My new 'no spending/get myself organised' diary

pixiechick99 · 18 July 2008 at 3:28PM

Hiall,
Having read hundreds of posts on all the other fantastic diaries, I have decided it's time to start my own record of spending, have a bit of a ramble, post my lists of things to do etc etc....

Here's a quick summary of my situation...
30-odd yr old single mum, 2 fantastic daughters of 11 and 9. We've just moved into a lovely rented house having sold our tatty old house as husband left last year and we needed the cash out of the house. Neither of us came away with much - I took about £9k after the mortgage and secured loan were paid off. However I have paid off my credit card of £3k, which was a lovely feeling! I am left with a loan the bank kindly (!!!) gave me when we separated, its £4.7k left so I'm working hard at over-paying that now. Probably daft but I have £3k left from the house (once I paid my mum back the rent/deposit) and I want to put that in an ISA, instead of getting the new car I always promised myself. Maybe it should go at the loan, but I can't do it yet!!
I work p/t (25hrs) as a TA in our local primary school and love it, fab holidays!
I just need to focus on not fritering money away - I was buying a lot of clothes for the 3 of us until recently. I had my LBM at the end of May when attempting to buy my shopping in co-op and card was declined. CC was maxed out, luckily they took a cheque. Since then I've got much more stingy!! I am on a mission to ebay loads of stuff in the summer hols - we break up next fri, thank goodness.

Before we moved 4 weeks ago I was a very disorganised, messy person. My new resolution since we've moved is to keep this lovely little house clean, tidy and organised. So I will probably be posting lots of list on here - to hopefully spur me on to get things done!!

Anyway, enough rambling for now....thanks for reading if you've got this far!:beer:

pixiechick99 · 18 July 2008 at 3:34PM

Today I have spent nothing...mind you I've lost a days wages as been off with my daughter who's unwell, so not good. Just need to pop to PO later to send the girls fabulous school reports to their dear father, very generous of me I thought!! So, under a pound today.
I have also...

listed 3 books and 3 dvds on Amazon.
Listed an OU book/dvd on ebay.
washed sheets, now on the line.
Scrubbed kitchen floor and lounge wooden floor.
dusted lounge.

That's about it...And I've spent ages on here!!!

homeaway · 18 July 2008 at 3:56PM

Well done, you have made a good start. Have a good wknd.

beanielou · 18 July 2008 at 5:23PM

Great start.
(Im very messy too)
Keep posting!

pixiechick99 · 18 July 2008 at 6:28PM

Hooray - had a no spend day! Realised the letter I had to post to ex hub was light enough to be 1st class and had a stamp for that!
So I think from tomorrow I shall record every penny I spend...mind you tomorrow may not be the best day as the girls and I are going into town early to visit the Next sale and I have to treat them to McDs for breakfast - a reward for coming shopping with me at 8am! I'm firmly in DFW mode though and will only buy clothes for them in next years sizes and I plan to pick up a few presents for the stash under the bed! I don't need many clothes, but always try and get work trousers in Next while they're cheap, otherwise too dear for me!

Have just cooked the girls dinner - spag bol which i bulked out with grated carrot and mushrooms, as I read on the OS board! It went down well and I have 4 more portions ready to freeze, so there's one meal for them for next week already! Slowly getting the hang of this money saving eating I think.

Off to make a quick omelette for myself now with some leftover new potatoes from last night-so a Spanish Omelette, yummy!!;)

pixiechick99 · 19 July 2008 at 2:49PM

Well all I've spent today is £3.29 on a bottle os calpol!
Eldest daughter was up in the night yet again so couldn't go to the Next sale in townt his morning. Had to ring the out of hours surgery first thing and take her to them for her ear infection. Poor thing's had to miss out on a trip to the theatre to see High School Musical.
So I'm stuck at home, not in the mood to do much really as tired myslef and missing the bargains in town hahaha.

On the bright side, I haven't spent money on bits I probably didnt need....but I could have done with picking up a few bits and bobs for presents. Oh well, will try somewhere else for those (need teachers gifts for next fri)

benbenandme · 19 July 2008 at 3:06PM

I've only just found your diary Milly but wanted to wish you luck :beer: I'm sure you'll be fine and sometimes days like today when you have an excuse to stay in and surf the net are the best days of all

pixiechick99 · 19 July 2008 at 3:31PM

Hiya BB,
Well I could do with the rest anyway...and no spending is good of course:rotfl:
Also free dinner at the ex-in laws, so saves me a job. I've not seen them all for a while, which is a shame (and they only live 10mins away!). It's ex-hubs 3 sisters that have taken Emily to the theatre, it was the girls Xmas present! Will make it up to Georgia somehow!

I've kicked myself up the rear end a bit and have got some washing on a quick 30deg wash as its sunny and blowy outside now.

Looking forward to this time next week and I'll be on my hols like you - woo hoo! THEN I can get the ebaying going. Already have a lot on Amazon, not much left to list! I've got a few boxes of games/toys etc for car boot sales but never done one so a bit nervous of that!!

pixiechick99 · 19 July 2008 at 4:11PM

Ok, I've had a go at the SOA - here it is. Some things I can't change, such as electric, gas supplier as I'm in a rented house and they told me to go with the supplier I have! Also my mobile and BT line are tied in now for a while, so can't move there sadly. I took the mobile contract out just before my LBM (I wanted the posh new phone at the time, fool!)

Anyway here goes...
Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 636
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 698
Other income............................ 320(maintenance)
Total monthly income.................... 1654

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Rent.................................... 595
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 101
Electricity............................. 25
Gas..................................... 30
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 19
Telephone (land line)................... 20
Mobile phone............................ 35
TV Licence.............................. 11
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 21
Internet Services....................... 16
Groceries etc. ......................... 200
Clothing................................ 30
Petrol/diesel........................... 60
Road tax................................ 10
Car Insurance........................... 20
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 30
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 8
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 25
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
pc insurance............................ 9
Total monthly expenses.................. 1275

Assets
Cash.................................... 3700
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 500
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 4200

No Secured Debt

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Lloyds loan....................4700......102.......15.6
old littlewoods card...........103.......5.........28.3
Total unsecured debts..........4803......107.......-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,654
Expenses (including secured debts)....... 1,275
Available for debt repayments........... 379
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 107
Surplus(deficit if negative)............ 272

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 4,200
Total Secured debt...................... -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -4,803
Net Assets.............................. -603

[This is for myself and 2 daughters, 11 and 9. I'm currently working on reducing the food budget - the £200 is a bit of an estimate tbh.:p

pixiechick99 · 19 July 2008 at 4:14PM

Ooops forgot about my Egg card that has £1100 on it at 0% til next September. Only just started it, paid min payment last month £28. Thought I'd have a go at the loan then move this balance when the 0% is up next yr then work on paying it off.

beanielou · 19 July 2008 at 8:14PM

Looking not bad.
If you were careful you could pay off the Littlewoods card over a couple of months wth your surplus.

My new 'no spending/get myself organised' diary

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