Debt free before baby.

sazzle81

Well it's not been the greatest time for us. Two weeks ago my OH's father died following a short battle with cancer. As you can imagine this has completely floored everything and has ended up with us spending lots of money eating with relatives who have come up for the funeral. Daft things really such as going out for breakfast rather then buying in cereal. As a result our bank balance has shrunk while our waistlines have expanded . Still, I think we needed to do it - coping with everything took so much out of us that I don't think we could have coped with budgetting, and I've always found I react to emotions by spending.
Well it's the start of a new week tomorrow and I've cashed out on Pureprofile (after 2 years!). OH and I have drawn up another plan not just to save up money but to eat more healthily and to get more exercise. Knowing that I could well be facing redundancy in February, we are going to live like I have been made redundant already and try to get as much saved as we can.
Sorry to have been out of touch with everyone's diaries, will do a big catch up soon.
S

sashybo

Hi sazzle, sorry to hear about OH's dad. *hugs*

Your plan to live on reduced income and be more healthy sounds like a good idea. Good luck with it all. :beer:

sazzle81

Thanks Sashybo

Not much to report on the living frugally front, I always hate going back on the survey sites once you've cashed out as it seems so so far to go again! Have a few dooyoo reviews todo. Still using the car way too much. Going to look at getting bus to work next week.
Just really wanted to check in and get back into routines otherwise another month would have gone by...

loumac

Hey sazzle,

Have been offline myself so sorry to come back and hear that things have not been good for you. I can't imagine what a hard time you've been going through. (((HUGS))) to you and your OH too.

Try and keep your chin up and keep focused, get back writing your diary and keep us all informed and you'll be back on track in no time.

Lou xxx

sazzle81

Thanks Loumac, Last few months haven't been great but we are muddling through.
Busy week for me. Made the decision to start getting the bus to work. If I buy tickets online it's only £18 a week which compared to £40-£50 a week petrol is a huge saving. It does mean I have to get up at 6, do a 20 minute walk and then sit on a bus for an hour with a change but it hasn't been so bad so far (ask me how I like it in the winter!!) It also means I'm getting some exercise which is good.
Just got back from seeing the Foo Fighters in Milton Keynes. Was a little bit of an outlay as we had to stay for two nights but we stayed at a cottage with friends so was a little cheaper than hotel. AND THE FOOS WERE AMAZING!! Once in a lifetime gig I think. Roger Taylor and Alice Cooper did a guest slot. Still back to earth now after a weekend of spending money. OH off playing poker, he's win £5 as of 20 mins ago :j, it'll all go in the kitty for my new window.

loumac

Very jealous! LOVE Foo Fighters and Alice Cooper! :j

Well done on the bus decision, I'm not sure I could show that level fo commitment myself, but maybe use it as a bit if 'you' time, catch up on some reading and as you say, some exercise.

sazzle81

They were absolutely AMAZING!! (Sorry to rub it in!) Best gig I've ever been to.
Unfortunately, I get really travel sick, so have to spend the whole of the journey looking at the window, have my iphone to listen to and catch up sort of on emails (as long as I don't need to concentrate!). Still have done two weeks of it and it's not too bad, although today I got soaked walking from the bus stop. I literally had to wring my clothes out, and I'd thought I'd been dead sensible cutting down on my bag weight by taking out the umbrella :mad:

On the positive side, OH came second in "the big poker tournament" so won enough money to cover our Foos weekend (excluding accomodation) so over the moon about that. Have sent him out to our local casino to win big. I do have a front window to replace afterall!!:p
Pleased there's just under 2 weeks of school left - means I can save on travel costs, and get lie ins!!:rotfl:
Can't remember if I said but managed to get a last minute place in the Great North Run through the hospice where my father in law was. Gorgeous place so absolutely delighted to be raising money for them - however, hadn't realised I've only got 10 weeks to train. Have done two runs this week averaging 3.5 miles and doing a 6 mile run tomorrow :eek:. Means I can stop my gym membership though if I can get into this running bug - why are the first two miles always the worst????

loumac

Because two miles should be long enough for your body and brain to work together in telling you to stop!

Well done though, I am not a runner - though I have attempted it in the past! It makes it more worthwhile if you're running for a good cause though, good luck.

Two weeks and counting till summer hols....

sazzle81

Haha, as of Wednesday I'll be talking in terms of "getups" rather than weeks :j

Well run done this morning. Mapped on internet at 6 miles, friend's Nike+ GPS said 5.5, mine said 0.05. Think it may be broken!! It's really annoying because you can't manually enter runs with Nike so it looks as though I havent done anything and aren't keeping to the schedule :mad: Yet again first couple of miles were hideous but then seemed much more confident, although did encounter a mamoth hill!!

OH out playing a charity football match for the day, so today is house tidy and washing. Keeping a very close eye on weather as trying to get as much dried outside so don't have to use tumble.

Planted out a sweetcorn and pumpkin plant. Know I am mega mega late but thought I'd give it a go. Hoping we might get something and often we need to plant out a month or so later than recommended because of our weather

Need to return some parcels today - another boomerang ASOS order, desperately need an outfit for all the weddings I have this summer. Think will have to bite the bullet and head out to shops so I can try on. What is it with so many things being see-through and really cheap looking at the moment??:eek:

Trying to figure out if it's going to be worthwhile getting hte bus this week - have two late work nights because of school leavers performance and science club, so may just drive this week and bring home as much as I can this week rather than struggle n the bus the week after. Annoying as I have got into a routine and am quite enjoying it in a way!!

sazzle81

Well pleased as punch this week is over, it's been a long one. Made a decision on Sunday that instead of going away for our anniversary we would make an effort in the garden and tidy it up, Starting with painting the fence.
So off we trundle to our nearest Homebase and largest pot of lovely blue fence paint purchased. Only for the lid to not be on properly so that when I pull it out of the back of the car the lid starts to slide off. Me in my panic went "no not the car" then "no not my nice new jeans" so I dropped it all over the paved drive :mad: Luckily we have a hose and it doesn't look too bad now as most of it has been washed away.
So I stormed straight back to Homebase and got it replaced. Didn't fancy pushing my luck for any extra!! In the middle of painting the fence, which seems to be taking ages. We also boorowed OH's mums electric bush strimmer thingy. I have never had so much fun in my life!! Everything in our garden appears to have taken on a very cuboid like shape :rotfl:
We have also invested in a fire pit. Have decided to entertain more at home so this is a way of keeping folk warm in the garden. Trialled it on Sunday evening and it was brilliant, except we ran out of burner stuff and ended up adding anything we could to it!! Also didn't think to close back windows so house stank on Monday morning!!!
Anyway. This weekend we are finishing the fence and garden and sampling my homebrew sloe vodka. I am a little wary of the proof of it - couldn't understand how to figure that out Wish me luck!!