Attack Debt & Begin Life at 40

WelshSaver

Lovely day today, got a load of washing on the line and been food shopping. Decided to give myself a budget of £60 a week for food shopping, spent £59.58, but have to buy rice and milk in the week, so will go a little bit over. DH and I took the two boys out for bowling and a meal last night, thought it would be nice to do more as a family as DH works so hard and doesn't get much time with us. Spent about £70 which is such a lot, but it was a great evening, maybe next time we will just have to do the bowling as the meal came to £50. It is just so nice to take them out at the age they are and they were so well behaved.

They boys have decided that they do not want to share a room anymore, so I will spend the afternoon clearing out the spare room. Might take me longer than an afternoon if I am perfectly honest :rotfl:

brizzledfw

Hey WelshSaver just popping in briefly as want to relax with OH this evening..but already 8:50pm ..eekk! But was going to say that we are trying to cut down on times we go out for food with our 2 DDs as on balance although we all love it it really isn't worth the money unless you get an offer/have a voucher etc. So like you we are deciding to concentrate on the activity say bowling or the cinema and eat before we go..I really don't think we miss it. Sometimes its unavoidable as yesterday we were with my sister and about 200 miles from home so we ate out but generally we are trying hard to stop it as its so expensive.

Take care

WelshSaver

You are right brizzle, the meal out is the most expensive part of the evening, so I will give your way a try and eat before we go. Just withdrew £5.15 from the daily scratchcards, so will add that to the pot. Plus I also changed our clubcard vouchers to themepark tickets, we will only have to add about £4 to our day out over easter, saving us about £60. Set ourselves a budget this week and so far have stuck to it, making meals from scratch, menu planning etc. a couple of days left and the weeks budget starts again on Friday.

WelshSaver

Yeah :j we actually stuck to our budget this week. Nothing left, but it worked and our new week starts in the morning. Withdrew £11 today from my other scratchcard site.

brizzledfw

Well done WelshSaver - that budget sounds good and like its workng for you. Those themepark tickets sound fab too. We are planning a no spend trip to the zoo (as already members so feels free) and allowing kids to choose some other trip using our big voucher book. Can't wait - 4 days off work..gorgeous!!

brizzledfw

Oh and forgot to say..5 x£2 coins received, gloated over and stashed this week..thats some kind of record!

WelshSaver

Thanks brizzle, 5 x £2 coins well done! Managed to make £19.64 on the matched betting this week, so have withdrawn that and will start the week afresh tomorrow with the matched betting. Not much to report today, went to DS2 friends birthday party, which was noisy but fun. I am going to search for knitting needles tomorrow as I fancy taking up knitting again and DS1 and DS2 would like to learn, that should keep us busy for a while.

Have a good weekend.

WelshSaver

Bought the knitting needles this morning and some wool. I taught DS1 and DS2 to knit today and they have picked it up very quickly, we are going to make a patchwork blanket for them, something we can all get involved in. I made a knitted dishcloth with some special dishcloth wool, very proud of that and have used it already.

I have ordered the grocery shop to be delivered tomorrow, including 10 easter eggs for nieces/nephews and have only gone £3.60 over the food budget, I will claw this back from the petrol this week.

WelshSaver

Just a quick update as I have just paid a couple of the credit card bills today. It just feels as though they are not going down quick enough, but I should be pleased that they are getting lower, however slowly. Since I have started this diary I have paid off £904.17 and not used a credit card at all. So the debt now stands at £33048.09, nearly under the £33k. I will work on clearing about £50 extra over the next few weeks just to get it under the £33k. I did sell an item on ebay yesterday, plus I have a couple more things listed.

I am away for the Easter weekend, but will carry on with the money making when I come back. Have a nice Easter all.

WelshSaver

Had to come back early from our weekend away. We took the boys pet hamster away with us, only to wake up this morning and find him dead. DS1 and DS2 are really upset and just wanted to come home and bury him. It is so hard to see them so upset, then DS2 who is 6 said 'does everyone die?' We had a little funeral for him, so just all taking it easy now this afternoon.