Champagne Lifestyle Lemonade Budget (My attempts to get debt free by April 2010)

Claw_back_money

Hiya Sun Addict

I've just grasped why your user name is 'SA' - and the significance of the holidays; d'oh I'm a bit slow!!!
It sounds like you've made improvements in that area though already, and with the New Year's resolution it will all work out. I guess if you're used to spending that money on holidays then you will still have them, just paying for them up front. Maybe you'll get better deals that way too?

We pay into a Christmas Club at OH work, and this year saved £70 a month, £700 (Jan - Oct pay packets). We figure that if we don't need all the money then it can go towards something else and having that much money is really nice so I'd recommend saving specifically for Christmas. Two of my children have birthdays within 2 months of Christmas so its an expensive time for us too!

Cheers
Cbm

PS Congrats on your achievements in the 12 week challenge.

Sun_Addict

Hi Cbm

A couple of years ago I signed up to a Halifax Regular Saver and saved £85 a month from November to November. I ended up with just over £1000 after the year but it was actually too much just for Christmas and the interest was rubbish considering I tied the money up for so long. It's just that with OH's money going down so much due to the recession we didn't really want to tie ourselves to saving a particular amount of money a month until things improved. However, I've calculated that about £70 a month would cover things nicely so might try to do that for next year.

On the holiday front, we usually get a privately owned villa/apartment from Owners Direct and book the flight separately which ends up more expensive than getting a hotel type deal but I'm afraid we've become used to having our own place. We used to spend a fortune on villas via James Villas but it works out a lot cheaper to go direct with the owners. Unfortunately this is what happens when you're used to having good money come in and then it suddenly goes down because of the recession. One good thing that's come out of it is that we can now manage on a lot less money so when things (hopefully) get back to normal we will be able to live on less and save more (in theory).

Have a great weekend!

Claw_back_money

We went to France in gites quite a few times. DS2 has apergers and can be 'unpredictable' lol so it was good to have a place where we could have our things at our times. I used to use Brittany Ferries, picked carefully we could have a gite with ferries included for less than a holiday cottage in England! I am really hoping for a holiday next year, but that will depend on us being DF - for the next few months that is my priority above anything else!! Whereabouts do you go - I might come to you for tips :beer:

Cheers
Cbm

Sun_Addict

Hi Cbm - we go anywhere really - Menorca, Lanzarote, Cyprus, Greece - wherever looks nice. However, next year we're going to Playa Blanca in Lanzarote in March and August but we don't usually go to the same place twice in one year.

Would like to say I've had a good MSE weekend but on Saturday I was on the hunt for an outfit for the work's Christmas do which is on Friday. I've been trying to be good and allow myself a budget of £40 at the most a month for clothes but I'm afraid to say I spent the £40 allocated and another £52 on top of that! This is an area I must get to grips with in the New Year.

One thing that both me and OH tend to do is spend money before we've actually got it and not just on holidays. What we will have to do in future is to wait and see how much is left over and then plan the spending. I really need to get OH on board with this as he is a bit of a devil at times! As he's self employed we never know exactly what is coming in each month so the spending pot of money needs to be the last thing on our list at the end of the month. We each have an amount of personal spending money (in cash) each month but just lately I've been really bad at sticking to it. I need to be stricter with myself.

Wrapped all the Christmas presents at the weekend and even made some crackers with the two boxes of make your own crackers I got from Tesco for £3 a box. To go inside the crackers I bought some Christmas socks from Primark and some chocolatey bits and bobs from Thorntons. I think it has probably worked out more expensive in the long run but at least we won't be throwing the cracker contents away this year.

I know you all might think I'm crazy but I've already bought two stocking fillers for DS for NEXT Christmas! Sainsburys had a mad offer on Lynx shower gel - £2.28 each or 2 for £2 so I snapped these up! :money:

Having a healthy day food wise today and hopefully for the rest of the week as I've had a bit of an indulgent weekend!! Running 3.5 miles tonight to try and make up for some of it!

