Clawing back - the second half

Claw_back_money

Hiya people
Hope everyone is well and making the most of the weather, its gorgeous here.
I've done Job#2 today and feel they got their money's worth, I ended up so busy I didn't have a break and worked 8.30 - 5.30! But job#1 is back to 3 days/week, so tomorrow I'm not doing anything - hooray!!! Well I say that, but I've got to stay at home waiting for a pick up of an item that was delivered last week, which is a nuisance. After I've blitzed the house, ordered groceries online, made bread & a cake, and sorted the laundry I thought I might sit outside and make a cross-stitch card. _party_I have a kit so have got all the bits and quite enjoy it, although they take ages - not like the instant gratification cards I normally make!!! I've also got a skirt to take back (another mystery shop) but don't expect I'll get to town.
Although tired, I'm feeling much more upbeat... I wonder if its because I took one look in the mirror :eek: and had an iron tablet?

Cheers all
Cbm

Swinstie73

Hi CBM,

Hope you are well, no updates?!

Claw_back_money

Swinstie73 wrote: »

Hi CBM,

Hope you are well, no updates?!

Hello world and especially Swinstie!

Woohoo the end of another week!
From a DFW point of view it has been a bit slow. I've done the grocery shop very boringly at home, with no additional purchases... hmm... except some chocolate. Actually a multipack of 5 bars of cadburys. And actually I ate the whole lot one evening. But apart from that tinsy little transgression, the groceries were ok. I went shopping to buy some bits for craft with kids I'm helping with in the BH weekend, and spent about £100 - but that's well within budget and totally reclaimable. No money in, only groceries and petrol out. How very boring!:rolleyes:
Next week I should get paid from job #2, refunded from two things I bought for mystery shops, and perhaps my TAB money will hit the account too.
I better not think too much about the money coming in though, as my choices are:

1) extra, hefty payment off credit card that will bring my DF day forward by a month:A
2) new TV as ours went wrong in January and we're watching an old portable with carp picture and a freeview box that shuts out every 2 hours or whenever David Tennant comes on. Or other equally desirable consumer goods.

I know I'll do (1) but wouldn't (2) feel so much better! Luckily I know you'll all be virtually there with me when I do the electronic transfer. My friends can't understand why we don't just replace the telly etc etc, sometimes I feel that I'm actually living in a commercial! I probably need an hour or so of 'spreadsheet therapy' as an antidote.:rotfl:

Hey ho
Cbm

Swinstie73

Aw thanks CBM for that wee mention!

The threads have been quite slow these days, or maybe it is just my internet connection!

Can totally sympathise with the tv dilemma, I have been wanting a flat screen for ages and got my eye on one, it keeps coming down in price but as my tv is still working, I really can't justify getting a new one. Wanting is not the same as needing! Think I will wait til after hols at least and see how the money goes.

I'd pay the credit card, you'll be pleased to see it coming down! Have a nice night x

Claw_back_money

Swinstie73 wrote: »

I'd pay the credit card, you'll be pleased to see it coming down! Have a nice night x

Yes Swinstie I know you're right about the credit card. Doesn't make it any easier though does it (stamps feet). The really stupid thing with that particular whim is I don't think we watch more than about 12 hours of TV a week between us. But IF I had time/energy/inclination to watch it, I would like it to be a decent model. When our set went to the dump we did talk about replacing it, but we brought down the portable and actually, in reality it is good enough. Whereas the kitchen worktops are so rubbish they are unhygienic - hang on... stop there and think about credit cards!!!

I don't know what is going on with the TAB bingo. I've just got a £1 for the second time in a week - really odd - and quite annoying as that now goes to 'bonus' rather than my cash pot. I'll build it up a bit more and then play bingo I suppose!

I had some fab news with my satnav. It is a refurbished model I had for christmas 08, and it went wrong a couple of days ago. I phoned up Garmin hoping they would be able to tell me how to fix it (software issue I think) and they are going to sort it out for me - for free :T. I have no sense of direction and rely on it hugely to get me round, so I'm really happy. What fantastic customer services.

Have a good weekend
Cbm

Claw_back_money

Payday for job #2. I didn't think about it, just transferred everything in my bank account that is not needed for DD to the barclaycard. So the good news is that the balance is now £400. The bad news is what I would have liked to do with the money; which its probably best not to think about!!!

