New me, new diary, new positive thinking!

[Deleted User]

Hi Lula :wave:

The fruit and veg are all accounted for in the grocery budget however I need to get a grip on it and try not to buy every week but once a fortnight as the stuff is so fresh it doesn't tend to go off for ages....still £5.10 isn't so bad for 3lb of carrotts, 3lb of onions, 1lb of satsumas, a hand of bananas, 5 apples, 3 mushrooms and four peppers Although I did see in Iceland that their apples are 8 for £1 where as the veg man charged me £1.50 for 5 :eek:

It's the other bits too...I went mad! Thank goodness I didn't have time to pop into the Heart Foundation shop :rotfl:

The mortgage change might not be worthwhile, looking around there isn't really anything spectacular that'll cut the payments.

As for the car insurance, the best online quote I found was £307.10 but only if I have £300 comp excess as opposed to £250 that I currently have. Still I earned 50p for looking

Karmacat

Hiya

Well, yes, spendy day, but you have to have food - its not like you bought truffles or something! The other stuff - you *know* you have to keep a handle on that, and its *so* hard. As far as the mortgage is concerned, what I hear is that the deals are changing all the time - its best to keep looking at least twice a week. I'm freaking about the end of May, so you're being very calm, good for you! Hope you have a good evening.

[Deleted User]

Apologies for the late update but I guess it’s better late than never.

DH has been paid, which is a good thing however it has cleared the overdraft and has left us with a little bit remaining. The mortgage comes out on the 18th and that will put us back into the overdraft again. DH’s expenses are due to be paid in as well shortly.

So my four week plan is as follows:

• NSD’s – as many as possible
• Get a grip on the grocery budget and keep a note to avoid over spending
• Only buy stuff that’s needed and not carp
• Walk with the kids to school more and reduce the use of the car
• Keep washing to two days a week and therefore reducing the need to use the tumble dryer
• Reduce alcohol intake again
• Keep doing the surveys and get started again on the daily clicks to get a bit more money.

Good news is that DH has earned enough for a voucher through Valued Opinions, his first one so he’s quite chuffed. That’ll go towards Christmas for someone

As far as the alcohol intake is concerned, at one time I was having a drink when both kids were in bed (8pm) and would stop at 9.30pm and have Horlicks or a cup of tea to help me sleep at night. I have gone slightly silly mainly due to the pain in my back and I am having a drink about 7pm and not finishing til 9.30pm and then having a hot drink and wondering why I couldn’t sleep! So that is my new resolve too, no more pain in my back now so no more wallowing and I will keep a note on here so I can check my progress

I also aim to get my terramundi full! It is an inch and a half off being full and I so want to count it…curiosity is getting stronger. Besides DH and the kids are supposed to be getting me a new one for Christmas

Tomorrow we are going to the local soft play centre with some friends that DS has seen for a few months and we are also going on Tuesday next week so they are the two immediate major expenses.

It is also MiL’s birthday next week, so I need to dig out a voucher to send to her so she can treat herself and I already have a stamp and a card so no money spent there

Sorry for the ramble I just wanted to get it clear in my head and my diary.

Lula-Hula

Hi Tea,

yikes, I think the forums are breaking, just posted a reply to you & got a warning message in return . Anyway, your grocery spending seems to be fine & great news about free pressie for MIL, shame you couldnt find cheaper car insurance, perhaps you're just not old enough yet . Mine came in at £250 but as my car 9 years newer than last & £17 of that was for monthly rather than one off payment not a bad deal. I got all the paperwork through today & apparently I can opt to pay the outstanding balance at any time during the next year with no penalty fee, so quite impressed.

Must get myself organised to go & collect DD & have just realised that I failed to buy her new swiming goggles since last lesson so will be in big trouble

take care & shame about cutting down on the booze but it will save a few pennies. Hope you're not suffering too much pain now ,

lula xx

[Deleted User]

I was rudely awaken at 5.30 by my DD but managed to persuade her to go back to bed for half an hour so here I am.

Got to nip to Tesco's today as I need to get some chicken and some bits for the soft play centre. I am not aiming to spent a lot; DH is working at the flying club today and is having a flight with one of the instructors after and we have therefore agreed we'd have KFC tonight as we are both unsure what time he'd get home.

Soft play today with a friend of ours and their two kids, so that's £20 gone in a flash.

I need to nip to the bank this morning and put that cheque in that came the other day.

Apart from that nothing elase should get spent but will update later if I get chance.

Have a good day everyone.

hypno06

Have a good day! Enjoy the soft play - just don't think of the £20

Karmacat

Hi there Tea!

It sounds a nice day, hope you enjoy it - get going on the clicks first tho!

The flying club sounds *really* exciting, whats DH doing there? And he's having a lesson in return. Ooooohhhh..... I do like the sound of that.

[Deleted User]

Karmacat wrote: »

Hi there Tea!

It sounds a nice day, hope you enjoy it - get going on the clicks first tho!

The flying club sounds *really* exciting, whats DH doing there? And he's having a lesson in return. Ooooohhhh..... I do like the sound of that.

Hi Karmacat - DH is qualified to fly light aircraft and works at the flying club every other weekend to earn tach hours to fly. Although he's going for a flight with an instructor after it's just to requalify his night rating so if he happens to get stuck coming back from somewhere when it's dark, he's able to get back okay.

Clicks aren't done but the surveys are

Have been to the bank and paid in the cheque and have been to Tesco's for the top up shop and for some more meat etc for the freezer. Total spent there was £39.61, I know that things are going to be dear on the grocery front this month until I have the freezer back to full again but now all the meat has been bought that's one less expense.

Tea
x

[Deleted User]

I should add that this is the only way that DH can fly as it is way too expensive otherwise. This way he only has to pay for the landing fee's (£26) when he does decide to go for a flight and not £165 for an hour in a plane.

whatatwit

Hi Tea, very MSE of your DH. He gets to enjoy his hobby and keep his hours up at a very low cost.

The shopping doesnt sound too bad, not if you are still topping up the freezer. I need to sort through mine again, I keep freezing leftovers and I'm sure there are some that need eating up by now. Usually it's me that eats the weird concoctions, but I'm trying to be good, so I might have to foist them off on Miss Twit

Enjoy the soft play area and don't think of the money.