Pinky's Happy ever after diary! 2010

Pinky15

Well am anticipating the arrival of DH payslip so can work out what I have to throw at Ccard this month and will then update sig on friday once payment has been made. Have done SOA for month and after food and all bills have £250 left over for general living activities etc - does anyone know if this is reasonable/doable. Some people on the boards seem to have £££ excess each month. Anyway if I can stick to this will be very happy! I have also managed to save a little and have continued saving on my Poffice card for xmas which is up to £168 and I have another £20 to go on next week.
On the downside tho I have end of next month 3x school schools, 1 x trainers, 3 x school trousers, 1x school bags, 1 riding hat - to buy hmm. Anyway DH is working lots of overtime so this should cover these things and a little left over maybe?:D
I usually buy the kids school shoes in clarks - are Next any good? or should I stick with my usual place? Hope everyone got a lie in;)

Jo_R_2

Now I have paid off a handful of debts, I am finding I have around £200 surplus a month which to me is completely luxurious, although try not to think of it as pure surplus but fundage to get the CC debt paid off faster as well as family stuff.

DDs' dad buys their shoes (has been DD1 with the school shoes only so far, although DD2 will need them from Sept. but their dad has always bought her a smart pair) and he goes to an independent shop where like Clarks they measure but is a different brand (the name of which escapes me at the mo!) but he feels they're a better alternative to Clarks. I'll sneak into their room in a bit and see what they are! The smart shoes they do have are hardwearing and also pretty for girls' shoes.

I've still got a handful of school bits to get. I'm looking really for pinafores/skirts that wear well, good quality but reasonably priced as want to get enough so don't have to panic midweek about washing. So that's my school clothing mission!

Pinky15

Jo - yep let me know the brand if thats ok - the shoes usually hit me for bout £90 ouch ouch.
I usually try and get bits through the hols as I hate hitting the chaos of the shops as everyone dashes for the school stuff the last week.
Anyways - asda delivery here and mostly put away before my gremlin food monsters get to it. Honestly they pretend to help me unpack but eat their way through the bags as I try and put it away - love em really.
I have done my credit card payment and will change my sig to £3200! So havent quite got under 3000 butttttt - the kids gymnastics sessions have to be paid - I thought sept for new term but actually by last week of august - so I have to pay out of this months budget - but the money for this was in next months budget so it will come off the credit card in sept instead. So next months payment should be £280. Then I am switching back to basic payments as my hours are down loads.
Had a fab day out today which only cost £6 - including entry and an ice-cream. We took a picnic with us and had a really fun day thorougly enjoyed it.
Its DD bd in Dec so have started giving mum £10 a month to look after so that expense is covered, and I have also started a brand new money diary which is helping me to keep track of my spending!
So all good at the mo - hope everyone is ok!!!

Pinky15

Well have checked bank statements today as it is payday - and everything is as it should be. Need to ring tax credits about my change in hours but they are really busy with renewals so will wait till next week instead.
Had a list of jobs today which I have done most of the big one was sweeping and mopping all downstairs which I hate doing. Have done 2 loads of washing, tidied kitchen and now have 3 neat piles of ebay stock:D sat ready under my bed. Just need to find my camera and can get started!
Have decided to aim for 10 NS Days in August. Today will be a NS day and hoping tomorrow will be too.

Jo_R_2

Sounds like a super-productive day already! I phoned Tax Credits the other day to renew and had a right job getting through so prob best to hold off a couple of days.

Good luck with the NSDs - I find it difficult when I have the kids with me I have to admit - but I think 10 is realistic.

Pinky15

Jo - I know everytime I phoned the Tax credits they say they are busy so will try again monday when the renewals hopefully are sorted out.:D
Am having another NS day today but will start properly tomorrow as that is the start of the month. So I def think 10 are doable. Budget ok ish a couple of unexpected expenses have occured but I reckon with some ebaying can make this up anyway.
Not done much today - lazy pinky, washing and ironing and housework under control so at least I dont have that to worry about. Have a nice week this week some good low spend activities planned and will take picnics and snacks with us when we go out:)

Pinky15

Well still cant get through to tax credits - just as well its not an emergency eh? Have sat down and looked at our finances and DH has put in for a payrise from Sept - so really waiting to see what happens with that.
Everything else ticked off and accounted for in the spending diary and activities this week covered by what i have left over from my family allowance - some of which must go towards the car tax - which is due next month.
Not up to much today DH working - so need a cheap day - theres a local fete on so may have a look then prob another afternoon at the park:D.
Just think now its the 1st of aug we can say - kids go back to school next month lol:rotfl::rotfl:

Pinky15

Well - we have had a lovely 2nd week off and have been sooo busy. I think me and the kids are a bit burnt out now. But have a party at the local farm in a little while - then I think we will chill out this pm. We have managed most days out and activities on a small budget only paying out for entrance fees (just cheap ones) and the odd ice-cream everything else was taken eg drinks and picnics. The old me would have just bought drinks and food at the venue and racked up the overdraft - god how foolish I was. I keep thinking about this and all the money we are paying back - but in a way I am glad as it really opened my eyes and taught us a lessons and I would never do it again. Cant wait till we have the extra money and can spend it on what we want. Anyway thats my little thought time over with lol.
Still thinking about the school shoes as there was a thread debating costs and brands on another forum - which I may go back to anyway.
Think they all def need shoes though and prob trainers - hope DH gets loads of overtime lol.
Going to aim for another NS day tomorrow. All bank accounts are fine and the spending diary is up to date and helping me see where the money goes, a couple of non budgetted expenses have accured but we will manage. Also won £10 on the lottery but am going to hang on to this and add a bit and treat DH to a meal one night since he has been working so hard. Hope everything has a nice weekend! x

katieclampet

Hi all. Sounds like you are having a lovely (mse) school holidays. It makes a differecne when the weather is nice. Glad all is going well with diary and cc. Must dash, away to dd for weekend!

katiex

Pinky15

Thanks KT enjoy the break at your DD's!
Well am planning on a NSD today - we are off out for a picnic lunch at the park - free and free again lol. I have defrosted some sausage rolls to have with beans and baked potatoes - so thats tea organised anyways.
We are def skint this month as I had to do an emergency Asda order last night as we needed nappies and general snacks - I am finding this years hols the kids are eating more than ever - I should have really anticipated this in my food budget for this month - but I know for next time. So wont come in under budget with food this month but with good reason. Shouldnt need much else this month apart from bread, fruit and milk as I now have plenty in freezer and cupboards once delivery comes.:D
I am going to try and get little one out of the nighttime nappies also which should save some money.
Have sorted 3 boxes of stuff out for ebay - so am going to list next week and try and make some extra for a few treats before pay day which is 3 weeks away - but I am up for a challenge - as always!