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

Jo_R_2

Wedding date still pencilled in but no decision made yet. Hmm!

Some of the household things I ordered arrived yesterday. Has certainly cheered up the house! Very pleased I spent so much time browsing and waiting for the sales as my persistence means I have come in under budget on a good half of my items:j

Still waiting for another delivery of things soon, then all I have left to order is a stereo and furniture. Have my eye on a stereo so been searching out prices everywhere, and taking a look at Asda website, there's a couple of bits I might order that'll save me buying a 'package' of furniture and save me about £125 on what I previously had my eye on:D Have a feeling I may get what I pay for iyswim but in the short-term they look fine and do the job.

Keeping_Positive

Happy New Year Jo

Sounds like you are doing great on the moneysainvg front. As for the wedding I can see both arguments for points of view so cant help you there.

Jo_R_2

Wedding decision made... We're forging ahead still for this year. I need to get on it and start making lists (which will come after I've sorted out this month's SOA and what is left of my PPI money). It'll be a bit of an MSE affair but if I'm being honest, there's a lot of things I'm not having that I wouldn't have anyway even if I *did* have the money, such as lots of flowers (opting for silk bouquets for me and bridesmaids), hair and make-up (bit of a DIY job although may treat myself to a haircut LOL) and sister has offered to make my dress.

Anyway... My main concern for the new month and year is as mentioned sorting out my SOA - I provisionally do it online and come back to it as I find out actual figures, but I have noticed clearing my cookies clears the SOA form even if saved:eek: So off to do that in a mo.

I am also looking for a target for the year... Now I don't want to be too over-ambitious, particularly given that we are planning a wedding - albeit a budget one:D So my primary goal is to... get a job. Basically something I have been thinking about for a while, but in a more definable way, by setting specific targets rather than "apply for jobs":rolleyes:

So I am thinking something along the lines of the following:

• buy jobs pages weekly to check
• check particular online sites weekly (local councils and local newspaper) and daily (NHS, Job Seekers Direct)
• update cv during January

This tickles me as I used to do these targets for clients I used to work with in my last job Glad it turned out to be useful in some way!

Also (dare I say it!) I have some New Year's resolutions:rolleyes::D Mainly centred around organisation and making my life easier, again fashioned in a very clear and specific way...

• buy big calendar/wall planner to be pinned in central location (kitchen, living room)
• important letters to be used immediately to transfer important dates onto calendar
• work out organisational rota of household tasks and what needs to be done when
• planning ahead of important dates and events and any arrangements needing making (ie which weekends DDs with their dad, birthdays parties/dinners, when need babysitter, if OH needs to book time off work)

I'll keep it as that for now - really need to sort this SOA out!

Keeping_Positive

Arrrr the wall planner thats on my lit toget today. Had onefor a couple of years now and it really helps.

Good luck with the planning Im sure it will be fab and youwill feel even better that it didnt cost the earth.

Jo_R_2

Hehe I must admit I do like planning - it makes me feel in control and I feel so much happier and able to enjoy things when I have that weight lifted off my shoulders of the worrying I used to do about whether I had enough money.

Sure it's a pain knowing when I *don't* have enough but in a way it's a relief to know that for sure - the relief of knowing I'm not getting into more debt.

SOA done last night and PPI money and receipts done... SOA showing a good surplus - however going to come back to it later as did it late last night and usually I forget important things when I do that LOL:o Then will print it out.

PPI money looking healthy - have totted up totals from where I've paid off and bought things and accounted for £400 car repairs (should find out official total tomorrow, fingers crossed it's not more) and my little household budget (of which I have £41 left) so know what I have to use for more overpayments and saving.

Good news - found out water rates are paid up til end of March - so have £56.69 free for three months. Going to pay it straight onto my Tesco cc so don't miss it I think - I can see I'm going to have ongoing dilemmas over the year whether to save money towards the wedding or pay it onto my Tesco cc - I need a strategy - don't know what though! Going to work it out before I start moving money about - any suggestions gratefully received!

Keeping_Positive

How about 50/50 split between the two?

Jo_R_2

50/50 split good idea - been thinking about it today actually. My trouble is I think about things for aaaages and aaaages, weighing up pros and cons until I'm sick of thinking!:o May go with that actually - any wedding surplus can always go back into overpaying (oh who am I kidding?!:rolleyes::D)

Just been pricing up some final bits for the house. Only little things but I get a real kick out of finding the best prices, knowing that saving pennies means I can buy that little bit more.

Reeeally wanted a stereo but it's going to mean going over-budget... Still considering it *thinks*

Jo_R_2

Compiled a MASSIVE 'To Do' list last night to cover today and tomorrow, may need to add to it as the day goes by. Having a house inspection by the landlord so that will explain a lot of it; other bits are just me trying to organise and tidy up to make best use of space.

• [STRIKE]clean bathrooms[/STRIKE]
• organise under the stairs - use space for surplus groceries
• [STRIKE]put laundry away[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]clear table and wash up[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]make lentil soup for lunch and OH's lunch tomorrow[/STRIKE] - went slightly wrong:o
• get paint off carpet (DD2's little accident:o)
• clean pencil off: wall in conservatory and wardrobe door in DDs' room (again DD2:mad:)
• fix up blinds at top of stairs (again DD2 - noticing a pattern here:rolleyes:)
• [STRIKE]get proper bulbs for bedside lamp (picked up wrong ones)[/STRIKE]
• put new curtains up in DDs' room
• [STRIKE]charge phone[/STRIKE]

Going to get onto it now as baby asleep and DD1 at school and DD at nursery.

Jo_R_2

Not been on much as mum is seriously ill in hospital so that has mainly been occupying my mind. Not long been back from spending the weekend with my dad, took DDs with me and left OH and baby here at home so missed them.

Meant I got to see mum a bit more than I managed in the week though Thing is as well, what with trying to make it to see her, bus fares and whatnot, I have withdrawn quite a bit of cash and spent a bit on snacks as we've been trailing the girls and baby about. Understandable I suppose, so not going to beat myself up about it.

I just feel mentally and physically exhausted - and it's the start of the week I feel this week is going to be a hard one, I really need to get through it with the hope that we'll find out what's actually wrong with mum, and hope I don't go into meltdown between now and next weekend:eek:

Oh and it's my birthday next Saturday:o

Keeping_Positive

Really sorry to hear about your Mum. Having been through similar last year I know what a nightmare it is. Take it easy you, kids and OH must come first although I know you want to do everything you can for your Mum and Dad.

If you want to chat PM your number and Ill call

xxx