing two for one which is still in the case of Alnwick Garden adn Castle £16 plus child price! tut tut
Uni Interview has been put back which is excellent - so have more time to prepare at a more sensible pace.
Debt - opened bank account today, need to transfer direct debits tomorrow, and also carry on with the care home search for the returning mother. We are on lots of lists and are waiting.........
Checked out Iceland today - needed milk and fruit, not bad for some items.
More debt sorting tomorrow and I may even dig out my camera software if there is time!!! I have lots of treasures to show!!! lol
Monday, 14 March 2011
Netto - I have no control!!!
OK I resisted any Charity Shopping and had access to areas I hardly ever venture into! However when killing time I popped into Netto ans have spent the princely sum of £10 ish on 8 pork steaks £3.50, two tins of pineapple juice ( 98p) Brown sugar 75p bumper pack crisps 1.00 and large jar 200g of Dow Egbert's coffee 3.89 I think. Was there anything else....... Ok the Coffee aint my favoured gold blend but I am open to alternatives as the cheapest 200g jar is £4.50! I would have opted for GB for £4.00 but a 61p difference..... Think not!!!
The pork steaks were reduced by 50p - Each steak should have been 50p however with the 50p off 43.7p per steak which I feel is quite acceptable! I see sweet and sour pork on the horizon this week at some point most def - sweet and sour pork or pork in oyster sauce.
Easy tea - pizza, left over salad from Friday - waste not want not - last tiddly bits in a sandwich for lunch tomorrow - keep up the veg intake for health!!!
Eyes really sore so am off to give them a rest - have enjoyed catching up on all of your blogs and drooling over your finds!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good bargain hunting work!!!!!
The pork steaks were reduced by 50p - Each steak should have been 50p however with the 50p off 43.7p per steak which I feel is quite acceptable! I see sweet and sour pork on the horizon this week at some point most def - sweet and sour pork or pork in oyster sauce.
Easy tea - pizza, left over salad from Friday - waste not want not - last tiddly bits in a sandwich for lunch tomorrow - keep up the veg intake for health!!!
Eyes really sore so am off to give them a rest - have enjoyed catching up on all of your blogs and drooling over your finds!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good bargain hunting work!!!!!
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Chip shop curry Thursday and a job interview!!
Ahhh another day - and another indulgence. Three quid for a syrup brown leather handbag with a flower motif - Its lovely and I love it - not good as I have a plan but.............
In response to this over spend I have had another clear out and will sell some clothes and curtains - its good to de clutter! Am also stock piling for a car boot sale! Car boots are great when you are a seller you don't have time to buy!!!
I shall also post pics of the finds when I dig out the software for the camera!
Job interview is positive - its still about 10k less than I was on and less per hour than I am now but more if I work full time. Its with a local college which is good and only about 20miles away and I can get the bus however its only guaranteed till July 31st when the college is taken over by another college so I don't know if I can take the risk.... I shall go to the interview anyway - good practice.
Had the delights of chip shop home made curry!! You know school curry - makway curry sauce special with onion, chicken and peas and sweetcorn thrown in for good measure with a naan bread and a bag of boil in the bag rice! Biggles came over for tea again. He is on leave and considering the pressies of this lap top ( his old one) and a TV for looking after him when he was in hospital plus all the other nice stuff we do hes worth it!!!!
Small gorgeous one loves having him around too. Nearly time for weekend number two. Apart from another two job applications I may get one or two things from the list accomplished!
Projects:
Eeeeek
Projects:
- Under stairs cupboard to sort and retrieve software for camera
- Kitchen draws to sort - numerous bits for boot sale
- Clothes to further sort with view to stuff to save for sister, stuff to recycle for cash
- Sewing projects - smock top thing to hem the sleeves, curtains to hem ( I feel a wonder web moment coming on)
- Curtains to re hang
- Car to valet - its disgusting - need to fit wheel trims
- Glass to recycle
- Upstairs floors to sweep
- Shed to sort out - I have a chest of drawers to revamp
- Plan the garden for this year - I have seeds to plant and pots to re pot and ferns to plant etc
- I have decorating also but am waiting for better weather (- prob the same for the garden and shed and car valeting )
Eeeeek
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
CAP = Highly recommended!
What a lovely organisation. Really understanding and very supportive. Technically I am not behind with payments at all but the savings are significantly depleted and I am not earning enough to deal with emergencies as they present and require savings. CAP ( Christians against Poverty) people were brilliant and will negotiate with my creditors (3 of them) on my behalf. I pay CAP and CAP pays them. I agree to not take out anymore debt and only deal with CAP ( this is not an issue- really its not). Am still sour about things generally - having to do this and not have choice in my life and that being debt free will take longer than I had hoped ( unless the house sells) but at least its manageable. takes the fun out of thrifting a bit - as I always went for preloved and new to me on point of principle and green leanings. Will keep you posted re the progress with CAP. Have a new bank account to open next week - they got the time mixed up today so only got bits of it complete.
