Mrs. P's Diary

Horace

You're doing well MrsP:j I have found a good and cheap way of getting some exercise - by helping out at a charity car wash, all that bending stretching and rubbing works wonders, trouble is I ache now:rolleyes:

MrsPorridge

Sunday

I've got the lurgy today.:eek: It started yesterday but I didn't sleep too well, sore throat and nose kept running. Had a lovely lie in this morning though and DH bought me breakfast in bed:j First time in many years.

Put some washing on and just sat outside for a bit as its lovely sunny and warm here.:j May go out for a walk this afty see how I feel.

MrsPorridge

Sunday afternoon

Feel a lot better and went out with DH. We spent £4.95 on two drinks and a cake and another £3 on two ice creams. I think I can see a pattern emerging as to what I spend money on:eek: and also why I can't lose weight:D And its not even the summer yet.:eek:

Still I'm not expecting to spend any money this week. I haven't included petrol in this weekly spending as I spend around £36 approx per week on petrol.:eek: :eek:

MrsPorridge

Monday

£120 off the Egg card today.

MrsPorridge

Thursday

Feel absolutely dreadful today. DS has come home with details of a skiing trip in Feb next year. Total cost is £815 and they need a deposit of £150 by Monday 16th March. I am already struggling to pay the final instalment for a trip to Italy for him in April this year. Also buying new shoes etc. I feel awful that I had to say no to him. He quite understands which somehow makes it worse. My only consolation and its a tiny one is that the CC debt has been built up from big holidays which DS came with us. I am throwing all available money at the CCs now as am determined that they will be paid off or at least sustantially reduced by December. There is no way I have the money for Monday week anyway. I just feel so awful saying no to him. DH says he has to understand that we are not made of money and sometimes he can't get what he wants. Its so difficult isn't it when you want the best for your kids? He's an only child as well. When I was his age I desperately wanted to go on the SS Canberra the school ship and Dad said no. It is only now today that I have forgiven Dad for that = now I understand.

The trip is available every year and we have said he can go in 2011. We are going to open an account on Saturday and pay in £1 then DS and we will put some money in it every month so that we will have the money available. I have told DS he will be in charge of the account. He's already quite excited about that. Its a poor consolation though isn't it? I'm determined that he will not be as rubbish with money as DH and I are.

MrsPorridge

Monday

Feeling a lot better today although am partially deaf in one ear now. I went to the dr. on Friday and had my ear syringed and its really no better. I will see if I can get a appointment tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday afternoon.

Money wise I have been terrible. I have not kept up with my spending diary but here is a rough summary.

On Friday I ended up with approx £10 left over from last Friday's £40. I still took out my £40 on Friday so therefore had £50 Friday night.

Spent £17 odd in Tescos on £5 phone top up and not a lot else!
Saturday morning ended up spending £15 odd on two lunches and drinks, gave DS £5 to buy his lunch and paid £2 for his pocket money and 50p for golf. I then spent £6.50 on face creams. Spent £8 on bag of spuds and veggies and ended up taking another £20 out of the cashpoint. £60 in all and I have approx £8 left:eek:

On the plus side I did take a skirt and top back to Asda and so got a refund of £24.

I am annoyed with myself, but it could have been a lot worse.

Thinking back over the last couple of months I realise that the struggle I am having is to overpay on the CCs rather than not using them if that makes sense? Most of my extra spending is going on food. I am doing well during the week though and taking in packed lunches whereas before I would spend at least £5 per day.

Back on the spending diary:

Today - NSD

Tuesday - will aim for an NSD

Wednesday - we have to collect DS from school at 6pm and there is a meeting at school at 7pm about the Italy trip. So we have decided rather than come home in between times (DS's school is in the next village and about 6 miles away), we will have fish and chips that night - so more money on food:D

Thursday - NSD

Friday - hopefully NSD although may go out for lunch so max spend of £5

Saturday - my danger day

Sunday - we are going out to a tourist attraction nearby as I have found a free voucher in the paper. we were going to have lunch there but as we are having the fish and chips on Wednesday we will eat lunch before we go or when we get back (its only about 20 mins drive away).

So that is my strategy let's see if it works.:D

MrsPorridge

Wednesday

Yesterday I spent £17 odd in Tescos (I really need to be banned from that place) bought:

plums
grapes
sandwiches x 2 for DS and my lunch
milk
tights
choclate

Today we are having the fish and chips tonight for tea as we have the meeting at school.

Got my council tax bill in today and quite surprised as it has only gone up by about £1 per month over 10 months. I am going to phone them tomorrow to arrange to pay by DD. It says in the blurb that I can pay over 10 or 12 months. Have decided to do the 12 months which releases around £25 extra per month. I can't believe that during February and March I had just over £230 "extra" as I didn't pay the council tax and I don't know where it went:eek: :eek:

MrsPorridge

Saturday

Well, it has all gone pear-shaped today or rather last night. The washing machine finally bit the dust. :mad: :mad: The drum had come away from the spider attachment all corroded. The spare part would cost £190:eek: :eek: Today we bought a new washing machine - from Tesco direct, free delivery (arrives on Tuesday) and buy now pay in 6 months if I used my Tesco CC which I did. Does that count that I used the CC? I am saying "no". I will be able to save £60 per month and so can pay it off in 4 months time. The machine cost £250. Looking at washing machines was an eye opener - there was one for just over £1,000:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I also spent some money too, went slightly mad and spent £6 on two breakfasts, £2 DS pocket money £5 golf for DS as he went to a driving range today, £10 on a nightie for me and £20 in Tescos on food and drink.

I still have to address my spending my only consolation is that its not as bad as it could have been (if I discount the washing machine).

MrsPorridge

Sunday

Ended up having lunch out today - £19 for 3 of us. I think after the washing machine expenditure it was a case of "blow it".

Spent the afternoon planting some lettuce seeds in the garden (I had good results with it last year) and hoeing over the veggie patch and will plant some carrots next weekend. Did a bit of ironing and sat outside in the sunshine and read - bliss.

I have also hung 5 days' outfits out on hangers in the wardrobe ready for the week (I haven't done that for a few weeks). I've just got o make DS' sandwich for lunch tomorrow. I'm having leftover curry from last night for tomorrow's lunch.

Tomorrow's dinner is leftover rice - can't decide whether to have it cold with tuna or to heat it up with bacon and veggies. Plus home made pitta breads.

Tonight its beans on toast for tea (as we had lunch out) and chilling out in front of TV.

MrsPorridge

Wednesday

Washing machine is up and running and on its third load (two done yesterday). The horses are in the garage doorway with the washing on them so should be dry later tonight.

DS came home today with another school trip - £45 for 3rd May - a basketball match in Brum. He is paying £20 towards it himself (Easter egg money from my Dad).

Forgot my purse today so couldn't spend any money anyway!

NSD today and should be one tomorrow as well. Meeting up with a friend for lunch on Friday but won't spend more than a fiver.

Dinner tonight was hm pizza with a casserole topping. The casserole was from last night's slow cooker meal. It was delicious.

I've made the packed lunches for tomorrow.

Just going to hang the washing up and have a nice relaxing bath.