A Ditherer's Diary (again)

JoJoC · 21 June 2017 at 8:46AM

Hi Naomim, I just wanted to pop in and offer my support. I know how hard it is to overcommit yourself (especially when it comes to the kids) and feel completely overwhelmed by covering all bases.

I don't have any solid advice other than trying to keep on top of it, find a solution that works for you in terms of recording income and outgoings (you may have already, so apologies if you have) and then set aside time every few days to take stock of where you are and what your next few days will look like.

I have lots of ups and downs, lots of days full of motivation and others filled with financial woe, so I understand what you're feeling right now. Chin up and good luck!

Naomim · 22 June 2017 at 10:17AM

Thanks JoJo,

I know we will get out of it sometimes and I feel much happier when I'm in control and looking at it regularly rather than ignoring it which is a bad habit of mine. It's like I cover my eyes and think, well if I can't see it, then I don't have to deal with it. Part of it is feeling angry with myself for letting it get this way and instead of saying "no" we can't afford or do something just sort of willing it to happen. I also feel sad that as we're hitting our 40's and this is a time when we should start to have some savings and looking to pay off the mortgage we're in the worst position we've EVER been in financially.

Oh wasn't is hot yesterday!!!

MrM coaches a kids football team in the Surrey FA Youth League. Last night they had a friendly match planned but the trains were all messed up with rails buckling. To cut a long & boring story short, after much driving around and dropping off and collecting we didn't start making our way home until 9pm having had no dinner. This is where I would normally say, lets order pizza, or get a KFC bucket or Mcdonalds BUT I was good. I stopped at the chippy and bought two portions of chips. Total spend £3.60. Not perfect, but good

I did my weekly shop at Aldi. It was still £79 but my freezer is fully stocked as well so I'm happy this will see me through for a couple of weeks apart from milk, bread and packed lunch goods.

I'm tracking my "cash" spends on my phone. This is my monthly personal budget. It helps keep me more focused. I usually run out in the middle of the month so this month I am aiming on having a few nsd's and hoping it will last until next payday.

Today I am having lunch with a work colleague. I've brought in a salad and a packet of grapes with me so I'm not tempted to spend. I may push the boat out on a can of drink.

Naomi x

EssexHebridean · 22 June 2017 at 11:48AM

Go on, resist the can of drink and grab that NSD - you know you want to!

And I'd definitely say that's a win on the food side of things - I sometimes do the portion of chips thing and then add a couple of fried eggs when I get home in those circumstances - still really "fast food" but makes it feel a wee bit more like an actual meal.

Naomim · 23 June 2017 at 9:48AM

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Go on, resist the can of drink and grab that NSD - you know you want to!

And I'd definitely say that's a win on the food side of things - I sometimes do the portion of chips thing and then add a couple of fried eggs when I get home in those circumstances - still really "fast food" but makes it feel a wee bit more like an actual meal.

Bloody Hell!! I ate my salad and we went over to the pub. I bought a fruity cider thinking it's bigger it'll last me longer. £5.80!!! :eek::eek::mad:

JoJoC · 23 June 2017 at 9:50AM

WOW! That's daylight robbery! That same one would have probably cost you £1.50 in the supermarket. Some of these pubs have got a cheek to charge what they do. I suppose that's one way of limiting it to just one drink!

Naomim · 26 June 2017 at 2:10PM

so now I'm starting to really worry as we're going over the overdraft.

Today is not a good day. There is £65 of my overdraft available. MrM is paid on the 30th but I have a credit card payment due to come out on 28th of £101.00. I had £140 in my savings which is supposed to cover xmas /birthday presents, car repairs etc so I've transferred some of that into my bank account and £15 from PayPal I made on eBay.

I realised with my finance spreadsheet that although I have 5 credit cards with balances (all on 0%). I hadn't separated the payments out, so I just had it a lump sum of the minimums. Of course this is no good as they all come out at different times. So today I logged onto them all to get the amounts due this coming month and the payment dates. I can't find the log in details for one and don't think I have the card anymore as I tend to cut them up if I only use it for balance transfers. !!!!!!.

I was trying to save £300 a month to cover Christmas, birthdays, car repairs, vets, clothing etc but I've had to keep dipping into it every month so I've cut it right back to £115 a month. I've played with the spreadsheet so hopefully we should be reducing the debt every month now.

