Mummytogirls - 100 years to be debtfree - I think not!

Chrysalis1976

Sounds like a lovely time and yay to the steam cleaner, it's nice getting things that you really want. Hope you enjoy your Boxing Day and the kids are enjoying their presents.

C x

mummytogirls

Afternoon Diary,

Had a busy day, just having 5 mins whilst DD is face timing her friend who is currently holidaying in Egypt!!
Had a busy day of steaming ha!!! I steamed the floors downstairs and then the bathrooms. The do feel nice and clean.

Then we have just been out to B n Q for the taps. There weren't many in the sale and TBH there weren't many I liked either. Ended up with some for £58 and then we bought some light fittings for the hallway aswell (we've been meaning to buy some for 7 years ha!!) they we reduced to £18 so not bad at all.

DH just on with the tea now, can't wait I'm starving! xx

mummytogirls

Evening Diary,

Well weve had bad(ish) snow last night which totally ruined todays plan but saved us or rather postponed some spending!! We were supposed to be meeting some friends for tea but the road at the end of ours which is quite a hill was really icy and hasn't been gritted so we decided not to take the risk. We are going to meet up Tuesday instead. This morning saw us out sledging and clearing off some of our street. This was over 2 hours so weve rewarded ourselves with basically doing nothing this afternoon ha!! Well I did finish off some ironing and put a load of washing in.
Emergency tea made which was hm quiche, hm oven chips and beans. Ive got a joint of beef out for tomorrow and will put this in the slow cooker first thing.

So ive been doing some planning in my head today. Mainly thinking about the grocery shopping and how it could work better for me. Im definitely going to do the Mr A click and collect but im not sure how best to budget. A set budget each week doesnt work for me as some weeks we need more than others etc. Hmm any suggestions would be welcome. Im also going to track my NSD's and spends in my diary as ive been very slack with doing this recently and need to do it really to know where we are.

Thats all from me really. Ive got my new filofax insert so plan on updating that and transferring it over this weekend. DH is muttering about taking the tree down tomorrow and to be completely honest im not overly bothered either way. I suppose a bit of order would be nice again!!

Hope everyones ok x

Alice_in_Poorland

Sounds like you're all geared up for 2015 mummy. I got a new spending diary/budget book today, can't wait to start using it. I'm going to carry on saving 5p, 20p and £2 coins....it soon adds up doesn't it, and counting our NSDs.

Great news on the steamer, I've heard great reviews about them.

The only tip I can give with regards to the food budget is to do a meal plan....but I think you already do that!

Xx

Eager_Elephant

mummytogirls wrote: »

So ive been doing some planning in my head today. Mainly thinking about the grocery shopping and how it could work better for me. Im definitely going to do the Mr A click and collect but im not sure how best to budget. A set budget each week doesnt work for me as some weeks we need more than others etc. Hmm any suggestions would be welcome. Im also going to track my NSD's and spends in my diary as ive been very slack with doing this recently and need to do it really to know where we are.

x

Glad you enjoyed the snow:snow_laug
I budget monthly for food to take into account the weeks when we need to replace things like washing powder.

We have a separate current account which is used for food shopping only.

We put in £300 per month - sometimes I top it up but from Jan this will stop as I need to really work out what we are spending.
We used to shop once a month for the main bulk and then weekly for fruit/veg and things for packed lunches but then we rediscovered Morrisons and their bonus weeks and we started going weekly with the idea that we would only spend £40 per week (enough to get a voucher) but it never worked and we kept spending £70 per week:eek:
We are now going back to monthly shopping as I hate the fact that half a day at weekends is taken up with shopping. In between I will use the local greengrocer and hide some crisps from the monthly shop ready for each week.

DH is building me a pantry in the old shed/toilet outside the backdoor as our kitchen is quite small so we will be building stocks up once this is done.

That's on my list for this fortnight off work - clear the shed of everything but the freezer ready for my pantry.

mummytogirls

Morning EE and Alice,

Thank you for your posts and suggestions.

Alice, yes I do meal plan and its very rare we deviate from it!!

EE, I too have tried both those ways but it never seems to work for me . If I bulk buy on things like crisps etc they don't last and then I end up over spending on the small weekly top ups!!

So I've sat down last night and worked out a way thats probably too complex for how the grocery shopping should be done, but hey lets try it and see.

So I've worked out roughly how much we spend at the farmshop each month which is £42 and this gives us roughly 20 'meat' meals. The other 8 meals could be made up of bits out of the freezer, pizza, quick meals such as egg and chips etc, pasta bake.

