Tete en l’Air’s Feet On The Ground Diary

Tete_en_l'Air

wendz86 wrote: »

Sounds like it is going to be a tight month for you! A spending diary is a great idea though.

It is! Just got an email to say we'll be getting our Xmas pay on the 22nd, 4 days early, but that's 5 whole weeks before Jan payday!! :eek: Well done on getting your OD paid off, you'll be able to really enjoy Christmas without that weight on your shoulders! Yours is one of those diaries I dip in and out of but never manage to keep up with somehow, I'll have to pop in on your DFD tho!

Thanks for the Bingo Britain suggestion Sea and explanation Wendz, I'll look into it definitely.

Kavics - thanks for that, OH is actually really good with surprises for me and always gets stuff I love, he just isn't bothered for his own birthday, he loves it if I just get him a random pressie for no reason You two sound like you've got it sorted though - it's ridiculous how we buy stuff for that one day, and 24 hours later it's all half-price.

Hey Birdie, I've got an easy origami book and am making 'minimalist' christmas tree shapes and gluing them on cards! Hopefully they'll look simple yet effective, rather than just simple!

wendz86

This one it is very likely you will win, and is only five pounds but obviously don't do it if you are unsure. I won about 3 or 4 times a week and played about two games a day.

Tete_en_l'Air

Added it to the to-do list then!

wendz86

We have that in December as well, is great for late min xmas pressies but bad for January!

Tete_en_l'Air

Yeah, you have to remember that. I'm hoping to have my Xmas shopping done by then, and to not spend an awful lot over Christmas anyway - I'm old now and live a quiet life! Then might try and get back into the gym/exercise classes on a lunchtime in January - keeps me out of the shops if nothing else!

kavics17

Yes, we sorted it out between us, and when someone asks what you got for your OH for birthday/Xmas we always tell the truth (but not the part that actually it was not a surprise, we bought it together LOL). It's interesting though as we always get really good presents for the rest of the family. Oh,yeah, we have already finished Xmas shopping-got bargain presents for 14 people under £100,very impressed with ourselves. I usually get the idea what to buy,than OH spends hours in front of the internet to find the best price,when he got it than it's my turn to find vouchers to buy it even cheaper:) We're a good team...

Lara44

Hey Tete

Happy new diary! It's super exciting that you're going to move in with your OH. I sympathise on the dinner front as OH and I love going out for dinner too. That's our biggest spend by miles. I thought the car boot idea is a great one if you're de-cluttering already.

Looking forward to hearing all about it x

Tete_en_l'Air

WOW, I'm impressed with that Kavics - like £7 per present? I'm only buying for 7 people as well!

Thanks Lara - I've done car boots in the past and they're usually really good, not sure whether ones in my area run over the winter though? And not sure at this stage if I'd have enough to fill a stall...

Dinah93

I assume clearing the OD and the savings need to come from extra income Tete as that is one tight budget given how much you eat out!

I would be suprised if you find its cheaper moving out to be honest. Obviously thats not a reason not to do it, however rough idea would be (all these are halved except petrol):
£20 water
£20 elec
£17 gas
£55 council tax
£8 contents insurance
£75 food
£100 increase in petrol (assuming the plan is still to move to Durham?)
£250 rent (this is a lowish guess, only you know what kind of property you are looking for)
£10 landline
£5 broadband
£6 tv licence
Total: £566 per month.
I don't know if you plan to split things 50-50, or proportionally depending on who earns what, but hope thats helpful.

I'll have to look at this bingo britain thing too.

The big bootsale in stockton on the road going towards giant tesco runs year round Tete.

Swinstie73

Hey Tete,

Shiny new diary! Think I will join you on your declutter challenge, I'm on the Flylday Thread but it moves so fast I can never keep up. What are your 10 zones? I have to put this to use in a house, but will try and keep up.

I agree with just getting a token gift for your OH, for my OH's 40th, I bought him a beer glass (to remind him of our first holiday) and tribute band tickets for Led Zep both only cost about £20, but the band were playing in Dumfries so booked a hotel too. He loved it cos I got him something meaningful.

Think a mop like Sea suggested is good! Will go subscribe now....