Smart Mart - Health, wealth and happiness

Smart_Mart

Thanks again, BB. This site, and the posters on it, can help me immensely with little tips plus all the other stuff that gets posted on here. I probably use the site to 1% of its capability.

Cheers for taking the time to try to straighten me out....:D:T

I never use my tumble dryer because...I haven't got one. I cleared out my spare room recently and when the weather doesn't allow me to use the washing line, it's up on airers in the spare room.

One thing I haven't shared is this. I hope I've done the right thing but here goes.

Regular readers of the thread will now that twice in December, a former player from my football team stayed over when his match had finished. He plays for a team eight miles from here and before he had a car, he stopped over then I took him to the station the following morning. It was nice of the company and every so often, it seemed like a good idea. If it happened once or twice a week, for several weeks, I'd get paid a tenner a night from him.

He rang me on Monday to ask if he could come and stay in the short term with me. He's about to sign a contract with this local team and this means he will have the stability to bring his family over here with him ( he's from Latvia). He wanted to use my house as a base for house hunting although he'll be living about 15 miles from here ideally.

My initial thought was "wow, a footballer staying with me" closely followed by "the money would come in handy." However after careful thought, and telling him I'd ring him back, I have since said "No". I'm not 100% happy with a stranger in the house although I trust him and he's good with the kids. It's the thought of not being able to do what you want to IYSWIM. He took it okay and accepted it (he's a decent guy) but I'm concerned that my life won't be my own and that he might take longer than a couple of weeks to find somewhere to live. I also have to think of the boys too though I know they'd love to have him here.

I think I've done the right thing!:rolleyes:

Smart_Mart

Actually got down to my beloved football club today after more than two weeks away from it....:T. Managed to get lots of work done before leaving for home after six tonight.

Only spend today was £15.00 on petrol (15 Nectar points) and £2.00 on a Tesco Meal Deal. The remittance advice for the club website job arrived today, almost a week ahead of schedule so maybe I'm getting the money on Monday. This will be a boon if true as I can clear another chunk of rent plus £90 for other bills, general living etc.

Smart_Mart

Shock of all shocks, the FC invoice was in today, a week ahead of when I was expecting it. I now need to make the most of looking after it properly although another £280 of the £370 has to go to clearing the rent. This will mean I'm almost up-to-date then next week, I'll clear it completely when HB and the courier money goes in.

Have two rounds of papers to do today plus shopping. I'm going to try to do a proper shop today and start filling the freezer a bit so I won't be too disappointed if my bill comes to £40+ as long as it means no mini-shops during the week. I'm sure there'll be bits and bobs but I intend to do a list when the papers are finished.

I've also decided that every spare moment within reason has to be devoted to getting the languages project finished. I'm about 25% of the way through the first one of three and the company are paying me £500 when it's completed, obviously the earlier the better. Some of that money looks likely to go on a DRO so that I can finally get most of my finances sorted. I still owe £7,000+ and most of that will comply with a DRO so after making sure it's right ( CCCS sugget it is the correct optio to go for), I'll use £90 for that. The other £410 is a bit of a bonus so I might try to do something good with it.

Smart_Mart

Sat here at the PC absolutely cream crackered....:rolleyes:

Did the two rounds of newspapers this morning and came home to make a list, yes a list, for shopping. You'd have been so proud of me, honestly you would....:D

My local Asda is currently going through a bit of a refit so the same amount of shoppers in a smaller space basically. I bought double of bread and milk so that I don't need to do any mini-shops in the week (well I hope not anyway). Bumped into an old friend that I hadn't seen in 4/5 years and had a chat with her but that still didn't deflect me from my aim of getting everything needed and nothing more.

In the end, spent £50 all but a few pennies. This included stuff like deodorant, washing powder and toilet rolls that I won't need more of for a while plus two light bulbs and five pairs of socks (only £2.00). The socks were a need rather than a "want" as the fact my shoes are so c**p means I go through socks quite quickly (and quite literally).

Stopped off at the shop on the way home and topped up with £20 of gas. Now the thaw has arrived and the temperatures have warmed up, the gas should start coming down a bit though a fiver of that £20 will go on emergency.

