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Doing this for me

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So another diary. I had planned to make this extremely witty and fully of excitment but just like most of you of here I need to get back on the wagon, pick my family's finances up the ears and give them a very good shake.

My background is that both DH and I have been luckily enough to earn a wage to cover our way but being quite useless with the dosh have managed to pick up bad habits and a lot of debt on the way. I am now completely changing my life and this needs to stop and reverse, immediately!

I am really lucky in that I have now been given the golden opportunity of a different way of life that will still enable me to pay my way and also do something that I care about deeply.

So, gone are the last minute concert tickets or routing through the loft for a tent the night before a festival and in again are the old style cooking and trying to bash the evil credit monsters on the head. (Just how can you forget how to bake a cake!)

After an extremely lean period, DH is in employment again, I now have a second income and I also (my dream come true) can finally drop my main job working hours to part-time. During the lean period I managed to keep my head above water by following the tips both on the main site and also reading all of your diaries and the forum. But I want to do more than the minimum.

(Gosh I'm rambling on already). So here goes. From tonight its back to buying only what we honestly need.

Did the main shop tonight and only spent £20 including wine. Have a freezer and cupboard full of food that can keep us going for months. I also have a wardrobe - all be it charity wear, that could clothe the UK.

The better I can manage our finances (DH avoids them like the plague) the nicer my life will become - what better want could you have than that!
This time I haven't smoked since 6th Jan 2014 and still going ok.
Fingers crossed x
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Comments

  • Welcome to diary land good luck with your journey.

    Training classes in educating OH's in the way of finances to be announced by Martin soon.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: I wish:o
    Blackadder: Am I jumping the gun, Baldrick, or are the words 'I have a cunning plan' marching with ill-deserved confidence in the direction of this conversation?
    Still lurking around with a hope of some salvation:cool:
  • penelopedee_2
    penelopedee_2 Posts: 2,698 Forumite
    I wish .... DH is very gradually learning the MSE way and I think he secretly quite likes the benefits but I wish the internet and MSE.com were around when I first got married! (At least he only uses the card now with the lowest purchase APR - this step only taken me 10 years)
    This time I haven't smoked since 6th Jan 2014 and still going ok.
    Fingers crossed x
  • I wish .... DH is very gradually learning the MSE way and I think he secretly quite likes the benefits but I wish the internet and MSE.com were around when I first got married! (At least he only uses the card now with the lowest purchase APR - this step only taken me 10 years)

    Me too...it has taken me over 20 years to train him..still working on it. I wonder if those zapping collars really work?:D:rotfl:
    Blackadder: Am I jumping the gun, Baldrick, or are the words 'I have a cunning plan' marching with ill-deserved confidence in the direction of this conversation?
    Still lurking around with a hope of some salvation:cool:
  • penelopedee_2
    penelopedee_2 Posts: 2,698 Forumite
    I dream of an alarm bell that sounds really loudly everytime a card is used that says your missus is watching this! :rotfl:
    This time I haven't smoked since 6th Jan 2014 and still going ok.
    Fingers crossed x
  • I dream of an alarm bell that sounds really loudly everytime a card is used that says your missus is watching this! :rotfl:

    Get the bank to send you text alerts...he will really be afraid then:eek::rotfl:

    I used to sneak them out of his wallet and cut them up:o:rotfl: He still doesn't know:cool:
    Blackadder: Am I jumping the gun, Baldrick, or are the words 'I have a cunning plan' marching with ill-deserved confidence in the direction of this conversation?
    Still lurking around with a hope of some salvation:cool:
  • penelopedee_2
    penelopedee_2 Posts: 2,698 Forumite
    Do you think that not watching the dosh goes in line with not emptying the bin or knowing how to plug the iron in!!;)
    This time I haven't smoked since 6th Jan 2014 and still going ok.
    Fingers crossed x
  • penelopedee_2
    penelopedee_2 Posts: 2,698 Forumite
    By the way, if anyone thinks my debts look pretty easy - these are just the ones that I feel I can handle this month. The rest are way to scarey mclary to deal with at the moment.:cool:
    This time I haven't smoked since 6th Jan 2014 and still going ok.
    Fingers crossed x
  • penelopedee_2
    penelopedee_2 Posts: 2,698 Forumite
    Right then, today's plan of action. Must get a couple loads of washing on the line as the weather man said that it should stop raining today (we'll see).

    Then off into town with DS to catch a movie and lunch as his birthday treat. Will get refreshments before we go so I don't get stung and everything else has been budgeted for.

    Must resist the shops and sales, and must definately resist the pleading eyes when somebody spots a new toy he 'must' have.
    This time I haven't smoked since 6th Jan 2014 and still going ok.
    Fingers crossed x
  • Do you think that not watching the dosh goes in line with not emptying the bin or knowing how to plug the iron in!!;)

    Yep:D
    By the way, if anyone thinks my debts look pretty easy - these are just the ones that I feel I can handle this month. The rest are way to scarey mclary to deal with at the moment

    That's how i dealt with things at first, a bit at a time helps a lot. Plus you can see what you have achieved, its a long journey and lots of setbacks but you will get there in the end.:D
    Blackadder: Am I jumping the gun, Baldrick, or are the words 'I have a cunning plan' marching with ill-deserved confidence in the direction of this conversation?
    Still lurking around with a hope of some salvation:cool:
  • Lemon_Tree
    Lemon_Tree Posts: 10,202 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Welcome to diary land good luck with your journey.

    Training classes in educating OH's in the way of finances to be announced by Martin soon.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: I wish:o

    can i reserve a place then please BOB?
    mine's not too bad - he logs me into his bank i work it all out and do the transfers and say you have x left until your next payday! I do have to admit i do have controlling streak when it comes to money so it works for me but it would be nice if he understood why even £50 into his overdraft buggs me
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