So here's to you, Mrs R....

stressed.mum

Hi Mrs R
I understand what you're saying - I used to coin counting as homework for little one - good for learning tables - older ones offer to do it for a 4% cut! They are MSE already. Normally between the kids there's a fight to count it, they enjoy counting and guessing how much we have, it helps that it goes into the holiday fund :rotfl:

Stressed xxx

scrooge2008

I follow the same rationale as you for NSD's mrs r and i'm on 13/20 too, race you to the finish line :rotfl:

mrs_robinson_3

Hey Scrooge - reckon you might win - not had a NSD since Tuesday. In my defence, had to get more mailer bags yesterday for eBay items sold, so essential outlay, and today's spend was on items going off in shoeboxes for this year's Rotary Club Xmas campaign for items for poor children in Montenegro, Romania and Tanzania. So good cause.

But, hey ho, would normally claim back latter spend (about £20 in total) from the joint a/c, but really on its uppers, down to its last £50 before the end of the month so will have to cover that myself. Never mind.

Which is also a shame as it's DS3s BD next week, and whilst we've got and put away a couple of things, we still have to get a "main" gift for him. And know that OH is really struggling this month as he had to take a sub from one of our joint savings a/cs this month....oh, and last as well......and forfend me to be smug, but with my new found sensibilities, have been ok myself - although that's really just to say, well within my O/D limit. Still time was when I was butting up against it on regular basis, so definite progress for me there.

Even so, if have to cover gift etc myself, only forecast is that o/d will grow this month. But musn't beat self up about that, must remember that so long as is broadly under control and generally staying stable, plan is to pay it back once CCs all gone.

Besides which, the GPs often give us money and say to buy for DS, so sometimes it is possible to just supplement that with something little ourselves. So may end up OK, who can tell?

DS3 also wants to go to the cinema on his BD, only wants to take a few friends so not too bad, but even so, shame we're now so brassic! Still, just had cunning MSE-style thought, which is that think early showing of day is cheaper, so think will opt for that, then perhaps picnic at park and game of footie after. So am not sounding too mean, should add he's also off to see Carling Cup match that p.m with his siblings, tickets for which already paid for.

Yes, this time of the month, it's a challenge alright - time to get creative in the kitchen, eke out the provisions and rein everything in, a bumpy week's ahead. Reckon will be putting the last of my ebay money in my a/c to cushion me just a little more, as Tesco will be paid off in January anyway just by sticking to my regular payments, it's just did so want to see it go in December. Sigh.

Still, must remember that this month have paid for our holiday, MOT'd a car and paid for DS3s residential school trip, so is all bound to have an impact - and that's all those things out of way, just BD, holiday and Xmas to go......

Yours, a little crestfallen but ever hopeful

Mrs R

hypno06

I managed a rare NSD today - not quite in your league, but I am grateful all the same!

Could you not do a "home cinema" treat instead - choice of DVDs, loads of popcorn and a massive pizza on the floor to share while watching.........?

In_my_dreams

Good idea Hypno! It is so hard with the kids birthdays and xmas. Master IMD has been writing his mammouth list to Santa tonight, looks like I'd have to take out a bank loan :eek:

It's good to look back at what you have managed to cover in the month, think I might do that, makes you realise how much you have really achieved. Does that make any sense?

scrooge2008

Well you sound like Wonder Woman, squeezing all that lot into one month's budgeting, big pat on the back from me.

I'm on a scheme for DS's residential trip next June. I pay £20.00 to the school each month for 12 months, and they sign my little payment card in return. Doesn't feel too painful.

mrs_robinson_3

Mrs R's 10 happy events

1. NSD yesterday. and found a fiver in my purse - left from last week's personal spending. Don't cha just love it when that happens? So funded DS2s trip to local skatepark with it.

2. Bought a wide black leather belt from a charity shop for £1 today - been looking at them for a while in proper shops, at around £20, so snapped this up!

3. Off to a housewarming tonight - don't want to go, have bizarre dislike of house parties, though love dinner parties - and got perfectly acceptable gift of a gerbera plant for £1, bonus!

4. Also thinking, though it's tight now, have done really really well this past month, as have also paid £464 off my debts as well as the MOT, holiday, DS3 trip triumvirate of extra spends, so feeling really quite encouraged.

5. Just made lentil soup for lunch - v restorative.

6. Decluttered old t shirts of DS3 - good for nothing as all handmedowns, so not eBayable - to charity bin this morning, plus few old toys and bedding to charity shop.

7. Also found lots of uniform under DS3 bed - no wonder we were running short. That boy is so untidy. No need to buy any more now.

8. Decided to take DS3 and friends to see Up on his BD, not telling but thinking will see it in 2D, not 3D - incredibly, 3D is an extra £8 all told. Is that too mean though - it is his BD?

9. Did try to suggest we go to see Ice Age 3 as that's the 95p showing that day - he was tempted, but not enough! But will take him to see that on Friday next, just him and me.

10. And MIL is going to get the XBox game he wants, so that's £40-ish saved, leaving us to just get a few extras - so think, figers crossed, we'll just squeak through til pay day next week.

Hope all well and weather better where you are peeps - annoyingly fine misty rain here, just when had done myself a great deep condition and blow dry - huh

Mrs R

scrooge2008

Love the 10 happy events!

I went to see UP yesterday with DH and DS in 3D, and was absolutely shocked at the price.

I have to say though, it was worth every penny. We all loved it.

beanielou

Great idea on the happy list
I wouldent pay to see fim in 3D but thats just me.
I am getting very mean in some ways.

mrs_robinson_3

Just a little update......

DS3 BD went swimmingly well. Birthday brunch at home (cooked by DS2 and me), cinema, football in the park, home and off to the Carling Cup match, which his team even managed to win!! Total spend was just under £50 including his presents, which felt happy with. Could have managed without the cinema but as we don't go often it was a treat, and we all enjoyed it. Went 2D not 3D in end as couldn't bear to spend the extra money, and it mattered not a jot.

Completely thrilled that the HSA people paid another £150 into our bank a/c today - Mr R v pleased with his tenacious wife! Mr R has £75 of it and we've paid ourselves £30 each from the other £75 to defray the BD costs.

But best of all, done a little end of month tot up and, by this time next week, when have made November's payments, will have paid £2867 off my credit cards since March this year. So by the end of the year, will have passed the £3000 milestone. And this time next week, will only owe £300 on my Tesco card. By my calcs, if the plan goes the way it's supposed to, will have cleared the lot by April 2011. Whch still seems an age away but is 5 months earlier than was originally targetting. So feeling really very pleased with progress.

Also listed more stuff on eBay whilst boys all out last night, and did my meter readings and accessed my Eon a/c as a first step to switching. So all very productive.

Should achieve 18 NSDs for Oct - not the 20 aimed for, but that was ambitious.

So OK, got to go join my boys, but thanks to all for support shown - feeling really chipper tonight!

Mrs R