My Ongoing Challenge - To live with my means

Lurker1972

Haven't really done a proper update for a while....like a few others have slipped off the wagon a bit.....

but first the good news - I was successful in my application for PERMANENT job.:j and hopefully there might also be a payrise, but no smiley for that until its definate! I also managed to come in UNDER budget for groceries in April but had to use the excess to cover Mr L smashing my pterol budget when he filled my car. He knows now not to put more than £40 in her so that won't happen again

Mr L & I went away the other weekend. it was supposed to be for a week, we spent lots of time choosing the cheapest flight combination, applied for pre-paid mastercards to avoid ryanair charges, planned how to travel light & only need to check in one bag......we then spent lots more time chosing a place to stay that was within budget, but at the best possible price & through quidco etc etc........then that stupid volcano meant the flight out got cancelled!!! we were able to cancel everything & rebook for less time away, but that impacted on the cash flow......so now I have a balance on my credit card. Oops. its not so bad in that it is at least @ 0% until september, I just don't know how much is on it!!! extra oops.

I have also spent a bit more than I should on the 'cleared in full every month' credit card.

Part of me is saying thats just because there's not enough leeway in the budget for things like, needing new rechargable batteries, or running out of gas for the BBQ....those little oddments that are hard to plan for. The other part thinks it more likely to be becuase I'd not been posting on here as faithfully - it does seem to help the control. Anyway, new budget to be drawn up if I do get payrise. If I don't....well, I'll just review the old one

This months grocery budget will be assisted by (hopefully) not using the petrol budget. careful meal planning is required for the next 2 shops....Think I can do it.....I do have about £9 in my purse to supllement it if necessary!

Oh to win the lottery

Lurker1972

nice lazy start to the morning, caught up with reading a few diaries while having face mask, am now all cleam & moisturised.

Am so very close to completing the use up all old body lotions challenge - started somewhere towards the end of 2008!!!!! persevered with the yucky ones so I feel quite virtuous. Can't say I can see much difference in my skin, but I feel like I've pampered me a little each day so will continue to use it....now just got find a nice smelling, body-firming, cellulite-zapping, body-hair reducing lotion that is easy to apply, not greasy and purse friendly........Shouldn't be too hard should it?

spent all yesterday afternoon reading which was BLISS so now need to potter about the house, deflea Kitty (think she came back from cattery with them which is unusual) & maybe get out into the garden if the weather permits.

Now where to start.....

The_Golden_Goose

I know the feeling.... I should be pottering instead of on here, but I do have the afternoon free to do more chores. Was going to go and see an ex work colleague but weather is horrid and I can't be bothered. Esp as the weather makes me feel lazy so will spend day doing housey stuff.

Well put it this way, I have the washing machine going, with TV in on the background whilst I am surfing on here.

I had beeter do some jobs otherwise when MrGG comes home he'll wonder what I have been doing with my time and he knows I am a lazy toad. A habit that I am trying to break.

House is feeling touch chilly and wondering whether I should put the heating on? Probably will.

savingholmes

well done on getting a perm job!

Lurker1972

yikes, been so long since I updated I almost lost the diary!!

Have fallen off the wagon big time - its a spec in the distance ahead of me!!!! So the balance on the 0% credit card has grown somewhat:o

I can blame some of it on noticing that the elastic in all but one of my bras was pretty much gone...one trip to john Lewis later for measuring session (& an increase of 2 cup sizes:eek::eek:) I made good use of the parentals JL staff discount, and am happy to report that the puppies are now sitting where they should & are under control.
However - I went for pretty over sensible so there will be an additional purchasing session on figleaves - via quidco of course.

Have also been out quite a lot recently, lunches with friends, Bon Jovi @ O2 so ALL my weekly spends money is going within days of getting into my purse - thats not normal at all but its nice to get out & be sociable so I'm not giving myself a hard time over it - that makes a change!