Claw_back_money

You've started shopping for next christmas!!!! wow that is impressive!

Hope your works do went well and you enjoyed wearing fabby new outfit!
My works do was at lunchtime on a day when I had a meeting the other side of the county... I'm not sure I missed much by all accounts. OH didn't want to go to his, which was an evening bring partners type affair. My goal post (debt-busting) might be to lose loads of weight, buy some decent clothes and then he might actually want to take me out!

Cheers
Cbm

Sun_Addict

Not posted for ages so thought it was about time I caught up! I have been so naughty buying stuff (for myself!) this month I don't really want to think about it. BUT have decided that to try and make up for this I am not going to buy any clothes/shoes/bags from 1 January to 1 April. Undies are allowed and that's all. I really don't know what came over me!:o Fortunately in the grand scheme of things I haven't spent that much so not too much damage done - but still.......!

Works meal last Friday was really nice and I had a lot of nice comments about my new skirt and top.

Cbm - I'm sure your OH not wanting to go to Christmas do isn't because of you - if he's anything like my OH he just doesn't like "dos". Men are weird like that sometimes!

Managed to get hold of 3 of those Soap & Glory hatboxes last Friday. Bargain at £20 instead of £50. Got one for myself with my Advantage Card points, one for DD for her birthday and the third one I picked up for someone at work who couldn't be bothered to get one herself. You should have seen me struggling through town first thing in the morning with them, they were quite heavy, and I got some strange glances (although this is nothing new for me!).

Will be breaking up for work tomorrow YIPEE! :j Off until next Tuesday. Payday tomorrow so will be paying some more off debt, hoping to pay off £100 this month. Going to Sainsburys at 7.30 tomorrow to pick up last few fresh bits and bobs and then NO MORE SHOPPING!!! Must really really try to resist sales after Christmas. I love it at Christmas when you have an excuse to have a sneaky glass of wine in the week so will probably have a swift one tonight!

Claw_back_money

Hooray for the holidays!!! When do you go back to work? I guess the really nice thing about working in a school is that work does not pile up while you're on holiday? I'm off until 13th Jan - hooray - but know that going back will be horrendous!
The hatboxes are lush aren't they. My OH popped in and got me the last one in my local store (nb I paid) - but - the lid is damaged so I won't be able to use the box again. However products and bag are lovely and what a treat! I heard that some people picked up loads - I would have thought that 3 was quite enough for one person to carry!
Good luck with your challenge. If you have a good look in wardrobe / drawers over the hols I bet you'll find loads of things that you'd 'forgotten', so that will feel like new clothes!

Cheers
Cbm

Sun_Addict

Hi Cbm - I go back on Tuesday. Unfortunately my office is only closed bank holidays so you have to use your own leave/flexi if you want extra time off. It's actually our office's busiest time of year leading up to the year end. I've asked DD to get me the Gok Wan book for Christmas so hopefully I might pick up some wardrobe downsizing tips from that - I could certainly do with it!

Did my last supermarket shop in Sainsburys this morning before work and it was very busy already at 7.30! Will be popping out at lunchtime as I need to get my cat a Christmas present (yes you have read this correctly!) and as DD took OH's santa hat out with her last weekend and lost it I am going to replace it for him - he has requested one with bells on it! :rolleyes: Oh the useful things you buy at Christmas!

We usually go to Lanzarote for the first two weeks of January but for some mad reason we decided to go in March instead and I am SO regretting it now. It's only 11 weeks away but seems like a lifetime.

Although I haven't achieved my goal of being debt free by Christmas, I've paid off another £100 this month which brings my total debt down to £299!!

Don't think I'll be posting again until next week so I hope everyone has a great Christmas!! :xmassign:

beanielou

Enjoy your festive season

Swinstie73

Have a great Christmas Sun Addict, might pop on during festivities if get bored, ha!