Biggles paid for coffee and cake ( nice chap that he is) and Gorgeous one had an accident. I had to buy trousers from Oxfam £2 and socks and pants - not from Oxfam but M and Co which came to £9!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should have made her put up with being commando and barefoot in shoes but we had a while to go before home and she would have created big stylee!!! I will put the socks away for next year. No pants a larger size either only smaller or far too big so that was a bit of a waste too. Oh well and she is normally so very very good! And its one of the only high street kids shops in the town!!! ( Sainsbury's, a very posh shop, and a local one with outlets in the wider area - mostly school outfitters but not that much cheaper and closed half day on a Wednesdays!!) I really miss Woolworth's in cases like this! living in a small town this is a draw back not having cheap high street shops at your disposal in cases like this.
Quick tea this evening - oven chips ( they have to be used up and chicken/fish fingers/ beans etc. I may have egg as I am a fan of the family Friday classic of yesteryear! )
Saw a fabulous blue Edinay Ronay short mac style jacket on sale for £20 in Oxfam - was really tempted and got as far as trying it on - was a bit too tight so I am really really glad!!!!! After yesterdays find I am unable to justify further expenditure and it was rather lovely............ and another Paul Smith skirt that I refused to pay £15 for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gorgeous Day earlier - bit cold after 1pmish.. can't wait for warm spring days heralding summer!!!
Biggles paid for coffee and cake ( nice chap that he is) and Gorgeous one had an accident. I had to buy trousers from Oxfam £2 and socks and pants - not from Oxfam but M and Co which came to £9!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should have made her put up with being commando and barefoot in shoes but we had a while to go before home and she would have created big stylee!!! I will put the socks away for next year. No pants a larger size either only smaller or far too big so that was a bit of a waste too. Oh well and she is normally so very very good! And its one of the only high street kids shops in the town!!! ( Sainsbury's, a very posh shop, and a local one with outlets in the wider area - mostly school outfitters but not that much cheaper and closed half day on a Wednesdays!!) I really miss Woolworth's in cases like this! living in a small town this is a draw back not having cheap high street shops at your disposal in cases like this.
Quick tea this evening - oven chips ( they have to be used up and chicken/fish fingers/ beans etc. I may have egg as I am a fan of the family Friday classic of yesteryear! )
Saw a fabulous blue Edinay Ronay short mac style jacket on sale for £20 in Oxfam - was really tempted and got as far as trying it on - was a bit too tight so I am really really glad!!!!! After yesterdays find I am unable to justify further expenditure and it was rather lovely............ and another Paul Smith skirt that I refused to pay £15 for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gorgeous Day earlier - bit cold after 1pmish.. can't wait for warm spring days heralding summer!!!
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
A new really useful frugalling site!
A new really useful frugalling site!!!
Chose the option to find alternative tel numbers to the 0870, 0845 numbers that you cannot ring from your mobile without being charged for them - IE they won't come out of your minute allowance.I am assuming this would also be useful for landlines that have free calls and only charge for certain tel numbers!!
http://www.saynoto0870.com/
Chose the option to find alternative tel numbers to the 0870, 0845 numbers that you cannot ring from your mobile without being charged for them - IE they won't come out of your minute allowance.I am assuming this would also be useful for landlines that have free calls and only charge for certain tel numbers!!
http://www.saynoto0870.com/
Friday, 4 March 2011
That Friday feeling!!! Enjoy the Weekend fellow frugallers!!
Another week comes to a close............ I took a fellow frugal bloggers advice and when popping into Morrison's for a single pepper stocked up on the pasta for 20p - got three times the amount I would have in Lidl. well ok 2.5 approx times as much their pasta was 49p a bag - same size bags. As I am away to Whippetland for Saturday I bought a few essentials that I will need at the start of the week as well and purchased the things I will need for next weeks shop that are cheapest in Morrison's - tuna, beans, salt, frozen pizza. I indulge in frozen pizza as a quick meal on Monday nights when I am typically later home form work and need to feed gorgeous one pronto before BBB time- bath, bed, book. Have managed to go over my broad band limit and also mobile phone limit by ten pounds each. tut tut. I shall query the mobile and request itemised bills again. I need to know where this money is going. I have also downloaded a free download monitor. I really do not understand how I am going over my 10gb or whatever it is broadband limit. No unchecked broadband in the area - no talk talk or other cheap deals. One of the issues of rural frugaldom!
