Jamiedodger's Happy Times 2009 Diary

Keeping_Motivated

I read just don't post sorry

Pooky

I read too - I find your diary very inspirational so keep it up........or else

JAMIEDODGER

oh thanks guys!

PAP - Im back to college on 7th January, looking forward to it. I still have quite a few jobs to do in the house, mainly in the front room, I will be starting to remove skirting in the first week, complete redecorate, plus a few electrical bits to do, know how to do those myself already so quite happy to get on with that. This should take me to the last week of January when I hopefully will order the laminate. After that it will just be furniture and furnishings to buy:)

Starting in the negative by buying DD present early has actually saved me £20:) So happy to do it!

Thanks to all those who did post to let me know they do read my diary x

beanielou

I read too
Glad you had a good Christmas.

brummiebabe

I read too JD - just don't get chance to post much.....:rolleyes:

Happy New Year & please keep up with a diary in 2010 - you do so well with your moneysaving exploits and I find it an inspirational read x

JAMIEDODGER

Morning all:) Managed to get my first really goodnights sleep in ages! Feel much better for it this morning!

DS2 birthday tomorrow, cant believe he will be 12! Must wrap his presents this morning. He is having a friend to stay and we are going to pizzahut for dinner.

Checked quidco and my grand total for december is £57.13, this is going towards next years xmas presents together with what I will earn from next year:) Its a good start!

Piggy points were used up on a xmas present for ds3 so I am starting again with that for next year think I have about 60 points saved already.

I have £5 transferred per month to clubcard plus, I dont really shop at tesco much anymore, asda is cheaper but that £5 will give me £60 to spend on food for xmas 2010. All clubcard points are converted into airmiles towards our disneyland trip in april 2011.

I have started a list of all the things I need to buy and pay for throughout the year for example, school uniform, summer clothes, winter clothes, birthdays, club memberships, sending winter coats for dry cleaning, halloween costumes, camping trip, and also the bits I want done on the house.

With this I can see what I need to buy and in which month, I know how much money I have left over each month and it makes it easier for me to see what I can afford and when:) This then gets input into my budget! I also include treats etc on the list. Basically everything apart from fixed costs.

This means I can determine what I will be able to afford to get done this year in the house and what will have to wait until next year! It also makes it easier to prioritise. I also have a few coveted items on a different list that arent neccessary but I would quite like them anyway:D If I want something from that list, something will have to wait on the other list!

It certainly focuses the mind:D

I got given some vouchers for new look last week, £5 off £25 spend and £10 off £50 spend, I will be using these in January to stock up on my basics....£4 white vest tops which I wear all year round under everything, black leggings and black and white long sleeved t-shirts which I wear all winter! If I have any money left over I might buy a new purse or some more beanies which I live in:D Unfortunately you cant use your student discount with these vouchers but saving £15 is quite good anyway!

Also managed to save £'s on my fav jeans they are usually £50 from fatface.com but managed to get them £25 in sale so bought 2 pairs, will put one away for next winter:)

Anyway I have waffled on so better get cracking with jobs....have a great day everyone:)

JAMIEDODGER

Morning:)

Ds2 birthday today but he and everyone else are still asleep! Have done a boots order online to buy toiletries and medicines, have saved £19 on full price and 369 points plus quidco cashback:D That should see us through first 3 months or so of 2010. Total spent £50.45 and free delivery too!

Have readjusted 2010 budget to cover the cost and updated decembers speadsheets.

I still have £50 left in 2009 budget but havent decided what to spend it on yet...

Good news! Ds1 got a phone call yesterday and has been offered a paper round after being on the list for a year, he starts new years day and will be getting £16 per week:) This is good news for him as he will have some money of his own and good news for me as I will no longer be giving him pocket money or topping up his mobile phone:D Will be putting ds2 name down soon too. Only downside is that he wont be able to stay overnight at his dads anymore, unless he pays someone else to do it for him once a fortnight.

All looks good now for 2010, budget is looking great! I will be able to afford to do quite a bit on the house again this year, hopefully also having a camping trip in the summer holidays too.

macgirl

Morning Jamie
A nice positive first read of the day! I stopped shopping in Boots years ago when I stopped working in the centre of town, but the points did used to come in handy. I like the idea of buying in bulk online and using Quidco, so I might copy that if you don't mind....

Great news on DS's paper round too and good that it will free up another stream of cash for you. I think 2010 has bright things ahead.
Keep going with the diary

JAMIEDODGER

Thanks macgirl:)

Ds2 has opened all his presents now and has already been outside to try out his new inline skates, was very amusing to watch:D

Feel free to copy the boots thing, I will be saving up my points to buy 2010 xmas cards and wrap:) Quidco payment has already tracked!:)

postingalwaysposting

Happy birthday Jamie's ds... Glad he is enjoying his gift :rotfl:

Lovely to see you getting ready with the budgets for 2010 already Jamie. You are a bit more detailed than me though Great news about your DS getting a paper round, it will give him a bit of responsibility :T

Good luck for 2010 and I hope its a fab year for you and yours :beer: