Time To Sort My Life Out

LisaPapakis

Like this thread!

Bluejeans, I was like you, 'easy come, easy go' and honestly I used to sneer at people who were careful with money.

Now I'm really in control of our money and I find it absorbing, fulfilling, creative and immensely satisfying. I am much happier. My daughter, aged 7, now knows more about how to manage money and good housekeeping than I did til aged about 40. It has also cut down the 'spending' arguments in our house almost completely - another reason to be glad.

Good luck!

bluejeans53

Hiya LisaPapakis and thank you for your support. Well done on teaching your DD all about money :j

I am 53yrs old and have not a penny to my name. I do not intend going through the second half of my life the same way.

I agree money saving is a challenge and all the things you find it to be. It definatly makes you think outside of the box. Its amazing what you can come up with when you back is against the wall.

Thank you

bluejeans53

Hiya Girls

Short update, met my DD in her lunch break today, doing a errand for her tomorrow and had to pick up some information, also give her my Halifax card, to where my flexi money goes, so that she can save it for me. I decided as part of my "New Me, not keep it all to myself" to tell her whats been going on, her response was. "OH Mam why did you not tell me" DD is lending me £300 until my PPI payment comes through, so no payday loan.

I was in tears......with relieve, embarrassment and other feeling too. This had made me all the more determined to keep on the straight and narrow. She will have money for me tomorrow when I go at lunch time to had her stuff from errand.

Also have to go in and put another month on the things I pawned or they will sell them.

winner12

Hi Bluejeans
So good your still doing well my mum has helped too sometimes I know once I cried in front of her I was so stressed she gave me a big hug told me not to worry and stuffed some money in my hand I put it in our emergency fund account and its still there today its all very humbling and makes you realise who and what you can count on everything else falls by the wayside so keep doing the good stuff

robsmum_2

Blue Jeans:
What a brilliant DD!:j:j Just goes to show who your real friends are. I think sometimes it's better to be honest with people rather than try to keep up apperances, even though the pesky pride gets in the way.

Brilliant no PAy day loan!:j:j

Next step is to get you doing a spending diary. Having little spare money is the best time to start one. It really helps you to realize just where all your money disaperas to. I know I did it!

Where do you do your shopping?

bluejeans53

I have a friend, a very good friend. Money is not an issue for her and DH. They both work full time DH has a good job. When we had days out, coffee or shopping etc, we were continually bickering, I'll get the coffee's no i will you got lunch as such as. I could never afford to pay but would argue the toss all the same and pay my share. Friend never new about my debts. When things were worse than they are now, I broke down and told her all about it. She was the first person I ever told. There were tears and disputes over the next few weeks,as she wanted to pay for everything. Which made me feel worse. Made me feel inadequate. So after lots of chats and more tears. She joined me, we now do cheap days out and she says its actually fun finding out how to do something on the cheap.

Rule now is, I only offer to pay if I can afford it and I do whenever I can. And if friend offers to pay I accept it graciously instead of feeling inadequate about it.

Now if friend says oh lets do this or that, I say No I cannot afford it, her intial reaction used to be, no problem I will pay for it. Now she know better and we work out a cheaper way to do it, wait. Sometimes I let her pay as she says I am be selfish by not letting her treat me...........Its still not easy to accept.

Robsmum

Spending Diary All ready as from today, actually it a App on my BB (it was free), ready to just punch in as I spend (least as possible).

I shop all over the place, not tied to any one shop but usually do a big shop at ASDA. But i can get to

Netto, Aldi, Lyddels, Morrison's, Iceland, herrons etc. We had a co-op about a 20min walk from me but i never used it as is was really expensive but they have now gone into partnership with Safeway i think and they have lots of bargains on now, which is fab.

Two Adults at home DH and myself and I can eat at work, when i am there for free. Its allowed.

Have a Good day....be back later to update

bluejeans53

winner12 wrote: »

Hi Bluejeans
So good your still doing well my mum has helped too sometimes I know once I cried in front of her I was so stressed she gave me a big hug told me not to worry and stuffed some money in my hand I put it in our emergency fund account and its still there today its all very humbling and makes you realize who and what you can count on everything else falls by the wayside so keep doing the good stuff

Hiya Winner12, Fab to chat.

It most certainly does. But its hard to accept help.......silly when we need it but still feel deep down that we want to push it away. Who ever said Pride can be Painful, hit the nail on the head.

How are you doing ? never seen you about for a while......take care and hope we can chat more often. Do you have a Diary on here ?

robsmum_2

BlueJeans:
:jOn starting your spending diary! Don't forget to write down every single penny that you part with. Within about 3 weeks of me starting mine I started to think before I bought anything - suddenly felt embarassed to find I was" just getting" so much stuff that I didn't actually need ! One of my worst culprits was housey magazines.

Your household is the same as mine -2 adults at home so hopefully we can help each other get the bills down/keep them down.
I always used to shop just at Tesco, now do Tesco, Sainsburys and Aldies.
Aldies well worth checking out - there fruit and veg are the best and really cheap. I can give you tips on what's good from there.

Catch up later.

winner12

Hi Bluejeans
I have a diary on another site a lovely person did it for me Im still here plodding away and read your thread often have you planned for Christmas yet this will be my first year without the dreaded plastic card so im going to behave and i have saved a little the kids are aware its not a bottomless pit so I suppose they are learning too still battling with Capital One the FOS are taking them on for me they passed me to a DCA who think they can harrass the hell out of me so the FOS are dealing with them too I am hoping for a satisfactory outcome but will wait and see

gfplux

Well done blue jeans,
Keep at it.
More people should do as you do.
LIVE THE LIFE YOU CAN AFFORD