Lucifa's (Ac)counting the pennies DFW diary

Lucifa73

MSE activity update - I have done the switch to British Gas using the MSE Energy savers link. Don't think I have ever done this before... Next has to be the bank account... Watch this space!

lonelyrat

Everything sounds great! Glad you're loving YNAB.... You may inspire me to give it another go. I tried the trial last year I think but got a bit muddled with it all. Will check out the guy you suggested!

I hope your hubs can claim it back - that's a lot of cash to be missing!

I really want to see A Star Is Born... But I think it might take a bit of convincing to get OH to go with me. He's more interested in Venom (which I also want to see, but not sure if it's worth a cinema trip!)

Something that's perfect will come along for you job-wise. Just a bit pants knowing you're too experienced .... It's not like you can become less experienced :rotfl:

Lucifa73

Afternoon!

Hubbles' money for joint account hit our bank this morning so that has been YNAB'd to the last penny. I nearly gave up on the app until I checked out YouTube. So glad I stuck with it - I have never been so in touch with my money, ever and I have been keeping a budget spreadsheet for years!!! Still trying to get Hubbles on board but I manage the joint account so his involvement is kind of academic...

I get paid tomorrow so will get to play around again which I am weirdly looking forward to. This one will take us into November (Hubbles' pay is a day before the mortgage and insurances are due so it more or less vanishes overnight!). We have also hit the weird point in the year where my pay starts hitting the bank before his - I am living in hope that YNAB will minimise any confusion that causes! On paper it should be an easy thing with us a whole pay better off in the summer but it never seems to work out like that and I can't really explain why.

Not much else to report. I'm in Glasgow today and the temptation to spend is always massive here (my favourite stationery and art shops are so close by!) but other than an anniversary gift for himself and underpants for C I have resisted. I deserve a medal for sure - right???

TTFN
Luc x

beanielou

Definatly a gold star!

Choccygirl123

Hi lucifer, just popped in to say hello. Have got half way through your diary, but making good progress x

Lucifa73

Morning campers Hi-di-hi!!!

(totally showing my age... :eek:)


Good grief Choccy, please tell me you didn't go all the way back to the beginning!!!

Did a wee grocery shop this weekend... £465.03 in total.

Before you fall off your MSE chairs in disbelief, I should explain - we get 20% off this week through work so I've saved £116.26 and we have cleaning stuff/dry goods, cat food and meat to last us from 3-6months. At the till we split it down to get 4 vouchers for 10p off fuel. There was no point doing more because they expire too quickly but FIL will get use of one, as will BIL who is visiting from Oz and Hubbles used one last night and will use the last one to fill up before it expires. On top of that we used TB MC so will get points for shopping PLUS points for using TBCC. There is not an inch of storage left so I am happy we maxed out the opportunity, although Hubbles is rumbling about picking up Xmas booze if he gets time before the deal ends.

All spends have been YNABed so I can see which pots covered the spend and I'll pay off the CC this week. I will start to build a double discount fund for next time.

I also put my monthly savings into my cash tin which now holds c.£620 with one more payment of £70 due next payday. I also need to start a new tin for 2019 Xmas spends, first month is £5. This is the 'Penny a Day' savings challenge but I pay my tin monthly. I like to run from October so I have a little more leeway in my November & December budget.

The only other news is that I have scratched my eye. This means:

• I am relegated to glasses, which leaves me feeling really off balance,
• I have spent most of the weekend with my right I shut, and
• The husband and kids have shown their sympathy by making pirate noises at every opportunity over the weekend. :rotfl:

I'm headed down South for training this week so spends should be minimal, or at least reclaimable!

Have a fab week.
Lx

lonelyrat

Definitely deserve a medal - well done!
A "wee grocery shop" :eek: :rotfl: hahaha it does sound very smart and well planned.

Ouch re: the eye... How did you manage that? Hope you heal up sooner rather than later. Or maybe if you don't you could have a pirate themed halloween!

Lucifa73

Honestly Lovely, Idon't even know. Back into contacts today so feeling more human now

The double discount really makes a difference. Also, since I have started keeping an inventory of the freezer and cupboards our food waste is almost zero. Our weekly shop should now be about £30 for 4 of us, if that as I won't be buying cleaning products for a long while yet (for example we have c180 dishwasher tablets now so that's easy 6 moths worth) and shouldn't need to buy meat (except Xmas dinner) until the new year (which really isn't far away :eek:)

I need to YNAB today as I was indulgent yesterday and got my nails done whilst I was in the airport. I also got a free makeover and blagged some free samples of foundation so probably have enough to get me to Xmas now as I only rarely wear full makeup (usually make do with a primer and CC to even skin tone).

I'm waffling now really so will sign off.
Lx

lonelyrat

Aww I love to read a waffle as I am the queen of waffle land (errr, sounds worse than it did in my head!) Love the "lovely" too - making me blush :rotfl: Glad you're less piratical now haha!

Well done on getting your food waste down. It's something I really want to try and work on.... Tomorrow I will be going through the cupboards/ fridge/ freezer to try and get a better handle on where we stand. I know we waste more food than necessary and I feel guilty about it.
It isn't far away is it?! :Eek:

Indulgences sound fab! I've not had anyone do my nails in years and years! Potentially because I've become such an introvert (:rotfl:) but whenever I got them done it was so lovely! Well done on the samples / makeover! I'm exactly the same with makeup. I use "it cosmetics" CC cream if I'm doing makeup and otherwise just leave it at moisturiser! I feel anything other than a CC cream feels too heavy on me... Probably just because I'm not used to wearing makeup at all!

I saw something recently which I quite fancy - Löwengrip self tan drops. You add a drop or two into your moisturiser and it very gradually gives you a bit of a glow. £31 quid though for a tiny wee bottle so potentially (if OH gets a job) I'll ask for it for Christmas to try out!

Lucifa73

All good in the 'hood. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: (seriously - how old am I:rotfl:).

A quiet non-spendy weekend, in fact now I think on it Saturday and Sunday were both NSD :j

Friday, however, was most decidedly not. The Creative Crafts show was in town and Friday was my fortnightly day off. I wanted to learn sashiko and as I was in town for an appointment anyway I decided I would get a ticket and have the day out. I love wandering around with my headphones in just browsing and getting ideas for drawing/making things.

The sashiko tutorial was lovely and relaxing (although it turns out there really isn't that much to learn...) so I bought some bits to take home and make (including a kit which will be made up into a C-word present for Mum) because, you know, I don't have enough hobby stuff already...

I then browsed the rest of the show. It was a bit disappointing to be honest - nothing new and exciting to explore although I did have a go at soldering at the end of the afternoon and made 3 glass C-word decorations that are quite pretty. Maybe I should ask for a soldering iron this year... :rotfl:

Nothing else to report. I updated my freezer/cupboard inventory and have a draft food plan. Last night we had a roast w. chips, carrots and mushrooms for dinner and tonight is leftovers with rice. Tomorrow will be omelettes. Wednesday & Thursday the males are all out then Friday we are at a Halloween party so not much cooking to be done (I live on toast and meat paste when the males are out of the house - probably not the healthiest but I have fallen out of love with cooking so can't be faffed when it is just me ) I will need to bake tonight and Tuesday for the office Halloween bake off. Madeleines and vegan meringues for the win???

Have a great week all y'all :rotfl: