A sorry state of affairs....

mooomin

MrsNotAPenny wrote: »

I'm going to make a deal with myself.

If I give 100% effort to debt busting in September and I get my 2 1/2 stone award (7.5lbs to go!) I'll budget and buy it.

i think the urge has passed

Treats for milestones do work

I will say though...

I used to be a Benefit snob and only used their mascara. I got a Maybelline one recently from a competition (so it was free ) and it's actually really good. I won't be going back to Benefit!

Look out on the comps board for competitions for cosmetics, as they normally give away thousands of items so it's worth a go.

MrsNotAPenny

flying_fresian wrote: »

Treats for milestones do work

I will say though...

I used to be a Benefit snob and only used their mascara. I got a Maybelline one recently from a competition (so it was free ) and it's actually really good. I won't be going back to Benefit!

Look out on the comps board for competitions for cosmetics, as they normally give away thousands of items so it's worth a go.

Funnily enough, I recently swore I'd never go back to Benefit after finding an amazing Avon (honestly!) mascara. So, I don't even know why I'm so tempted by it! I think it's because it's shiny....!! :rotfl:

mooomin

MrsNotAPenny wrote: »

Funnily enough, I recently swore I'd never go back to Benefit after finding an amazing Avon (honestly!) mascara. So, I don't even know why I'm so tempted by it! I think it's because it's shiny....!! :rotfl:

Step away from the internet, it's clearly a bad influence!

I was using Christian Dior foundation (£23!!!) because I won it in a comp, but have replaced it with No7 stuff that's just as good. I have given up on posh brands now. Apart from MAC eyeshadow. Once I find one that's half as good I'll think about giving it up, but the day hasn't come yet

MrsNotAPenny

The internet is a bad influence! Luckily, you and MSE are good influences.

I'm going to go by the competition boards before bed (been engrossed in OS most of the night!)

Eager_Elephant

Hi

Do you know you can renew your licence online without providing a new picture providing you have a passport which was issued within the last 5 years?

I didn't until I went online and found out so that saved me £6 on photo's which was good as the actual renewing of the licence costs £20!!!

EE

MrsNotAPenny

Thanks EE. I didn't know that, unfortunately my passport runs out next month to! It never rains, eh?

Wonder if you can do it the other way about? If/when I renew my licence, if they could use the same photo for my passport? Don't suppose it makes much difference if I have ti pay for 4/6 photos anyway! Not planning to renew my passport any time soon, the temptation to jet off somewhere when the going gets tough, would be too much for me to resist!

So, today started a bit duff. Gain 0.5lbs (damn you takeaway! You cost me a tenner and a gain!) Went from my group (which I drank 2 free cups of tea at) to the supermarket, to get the stuff on my 'list'.

I did dead good £19.02 (£8.97 on baby, £6.75 on groceries and £3.30 on 'extras' - strawberries, 2 yougurts, 6 tins of juice (my vice) and some crisps. I figure £3.30 on 'luxuries' isn't too bad, I'd probably have spent that alone on 2/3 bottles of juice.)

However....I get home to find a whopping £37.20 in milk tokens through the post. Score! I've been waiting weeks for them. But wait! I've just spent almost £13 on things I could have bought with the vouchers. I can't retun the bananas or strawberries, I wouldn't return the cows milk I bought - it had been in the car for 1/2hour or so. I can return the formula though and re-buy it. And this is what I did. I also stocked up on some more fruit and veg with the vouchers, I'm going to steam some for Babypenny and make a fruit salad for Toddles.

Here's todays spends.

29th

Slimming: £4.95
Magazine: £1.95
Raffle: £0.50
Supermarket: £21.77 (after vouchers, £12.80)
Petrol: £10

So little overspend at The Club today, but I didn't buy the mascara last night, so technically I'm still better off that I would have been pre-lighbulb.

I cashed my coins in today, £45. Added to the £20 I made at the boot sale and the £5 I'm going to throw in. £70. I did go to the little branch to pay this in, but it was shut. I'll go Thursday, when hopefully my paypal money will have cashed to.

I still, obviously, have tonnes of vouchers left and I'm going to be getting them every week (or month) I'm not sure wether to lower my shopping budget to account for them (meaning my 'cash' allowance would be £112.80) or should I not 'count' them as they're for the Littles? Hmmm, I'll have a think.

Right, I'm off to do some housework, while I have peace!

LivvyLoo_2

Hi Mrs Penny,
I have been reading your diary and I hope you don't mind me popping by.

You are doing really well with your money and I know how hard it is. I too have a toddler and Im splitting up with OH (although mine isn't that straight forward).
I also am a sucker for internet shopping, think thats been the hardest thing for me, not buying something when I see it.

Good Luck with your journey and I hope you don't mind me gatecrashing.

xx

MrsNotAPenny

:wave:Hi Livvyloo. Sorry to hear about you and your OH. It's hard, but since being on my own, I've found it so much more rewarding (and liberating) Especially when they go to see MrP and he raves about how well they are coming on!

Please feel free to join in

Today I had a little spending, only £1.40 (pack of sausage rolls and a pasta and sauce) in the supermarket. I usually buy lunch for Mum ,she keeps Baby while Toddles is at 'football' Usually, I go to the bakers and spend up to £10 on lunch for us all (and cakes, juice, rolls, crisps....)

Now, to my list:

Chase money from cleaning job (£40)
Provide Council with statements
Have 50% NSD.
Cash coins in (£40)
Cash paypal money (£10)
Renew licence
Contact SLC
Clean car/take it round a few garages
Post cards
Find stamps
Put all excess toileteries in one place
Change Utilities supplier
Change phone/broadband supplier
Throw all excess money at debts
Stick to plan above

I've done some computer wizardry and hightlighted the 'done' items with a fetching green colour. Clever me!

I didn't actually change my Utilities supplier, just registered online and change to their online tariff. I can keep track on how much I am in debt with them also and do my own readings. Tonight I did my first ever meter readings, ever!

Utility debt update:

Gas: £233.95
Electricity: £227.83

I *should* have the cleaning money on Friday, well see. If not, I'll just be right back on the phone to them.

Can't believe we're almost into September!!

mooomin

Well done on the mini-spend day

Your list is looking really good too, you're doing really well *applause*

MrsNotAPenny

*bowing smilie required*

I've did all the 'easy' stuff first. I almost had the 'find stamps' ticked off to, despite looking for them in the usual 'safe' places, I've yet to find the blighters! I'm not buying anymore, I know they're in this house, somehwere