The Final Push - Getting Rid of the Last Loan and CC

WelshWoofer

Just a quickie - Dorothy Perkins kindly swapped the top for me for the same one in black - much more likely to wear that!
Posted the ebay parcel - cost less than I'd anticipated.:T
Had hair done - a nice round £50 but worth it! (and budgeted for)

Off to update spends....

WelshWoofer

Not much in the way of excitement to report today!
We're off to M&S to buy some nice food for New Years Eve as we're staying in and then to the butchers to get OH's meat for the next few weeks (OH pays).
After that I'll do some meal planning ready for the shopping list for the weekend.

Other than that its general housework and marking some school books to keep me occupied.

May come back later with a meal plan to try to keep me on track.

pixiechick99

Hello:D
I've just found your diary and read through - loving the lists:T
I don't know how you manage to work in KS3...both my girls are that age and to teach that lot would seriously scare me! I'm a TA in KS1, much more my cup of tea;) I'm at uni still, on my foundation degree for TAs...urghhh the studying is hard going isn't it?! I remember saying to you I'd like to teach like you've done (am same age as you too)...but I don't think I fancy any more studying after this year!

Anyway, off to subscribe to your diary:p

WelshWoofer

Thanks Milly! Teaching teenage kids is a challenge sometimes but a good one - some of the things they come out with (especially as I teach biology!) are mind bogggling!
I don't regret changing careers although I used to earn a lot more - the reduction in salary has helped me in a strange way to control my finances better - focuses the mind I suppose.

Well, been to the shops and bought £30 of meat from the butchers that will last OH at least a month I hope - some of the bits and pieces were a treat (mini lamb roasts etc) and others more basic but good value and sourced locally and supporting a local shop.

We also went to M&S and got stuff for tomorrow - OH was like a kid in a sweet shop with all of the nice things - he's never been in the food hall before and, being him, doesn't look at the prices!
I also picked up a nice bath mat (desperately needed, the old one has gone a manky looking even after washing) for £7 in Matalan so haven't gone mad spending!

Have tidied the house and had a general faff about and planned tea so just the meal plan and shopping list to go now - Mr S gave me a £4 off a £40 spend voucher so I'll shop there and try to stick to around £40 (budget is £50). We don't need any toiletries but will need some cleaning stuff and laundry liquid - the rest should be mainly fresh food, cereal and packed lunch bits.

WelshWoofer

Well, I've done the freezer and cupboard inventory and have found that we actually have tons in!
The shopping list now consists of fruit and veg, sandwich stuff, some dairy, a few storecupboard things like cereal and laundry stuff. If I'm really lucky I can make it £30 ish - although I am notoriously rubbish at estimating food shopping costs!

WelshWoofer

I struggled round Mr T's this morning full of cold and germs (needed to get medicine) and it was so quiet that I decided to do the weekly shop today instead of tomorrow and managed to spend £40.10 out of a £50 weekly budget - quite pleased with that as it did include cold and flu stuff, tissues, extra fruit for vitamins and some cleaning and laundry stuff. *(told you I was rubbish at estimating cost!)

I had done a meal plan and shopping list and don't think we'll need anything else until next weekend so hopefully I'm under budget for the week - could do with it too as I'm hoping to save about £70 from the month's wages to help put some cash back in the emergency account after Xmas (up to £45 now so will be over £100 if I can control my spending for another 10 days - want to get to £500 over 6 months).

Have checked banks today and no surprises and have decided to give mum M&S vouchers for her birthday - not very imaginative but she doesn't want or need anything and loves Per Una and regularly goes with friends on shopping outings so can spend them as she sees something she fancies.

Will have to pop to M&S when the cold lifts and buy them and a card to post on Tuesday (birthday is about a week away).
I also ordered pressies for her from my disabled sister so she'll have something delivered ready to give her on the day - I live 300 miles away so can't just pop in:(.

Off to lie on settee and recuperate.....

pixiechick99

Happy new year Rachel...hope you feel better soon. Boo to having a cold to start your year off.....it can only get better:rotfl:

WelshWoofer

Just rejoined the NSD challenge for January - I won't count DDs, petrol or the main food shop each week but all other spending counts. Aiming for 10 in January.
So today was NSD no 1!

WelshWoofer

Hi Milly!
Still sniffing but not feeling quite as sorry for myself now!

pixiechick99

WelshWoofer wrote: »

Just rejoined the NSD challenge for January - I won't count DDs, petrol or the main food shop each week but all other spending counts. Aiming for 10 in January.
So today was NSD no 1!

I'm off to sign up too, haven't joined in with it for ages:o I'm exactly the same, I don't count groceries as I have a separate account for those, so as long as it's paid for with that account then it doesn't count. The grocery budget's not huge either so can't sneak things in, I am strict!!

WelshWoofer wrote: »

Hi Milly!
Still sniffing but not feeling quite as sorry for myself now!

Aaah, get a hot water bottle and an early night:)