Pen's sunny ramblings, debtbusting whilst smiling

OrangeFairy

I hope you have a great time away Pen - you deserve it!

Will look forward to hearing about it when you get back xxx

penelopedee_2

Back to work today - but on the bright side it wasn't too bad and at least I didn't have half a forest worth of paperwork dumped on my desk

The holiday was lovely and we all enjoyed it. Weather was so so but we managed to find loads of cheap and free things to do - it was good.

Spends wise, I think we did ok. I still have a little left to top up my pocket money for next week's jaunt and I haven't had to use the CC, so I'm happy. I was surprised actually at how cheap we could do things, even with a couple of meals out, if we just stopped to think and spend a little time sussing out the area etc.

I've now finished the mountain of ironing and the cats have forgiven me for going away.

Positive thoughts to get me through the week (and having to do a bit of overtime to catch up!):

* The holiday hasn't made my debt any worse
* We all had a good time and I've had requests to go back to the same site in future
* Its only 6 days until we're off again (this time on a 'gifted' trip)
* Debts are plodding along, still knocking them down bit by bit, day by day
*If I do overtime this week I can have a day in lieu which will help with childcare
* DH has promised to sort work out as soon as school starts back (or I've refused to book any more holidays 'forever')
* Paperwork has come through for him to apply for his missing redundancy payment
* The garden and grass we planted before we went away survived and is now looking quite good for one of our efforts

DH is watching the cricket at the moment so I might just have to sneak a glass of white in to keep me going

OrangeFairy

I am soooo glad you had a great holiday Pen. You definitely deserved it.

Loving your positive thoughts!

Something perhaps i should start doing

Enjoy the wine x

penelopedee_2

I can't believe another week has flown by. I've worked all week to accrue another lieu day and DH has been incharge of child care (although I did feel for him the other day when he had a friends two daughters as well). He's got more patience than I have

Today I'm trying to get washing done ready to go away again on Monday but the weather is trying to ambush that. Hopefully there will be more cloud than showers and some of it will dry. I really need to do some housework too, I'd forgotten what affect the school holidays have on the house - and I'd better go shopping or we won't have enough cat food for the 4 furries next week :eek:

Then we've got a bbq and an evening do tonight so it will be lots of running around again and hopefully not too expensive an evening.

Moneywise we are breaking even - which is much better (and long may it last, fingers crossed etc etc). I haven't added anything to the debt and we've enough pocket money for next week. I have even managed to put a little in the Christmas fund this week.

Positive thoughts to get me through the weekend:

* Plenty of social stuff going on today to keep everyone occupied
* I'm not completely stressed out about money (determined not to take my eye off the ball though!)
* I only need need few bits of groceries and I've also got a couple of vouchers I can use up to reduce this.
* Work was good last week and I managed to do everything I needed to so I'm not stressed about that either (for once).
* I've managed two small overpayments on a little CC bill that we have - so that's half cleared. Aiming to clear the other half from money I don't spend when we are away next week.

The boys bought me back some funky garden gnomes when they went to the coast earlier in the week (cheap shop, don't panic - they've been trained well ). I'm just waiting for some clearer weather to put them in my new garden so that I can sit and admire them.

Right, the washing up isn't going to happen by itself. Time to get out of the PJ's I think.

Have a lovely weekend all, Pen

Choc-addict

Only just realised that you had a new diary Pen!! Hope you are well and glad you had a great hols. Will catch up properly this evening when not working xx

penelopedee_2

Hi Choc, have just got back from hols. Weather was a bit dodgy but we had a good time. Luckily its sunnier now so my washing is out on the line.

Hope you've settled in your new home x

penelopedee_2

Back to the debtbusting. The holiday went well and apart from the rainiest day ever, we managed to get out and about and have a really good time. I even kept spends to a minimum and have stashed some cash back ready to start the next debt vs 100 day challenge.