Then cleaning/toiletries we spend roughly £31 (I'm sure I've forgotten a few bits though). I don't buy cheap toilet roll as I find it just doesn't last where as the more expensive supermarket stuff does. I do usually buy it when its on offer for 24 rolls. I don't really have to time to visit cheaper stores such as HB so will go for Mr A's own branded items.

That leaves us with £45 a week for everything else, bread, milk, fruit etc. I did a quick tally of our usuals last night and they come to £28 so a bit of wiggle room for things I've forgotten. I am definitely going to try the click and collect and use all my notes I made last night to make sure I don't fall into the trap of overspending. This is more complex then anything I've worked out before so will see if this works since nothing else does.

I know damn well that I am spending too much on my shopping, I really need to reign it in!

So last night I went through the budget with a fine tooth comb adding in everything I could think of. How we are going to pay for our holiday which needs paying by May, car and bike MOT's, holiday spending money, dog food etc! Then I realised I haven't put any line in for clothes so need to go back and adjust. Ive also updated my filofax diary and by every payday I put a budget line as all too often I know its birthdays etc coming up but I have no budget for these. Hoping this will prompt me to be more organised.

I do love January for a good overhaul!! Its funny, when I was going through my diary last night, January to March was super organised and then it went slowly down hill from there on in.

So if we can be this super strict to pay off a £2k holiday between now and May theres no reason it can't be continued to pay off more of the debt. Once we come back from holiday though it will be time to think about DD1s birthday and then Christmas. Haven't set my Aug-Dec budget yet, I would like to see how Jan-July pans out first.
This also doesn't take into consideration any pay increases just incase we don't get any!!!

So today, we were going to take the tree down but feeling lazy so not sure this will happen. Ive got a joint of beef in the slow cooker, that will be smelling delish in no time.

Think thats all from me, hope all ok x

mummytogirls

Small spends here today. Been to the coop for some eggs for the yorkshire puddings and DH wanted a parsnip after Christmas lunch!! They were delish il give him that!! Saw a bargain I couldn't resist whilst I was there!! Its DDs birthday party of 17th Jan and they had the little tubes of buttons, freddo faces etc reduced to 50p so I bought 4 for prizes!! This also got me thinking. We've got an unopened box of celebrations, alongside 2 half full boxes of heroes and more celebrations. Will put the unopened box to one side for the children who get 'out' at musical statues etc!!!

£3.71 spent in the Coop x

Chrysalis1976

Sounds like you are really sorting out the shopping budget, I have to say that there are quite a few things that I get from Home Bargains as they are much cheaper than Tesco. We are lucky that we literally live across the road from both stores so easy to nip to.

Examples include stuff that my dh has for lunches/camping trips like noodles 81p in Tesco they are 30something pence in HB, rice pouches are 1.69 in Mr T's and less than 40p in HB (these are great for times when you can't boil it).

I am thinking of going back to having one joint of meat a week to reduce costs and make it more of a treat, the family is good at eating veg anyway so should be quite straight forward. Also need to get into the habit of making more bread and rolls as these always go down well.

C x

smarties84

Keep up the good work x

mummytogirls

Afternoon Diary,

Thanks Chrysalis and Smartie for popping in . Chrysalis you are so lucky that you have HB so close. Ours is in the town centre. Every week day I have to come straight home to collect the girls from school so can't go then. Only time is weekend and its in a really busy retail park so thats why I avoid plus its about 20 mins away. My DH is so into his chicken, I don't think I could change that ha!!

So yesterday the roast beef dinner we had was absolutely delicious, can't get over how nice ha!! Ive got another 3 portions frozen for hot beef sandwiches, pie and probably another beef dinner.

This morning we didn't get up until almost 9am which not like my kids at all . DH made us all breakfast again, DD2 had cereal, DD1 boiled egg and soldiers and DH and I had scrambled egg on toast. We cleaned the kitchen then I cracked on with the ironing whilst he walked the dog. Our tree is all down now, living room cleaned to within an inch of its life and I've also steamed my carpets .
We haven't even got dressed yet!! DH is about to go out with the dog and kids again to sledge so I think il stay home and enjoy a well earned rest!!

So tomorrow we've got an electrician coming to fit some new lights be bought for the hallway. After we will probably go to the local MnS with a voucher we got and buy some nice food.

Thats about all from me. Hope all ok x