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

Jo_R_2

Have bid on some maternity jeans on ebay. I have a starter stash of money in my Paypal from the last things I sold on ebay and some Lightspeed surveys so thought I'd get the ball rolling.

Need to pay DD2's snack money for this week, so that's £1 when I go and pick her up in a bit.

There's an offer on at Argos, IIRC save £50 when you spend £250 on furniture. I have seen some nice stuff there so going to cost up what I like this evening. There's also some nice stuff at Wilkinsons, so going to do the same, and make a decision either way. I can then transfer out of my savings what I need and do some buying (at last!)

Main concern is getting through the week with as few 'miscellaneous' spends as possible and keeping on top of a basic level of housework. Anything else will be a bonus!

Jo_R_2

Won the ebay maternity jeans so my first maternity clothes should be coming soon! Total cost all in all just over £11 so not bad considering they're Topshop branded.

Forgot to pay DD2's snack money yesterday - which reminds me, I need to pay DD1's milk money for next week before this Friday 10am or else she'll be cursing me because she'll 'only' have water *rollseyes*:D Will take it out of next month's spends and do it 'properly' so will need to withdraw £10 cash and keep an eye on where the pennies are going.

Only money due to come in for the start of April is child maintenance which usually arrives in around the 26th-ish so have a fair idea of what sort of surplus I have left over from this month. I will be ordering DDs' chests of drawers later (not time now before I go and pick up DD2 at half eleven - need to get going soon!) from Ikea, if I can squeeze it in this afternoon I will do, otherwise I'll get onto it this evening.

I also urgently need to do my student loan deferment. I don't know if it is actually late yet but if it is, I'm hoping a phone call to explain our recent hectic circumstances will help my case - tbh it's been the last thing on my mind with mum being ill.

Table cleared from breakfast and washing up done, vacuumed downstairs in living room, kitchen (LOL) and conservatory and load of laundry on. Need to clean bathrooms but anything else is a bonus!

Jo_R_2

Okay so it's official - I am realllllly slack. I keep falling asleep putting DDs to bed then not getting anything done in the evening that I have planned in the day:mad:

I resolve not to do that tonight as I want to get on top of things - and see OH for more than an hour over dinner when kids aren't running riot and washing up needs doing!

I have realised I can only tackle one part of the house at a time, I keep thinking how am I ever going to manage everything that needs doing, decluttering, little bits of maintenance, furniture, so I'm going to draw up a plan room-by-room and tackle it bit-by-bit. I'm just off to order DDs' chests of drawers now as it really can't wait any longer then that's one thing off the list (does anyone else do lists, write something on you know 'needed' doing just so you can cross it off and feel good you've achieved something?:D)

Jo_R_2

Woohoo - I didn't fall asleep doing bedtimes!:j

Bad news though is I went on the Ikea website, added the chests of drawers to my basket, went to checkout and it quoted me £35 for delivery!:eek: "I don't think so," thought I so cancelled that. The local store is 10 miles if that from us so going to attempt to get the drawers at some point this week.

Jo_R_2

Been a busy morning already. Did the school/nursery run in the car today, usually walk to school first which takes about 10/15 mins then up to nursery which takes another 15/20/25 mins depending on what mood DD2 is in:D So got back earlier than usual, have done my usual morning chores but trying to see if I can get away with having a laundry-free day, mainly because I'm frightened to death what the electricity bill is gonna be like:eek:

Off back to school in a short while as it's DD1's class assembly, so having 5 mins on here as I know I won't get any time til this evening otherwise!

Have persuaded OH into an Ikea run - he's thinking Saturday but I know I'll stress as he won't get up until at least 11am and it's a bit of a nightmare at the weekends. I'd reeeeally like to get him to go first thing Saturday but that's about as realistic as John Cusack phoning me up and asking if he can whisk me away on a romantic holiday... Nevermind.:D

I had a slight splurge yesterday, bought some small vases and a couple of scented candles, which actually motivated me to clear out the cluttered shelves in the kitchen and pop the new things on there - it's only a little thing but it looks heaps better and makes me realise I can get through the clutter bit-by-bit. It came to just over £8 but that included a drink and snack for DD2 - I really need to cut that out as we have plenty I can bring from home so need to be more organised - I used to be at some point - not sure what happened!

beanielou

Kids happenned:rotfl:

Jo_R_2

I suspect that may have something to do with it:D

Jo_R_2

My 'extra' loan payment from the start of March has been refunded, so I divided it 50/50, 49.01 to Tesco cc and another 49.01 to my savings. Need to update sig. Also need to be wary of diverting too much money towards my savings rather than continuing to overpay the Tesco cc - I wanted a reasonably healthy buffer for the 'just in case's' - thinking car repairs, washing machine etc breaking down - and I have nearly 1.9k now (can't believe it!) so going to leave it for now. I already put £50 into a saver anyway each month for emergencies which is a 12-month one, so come August that will go straight into the savings pot so all the more reason to concentrate my efforts back towards the cc.

OH has suggested that now I have my 98.02 free each month from my loan payment, I use it to buy a couple of weeks' shopping each month. I was going to throw it at the cc, but in all fairness he now has the car insurance to pay each month as well as paying for the majority of fuel. I do budget for car tax but obviously that's a fraction of what he's paying out.

Aaaargh not sure what to do. Maybe a rejig of the SOA is in order - I'm hoping if maybe I take on, say, more responsibility for fuel then that will tip the balance a little and he might be happier. I do see his point though and don't dispute it, so will do a little bartering and see if that works.

beanielou

Could you maybe split the difference & pay for one weeks shopping?

Keeping_Positive

Is he the one that really wants/needs the car? I think half and half is a good offer.