I've had a nice, busy day, enjoying the sunshine to get the holiday washing done and spending a bit of time in the garden. I used some vouchers to get some bulbs ready for next spring and have also planted some cylamen (?sp) and winter pansies. Its lovely having a bit of a garden again, DH can't believe how much time I spend out there. I also completely de-cluttered the shed and took a couple loads to the tip. The floor is rotting away though so may have to sweet talk Dad into finding some new wood for it (he's brill with that type of thing).

I need to attack the ironing mountain tomorrow :eek: and also get back into my studies. I know I'm a bit behind on one of the courses and the other one really eats into my time - some clever juggling is needed I think.

So my positve thoughts to get me through the next couple of days ...

* More sunshine than rain is forecast
* After 15 years I can finally get into my shed and find things
* The house is nice, calm and happy today and we are all chillin in front the TV
* I managed to do the big shop alone this morning
* I enjoy both my courses so studying will be fine when I get back into it
* My hols have left me feeling happy and relaxed and I don't go back to one of my jobs until mid next week - lovely
* Everyone is well at Pen Towers and the skint lifestyle seems to be suiting us

beanielou

All sounding good

penelopedee_2

I was having a bit of a wobble about our debt today but I pulled myself together, determined not to let it over cloud my last day off work.

So, its a new school term and I'm back to work tomorrow. I'm just about to iron my favourite top to wear and I've cleared out my 'holiday handbag' back to my work one. All I need now is a pencil case and dinner money :rotfl: (only joking in true MSE style I make sure work provides the stationery and I will be making sarnies to take shortly).

Moneywise, on a positive note, I still have two jobs and should get a bit extra in next week's wages so I can hide it back for Christmas. I was panicing that we'd spent loads over the summer but realistically we haven't and there is nothing I can do about buying new school uniform and shoes. I've even managed to get rid of two little debts and will be slaying another CC as soon as the bill comes in next week. So we are moving forward slightly and without working every hour god sends, there is not much more I can do at the moment. I will be back to chucking everything I can at the debt tomorrow when the new challenge starts so I'm doing my best.

Positives for today:

* it was sunny
* school lunch money for this and next week is waiting in the pot
* nobody needs a coat this side of Christmas and shoes and trainers have been purchased for DS without bankrupting me
* the freezer still has a lot of meat and stuff in it which will help keep the groceries down next week
* I've made a mini hamper for a family birthday next week, all out of freebies and special offers

I've decided to stop shopping for groceries on-line as I found 2 weeks were turning into 10 days, then 7 as I don't really have a big enough kitchen to store much. £4-5 a week delivery costs is more than I would spend impulsively so its back to a weekly shop. I've set myself a limit to spend each week - one for the big shop and then I'll get out a tenner for anything in between (which will be more than enough) and the change can go in the dinner money pot.

Off to raid the freezer now - told the boys its a pot luck tea tonight

penelopedee_2

Another couple of days have gone by already - where is my time going?!?

We've done ok spendwise the last couple of days and I am spending less shopping for groceries myself rather than on line. Actually its quite a bit less which has surprised me.

DS is now back at school and despite the fact he's a teenager now I still felt sad and proud watching him go back to school in his uniform. Lets just hope the new shoes last at least until half term :eek:

I'm confused at one of my jobs at the moment as they seem to be giving out bad vibes regarding part time working. I love it there and love my job so I really hope I'm just being paranoid.

Ok then, positive thoughts to keep me going:

* Home life is fine and we are all well
* Rugby has started back in full so weekends will be easier to plan and cheaper now
* My new home grown lawn is growing nicely (I never thought we'd end up loving gardening!)
* I've managed to keep my new garden plants alive and some are still flowering thanks to the nice weather
* Its the weekend and I don't have to do any driving tomorrow unless I feel like it - I might even stay up late tonight!

I'm just waiting for the boys to come back from watching the football with a nice glass of white on the go. Perhaps I can fit in a bit more girly TV before they come in and take over.

Have a lovely weekend all, Pen x