Jo_R's debt-free diary, slow and steady progress!

Jo_R_2

Well not managed shops as been chucking it down on and off all day! Silly really as there's three corner shops very close but you pay a fortune for the privilege and I know it'll end up costing me nearly double, so going to make do with what we have in but not sure what to make... It's not even raining now but baby is asleep so can't even pop out anyway!

Bestest news of today is that I paid the final payment on my council tax overpayment:j How good did that feel! Shame it has to be replaced by my own very new tax credits overpayment but it's one down whatever happens.

Updated my signature for my Virgin cc after balance transferring most of it off to my Tesco card... Ironically had a call from Virgin marketing peeps trying to persuade me to balance transfer BACK and offering me 0% for 9 months... Not sure if they were offering anything else as kids were sooo noisy so asked them to phone back later when kids are in bed.

bevan840

Yay Well done, shame about the new one, it was mentioned in this weeks newsletter so might be worth looking into if the kids let you have the time for a little peace and quiet

Nice one on the virgin card. I've given up applying for CC's now as I seem to of worked out why I keep getting refused, DH's credit score probably!! Grr

Jo_R_2

Pretty quiet day on the moneysaving front. Got some top-up shopping due to my DREADFUL online shop earlier in the week:o Bonus of that was my mum gave me some money to get some bits for her as well and then insisted I kept the change (think it had something to do with the fact that I got a scottish £5 note from Somerfield and she was a bit dubious about using it!) so I effectively made £6. Good old mum bless her - does make me feel like I'm about 12 though, even though I try and persuade her by putting the money in her hand she still hands it back quietly like "say no more about it"

Pretty puzzled about a mysterious £40 deposit into my current account from the Co-op with whom I opened a basic account Can't seem to find anything about it so posted on the bank accounts board to see if anyone knows more. It's just sat in my account looking at me as I daren't touch it!:D

Also my sister has offered to lend me a pair of shoes for her wedding to go with my bridesmaid dress - the joys of being the same size feet! Means the £15 I paid into my account is 'free' now plus won't have to dip into the clothing allowance for the month which was looking likely to get a nice pair of shoes. That's good because baby is pretty much too big for his 3-6 month clothes (he's 6 months now) and wanted to get a bargain bundle off ebay so needed to use clothing allowance for that.

Spare £15 will either go towards Virgin cc or more likely might pay for cinema tomorrow as OH taking me out - but I offered to treat him as I wanted to see the film so I suppose I'm taking *him* out He pays for pretty much everything to do with any kind of going out or treat - not that that adds up to loads by any stretch but it's only fair I contribute now and again, he's quite understanding of what I'm trying to do with my debts and knows cash is tight. The bonus for him in general is that because I rarely drink I can drive us around instead of paying for taxis - when our car is working that is!

Not spent any of my 'pocket money' for the month yet I realised yesterday. Am finding having a proper budget means I can generally account for things elsewhere, but means anything I want to treat myself to within reason is do-able, though I tend to think about things so much I don't end up getting round to buying stuff!

Jo_R_2

My sister lending me a pair of shoes for her wedding so used £15 allocated for that to overpay again on Virgin cc. So including minimum payment have paid 116.25 this month already :j Need to update sig!

Cinema looking dubious tonight... Me and OH had a bit of a falling out so he's taken baby and gone off to a family thing this afternoon as I said I wanted to be on my own Am alone in the house as girls at my parents - it was sooooooo quiet so got some tunes playing on the computer and resisting the urge to do housework though think a trip over the road to the shop may be in order as I'm craving a Dr. Pepper:D

In_my_dreams

Hello! Saw you had posted on my thread so I thought I'd come and seek you out

You sound like you never stop! Well done on the overspend, it's all the little things that make the big difference in the end.

Jo_R_2

I do feel like I never stop sometimes!

Not going to get much done today moneywise. One of "those":eek: days already - DD1 5 mins late for school as took ages to find somewhere to park as we left a bit later than I would have liked

Got back eventually and did half the washing up from over the weekend:o when baby decided he couldn't wait so been sat feeding him and reading books to DD2. So lots of nice cuddly quiet time but not much housework or things to sort!

Good news is I sold a few things on ebay. Not much but it all helps which will prob sort tonight. Also won a bundle of baby clothes at a couple of pounds which will come out of ebaying profits so not even out of the clothing allowance

Keeping_Positive

Good news ref ebay money neutral at the very least. Quiet days are good, at least you can saythat you did so quality time with the two youngest today!

Jo_R_2

Don't think going to get much done again today! Last night organised paprerwork and filed away bills and whatnot so my 'to do' folder is looking very slim indeed!

Main things to sort out are need to cancel my free trials with Experian and Equifax. Ebay items to send out will sort tomorrow whilst DD1 at school and DD2 at nursery as have to walk there and back past Post Office and need to get jiffy bags so will get them on way back from dropping her off and then can drop them in when I pick her up.

Need to do tidying and washing up as not long got back from playgroup - I need to do a 'To Do' lis as well but will have to wait - as long as get free trials cancelled can't think of anything else that urgently needs dealing with.

Oh need to note curly wurly 25p and playgroup subs £2.20 out of pocket money as well!

Jo_R_2

DD1 at school and DD2 first day at nursery *bottom lip wobbles* Funny - I never worried about DD1 going off to nursery but slightly different as she was in nursery/preschool constantly from 8 months old - DD2 hasn't been to nursery since I got made redundant last year so she's been at home with 'er mum

She's had an up-and-down little life poor thing with me being so depressed last year and her going to live with my parents but the plus side now is she'll have constancy with a nursery routine and be able to go to the local infant school which has an outstanding OFSTED - it'll be a different one to DD1 but DD1 will go to the attached juniors when she's old enough (we couldn't get her in when we moved so she goes to an infants slightly further away.)

Anyway! To do today/tomorrow:

• cancel Equifax trial (Experian already done)
• pack and post ebay items
• register for online banking with Co-op
• finish and post baby's Child Trust Fund form
• find out if can use Tesco vouchers for Open University course for definite

Better get going whilst the house is quiet and baby is happy!

bevan840

Hi Jo
*hugs* about DD2 I'm sure you'll both be fine and DD2 will be missing you too
Can you use Tesco vouchers for OU?? I didn't even know that was possible, that's the only thing putting me off applying (plus not being able to find the right course for me) the fact that I can't afford it. I look at different courses that could be good but then start thinking 'What do I actually want to do?' I still can't decide what job would be perfect for me lol

Enjoy a nice day with baby and hope you and DH are ok
xxx