I think there may be some more money coming in this month, £20 from butlins scratchies, and just over £100 from edigital - touch and go whether I'll get it this month, sometimes the cheque does not arrive by the end of the month.

Its my birthday next week and I'm having lunch with a friend, and I'm quite looking forward to that. Its crazy when I think of how often I used to lunch out with girls, often just people from work. Being a DFW certainly makes you appreciate that sort of treat more, doesn't it.

Hope you all have a good weekend - I'm off to be busy with kids and craft!

Cheers
Cbm

Claw_back_money

Phew - the end of the month, and payday. :beer:
Its been a fairly good month, and I managed to get B'card down to £400 which I'm hoping can be got rid of by the end of June. I've got my survey money (130ish), TAB and Butlins at 20ish each so there is no more to come there, but I am doing the poll clerk for the election which should be some extra, hopefully in June. :cool:

Less good was DS2, the newish driver, who managed to inflict huge amounts of damage on my poor car on Tuesday. It is going to need a new bumper, and when the bumper came off it revealed rust that needs welding underneith. Cars seem to be so unpredictable, there is just no way of knowing how much something is going to be. I'm hoping that OH will be able to do the bumper as they've found one second hand, its finding time to do all the spraying. DS2 doesn't earn very much from his Saturday job (he's at college), so there is little chance of us seeing any money until he can up his hours in the summer.

It was my birthday yesterday, and I went out for lunch with a friend and had a really leisurely day - lovely! Today I want to try and get last weekend's camping stuff sorted, aired and put away, and maybe sit out in the garden for a bit. Back to work on Monday boo hiss!!!!

Have a good weekend everyone.

Cbm

Claw_back_money

Good news on the car, DS has managed to track down a bumper in a scrap yard. OH has rubbed it and will spray, and as DS paid for the bumper that is minimal cost to us, just some paint.
OH has replaced one wheel arch trip and repaired the other, and resprayed the back bumper (there have now been 5 incidents with the car and DS), and treated the rust under the bumper which will delay it, apparantly.
So if he manages to do the front bumper - and I have confidence, even if he doesn't - that just leaves the bonnet. The garage said it needs replacing. I've suggested getting one from the scrapyard but OH said he doesn't think he can spray big areas to get a decent finish. The car will be safe to drive even with a fold in the bumper, so in the short term I'm not really worried. What a relief!
The garage had quoted £1,100 to do all the work! _pale_

Cheers all
Cbm

Claw_back_money

I've got a busy week coming up and won't be around at dinner time for 3 days. So yesterday evening I did some OS inspired batch cooking with loads of mince - 2 x con carne, 2 x bolognese, 2 x plain mince with veg to go into shepherds pies etc, and 2 x chicken curry - one of which they had for tea. I did a pot of veggie curry too (for me!) and have carefully mealplanned so something I cook one day like veggie lasagna, I can have the next day when they have their meat dish. I quite like it when the freezer is full of 'ready meals' - especially when I know they are without additives and full of fresh veg. Roast chicken tonight - and hopefully OH will cook it. I fancy an 'oaty bake'.

I'm off to tackle the ironing mountain before it grows any more - then only downside of this lovely weather..

Cheers all
Cbm

Claw_back_money

Hi all
I hope anyone/everyone reading this is well.
All is fine at the Claw back home, peaceful too as its just me here. I've been looking at the accounts and am feeling a bit overwhelmed.

We got paid from normal jobs at the end of May which pays our bills, and 'normal' payments towards debts. I also got reimbursed for the craft, and the mystery shop money, so I've got some money sitting in my account which will easily clear the b'card, and more besides. But, I'm also expecting lots of money from job #2, and I was a poll clerk at the election - together that will make probably bring home an additional £600 by the end of the month. There is that whole thing about not counting chickens and all that (the money might be delayed into July), but today I feel a bit panicky about getting more money and where it should go... OH is still talking about using some money+my birthday voucher+his bonus for a new tv. I think I've been concentrating on reducing debt for so long that I feel almost ill thinking about spending!!!
A bit bizarre when just 3 weeks ago I was fantasising about what to do when I got paid, and the places it would go!

I do feel better for writing all that down though - I guess that's what the diary is all about....

Cheers all
CBM