New year, new start - Purpletea65's 2009 Plan

mickey_mouse

sounds like things are going well purple:D I wonder what your third surprise is
Happy xmas:D

hypno06

Ooh - decluttering the conservatory......does DH want to come and do mine as well, now that he has had some practice

Karmacat

Hi Tea

It *does* sound like things are going well. I'm away from tomorrow, so I've *finally* scanned the photos I was supposed to scan ages ago. Decluttering .... lurvely.

I bet you're wondering what the 3rd delivery is!

whatatwit

Well Tea, I will be checking later to find out what the 3rd surprise is.

Are you feeling better now?

[Deleted User]

And it was a lovely big bunch of flowers

Mickey mouse - I feel much more positive about next year

Hypno - I would love to send DH to declutter at yours but he hasn't finished here yet...I might put him out on loan in the new year though :rolleyes:

Karmacat - Well done on the scanning, I haven't got a clue when it comes to using ours; I have enough trouble downloading photo's from the camera. Hope you have a superb break away.

Whatatwit - I have no idea what that bug was but it was horrible, I felt sick for days but thankfully wasn't (I hate being sick) I feel tons better now thank you.

Karmacat

Aww..... I love getting flowers. Do you take piccies of yours? I'll have to keep going to make sure everything gets done, but its not going too badly, I must say.

You have a great Christmas! See you at the New Year

[Deleted User]

Good morning, it’s the last day at work for the majority of people and the start of the Christmas holidays :xmassmile :rudolf:

Have been doing some rough calculations this morning with regards to the 2009 budget based solely on DH’s wage and not anything else like the child benefit etc that comes in.

I have worked out that we should theoretically have £400 per week spare to pay for things once all the main bills have come out, list is as follows.

• Phone bill (monthly) - £30
• Family loan (monthly) - £100
• Mobile (monthly) – currently £40 need to reduce big time
• Food/alcohol budget – No more than £60pw to be spent initially with view to reducing it over the next few months
• Car taxes/petrol/MOT - £250 per month at a guess
• Birthdays/Christmas (yearly) - £100 birthday/£120 Christmas – family only not us included
• Kids activities - £100 per month
• DS school lunches (per term) - £106.20
• Gas/electric bill (per quarter) - £300 at a guess
• DH’s NicAssist gum – roughly £100 per month at a guess

I worked out that this past year we have spent £3600 just on food/alcohol and I feel that this should be reduced even if it is only by £600, so I know that I must try harder on that side of things...another trip to the OS board I feel.

January pay-day is a long way off and I am truly grateful that I managed to fill the freezer with the Tesco Stamps and vouchers that my mum gave to us, so we are fairly sorted that way I just need to buy a few more bits for the freezer to finish it off. The cupboards are well stocked…so neither of us is going to go hungry and we have enough alcohol now to last us a wee while.

So January is looming ever closer and I need to get a plan together of how I am going to tackle things once the boys are out of the house on the 6th.

A couple of things I am going to do in January are:

• Go to local cheap shop and stock up on toothpaste
• Go to Boots and stock up on kids toothpaste, shampoo, bubblebath and nappies for DD – use Points and remaining gift card
• Go to cheap card shop and buy birthday cards for the first half of year

Things that are happening this coming year are:

• DH's 40th at the end of January - £200 allocated
• DS’s birthday party – need to work out in budget but allocated £300 max
• Family holiday to Devon – again need to work out in budget allocated £300 max
• DD needs a bed – unsure of how much to spend there

Anything major that needs paying quarterly/monthly I am going to try and get put aside in one or two lumps as quickly as possible then I know we have it there thus alleviating the need to panic when the bill turns up.

Sorry for the long ramble but my mind is reeling with figures and how I can make 2009 easier and we can have more money saved towards moving and getting rid of SiL's loan.

:xmassign:

mickey_mouse

well done on your plans - sounds very sensible amounts you have budgetted for.
Happy Xmas again:D

mrs_miser

Hi, have you thought about getting a job in a school or play group?
Term time only, so off when the kids are.
I have been working at a playgroup for 6 years, only work 9 till 12.30, so gives me all afternoon to walk dog, home cook and clean around, tbh get as much done in an afternoon as i would in a full day, and earning as well.
Money is not much above minimum wage, but is paid in to a seperate account along with child benefit, dont touch at all, and save for holiday in 2009 which we have already booked. happy xmas all x

mrs_miser

Hi again, also noticed you say you have joined some 2009 challenges, where do i find them?
Thanks x