Meal plan ready for the week & I have loads of recipe books from the library for inspiration.....will be pouring over those while MrL watches footie.....yumyum

Lurker1972

Evening folks

Lots of money musings been going on in the Lurker household.....should we move, change the car, book holiday, have laser eye surgery (MrL) decorate, replace the shed.......

We found what on paper was the dream house, had everything we could ask for, nice area of my home town so near the parentals.....then aircon packed up on the car so it now has non-dangerous faults that will cost in excess of £1k to fix.....so then we looked at cars & found one that almost ticked all the boxes & in theory MrL can extend his loan for a couple of years & the payments won't be any higher. But we can't do both. or in all honesty, either. Cash is running away from us (well him more than me, mine only walks away - in the direction i tell it to) but the laser eye people have come back with what we think is a really good offer - £1600. the original price was £2800 (£3200 at a different company). so think that one is likely to happen.

We don't need to move, we have enough space for us & kitty & any future mini-lurkers that may or may not join us. But I think its time to move on, have grown out of the house emotionally (still love it) but would realy like a place that MrL & I choose together.....

hey ho
both gas & leccy bills have increased big time (doubled) & as we switched late last year its not an option to do it again just yet.

Grocery spends went a bit out of control again but am back on the straightn narrow again -last week was under budget :T.
Social life has calmed down again which is good for my weekly spends - I have £11 left from last week so tomorrows money is going straight off the 0% card...wonder how long i can make that £11 last.....after tomorrows shop I should only need to top up with bread mid week......but I do want to go swimming sometime this week before i turn into a complete lump of lard...and we did talk about fixing my bike so we could go on bike rides...yuck yuck yuck...new saddle required methinks!

time to fetch kitties in (currently have 2 while neighbours on holiday) I don't like them staying out all night !

happy weekend interwebs

Lurker1972

What a bee-yooo-tee-ful morning!

Kitties are out playing, washing is on the line & I have 2 days of lovely sunnyness to savour.

Todays plans

• 2 hours in garden weeding before it gets too scorchio
• shower etc
• meal plan & shopping list
• supermarket run UNDER budget
• return pretty undies to figleaves
• put weekly spends money to cc account
• final payday payments once Mr L had paid me his share
• I will NOT pay to park in town, will walk further so its free
• I will NOT give in to the yummy smells of Greggs or Subway
• I WILL smile all day long for no reason other than I want to

have a good day all

Lurker1972

& its hump day!

got everything done on my list for Saturday & have now done 2 weeks grocery shops under budget - meal planning rules!

not a great week at work, but thats not unusual - tend to go through stages of understanding it & then not ! I have to keep reminding myself that i've not been doing the job a year yet so its only to be expected. but that doesn't fit well with my control freak tendancies!

new obsession is cookery books - keep getting them from the library & make notes on recipes that look good - think i now have about 6 on loan!! was actually disappointed with the Economy Gastronomy one - think part of the appeal with the programme was the shock of how much people were spending in the first place!!!

Knowing that i have a strict food budget, one of the girls at work asked me how much i spend cos her & hubby think they might be spending a bit much...there's just 2 of them.....& they spend between 500 & 600 a month!!! she did say they eat out a lot (so have pointed her in this direction for eating out vouchers at the very least). I feel quite virtuous now!

more recipes await......

savingholmes

hi lurker -enjoy the recipes!

Lurker1972

speedy update today before i get caught up in reading about other peoples lives - need to get on living mine!

Pat on the head this month - am a whopping £1.19 under my grocery budget!!! & that includes buying wild bird food, a new shirt for MrL & a gel seat for my bike (so can attempt to get some exercise & fresh air)

Smack on the bum this month - bought some reduced carrots thinking they would be healthy snacks...then did nothing with them...the unopened bag of mush went staright in recycling last night.

Off into town for a few hours, have water in the fridge cooling, I have a M&S voucher that I might spend, but then again, might keep it a bit longer!

Time to enjoy the sunshine

x