This coming month isn't helped by having a final gas/electricity bill. My tariff finished so I moved but I owed BG £154.

It's also quickly coming up to school holidays. 12yo breaks up in 3 weeks, 7yo in 4 weeks The kids will need to be entertained at some point! I know we can easily do trips to the park & beach and we will but I will need to be careful and make sure I take packed lunches. I think I need to check on my MrT's clubcard points and see what we can do as cheaply as possible.

Naomi

EssexHebridean · 26 June 2017 at 4:06PM

Great idea to see what you can do for holiday entertainments with clubcard points! Alson well rescued on the credit card payment.

Might it help to see if you can get them all onto a particular day or at least a bit closer together?

Agree about the cost of that cider being daylight robbery too!

Naomim · 26 June 2017 at 4:21PM

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Great idea to see what you can do for holiday entertainments with clubcard points! Alson well rescued on the credit card payment.

Might it help to see if you can get them all onto a particular day or at least a bit closer together?

Agree about the cost of that cider being daylight robbery too!

I'm not sure if credit card companies are willing to change payment dates because of the statement dates. I can but ask.

Both my kids will need new school shoes and shirts before September. 12yo blazer is fine and we have two ties and two PE kits. (He lost them, I replaced, he found them weeks later).
7yo needs new polo shirts so at least I can get them and 12yo's from the supermarket. Shoes will need to be a bit more of an expensive spend

Having said that. 7yo has been in same shoes almost all year and 12yo only on his 2nd pair which will last till the end of the school year. I'm working on ancient Chinese foot wrapping on them :eek::rotfl:

so this is what my July should look like:

opening balance -2,570.47
Daniel & Jessie savings -20.00 -2,590.47
NEXT -10.00 -2,600.47
Gas & Electricity -45.00 -2,645.47
Car Tax -36.30 -2,681.77
TV Licence -12.12 -2,693.89
Tesco Mobile - Naomi -30.48 -2,724.37
Sky Protect -10.99 -2,735.36
Life Assurance -101.33 -2,836.69
Mortgage -834.62 -3,671.31
British Gas - Final Bill -154.99 -3,826.30
Oyster - simon -215.90 -4,042.20
Barclaycard -126.95 -4,169.15
MBNA - NUBA? -53.32 -4,222.47
Xmas savings -70.00 -4,292.47
Clothing -20.00 -4,312.47
Vets -25.00 -4,337.47
Life Assurance -4.57 -4,342.04
NAOMI SALARY 1528.10 -2,813.94
M&S Credit Card -87.89 -2,901.83
Oyster Naomi -126.00 -3,027.83
Water -46.49 -3,074.32
Simon & Dan Mobiles -70.00 -3,144.32
Sky -105.00 -3,249.32
Pet Insurance -16.69 -3,266.01
Groceries -475.00 -3,741.01
Petrol -150.00 -3,891.01
Simon month spends -100.00 -3,991.01
Naomi month spends -100.00 -4,091.01
Council Tax -174.00 -4,265.01
Dog Food -15.00 -4,280.01
ParentPay - Daniel lunches -50.00 -4,330.01
Go Henry - pocket money -25.00 -4,355.01
Home Insurance -19.19 -4,374.20
SIMON SALARY 2125.28 -2,248.92
MBNA - naomi -101.04 -2,349.96
MBNA - Simon -27.09 -2,377.05

Naomi

enthusiasticsaver · 26 June 2017 at 4:56PM

I think you need to look at a few things to economise further. Spending more than £100 on mobiles and a further £105 on Sky when you are so stretched seems a bit daft TBH. Can you threaten to cancel sky to get it cheaper or go for a cheaper package? Same goes for mobiles if out of contract. Go for sim only.

Also, while I understand the reasoning behind wanting to save for your children the reality is you cannot afford it at the moment.

GeorgianaCavendish · 26 June 2017 at 5:15PM

Hi Naomi,
Just a note on credit card dates - the providers should definitely be able to switch it for you. They might not be able to do the exact date you get paid (if I remember correctly, MBNA gave me the option of 4 different dates that they could take the direct debit on) but they can definitely change it so it is more convenient for you.

A Ditherer's Diary (again)

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