Why do i keep doing this (in debt again) diary

judi24

Hi meimei
I know how easy it is to spend on the kids! I have 4! last Christmas eve I booked to go and see santa at chster zoo - but I not only had to pay £6 for the 2 little ones to see him I had to pay the entrance fee for everyone (my 2 older daughters, one of them's BF, the 2 little ones and myself!) This was about £40 so whole experience was over £50 - It rained so hard that we lasted about half an hour in the zoo - saw santa and left! we were so cold and wet that i stopped on the way home - got stuff to make hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream (this was the best bit!)
DD1's BF asked if we were going to zoo again this year! I said yes - if he was paying! lol

Free or cheap stuff is just as much fun! could have gone for a walk in the woods and come home and had hot chocolate and it would have only cost a fiver!

Today we are delivering scout post - DS is so excited!!!! and it's free!

miemie

Thanks for posting guys, agree totally about the free things and do go for walks in the woods, picking up leaves for printing and go to the river find little stones to paint, have picnics and have a great time, i think the problem arises when we want to go into town to do something, i have to take the car, then pay for parking so once i'm there i think right i've got to make the most of it (really resent paying for parking). so what would be a free trip to library to someone in a town who can walk there can cost me £5 by the time i've paid parking and petrol.

(Gosh i sound like i'm whinging don't i)

Right must go and transfer £5.02 into savings

Oh got a free tin of Gourmet cat food in the post today, think they are around 45p so will transfer that as well, Might as well round it up to £5.50.

miemie

miemie

Well back from being away for christmas and Money saving has not gone too well, need to sit down and work out how much i've spent at least i've not added to the debt but have less money to throw at it, have decided 1st Jan will start all over again and get A**e into gear.

miemie

:j HAPPY NEW YEAR:j

DAY 1

OK, have decided to start all over again as it all went wrong over christmas, I've not added to debt so at least that is a good thing, but hav'nt a clue what i have spent money on over the last few days.

So in my bank account i have £48.00
In Purse £1.60
also have
M&S voucher £20
Argos Voucher £10
Boots points around £5.00 so these can be used for prezzies, i suppose i could use the M&S vouchers to buy bread and bits if needed, not sure what do you think.
My aim for this month is to pay at least £200 off Next somehow.

Also have a dilema at the end of the month i am going on a weekend away with the girls, Paid for the hotel, train tickets and show we are going to see,
so need spending money, here's the thing for christmas lots of my family gave me money as they know i'm going on a girly break and told me to treat myself, so i have a grand some of £350 to bank in cheques tommorrow, how much of this should i take with me, should i use some towards the debts, i don't know what to do, i could use it to pay off my next account.

Have decided that as food cupboards and Freezer are well stocked at moment that i will have a maximum of £50 a week for food (this does'nt include £10 a week for milkman) and cleaning bits, see how it goes should be able to manage on that till end of Feb.

Staying at home today so it will be a no spend day, having a lovely roast Turkey dinner (Beef christmas day) and have made a sticky toffee pud.:D

Miemie

ragstoricheswannabe

Helloooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! just found your diary so thought i would say hi. xmas is always my downfall, i get into the i need it mindset and ooh so and so would love this................ well done on not adding to your debts. i added £400 on to mine witha much needed new laptop.

i totally understand your problem with transport, im lucky as live 5 mins walk from town but know how rural some areas are!!!!!!!!!!!!! need to drive 10 miles to borrow some sugar in some places round here!!!!!!

can i join your who has spent the least challenge???? will make me keep track of my spending (have given up on the oh's spending even though its a joint account, sick of sounding like his mother!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

love rags
xxxxxxxxx

miemie

Hi Rags and welcome, are you windermere area.

I'm sure you will pay off the £400 in no time, At least it is something you need and use, i don't know where half of the debt has been come from as i have nothing to show for it:mad: . Please join in with spending the least challenge, maybe we should add up weekly to see how much we have spent

Have taken the christmas decs down this morning, everywhere was looking really dusty and cluttered so decided as its start of a new year i will have a good tidy this morning, i always feel more in control when everything is tidy.

take care miemie

ragstoricheswannabe

no, i actually live in kendal just up the road from wilsons mint cake factory!!!!!! used to work in windermere in the famous lakelend ltd shop!!! i was one of the many saturday/sunday staff whilst at college, glad to say the uniforms are still as hidieous!!!!!

i need to take my tree down but think will have to wait till ds1 is in bed to prevent a tantrum (he helped decorate this year and is still proud of his work.....)

Caroline73_2

Hi Miemie

Well done so far.

Can you trust yourself to use your credit card on the weekend away? If so why not put all £350 on a credit card and the just spend frugally while you are away. That way you will have paid off as much as possible.

miemie

DAY 2

Afternoon all,
Thanks for your post Caroline and welcome, have decided that as Next has the highest APR will pay £200 off when cheques clear, leaving me £150 spending money,if i want any more i will have to save it from somewhere:rolleyes: .

Had a busy morning paid cheques into bank but put them in my savings account so that they are seperate, if i had put them in current account i would just spend it.Took DD and DS shoe shopping but used money i had in what i call my kiddie account this pays for swimming and other bits and pieces, tax credit money is paid into this account and also hubby gave £20 towards them.

Took £10 out of my account as kiddies were hungry and it was nearly lunch time and were being so good i treated them to a sausage roll and little cake from greggs.

Recieved a cheque in the post this morning from Global Test Market for £32.38p:D , not sure where to alocate this, Next account or spending money account, what do you think guys?.Also had a payment of £3.00 from quidco but not showing in account yet so won't add it on yet.

Spends today
£3.60 Greggs
£1.00 parking

Bank account £38.00
Purse £6.00

Take care miemie

miemie

Thought i would try and organise myself for next week with a meal plan as it's back to work/school for us on Monday

Sat- Turkey mince and corriander meatballs with korma sauce and rice
Sun- Chicken casserole,roast pots and veg
Mon- Jkt with beans and cheese
Tue- Lamb cobbler, mash and veg
Wed-sausage egg chips peas
Thur- Spag bol
Fri- sweet and sour chicken and noodles

Desserts will be fresh fruit, yoghurt or some sort of cake thats been baked.
Hav'nt made the turkey meatballs before so will let you know how they turn out, will need to go shopping tommorow for fresh veg,corriander, bread, sandwich meat and need petshop for hay for rabbit.

really going to try and eat out of the freezer and cupboards for the next few weeks, have made a cottage pie for tea and bulked the mince out so enough to make 2, have put 1 in the freezer, hubby and kiddies can eat this when i have my weekend away. Left over S T pud for pud tonight:D did think of putting this in freezer for when i'm away and then thought no it really needs eating up today;) .
miemie