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

WelshWoofer

Morning! Feeling much better today - good job really as I have tons to do before going back to work tomorrow.
I MUST write all year 7-11 lessons for this week - probably about 5-6 hours work:eek:
At least I've done all of the urgent marking - that's the boring bit so glad that's out of the way.

I bought some M&S vouchers yesterday for mum's birthday and some cards to send down - must remember to post it all tomorrow.

I also took £20 out of the cashpoint and have £15 of it left in my purse. That means that the £150 I have left in the bank now needs to pay for 1 weeks shopping (budget £50 max) and next weeks spending money (budget £40 max) leaving about £60 to put into savings account when I get paid on Friday 14th Jan. That's the plan anyway! If I can manage that I'll be chuffed to bits - actually managing to save something during the Xmas pay month:T:T

Right better get on with school work.................:(

WelshWoofer

Haven't managed to post much lately but have been doing ok.
I think I'll save £50 this month which is pretty good considering its been Christmas month I think! I haven't used the CC at all, am not overdrawn and have stuck to the grocery budget (just) this week (£50.30 from a budget of £50).:A

Its payday on Friday and I don't need anything between now and then and have about £10 in my purse so fingers crossed for not spending anymore. The £50 left in the bank will be transferred straight over to the emergency savings account (aiming for £500, will be up to almost £100 with the extra £50).

My aim for this week is to find out how to reclaim about £220 I have overpaid in tax (wrong tax code for 2 months). That would boost the emergency fund quite nicely!

Went to see 127 Hours yesterday - very good - not as gruesome as expected and very well acted.

I'm also up to £13 in survey money - aiming for £25 to pay for sister's birthday pressie in March - halfway there now:T
Back to work tomorrow - will try to be more diligent about posting this week!

WelshWoofer

Shattered after work today - longest day ever!
But on the positive side I have had a NSD:j That's 4 this month so far - will try for 10 so need to find 6 more in the next 20 days - sounds doable?

Nothing much to report today - am just going to have a storecupboard tea (chick pea dahl, rice and naan bread), walk the dog for the third time today, watch soaps and have a bath.

Right off to start tea.....

WelshWoofer

Another working day and again nothing much to tell you.:o
Only spent £4 today (following yesterday's NSD) so not too bad I suppose.
Checked the bank and they've taken the flipping account charges (£12) out - forgot about that so that's £12 less to go to the savings account on Thursday night.:mad:
Done another survey towards the birthday fund - hopefully will get there before the beginning of March - apparently Amazon e-vouchers are instantly sent so as soon as the survey money clears I can order the pressie.

I'm aiming to take lunch to work every day this month and have managed it so far, just have to keep it up now. Sounds easier than it is.....

Staying in again tonight, catching up on telly and having a bath - Wednesday tomorrow - hurrah!

WelshWoofer

Long day - (parents evening and knackered).......

• NSD:j
• Took lunch to work
• Got £10 amazon voucher for surveys towards sister's b'day pressie - £8.50 ish left as survey balance so won't be long before I can order the next £10 voucher - getting nearer to a no-spend b'day pressie!
• All food from stores
• Checked bank - payday tomorrow:p
• Transferred what was left in current account into savings ready for a new month tomorrow - hurrah!
• Managed to make petrol last until payday

Pooped now - will post properly tomorrow

WelshWoofer

Well, we went out last night and I managed to spend just £20 so not too bad - the downside is a hangover today even though I didn't drink that much, booo!

I have been to Mr T's and done the weekly shop - torture this morning! I sent £60 - £10 over the budget of £50. I'm sure I did buy a few things that weren't strictly necessary but I also noticed that the prices are going up - for example a pasta sauce I always buy used to be £1.36 now its £1.68! If everything goes up by the same amount there's no wonder the budget isn't going as far!

I have been paid and done the budget for this month - its all doable, just, without getting overdrawn or using the CC. I also managed to save about £50 from last month's wages, its in the emergency account now.:)

I also have £8.40 in the survey account so just £1.60 left to get for another £10 Amazon voucher - easier than I thought! A No Spend birthday - just need to get a card - just thought, I think I have one in a drawer so it truely could be a NSB!

Had a NSD today (I don't count the weekly shop) and we're stayingin tonight with a box office movie rather than going to the cinema - £3.99 spend instead of about £20 on tickets, treats etc (and I can wear pyjamas!)

I'd like to save at least another £50 or so this month so every small thing will help - there are no big plans for the month (no birthdays, events, big nights out planned) so I may just hibernate and wait for the next payday!

WelshWoofer

Had a good shopping session today.....

• Took an unwanted xmas pressie back to Monsoon and exchanged it for a lovely hand bag reduced from £30 to £9 and a bangle for £1.50
• Used a No 7 £5 voucher to buy foundation (£10 instead of £15)
• Got another £5 No 7 voucher and used it to buy make up remover for £2 instead of £7
• Used Boots points to "buy" shower gel, bubble bath and lip salve - free!

Quite pleased with the haul!

pixiechick99

WelshWoofer wrote: »

Had a good shopping session today.....

• Took an unwanted xmas pressie back to Monsoon and exchanged it for a lovely hand bag reduced from £30 to £9 and a bangle for £1.50
• Used a No 7 £5 voucher to buy foundation (£10 instead of £15)
• Got another £5 No 7 voucher and used it to buy make up remover for £2 instead of £7
• Used Boots points to "buy" shower gel, bubble bath and lip salve - free!

Quite pleased with the haul!

Great bargains!! I'm off to Boots this weekend for my No.7 powder which will cost £3 with my £5 off...bought a lovely dark teal green nail varnish with my last one, bit of a luxury not an essential:o
I have nearly £30 in Advantage points, quite excited with that, and don't need anything so will keep hold for a while, lovely:)

WelshWoofer

Hi Milly! Its brilliant when you get free stuff isn't it! Makes up for all those little accidental spends!

Just a boring old work day today - but I did take lunch with me and had a NSD:j
My sister put £25 that she owed me in my bank so I have transferred it to the emergency savings account that's now up to £90 - just £410 to go:p

I still haven't got around to sorting out my tax refund - £220 will be on its way to me if I ever get my act in gear!

Just some school marking, dog walking and a nice bath on the cards for tonight - you can tell its a Tuesday!

WelshWoofer

Morning all!
Sorry I haven' been around for a few days - my grandmother died on Thursday (91 and very poorly, so a blessing really) so I have been on a 500 mile round trip to Wales to help my dad (it was my mum's mum) sort out the arrangements etc. Dad is capable of doing this himself but has just has his hip replaced and is on crutches and can't drive. Of course I needed to be there for my mum too.

So I am now an expert in doctors, death certificates, registrars, funeral directors etc - amazing all the stuff that needs doing after a bereavement.

It means that the DFW stuff has sort of gone out of the window for a few days - extra £40 petrol, £50 for flowers for the funeral etc, bits and pieces for mum from the shops..... it all adds up.:o

But I got back last night and added a £5 bottle of wine to the spends (purely medicinal!) and then went through the finances that are now looking decidedly poor after the extra unbudgeted expenses. Oh well, these things happen. On the positive side OH did try to do some housework for me while I was away bless him - not fabulous, but certainly good enough for this week!

Off to Mr T's in a bit with a list - would like to spend less than the £50 budget to try to pull back a little bit of money - never happens though!

I probably won't be able to save anything this month now - just £10 would take the emergency account up to £100 so maybe that should be my rather pathetic aim?:o

Right, lots to do so better get on with it.