Am also pondering frugal driving. I typically go faster than 30mph as there are many country roads around me and the typical speed of traffic is 40mph+ I also drive on motorways a lot and so am doing 60-70 on a regular basis. To conserve I think I will have to decide to do so with rural frugaldom in mind - 40mph on country roads only and 70 max on motorways preferably 60mph. And its better for the environment. I have however been driving with the boot full of wood for the dump. In my haste I filled the car in prep for the next visit to Alnwick and completely forgot about it! tut tut - the heavier the car the greater the effort the greater the fuel consumption!!!
I have popped my totals in my little monitoring book. £15 49 spent today. That leave only £25 max for food next week.
Enjoy the weekend fellow frugallers! Find lots of free, satisfying free things to do!!! I shall be charity window shopping and generally window shopping in Sheffield and seeking bargains in poundland and other cheapie home bargain shops!!
This weekend will cost me coffee for the driver which is cheap at half the price!!!
Am also pondering frugal driving. I typically go faster than 30mph as there are many country roads around me and the typical speed of traffic is 40mph+ I also drive on motorways a lot and so am doing 60-70 on a regular basis. To conserve I think I will have to decide to do so with rural frugaldom in mind - 40mph on country roads only and 70 max on motorways preferably 60mph. And its better for the environment. I have however been driving with the boot full of wood for the dump. In my haste I filled the car in prep for the next visit to Alnwick and completely forgot about it! tut tut - the heavier the car the greater the effort the greater the fuel consumption!!!
I have popped my totals in my little monitoring book. £15 49 spent today. That leave only £25 max for food next week.
Enjoy the weekend fellow frugallers! Find lots of free, satisfying free things to do!!! I shall be charity window shopping and generally window shopping in Sheffield and seeking bargains in poundland and other cheapie home bargain shops!!
This weekend will cost me coffee for the driver which is cheap at half the price!!!
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Ok I forgot....
Ha Forgot was filling the car up today! Was in the smoke - not the big smoke but a smoke with an ASDA and as such cheaper fuel - filled up and spent £43!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will see how long it lasts. Grrrrr Tea was grand - fish in batter from freezer with real chips and peas. Bought four portions on special offer for 1.99 we used three of them and three fishfingers - for 2.3 people of course!
I love the game of being frugal and saving money! Its a challenge and while I prefered it to be choice I can cope with circumstance.
I love the game of being frugal and saving money! Its a challenge and while I prefered it to be choice I can cope with circumstance.
A Quiet Thursday........
At the employment that lacks integrity today - not spending any money - no lunch required and straight home do not pass the charity shops do not pass go do not spend - You do not need anything and your money has other uses. (Well may be a small window shop) Other than that shall be doing very little this evening - Telly and fish and chips- cheap fish portions from the freezer and home made chips!!! Chuck on a few peas. All good to go!
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Some frugal finds and some financial meanderings...
Ok couldn't resist! More clothes for the future - for the weeny beautiful one who has been unceremoniously put to bed due to bad behaviour. 99p for a dress! Blue, floaty, embroidered bits also in blue - size 3yrs.
I actually spent 9.42 or something like that - She who shall not be named snuck in a cuddly puppy thing as well which I thought was 99p but was actually a Ty baby thing and was £1.99 !!!!!!!!!!!!!however I didn't go over my two pound rule per item! two sweat shirts, one long cardigan, one fleecey jumper, one t shirt, one dress and a top for me! Cheapest was 59p most expensive 1.99. All to be put away (bar the dress) for next years play clothes ( ages 4-5). We indulged in lunch out as well - Ok a large plate of chips, one juice, one coffee and a parking fee - all in all £5.20!!!! OMG OMG She enjoyed it however and felt very grown up. And it was payday! Won't be happening again for a while!
We had jobs to do - financial ones - made an appointment to open a new bank account, gave in docs for council tax benefit, got CAB number - couldn't make appointment as was too late, emptied car of old wooden bits that used to be a chest of drawers at the dump. ( Falling to pieces and nothing could be done with them) Good news on the council tax benefit - should be entitled to something taking my payments down next year to £45 per month. Am not relying on this till it happens and I hand in next months pay slip. That could potentially be another £20 !!! To share between savings, creditors and car............ lol
Am waiting on electric company getting back to me re some readings - I like to monitor usage and make sure I am on track. Not a bad day - reasonably productive, also made enough shep pie for 2.3 people ( she is the .3) and enough for the freezer for 1.3 people.
