Want to be a mfw but worried?

ally18

Hi all,

Not posted for a while but now got things to say.

Prom dress has been bought! Big ouch, however, it was the first dress she tried on, from the first shop we visited and she absolutely loves it so I couldn't say no. Cost £275 but her dad will be paying half. (Have to admit, it is a gorgeous dress and the prom is a one off so ... plus she won't be having a big bday present anymore). Just have shoes to get now and then the dress can be altered hemwise. I have been told they are going to the venue in a double decker bus now instead of the limo, no doubt that will change before the big day.

My leccy tariff comes to an end this month so I have been scouting around for a new deal and there is absolutely nothing cheaper nowadays which I had to expect I guess. I have decided on another fixed tariff but with my gas supplier so I have actioned the transfer for this. It looks like my dd will start at £53 per month which is a big increase from the £37 but the budget will accomodate this so will see how it goes.

Filled the car up for this month with the usual budget figure of £50 and again got less litres and less range on the mileage, boo hoo. Everything is still going up!!!!!!!!

On the bad side, I spent my allowance on clothes this month and I said I wouldn't do it so failed on that. It did make me feel better though.

I've decided to start a new diet!! Tomorrow, I start on a 5 day phase 1 plan so got to go and get a few bits tonight. I'm probably going to be in a foul mood for the rest of the week and weekend so will warn kids accordingly. On the good side, I have half a box of after eights in the drawer at work and these will have to be eaten before I leave work today. So, seeing as I only have an hr and half to go, I better get a move on and polish them off with a cuppa.

Have a good evening all.

ally18

Arrgghh, £12 spent last night on diet food! Unbelievable, why does it cost so much more to diet and eat healthily? No wonder more people are overweight when it costs so much to buy vegetables and things.

So, anyway will see how I get on. I did weigh myself this morning and have already dropped 2lbs which is nice. And then I thought, I bought new clothes last week, what if they end up not fitting anymore? Never mind, once things go through the tumble dryer, they tend to shrink a little anyway.

I have invested in a water butt today and will set that up at the weekend. Anything to save a bit more and it looks like we will have a hosepipe ban this year, so if that is full it will help with the tomato watering. I also bought some digital food scales today as well as my old mechanical ones were past it. Good value at £6 and £18 for the water butt and all the bits.

In work again today, so no more spending. I've brought in all the stuff for lunch and now have to force myself to drink water and snack! All the after 8s disappeared yesterday fortunately as well.

My transfer for the leccy has tracked through £co too.

Would love a nice coffee now but can't have it. Mind you, I'm feeling quite alert though. Must be the caffeine free peppermint tea.

Have a good day all.

ally18

Ooooh been mia for such a long time but am glad to report I am still oping m2 and the balance is now at £11,380. I'm still hoping to get it down enough by Dec 13 so I can then use some savings to get rid of it altogether.

Everything is still basically the same. I'm still working at the same job, on my own and with my girls. DD2 has now finished school and going to college in September, DD3 is still in school fortunately.

The prom dress is hanging in DD2 bedroom ready for the prom in 5 weeks. We had left the dress in the shop to be altered and we then had a real palaver as the shop said there was a fault on it and sent it back, therefore another one needed ordering and we had to wait 3 months for it to arrive. (Personally, I think the shop sold the dress to someone else!) But hey, its here and we just have to sort out the hair now. .

I am growing my own veg again this year, trying potatoes in bags as well. Last weekend I put in an outside electricity supply which I'm chuffed with as I saved some money as regards getting an official to do it and if the weather turns nice again next week, i will be setting up the inflatable hot tub I've been given so we will have our holiday at home.

ally18

Received £67 cheque from previous leccy supplier today which is going straight into the leccy/gas act for just in case! Don't trust the new supplier since they dropped my gas dd down to £7 so erring on the cautious side in future.

This month's overpayment is currently standing at £300 to m2, hopefully may make more if I stick to grocery budget and not spending next week.

Lois_E

Hi ally18

How's it going? Made any more OPs recently?

Just wanted to wish you all the best for surviving the school holidays, from one lone parent to another.

ally18

Hello All,

Can’t believe I’ve not posted for such a long time. No excuses really as I still lurk from timeto time but never have anything interesting to say lol.

Situation is still the same, dd2 is at college but has nowdecided it is the wrong course so we are going to talk to her tutor tonightabout moving away from this subject area. Have no idea how this will work so fingers crossed. Dd3 still at school and will be starting herGCSE’s next Sept. DD1 who doesn’t live with me actually started talking to meover the xmas break but it has reverted to nothing now.

I am still working in the same job fortunately and am stilloverpaying my mortgages as much as I can. I currently have m1 standing at £55,616 and m2 at £8540 and am trying toget rid of m2 first as this is the higher rate. So far, since I started this in earnest in May 11, I have knocked off 11years on m2. Though, m1 is going to be astruggle, I still cannot see that going much before I’m 70 which isfrightening. But hey ho, at least I willowe less at age 70 lol.

Budget has not altered much from last year apart from a £30increase on food as we were not managing on £150 so it is upped to £180 now. Petrol budget has remained at £50 but now I try not to use the car for 3 days a week and walk to town instead.

That’s it for now. I’m going to try and update each month from now on.

ally18

Another week gone for me and 4 nsds to report I'm happy to say.

Looks like dd2 is going to be moving college in Sept onto a different subject matter. She has applied to another college so we are awaiting their decision. I just hope she has made the right decision this time.

Shopping tonight straight after work, max spend £25 and using my £2.50 voucher off I should not overspend this month. £25 left for next weeks shop then so its a case of what we need not what we want. Going to do some baking this weekend as well as I have the stuff in the cupboard.

Paid mortgage for this month already and hoping to make an op at the end of Jan. No water rates to pay this month again, lovely and next month no council tax.

Just had my paperwork from NSI for an investment I put away 3 years ago which is due to mature. I have decided to cash it in because it looks like I need a new central heating boiler this year. I've already had a rough estimate of £2k given so this money will be put aside for that. That has brought my emergency savings pot down by half but that's what it is for I guess. It was just such a nice feeling to have it there iykwim. Flaming central heating!

£30 left in the kids pot for treats so may take them to cinema this weekend.

Thats all for today.

catshark88

Hi Ally, have just caught up with your diary.

It is great to hear from another long termer. As long as at least one of us is feeling positive each day, we will be able to keep our spirits up!

Best wishes

CS

alwaystryyourbest

Hi just spend the afternoon reading most of your diary, you are doing so well, my daughter has got her prom this year.haven't got dress yet but hoping not to spend as much as you. :rotfl:

keep posting,and every little payment helps... better go now time to get the kids from school...

ally18

Catshark & alwaystryyourbest,

Many thanks for reading and posting, its nice to have support. I've been doing this for a while now but I stopped posting because I never have anything interesting to say.

However, will keep it up now.

I'm so chuffed that I've managed to knock off 11 years.

Cheers

Ally