A sorry state of affairs....

MrsNotAPenny

Yeah, poor souls. Baby had the worst of it, first time he's been poorly. He just wanted cuddled (which was no real chore! Any excuse for more cuddles!) They're on the ment now, however, I have the classic 'scratchy' throat and sniffy nose, think I'm in for it now! Typical!

So, a little money talk now!

I counted up my sending diary from 1st-15th and total spends were SHOCKING! I honestly thought I was doing my best, I haven't been at all!!

The total for the first 15 days was: £407.08

That brokedown into the following:

Supermarket: £149.08
Takeaways: £23.80
Misc: £233.88 (of which £221.40 I can account/have receipts for. With the exception of £165, the rest was uneccesary spends)

So £12.48 has been 'lost' somewhere!

Bit annoyed with myself, but at least I know where the money has been spent.

14days left in September, I've had 5 NSD and I've allowed myself £30 for groceries/enteratinment for the rest of the month. I shouldn't need to buy anything except from fresh milk and fruit.

Today, I've spent £8.78! Soft play area 'snacks' took up £2.85 of that and the rest in the Supermarket (milk, loo roll, frozen mushrooms, tuna, couple of tins of beans)

I had also kinda been following the 'make £10 a day' challenge, I didn't sign up for it, because I didn't think I would manage it. HOWEVER! I've been keeping track of my 'savings' (not supermarket ones, I'll count them up later!)

Free week at Fat Club £4.95
Mr P bought the boys toys: £18
Mr P contributing to utilities: £62
Mr P bought us a DVD player: £17
Mr P extra money: £20
Mr P Juice: £1
Mum buying for the boys: £66.50
Friend1: £1
Friend2: £35.99
Donated Mop: £10
Free bottle of squash: £1.25
Other stuff bought for boys: £6.48
Soft Play (voucher) £3.95

Total: £248.12

Can't believe how much that all adds up to! Friend2 randomly took the boys and I out for the day, to cheer me up I think and insisted on paying for our day.

That's the last 10 days covered and now Pennies are on the mend, I'll be updating more regularly.

Happy Friday all!!xx

chevalier

Sorry to hear that you life has taken a bit of a radicla turn recently. I hope that you can get to where you want to be
chev

MrsNotAPenny

Thank you Chevalier, just moving onto the next chapter of my life I suppose. Hopefully a debt free one!

Quick update, had a NSD today, I don't think I'm going to reach 15 this month, never mind! I'll be more realistic next month.

Tonight I'm going to find a budget planner/spreadsheet thingamabob and fill it in, I think seeing it 'properly' will help.

LivvyLoo_2

Hi Mrs P,
Its a great help having a budget/spreadsheet thingy, I love mine and there isn't a day goes by that I don't stare at it for at least 30 mins wishing I could see extra pounds.

You are just starting your FNL chapter (Fab New Life). You don't know what is round the corner, fingers crossed its a rich hunky man...we can live in hope.

Hope you are still smiling with the cow.

xx

mooomin

MrsNotAPenny wrote: »

Quick update, had a NSD today, I don't think I'm going to reach 15 this month, never mind! I'll be more realistic next month.

Don't beat yourself up about the NSDs. Sometimes you see something that's half the money it would normally be and in that case I always thought it better to spend the money to save in the long run. I don't do NSDs as such anymore - I always seem to be paying out for something. I'm going to have to be more frugal though - I've just clicked how unprepared I am for the C word.... :xmassmile

MrsNotAPenny

Morning

Yeah, I think 15NSD was a bit adventureous! Especially with having two littles, milk, nappies, wipes, it's hard to judge when these things will run out!

On the subject of *whispers* Christmas, I'm really looking forward to doing it the money saving way! I already have most of DS1's presents and DS2 will only be interested in the paper this year. It's only about 11weeks away, it has gone so quickly.

Been a little spendy, but i've had 3 of DS1s little frienda having birthdays and a family member, managed to get them all something each under £5. A huge improvement! That had to come out of my 'savings' because I hadn't budgeted for them. No matter, at least I didn't put £50+ on my credit card!