Sun's £9.50 holidays are now upon us; not sure whether we'll get away this year or not. Their mum has first dibs on the half-term week so I'll get what's left, hopefully Devon Cliffs which is fabarooney!!

Smart_Mart

Well their mum managed to book online at the Sun's website last night so she managed four nights in Devon Cliffs in July, lucky mare!! :T

Been a quiet day really. The weather has eased enough to allow football training this morning which gave all the kids time and space to burn their post-Christmas energy off. The big cup match is scheduled for tomorrow at 2pm though it's now raining outside so maybe the weather will have the last laugh.

I was a month behind with my training fees (£30) plus this months was due too so paid £40 this morning so that I can look the chairman in the eye again...:rolleyes:. That was the only spend today apart from a paper for the Sun token - I went in, bought the paper alone and came back out....:T:D

Diary came from E-Bay yesterday too and it's a beauty, perfect for what I want. Best purchase I've made from the auction site yet.

Tomorrow hopefully sees the football plus the pub quiz in the evening.

Smart_Mart

Have managed to spend some money this morning without leaving the comfort of my front room somehow....:rolleyes:. Actually spent £13.99 (including postage & packing) on two pairs of trainers online. As explained in an earlier post, I am desperate for some new, casual shoes and, after waiting for a pair of Asda trainers to come on offer in my size 12, I've taken the plunge and invested in these now.

Not in my original budget but I can't go on with only having one pair of black shoes, two pairs of deck shoes and a pair of slippers.:eek:

Smart_Mart

Not the best of days but it ended in a flourish.:rolleyes:

Boys went out of the Cup this afternoon to a last minute goal, losing 2-1 to our big local rivals. Quite a few tears at the final whistle and must admit, been feeling more and more down as the day has gone by. The twins went home with their mum so didn't really get chance to console them like only a football-mad dad can do.

Popped their weekend stuff round this evening and had a brief cuddle with them before going on to the pub quiz which we won by three points. The four of us share £22 which is better than a poke in the eye.

Spent £8.06 on a round, a pound on the quiz and £2.50 on a pint this afternoon after football. Stuck in £18 of petrol this afternoon too.

Smart_Mart

Been walking round today with a cloud over my head like in the cartoons. Still a little upset about the defeat in the football yesterday, more upset for the kids really who had given 100%, everyone of them!

Did my normal work today, courier jobs in the morning and evening and did a paper round just before lunch. Wrote a 600 word article on an ex-player this afternoon and got the postal order for the Sun Holiday while I was out. Also got two programmes posted and bought some stamps, total outlay of £44.56.

Tomorrow I am attacking more paperwork in the morning then going to football in the evening. Tomorrow the team are playing in London so won't be back until stupid o'clock at night. The weather is supposed to be bad in the early hours coming in from the west so I'll be driving into it by the sounds of things.:eek:

Hopefully getting on with two programmes over the next few days as we have two home games on successive Saturdays!!

Smart_Mart

Got back at 1.00am this morning so didn't update the diary.:rolleyes:

The team lost 2-0 last night amid a poor performance. Couldn't get a signal inside the ground so had to wait till I got home before I filed a report which was a nuisance.

Spent £46.00 on petrol (though still have some left) and sadly ate lunch, tea and supper out costing around a tenner in total.:mad:

Today is a day of writing articles, delivering newspapers, collecting children from school, football training and proof-reading. Busy in other words!

Smart_Mart

Been a long old day, most of which has been at a tortoise's pace....:D

Did almost everything I wanted to today really. Paid the second lot of rent this dinnertime meaning that once the next lot is due on Monday (and I pay it), I'll be straight with my rent for the first time in several months with a manageable schedule (fortnightly instead of monthly) in place.

Bought a jar of coffee too as it's absence had crept up on me....:o

Boys collected from school, given tea, taken to football training and picked up by Mum too. Wrote another 600-word article tonight along with a 600-word piece this morning and finished proof-reading Saturday's programme about half an hour ago.

Tomorrow I'm off to the football club in the morning for the day and other than that, planning a quiet day really.