Our attempt at being MF!!

CathT

This week is flying which cheers me up as that means its almost payday and our weekend away

Am sure I've lots of financial tasks to do but from memory I need to do the following on payday...
1) do money shuffle and transfers
2) check cc balances and pay any due
3) pay £105 off t3sco card I had used to upgrade 8un hol next year
4) send balance for swimming lessons (£110)
5) pay childcare costs
6) work out next lot of childcare costs and hours needed

Just had a quick look online and the new build we were interested no longer seems available. We seem to be running out of options! Current mortgage will start with 90,--- net month so trying to look on the flip side.

0% card ends sometime in November so I want to clear it by the end of Ocotber. Also plan to stop using t3sco card as they are reducing the points earned and using it does not seem to balance the budget!

CathT

It's payday at last (for one of us at least!) DH wage included some OT which means I have over £200 to throw at one of the cc. Money shuffle done and just need to send some to bills account from my wage next week. I usually pay everything on payday but will wait until after the weekend and my payday. Will also mean it's not as long until DH next pay if I wait until then.

I need to get petrol later but otherwise our food/petrol spends are not looking too bad at all. Must be due to reducing wine costs to £5.98 a week!

We go away later today, straight after school. The weather looks fine so am hoping we can unpack, freshen up and have a wander around with a walk on the beach. Think that calls for a fish and chip supper?

99p Tilly tidy also made. Hoping end of month figures will look good due to DH having a bit extra in his pay

newgirly

Have a wonderful weekend away cath, hope the rain holds off for you

CathT

Thanks Newgirly, we are here and I am using our free 30 mins of wifi! Had a fish and chip supper but DH and I shared and the children shared a meal. It still cost almost £12!!! The local shop here is quite well stocked so I don't see us eating out again but will use cash for treats so I am not being completely frugal! There is so much to do here. Plan first thing tomorrow is swimming and maybe a wander down to the beach. Weather is fine and dry which is a bonus!

Ready for a glass of wine now!

newgirly

Fantastic, I've so many happy memories of taking the kids on caravan weekends away, its sad now they have outgrown it, enjoy

CathT

newgirly wrote: »

Fantastic, I've so many happy memories of taking the kids on caravan weekends away, its sad now they have outgrown it, enjoy

Caravan holidays really are perfect for little ones aren't they. We were there less than 48 hours but squeezed in so much. We literally didn't stop, swimming, parks, walk to the beach, blackberry picking, 2 evenings enjoying the entertainment. We played prize bingo last night and won! We won a £20 voucher to use on site so went to the restaurant today and had dessert and drinks. This was after a lunch of beans on toast in the caravan! :rotfl: we just wanted to spend the voucher on something we really wouldn't justify spending the cash on and pudding won! Was a really nice way to spend an hour and the children loved it.

Have totted up what we spent. I withdrew £150 on fri, bought wine and nappies and have come home with £50. While we there we had to buy our entertainment passes for £50 so actually only spent about £40 on food/drink/amusements while we were there. We had so much fun and it goes to show you do not need to spend a fortune. I appreciate this is easier with children under 7!

Paid another cc bill, £60 and will review accounts again midweek when I get paid. Also had a voicemail whilst we were away, the house we wanted is still for sale. Shame zilch is happening with our property!

Goldiegirl

My aunt had caravan in Walton on the Naze, and she'd spend whole summers up there with her children.

The rest of the family would have day visits up there. Happy memories of running wild with my cousins!

I'm sure your children will be storing up happy memories too

newgirly

Well done on that low spend cath, won't be so easy when they are a bit older wanting to feed the machines sounds like a lovely family weekend.

CathT

It was a lovely weekend. We would love a caravan there but they are so expensive! Luckily we can book a private rental and enjoy a cheaper holiday. One of my main aims as a mum is to give the children lots of fabulous memories so I hope this weekend has created some.

I think I need a new childcare organisation system! Sat before with 3 booking forms and scraps of paper with sums on them! Short version is I need to pay £137 on top of our childcare vouchers which isn't too bad. The chldren will need to go to holiday club at half term which I feel bad about but we have run out of annual leave and we are away just after half term.

Also need to pay £110 for swimming lessons to ensure paid up until end of term. Piano lessons also need paying for! I need to wait until payday before I finish all the money transfers and lay the final cc bills. At this point in time I actually have no idea how much money will be left at the end of it!

Mrs_E_3

Sounds like a lovely weekend and well done for not having a whole meal out because you had a £20 voucher.

Positive vibes for your house.