Floozie's Lightbulb Diary

Intergalactic_Floozie

Days to get through until Payday: 30
Money in Bank: £547.89
Money in Purse: £12.21 (have 6p extra from coin machine rejecting them)
Grand Total: £560.10

Spends from 1900 Friday to 1200 Saturday = £111.11
£111.11 spent at Morrisons.

Grocery Budget: Was £300.00. Is now £170.92
Petrol Budget: Was £137.50 is now £82.50
Bus Pass Budget: Was £56.00. Is now £56.00
Everything Else Budget: Was £232.65. Is now: £250.68*

I'm still in a state of shock as I went to Morrisons this morning and spent £133.52, only which £4.44 was spent on non-food stuff! I'm going to have to be frugal for the rest of the month (aren't I always!!!) anyway I cashed in luncheon vouchers and put all my coins into the coinstar machine, so the £22.41 which I saved has gone as an adjustment onto the Everything else budget.

moo2moo

Do you have a HSBC near you? Their coin machine is free to use whilst coin star charge. Every little helps and all that. The alternative is to get the offspring to count it for you and allow them to keep some of the cash as payment for their services. In super miserly mode I have been known to pay for the never ending school requests for handouts in copper. Its still money even if it does p-off the ladies in the office.

Intergalactic_Floozie

Days to get through until payday = 29
Money in Bank: £526.90
Money in Purse: £12.25 (acquired 4p from DS1 who couldn't be fagged holding onto his own change!)
Grand Total: £539.15

Spends from 1200 Saturday to 1300 Sunday: £20.99
£15.00 on a warm coat for DS2
£5.99 on a beanie hat for DS1

Grocery Budget: £300 / £170.92
Petrol Budget: £137.50 / £82.50
Bus Pass Budget: £56.00 / £56.00
Everything Else Budget: £250.68 / £229.73

Am braving the dreaded Christmas shopping tomorrow. I wish I could be organised and do it throughout the year. As well as my own two boys and DS I have 20 other people to buy for.

Intergalactic_Floozie

Days to get through to payday: 28
Money in Bank: £466.60
Money in Purse: £ 9.11
Grand Total: £475.71

Spends from 1300 Sunday to 1430 Monday: £63.44
£55.00 Bus Pass:
£3.55 - pair of trousers from charity shop
£1.80 - bus fare into town (bus pass ran out Saturday)
£3.00 - pound shop - 2 x xmas presents, six pack of tissues
(seem to be 9p up - no idea how!)

Grocery Budget: £300 / £170.92
Petrol Budget: £137.50 / £82.50
Bus Pass Budget: £56.00 / £0.00
Everything Else Budget: £250.68 / £221.69

I went Xmas shopping today and so far have got presents for five adults, and part of presents for 2 children. (13 adults, 2 teenagers, 5 children to buy for) plus my own 2 children and husband.

I phoned the gas & elec company to see if my meter readings had made any difference to my direct debits. I have now caught up and am actually IN CREDIT!!! It's been such a long time since I have been in credit with my fuel £22 electric, £38 gas) I think it deserves a round of applause! Apparently my payment review is at the end of November (payments will be effective from end of December) but the guy suggested I keep my payments the same so I can get into credit again and not be faced with a big debit figure like I was last year!

However my credit card has snuck its way up again. This is from during the holidays when I had my head stuck firmly in the sand. Also when I have spent on it (eg petrol) meaning to put the money to oneside and I haven't done so. My bill came today and it is £1686. I have got £515.50 in my HSBC savings account, and after paying the overdraft off, £1277.66 in my Natwest emergency money, which would only leave me £106 'emergency money' and I'm scared stiff of having that comfort blanket taken away from me. DH doesn't have a dentist and has had a lot of problem with his teeth, he doesn't get paid sick pay, kids are always needing stuff etc...

I seem to have two persona's, the one who posts on here and wants desperately to be frugal, and the one in real life who just wants everything and has to resort to credit to do it.

I'm meant to have a couple of hundred pounds leftover for everything else but I never seem to have,

*if you read this paragraph that I deleted, the panic is over*

However I do really need to try and stop spending so much money - any thoughts?

moo2moo

Get a job in antarctica? No shops, no internet access, no temptation, no anything.

On the positive side you can clear your credit card in its entireity without forkoing out a huge chunk in interest. Tough choice that. £106 in Emergency fund or an extra £100+ in interest to find to appease the demons of credit card interest this time next month. Your emergency fund will soon build up again Floozie.

Meanwhile why don't you harass the peeps at "Aaaaagh help me find an NHS dentist" on 01274 237555who will at least bung you on a waiting list if not find you one on the spot.

Verbatim

Hi completely understand the split personality thing with frugal/spendthrift lol!

Solution?? Post more

Seriously there are some good 0% cc deals out there. I can't remember how your credit rating is but could you get one and transfer your balance or as much as they give you as limit? Obviously with the firm intention of not spending on it but giving you time to pay it off before the 0% runs out.

Intergalactic_Floozie

Days to get through until payday: 27
Money in Bank: £446.90
Money in Purse: £24.31
Grand Total: £471.21

Spends from 1430 Monday to 1400 Tuesday: £4.50
£2.00 on 2 x birthday cards
£1.80 on a Magazine at my WW club
£1.00 on a raffle ticket at my WW Club (didn't win)

And that's £4.80 in total, so I have no idea how I have 30p more in my purse than I should!

Grocery Budget: £300 / £170.92
Petrol Budget: £137.50 / £82.50
Bus Pass Budget: £56.00 / £0.00
Everything Else Budget: £250.68 / £217.19

Did some more Xmas shopping today, can tick 5 children off my list

Intergalactic_Floozie

moo2moo wrote: »

Get a job in antarctica? No shops, no internet access, no temptation, no anything.

On the positive side you can clear your credit card in its entireity without forkoing out a huge chunk in interest. Tough choice that. £106 in Emergency fund or an extra £100+ in interest to find to appease the demons of credit card interest this time next month. Your emergency fund will soon build up again Floozie.

Meanwhile why don't you harass the peeps at "Aaaaagh help me find an NHS dentist" on 01274 237555who will at least bung you on a waiting list if not find you one on the spot.

Thanks for that! DH is on a so-called waiting list and there is an NHS dentists being built, but he needed treatment now. Over the past few months I think we've forked out nearly £300 in dental treatment with a cheap (!) private dentist. So it's just a matter of waiting. He's moaning about having toothache again, so no doubt that'll be another consultation fee + antibiotics!

Intergalactic_Floozie

Verbatim wrote: »

Hi completely understand the split personality thing with frugal/spendthrift lol!

Solution?? Post more

Seriously there are some good 0% cc deals out there. I can't remember how your credit rating is but could you get one and transfer your balance or as much as they give you as limit? Obviously with the firm intention of not spending on it but giving you time to pay it off before the 0% runs out.

Yes a 0% credit card offer would be good so I might try that. Thanks for your reply.

Lurker1972

Hi Floozie,

I too suffer from the split personality & my spending demon almost took over at the weekend! luckily I still had some vouchers left from my leaving present so sort of indulged that way - bird box & some new decorations for the Christmas tree - not quite a new wardrobe full of clothes & shoes, but didnt damage the bank account so am happy

I think its only natural when on tight budget & accounting for each penny that is spent - just like if you go on a diet, all you want is chocolate!!
& while we all know its a means to an end & that it won't always be like this, we have this urge to rebel and live at bit more in the now......& then have to deal with the guilty feeling of spending more than we ought to have done!!

despite your 'condition' though you are doing well, thats what matters

x