I have a whole list of jobs for tomorrow as well! Joy of Joys! Then back to the horrid job on Thursday and Friday!
Speak soonish! Keep penny pinching! Financial freedom is on the horizon .............its just that I keep walking backwards!
I actually spent 9.42 or something like that - She who shall not be named snuck in a cuddly puppy thing as well which I thought was 99p but was actually a Ty baby thing and was £1.99 !!!!!!!!!!!!!however I didn't go over my two pound rule per item! two sweat shirts, one long cardigan, one fleecey jumper, one t shirt, one dress and a top for me! Cheapest was 59p most expensive 1.99. All to be put away (bar the dress) for next years play clothes ( ages 4-5). We indulged in lunch out as well - Ok a large plate of chips, one juice, one coffee and a parking fee - all in all £5.20!!!! OMG OMG She enjoyed it however and felt very grown up. And it was payday! Won't be happening again for a while!
We had jobs to do - financial ones - made an appointment to open a new bank account, gave in docs for council tax benefit, got CAB number - couldn't make appointment as was too late, emptied car of old wooden bits that used to be a chest of drawers at the dump. ( Falling to pieces and nothing could be done with them) Good news on the council tax benefit - should be entitled to something taking my payments down next year to £45 per month. Am not relying on this till it happens and I hand in next months pay slip. That could potentially be another £20 !!! To share between savings, creditors and car............ lol
Am waiting on electric company getting back to me re some readings - I like to monitor usage and make sure I am on track. Not a bad day - reasonably productive, also made enough shep pie for 2.3 people ( she is the .3) and enough for the freezer for 1.3 people.
I have a whole list of jobs for tomorrow as well! Joy of Joys! Then back to the horrid job on Thursday and Friday!
Speak soonish! Keep penny pinching! Financial freedom is on the horizon .............its just that I keep walking backwards!
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Prep for Monday... Tomorrow is a shopping day!
Am off to a place I hardly ever go to tomorrow due to being a witness at the magistrates court. I intend on fleecing the area for bargains! It is also a shopping day or if I am held up it will be Tuesday.
New rules for shopping are to list in specially purchased notebook all items purchased over the month - I have a £160 budget per month for food and household items for the gorgeous one and I. Thus us for breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea plus weekend food for Biggles the owl lover, and cat food for the moggs (2). I have a small list of essentials to purchase: self raising flour, chicken breasts, bread flour, yeast, oil, cat food, sausages ( if on special offer) cheese ( if on special offer) pizza ( if on special offer) coconut milk ( if on special offer - an indulgence I love Thai style food) tortilla wraps, apple juice, moisturiser ( cheap for me) veg, potatoes, fruit etc Otherbargains also much appreciated and very welcome. I shall however keep my receipt and tot it all up in a little book! Balancing spending on food over the month so that I do not go over my budget of £160.
Living in the country in the far northern provinces of Englandshire the closest supermarkets are not great - Sainsburys, - too expensive mostly but occaisionally worth a trawl for kids clothes, Morrisons - a fall back I suppose -some bargains to be hadif all else fails, Lidl and Iceland - to be watched closely for staples such as chook, pork, mince- Lidl special offers are supreme eg COFFEE Gold Blend - £4 huge jar and they sell the cheapest bread flour I can find. Icing sugar - for fun things!! Mustn't forget! Will tell you how I get on!
New rules for shopping are to list in specially purchased notebook all items purchased over the month - I have a £160 budget per month for food and household items for the gorgeous one and I. Thus us for breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea plus weekend food for Biggles the owl lover, and cat food for the moggs (2). I have a small list of essentials to purchase: self raising flour, chicken breasts, bread flour, yeast, oil, cat food, sausages ( if on special offer) cheese ( if on special offer) pizza ( if on special offer) coconut milk ( if on special offer - an indulgence I love Thai style food) tortilla wraps, apple juice, moisturiser ( cheap for me) veg, potatoes, fruit etc Otherbargains also much appreciated and very welcome. I shall however keep my receipt and tot it all up in a little book! Balancing spending on food over the month so that I do not go over my budget of £160.
Living in the country in the far northern provinces of Englandshire the closest supermarkets are not great - Sainsburys, - too expensive mostly but occaisionally worth a trawl for kids clothes, Morrisons - a fall back I suppose -some bargains to be hadif all else fails, Lidl and Iceland - to be watched closely for staples such as chook, pork, mince- Lidl special offers are supreme eg COFFEE Gold Blend - £4 huge jar and they sell the cheapest bread flour I can find. Icing sugar - for fun things!! Mustn't forget! Will tell you how I get on!
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