My new 'no spending/get myself organised' diary

The_Dragon

Milly how old are your girls again? I'm just wondering if a mobile is really what is needed for a Christmas gift, £45 is a lot for something that may get lost very easily. Other than that things seem to be going well, even if you had forgotten one catalogue!

pixiechick99

The_Dragon wrote: »

Milly how old are your girls again? I'm just wondering if a mobile is really what is needed for a Christmas gift, £45 is a lot for something that may get lost very easily. Other than that things seem to be going well, even if you had forgotten one catalogue!

Hi again!
She's nearly 10. I thought it'd be good for when she stays away at her dad's - I don't hear from them much when they go:rolleyes: It's all she wants, I've said no for ages, but it's cheaper than other things she fancies and I know she'll love it. Eldest is having an ipod, but I've cut way back on all the bits and bobs I used to get them. I had almost £500 back from Studio in admin charges a few months ago and that's been my Xmas fund, including all family. I'm happy with that amount. The girls don't have a huge amount spent on them normally, we don't go out much, no cinema/bowling etc. Now I have no in-laws to buy for I'm saving a fortune!
Just back from meeting my mum, nice to be in the warm. Must get off the PC and tidy up!!:rotfl:

The_Dragon

millyscarlett wrote: »

Hi again!
She's nearly 10. I thought it'd be good for when she stays away at her dad's - I don't hear from them much when they go:rolleyes: It's all she wants, I've said no for ages, but it's cheaper than other things she fancies and I know she'll love it. Eldest is having an ipod, but I've cut way back on all the bits and bobs I used to get them. I had almost £500 back from Studio in admin charges a few months ago and that's been my Xmas fund, including all family. I'm happy with that amount. The girls don't have a huge amount spent on them normally, we don't go out much, no cinema/bowling etc. Now I have no in-laws to buy for I'm saving a fortune!
Just back from meeting my mum, nice to be in the warm. Must get off the PC and tidy up!!:rotfl:

Well done on the £500 back! always a bonus , I was just thinking about my niece, she got her first mobile when she was twelve, she is now 17 and she is on her 40+ mobile! it has cost over £300 per year just for the phones!! :eek:

pixiechick99

The_Dragon wrote: »

Well done on the £500 back! always a bonus , I was just thinking about my niece, she got her first mobile when she was twelve, she is now 17 and she is on her 40+ mobile! it has cost over £300 per year just for the phones!! :eek:

Oh my goodness!!
My daughter doesn't really go anywhere by herself, well not with just friends anyway. I won't be letting her take it if she's off playing, I think she wants it to text some friends, take photos/videos! And the alternative Xmas present was a guitar wii game...I could see that being played for a couple of weeks then forgotten about! Also, being selfish, I like her texting me when they're at their dad's!! I lent her an old phone(before I sold it on ebay!!) and she was v gd at keeping in touch haha.
God, I hear what some of their friends get for Xmas and it's crazy! They know I'm not made of money and are very good at not asking for things, even choc bars after school is a thing of the past! Oh and I won another of her Xmas presents - a DS game that's actually on her list, bargain!

This whole DFW way of living has stayed with me since the LBM in May...Some days I'm not as strict, but I've bought things in town and then taken them back the following week as my conscience won't allow it;) Now, for me, that's a real improvement!

In January I'm going to get really organised and set more budgets. Right now I only have the food one. My SOA still seems to show me having more than I feel I do each month. Mind you I find it hard to see any extra as I receive tax credits weekly, HB fortnightly and wages monthly, rent comes out on the 10th, so my money doesn't feel straightforward!!! So, new year will find me trying to organise it and get overpaying the loan.:p

benbenandme

Iwork with kids age 11/12ish, and there are literally only a tiny handful who don't have a phone. I think it makes sense like you say, and she can let you know how she is when she's at her dads, is it a payg one or contract and how will she be about keeping to limits on it? Its a good dfw lesson in itself really, if she can stay within her credit limit

pixiechick99

benbenandme wrote: »

Iwork with kids age 11/12ish, and there are literally only a tiny handful who don't have a phone. I think it makes sense like you say, and she can let you know how she is when she's at her dads, is it a payg one or contract and how will she be about keeping to limits on it? Its a good dfw lesson in itself really, if she can stay within her credit limit