I've been pad-ing to thee credit card, paid off £126.86 the minimum payment was only £79 so I'm pleased. I have another £60 'spare' from last month and think I might put that towards it to.

Thankfully, we've all recovered from the cold. It was a horrible bout this year, I spent all sunday sleeping on the sofa (don't worry, Mr had the Pennies for the day!)

Diet is going well to, 31lbs in total. Very pleased. I've taken a holiday next week to save some money, but I'll still be sticking to it.

That's all I think. I'm having to use my phone because my laptop is soooo slow. It's only about 24 months old, I'll have to findout how to speed it up and clear it out.

Oh! How'd I forget? I had my first Quidco payout (thanks FF!) £5.48! I was thrilled! Free money!

LivvyLoo_2

Hi MrsP,

You don't have Spyware installed on your PC do you? If you have a look in your add and remove programs and uninstall things you don't recognise which have been installed since buying your PC, this might help it go faster...that was the problem with mine anyway.

You are doing so well and sound a lot brighter...padding and weight loss wow.

Keep up the good work.

XX

MrsNotAPenny

Hello MSE

Feeling a bit blue not with the debt busting (that's going reasonably well considering my income) I think it's just a conbination of things all getting on top of me, the Pennies have been a nightmare, Toddles is being especially difficult with tantrums and some serious potty training regression. I suppose it's to be expected after a seperation, but my word it's testing! Baby hasn't been feeling too great, he just wants cuddled. All very good if I'm not having to mop up puddles or stop Toddles seriously hurting himself.

Sigh I'm worn down and hardly getting a minute to myself. I feel really untidy as well. I'm not 'glamorous' or anything, but I've normally got my nails painted, eyebrows shaped and tinted, hair in reasonaly good condition but I just haven't had the time or inclination.

I'm also horribly worried about getting stuck in the benifits system, I know I've only been claiming for a month but already I'm planning how I'm getting out of it and worrying that noone will employ me after such a long time out of work. I'm looking at a few more years and it's been a year since my redundancy. How do people get back into work after 5 years at home? Feels like I'm wishing our lives away

This was no part of my plan, no way. Just needed to get that off my chest.

Now to wallow with my giant bag of crisps

LivvyLoo_2

Hey MrsP,
Sorry to hear you are blue.

I too have not stopped and the sad thing is it will all need doing again next week...house work is like the Forth Bridge isn't it? There is just no time for preening anymore, I always used to spend ages with facials etc and now I have a quick wash in the shower on a morning. My eyebrows are terrible, I caught a glimpse of them in my rear view mirror and nearly died, I had been walking round with half plucked eyebrows for at least a week, am lucky if I have the time to do both of them.

Don't give up with the potty training, DD has peed on the carpet and in the back room this weekend and she has been potty trained since last April, I wouldn't care but I spent ages vaxing the carpet on Friday night.

Im sure you will get a job when you are ready, if all else fails, get your lippy on, hair and nails done and wear a short skirt ha ha.

xx

MrsNotAPenny

Thanks Livvy I need to stick with the training, I'm saving a fortune having only one in nappies!

So September is almost over :eek: I've tallied up my spending diary, but I'll do a proper update at the very very end of the month, there's still time for it all to go horribly wrong!!

I'll do the 'overpayment' update though (that won't change! I've nothing else to over pay with!)

Total overpayments for September: £239.39 :T

I am very very pleased! My Utility debt is right down to £250.56, can't wait to submit my meter readings on 29th (sad!)

October is a busy month, a night out and a birthday party to attend. I've managed to 'save' £30 in an envelope at the back of a drawer, that should see me ok for either a new outfit (really needed, I've went down 4 sizes and everything looks dreadful!) or pay for one of the nights. I think I might take the car to the party.

Phone bill/Broadband came in for the quarter £74.29, luckily I have money for that so no more paying with credit card. I'm going to get a payment card and put money on it every month, I will!!

I uninstalled some rubbish MrP had on the laptop and it seems to have been cured! Thank goodness!

Over all, a brighter entry I think!x