Into the unknown....

AnnieG

Nice to meet my Welsh neighbours!

AnnieG

So, I finally managed to speak to someone about my income support... they did the claim wrong, so I haveto start from scratch... Grrrr! They failed to take a note of me saying 'my job finishes on 31 May' and apparently it's my fault for not making it clear. So, I've spent another half an hour on the phone to them this morning, going through a new claim, haveto go back to the job centre on Monday and will then have to wait another 10 days to find out whether they're going to pay me or not. How irritating!
But, I made it to the gym this morning, and have got DS's sports day this afternoon to look forward to. It's actually nice not to have to try and get time off work to go and watch it, it's the first time I've been able to go along to things like this without having to worry about it, and it's really nice!
I'm waiting for a delivery to arrive... neon shoelaces for himself... I hope they hurry up because I want to go to Homebase before going to the school at 1, I need a washing line as the airers I've been using to dry my clothes on for the last 14 years have finally collapsed. I need some compost too for my tomato plants that need repotting, and some potatoes that are patiently waiting to be planted.
I really need to try and get into the flylady thing too, housework really is't my forte!!

AnnieG

Weekends are difficult for saving money.. and I haven't done very well! I took DS and his friend out for dinner last night, it only came to £21 so wasn't horrendous, but treats like this will have to go for a while, at least until I find a job. We went to the park today, there's one with a lovely paddling pool in it, and we took a picnic to save on buying food. Didn't stay too long as it turned into a bit of a disaster, but I know where it is now so we can go another time.
All I've spent today is on some ice creams at the park, and then a bar of choc for both of us late this afternoon, so hasn't been too bad.
I need to do the weekly shop tomorrow - I could have done it today but taking DS to the supermarket is so stressful and I'd end up spending double the amount I need to, so I'll so that in the morning before I go to the job centre for my income support interview.
Only a few weeks till the end of term, when I'll stop paying for childcare, which will be a massive saving - and will mean that I'll be able (fingers crossed) to live on what's coming in and not have to rely on the savings I've got.
Am having a super-early night tonight, I've got hay fever in spite of taking tablets, and am worn out, so it's a nice cup of tea and a snuggle under the duvet with some rubbish tv for me!
Hope everyone had a nice weekend :0)

mummytogirls

Morning Annie,

Just wanted to wish you the best of luck with your moneysaving. You are doing very well so far.

Im with you on the hayfever, some nights if I wake up at 3ish with a stuffy nose I cant get back off to sleep so end up getting up at stupid oclock. No fun ta all really!!

Keep up the good work :T

AnnieG

So, the start of another week. My mission for this morning is to tidy up and clean the kitchen... my house is looking like a bombsite - which is quite normal after having DS at home for the weekend... at least I've got the time to tidy up while he's at school, a luxury I didn't have when I was working. OMG, I must be coming down with something, looking at having the opportunity to tidy up as a luxury! I'm usually allergic to housework, something must be wrong with me!
I've got my appointment with the income suport people later so will have to go into town. I have to go to the bank to get print outs of my accounts, to prove that I'm not actually a millionaire trying to rob the country of the princly sum of £65 per week.
Apart from that, I'm going to plant some carrots and beans today, and do my food shop, which thankfully doesn't need to be huge as I've still got stuff in the freezer to use. DS is going to his dad's for the weekend so I won't have to feed him and his ridiculous appetite! I do need to go and book his birthday party though, so that will even things out.
I'm hoping to hear about a job I've applied for this week. It was advertised a while ago, and I applied and was offered an interview but for one reason and another I withdrew my application. I'm just hoping that I'll get an interview again this time... I can't see why I wouldn't but you never know what recruiters are thinking... and I've been one, so I know!!!!
I think I'll make some lemon biscuits later, I had a craving for them yesterday but didn't have any flour. I shouldn't really because I need to lose some weight, but hey, life's too short to deny yourself biscuits, isn't it??!!
I'm going to go and have a look at the kitchen, and decide whether I can face the cleaning yet. (Probably not).
Happy Monday everyone :0)

AnnieG

Morning Mummytogirls

Thank you! I think the pollen must be extra strong this year (can that happen? I don't actually know, but it seems like a good theory) as plenty of people I know have said that their usual tablets etc aren't working.
Let keep on plugging at the money saving... it's going in the right direction!

mummytogirls

I havent been to bad this year so far, I think its with the weather being cooler for me. Seems that when it gets super hot mine seems to get worse! I use flixonase nasal spray and am just waiting for a prescription for some eye drops. Ive got a prepayment prescription card so might aswell make the most of it!! Tablets dont seem to work for me!!!

AnnieG

I live in Wales where prescriptions are free... I'll ask the doctor for something next time I go, it may be stronger / more effective than what I've been getting over the counter!

AnnieG

Well, I'm shattered after today! I spent the morning doing household bits. Then went into town armed with a bag full of bank statements etc, went to the housing benefit place to give them some extra info that they'd asked for, then to the job centre to make another claim for income support because the last one went wrong... although I have a funny feeling that they might not have put the right date on this one either, we'll see what happens!
Then, I stopped in Smiths and got myself a naughty present... a magazine about moving to France, which is my number one dream. So, I'll spend the rest of the week in a dream world looking at the houses and reading about how other people are living my dream. Still, when I've paid everything off and managed to save something, maybe I'll be able to make it a reality, who knows!
Came home via Mr M where the damage was £27 and some pennies. But, I got loads and had to stock up on flour, oats, coffee (or so I thought, so bought 2 bags for £4 and then got home to find that it was last week that I ran out of coffee, not this week, so I've got loads :j !) sugar, pasta etc, so i'm sorted for staples for a while. I also got a couple of extra tins to pop in the cupboard as I'm trying to build up a reserve just in case things get difficult.
Then when I got in, I made a batch of lemon biscuits. The first batch are perfect, the second.... er, a little bit browner that I'd have liked :rotfl:!

I'm now off to have a soak in the bath before DS gets home from football practice. He can use my second hand water then, which will save on the bill. See, I'm getting the hang of this money saving lark!!!
The bubbles are beckoning, so I'll say goodbye for now! :wave:

AnnieG

Well, today's not been too bad money wise. I wasn't feeling too good this morning so went for a lie down, and woke up 4 hours later! I've only spent on milk and a bar of chocolate today, and have booked DS's birthday party, so that's one thing I don't need to worry about.
No news on the job front / benefits front today. I can't remember the last time I was so eager for the post to arrive in the morning!
I found my seeds earlier, so can now plant some carrots and french beans. I might go and get some more tomato plants tomorrow.
DS has got cookery tomorrow but has lost the list of ingredients he needs (no idea where he gets his scatterbrain tendencies from!!) so I need to go and root through the car to see if it's in there. Otherwise, I'll send him in with an onion and some tinned tomates and hope for the best!
Time for a cup of tea now, and some Eastenders. I don't usually watch it but have been indulging over the last week or so.