It's PAYG, which eldest already has. G's usually needs topped up with £10 every 6weeks, and her dad and I take it in turns, so it's ok. She knows if she uses her money then there's no more for a while! I got her a sim with 300 free texts anyway, then she uses the £10 credit to pay for the texts and it works out fine. I don't give them pocket money - phone money is it! G did have a scare when she thought she'd lost her phone a couple of weeks ago - but she'd left it on the school coach. Of course they're not meant to take them to school, so lesson learned there I think. As she's now at secondary and out with friends sometimes I do like her having one just so I know where she is, and can remind her to come home!!
And you're right...it is a good DFW lesson. I am impressed how good they have been since I realised money didn't grow on trees:o They don't ask for extras, know we don't merrily go in for coffee and cakes EVERY time we go shopping and I make them buy their own mags etc. My mum gives them £2 a week and they use that for bits and bobs. I make my own takeaways now - chicken chow mein or curry which they love...bless them they even tell me my food is nicer;)
All good lessons we are learning!!!

pixiechick99

2 NSDs this week so far, 2 to go for my target. Need to nip out and buy bread...or I could make another loaf as I have enough flour, hmmmm good idea!
Really pleased as I've just looked on Quidco and I have £131 received from them to be paid at the end of this month. £85 was a payout from co-op insurance - I bought a years contents insurance for abhout £45 and got £85 cashback - bargain! So really they've paid me £40 to have my insurance with them

Quiet week so far, bank looking ok and I'll be paid on Friday so very nice bank balance til the 1st of the month when most of the bills come out;)
Stupid Orange sent me a bill for 2 months payments for my mobile - £70, even thought I'd paid one. It said 'this amount will be collected by direct debit on 25th Nov'. I rang them to check they wouldn't take double as I had actually paid £33 by debit card. Oh no, we won't take it they say, but of course £70 went out yesterday:mad: I rang and it should be back in the bank 3-5days, but annoying that they still took it even though I rang ro make sure they wouldn't...and i don't get it back instantly, have to wait!
Must go and tidy up, house a bit of a mess...

The_Dragon

millyscarlett wrote: »

2 NSDs this week so far, 2 to go for my target. Need to nip out and buy bread...or I could make another loaf as I have enough flour, hmmmm good idea!
Really pleased as I've just looked on Quidco and I have £131 received from them to be paid at the end of this month. £85 was a payout from co-op insurance - I bought a years contents insurance for abhout £45 and got £85 cashback - bargain! So really they've paid me £40 to have my insurance with them

Quiet week so far, bank looking ok and I'll be paid on Friday so very nice bank balance til the 1st of the month when most of the bills come out;)
Stupid Orange sent me a bill for 2 months payments for my mobile - £70, even thought I'd paid one. It said 'this amount will be collected by direct debit on 25th Nov'. I rang them to check they wouldn't take double as I had actually paid £33 by debit card. Oh no, we won't take it they say, but of course £70 went out yesterday:mad: I rang and it should be back in the bank 3-5days, but annoying that they still took it even though I rang ro make sure they wouldn't...and i don't get it back instantly, have to wait!
Must go and tidy up, house a bit of a mess...

Oh bother about Orange! but woo hoo! on the Quidco and free insurance!

pixiechick99

Exciting - had my wage slip today and had a backdated payrise of £130...that is 8 months worth, so won't be that much next month, but what a great treat just before Christmas. I got about £110 after tax, so will move that to my savings accountfor now. Really pleased about that!!

And....had my 4th NSD of the week, taking my November total to my target of 12!! Woo-hoo. At the weekend I really didn't think I'd manage it, but I've just gone to work this week, straight home, so not spent a penny. Tomorrow I will definitely have to spend, we need food. And work friends go for a pub lunch on Fridays, I wasn't going to go, but I will spend the £6 and enjoy every mouthful, after a thrifty week. Not sure what we're doing this weekend, may go to visit my mum, we'll see.

donner_kebab

millyscarlett wrote: »

Exciting - had my wage slip today and had a backdated payrise of £130...that is 8 months worth, so won't be that much next month, but what a great treat just before Christmas. I got about £110 after tax, so will move that to my savings accountfor now. Really pleased about that!!

Ah ha...you got the 5% rise too :T Yay for working in education eh! I got mine yesterday...and have used it to pay off my Lloyds TSB card :j xxx