Pen's sunny ramblings, debtbusting whilst smiling

penelopedee_2

Positively sunny things from the last couple of days:

* NS day yesterday
* Lovely cooked tea of sausages and giant yorkshires
* Sunny, warm weather today
* Work not too hectic
* Laughing at the news because a Christmas shop has opened already :eek:
* Finding the bottom of the ironing pile
* AF for 2 days now and beginning to feel the benefits
* Still in credit and chipping away at the CB bill
* Had yummy homemade sarnies using last night's spare sausages and apple sauce (think I have some left for tomorrow too)
* Just bread and milk bought to top up the groceries lunchtime

DH and DS have started recording old Black Adders so I know what we'll be watching tonight Off to put the kettle on ....

OrangeFairy

Just a quick pop in to say hi!! I have been a bit AWOL lately!!

ill update properly tonight

I hope you enjoy the blackadders!!

(ps i am start on xmas purchases already!!) :D:D:D

penelopedee_2

Hiya Kel, as soon as we are back from hols the 'c' shopping/making will start. I'll like to have it sorted by mid November - my stepmum thinks I'm mad though!

A good few days here. The bathroom floor is done and looking lovely (bless my DH). DS is enjoying his last week of the summer term and work seems to be rolling along ok.

I messed up one of the debt over-payments this month though by being too keen and putting it in too quickly so it was picked up on last month's bill. Umm.. need to get creative again now to find the money to repeat it this month. Still, at least the total is going down.

We are all in tonight and the boys are still giggling at Black Adder

penelopedee_2

Smiley thoughts today to keep me going:

*I've just realised how much easier my summer is going to be with DH doing the summer holiday childcare.
*CB bill is coming down gradually which will clear all little debt before I start bashing the biggies again
*I got another one of my course sections sign off today
*DH is out and DS upstairs so I have some girly TV on for a change
*Meal plans followed all week and the cupboards are still full so won't need a shop for a week or so

Might have a nice peaceful early night. If the weather clears up I'd like to take the boys out somewhere for the day at the weekend (hopefully not a car or war museum though). Our house is always a bit at odds during the break between football seasons, they'll need something else to distract them. I might even get the outside walls painted for me if I drop enough hints

penelopedee_2

I am having an absolutely minging day at work so decided I needed to do something positive, quick and easy ....

Applied and have been accepted for a 0% CC which I can transfer some of the family debt to. Means that some of it will be in my name but I'm the only one with a decent credit rating, so needs must. It will save me over £50 a month :eek: Well it will and it won't as that £50 will just be chucked back at the debt.

Another positive little step forward

penelopedee_2

I've had an expensive day today, some a bit frivalous (I bought a portable DVD player for the holiday :eek:) and some needed. We did buy everything as cheap as we could get it but my pocket is feeling very empty at the moment.

Its DS's b'day in the week so mainly it was a day out for him to choose a few bits and to be fair, he spent most of the time looking for the bargains and sorting out the best prices so I can't moan. Hopefully he'll remember days like this when he gets older.

So my positive bits for today are:

* DS can spot a bargain and is starting to take interest in what things costs.
* DH refrained from blowing a lot of money.
* I got two pairs of leather shoes (nice pretty ones) for £6 each which should last me now over the winter as my many pairs of boots are still ok too.
* Having a nice family evening in, cheap and happy.

penelopedee_2

We had a good family chat last night about what luxuries we could give up and what we really wanted to keep. To be fair, we are as MSE as possible with most things but I wanted everyone to be clear where we are money wise etc.

So fair we've come up with:

* Everyone is happy that birthdays and Christmas can be used for clothes (other than uniforms / essentials).
* DH has already been using his 'pocket money' for going out with the boys and we've said he can keep it for now especially as he'll be home all week over the summer on childcare duties.
* As long as meal plans are followed and we keep the grocery bill on budget we will save any grocery fund remaining for meals out or takeaways - we keep a jar in the kitchen and we all drop spare change etc in it.
* We would like to have a few cheap caravan breaks during the year, so we'll carry on saving bits and bobs to cover it. Both boys are happy to save up their pocket money for their holiday spends.
* The car is essential and if it goes wrong more than we've put back for it, then we will raid all the fun funds to pay for it, rather than chuck it on a card.
* My hair cut/occasional colour stays as an essential - its the only social thing I spend on really that involves other females. (I go to the cheapest hairdressers in the village)
* Sports activities will be budgetted for DS, but if either boys want to go to football matches then they will have to save their pocket money for it.
* Sky stays for now - I'll keep the sports and children's channels because they do use it a lot. But if things get any tighter that's the first thing that goes.

Well, its looks like we are really extravagant but its not really. I do want to keep plodding on with the debtbusting and I don't see the point of making everyone really unhappy while I do it.

I used my pocket money/AF days cash yesterday to buy the portable DVD player and I've stashed away funds for school uniform and shoes. Holiday spends are sat waiting in my savings account and I've saved Tesco vouchers and bits and bobs to get some nice food to take with us (love caravaning it makes a holiday so much cheaper).

Hopefully that's the summer taken care of. Emergency fund is growing slowly as is the Christmas fund. Now I'm off to be creative in Tesco as I need party tea bits to put back for DS's b'day

penelopedee_2

I think I'm going to have to re-teach myself to bake cakes. I've blown the grocery budget a bit now this week as the shop was full of party bits. But all is not lost, I'd forgotten I won't need school lunch money this month now so that can go back into the pot.

This money saving lark gives me brain ache at times

Off to find some cook books for some more ideas - I've got flour, eggs, marg, oats and sugar and there are probably plenty of flavouring bits if I emptied out the cupboards. I need to find the birthday candles too (they are older than DS's as we save and recycle them each birthday).

postingalwaysposting

penelopedee wrote: »

Off to find some cook books for some more ideas...

Pen have you made the MSE 'hob nobs' before? I know there arn't very party friendly but you could use them for luches/snacks. Not too good for low cal/low fat though :rotfl:

Also why not make normal cakes and spice them up with different toppings/flavours. Although that depends if you have the essence etc already in the cupboards

penelopedee_2

Thanks Pap, I might give the twinks a try, DS loves them.

A strange day today and the few positive thoughts I have sort of come at the expense of others, I'm a bit mixed feelings about it all. So there are a couple positives in a weary day and at least I have a job to go to in the morning.

*I still have the job I love
*I've still got my nice boss
*We are all safe, happy and well.

Hopefully this week will pick up now, I've got some party food to get to grips with