Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

dollydaydream07

just checked our accounts and have had to take money out of the ISA, which i hate doing as we are never going to get any savings going if we have to keep dipping into it! so that's gone to the overdraft and a bit of spare money in the account till pay day - gonna go and draw the £30 out and once that has gone that's it, so if it's gone before pay day then tough!!
once DH has been paid i am going to draw out £100 shopping money to last us until around the 20th Dec, when we will go and do a big-ish shop for xmas week - but i'll be careful to budget for this too
also going to spend the rest of this week researching the best places to get the rest of DD's xmas pressies
have told DH that when he gets his expenses from last week paid to him, we are splitting the money between us to buy each other's gifts - works out at £40 each, which as neither of us are wanting/needing anything this year is probably still too much but it is MUCH less than we have spent in previous years!!

have cleaned all the down stairs, just need to have some lunch(probably baked potato skins as we are having mash for tea so instead of throwing them, i'll eat them) and then get on with making the biscuits and putting away some laundry!!

Squiggly_Diddly

Have been lurking on this thread for aaaages (used to post regularly on the daily last year till lost the habit) but just had to come on & say huge congratulations to Annie56 & Monty!!! And also Jediteacher & Gailey - and anyone else in the baby club!!! What lovely news for you all in these tough times...

Been sitting updating my household budget forecast (which I have up to about a year ahead..!!) - and looks like by next autumn I will have to take on a 5th day at work (I do 4 currently). I'd rather not as it's about quality of life, but financially might not have any other option. At least I'm prepared & can keep an eye on how things go. It motivates me to have a bit of a clear-out & get ebaying, etc. I used to be so good at OS but have definitely fallen off the wagon in recent months... I really must clamber back on!!!

Anyhow, good wishes to all & (()) to all who need them - I really enjoy reading this thread.

dollydaydream07

Squiggly_Diddly wrote: »

Been sitting updating my household budget forecast (which I have up to about a year ahead..!!)

i am currently doing a budgeting course at the local childrens centre and we are going to be doing a budget forecast - the course tutor reckons we will know exactly what we will have in our accounts this time next year - does it really work??

Squiggly_Diddly

Hi dollydaydream,

I am using Microsoft Money at the moment (none of the fancy features cos I don't understand them!). I've been doing it for several years now & find it helps me sleep at night I used to use a different program that was really easy, but it was really old & not compatible with Vista so I had to change. It's ok now I've got used to it.

The first time you set it all up takes a while, but once you're in "maintenance" mode, it's easier. I just sat one day & entered every single thing I knew would go in & out regularly (ie wages, tax credits, d/debits) plus estimated amounts for other things, ie I know approximately £40 petrol a fortnight (I don't generally go far!), £200 cash at the start of the month for groceries (that's a new tactic!), and so on & currently have that done right up till the end of October NEXT year... Each entry is just date, description of payment, amount in the appropriate debit/credit column & the final column will show your running balance (just like a bank statement). It doesn't include "extra" spending like gifts, the odd pair of shoes or handbag etc, but what it does do is show me when funds might run low, or when I've got "spare" that I can pay to clear credit card faster, overpay the mortgage, or have a treat, etc. I then add those things in as I go along. I also log into my online banking every couple of days so am constantly 'reconciling' the two & can spot if there are any dodgy transactions, etc.

You can get it to produce pie-charts or graphs that show what percentage of income over a month (or set period you choose) you are spending on each thing if you give them a category the first time you make each entry - but I generally don't bother with that!!!

I was able to look back recently though & realise that I was spending coming up £400 a month on grocery shopping because I was in the supermarket most days (for only me & 2 daughters at home!!). So, a change of tactic to taking out £200 at the start of the month, getting milk from the milkman twice a week (even though that costs more at the basic price, it means I am not in the shop so much & hence am definitely spending waaaay less), and being more aware of what I am using there. I need to get back into meal-planning too as that has a big impact for me on what I spend.

I guess the only downside is that I do get reliant on being able to manage my finances this way & if I can't do it for a week or so (as happened when I was really unwell with flu recently), then I 'lose track' of knowing whether it's ok or not. That's possibly also because my income arrives in different ways & different timescales (ie tax credits weekly, child benefit 4-weekly, wages monthly...) so hence my bills are all spread out. Over the next couple of years as I lose most of TC's & CB (as kids get older, dammit!!!) my wages will go up (ie I will work more), and perhaps reschedule bills all to go out early in the month. Then I know what's left is mine

Anyhow, that's a really long answer I know, but hope it helps...!!!!

PS - even my bank manager has told me I am very "focused".... for which I think he meant obsessive!!!! lol....

Pitlanepiglet

Rats, wrote long post and managed to lose it.

I use a SAD light, have done for 5 years, it's fab and changed my life.

I used to use http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/desklamp but found it a bit tricky to sit in front of for the recommended time. I then moved to a light visor http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/visor-solarmax which is easier to use and whilst I look very silly, I use it in the morning whilst doing my first surfing and drinking my first coffee. It used to say that 20 minutes or so was sufficient but I see the Lumie site now says an hour. I rarely use mine for that long, usually 40 minutes a day.

You need to understand about when YOU need light, I found a test somewhere which helped me as it said that for me light was best in the morning whereas I was using it in the afternoon as well and when I stopped my biorhythms seemed better.

I don't know about ordinary daylight bulbs, my visor makes such a difference to my quality of life that I would never risk changing!

I also use a sunrise lamp in the mornings and find I wake up much less groggy.

Fruball

CRANKY40 wrote: »

Aww, congratulations Annie, Monty and little Miss Monty. That's fabulous news.

Right, I'm off to do battle with the school today. The house elf has slight reflux, and has been bringing up mouthfuls of acid stuff from his stomach here and there and complaining of feeling sick. He won't take medicine, so the best cure we have discovered is a few dry mini weetabix. It's been happening in school as the only snack they have at break is fruit, and he just won'teat fruit. I asked him last night if he could just eat some to save all this fuss, and he was gagging while he was describing to me what eating a banana is like for him. Last Thursday I sent the 4 mini weetabix and his teacher said she would ask....Thursday night she says it's against the schools healthy eating policy. I said I didn't agree, and she said she would explain again.
Nothing Friday - child ate weetabix and didn't feel sick. Yesterday he was told to put it back in his pocket as it wasn't allowed. He was upset when I picked him up. I could go and get gaviscon off the doctor, but it takes 3 people. One to hold him down, one to put the medicine in, and one to hold a bowl for when he vomits. Hopefully his headteacher will see the light when I explain.
It's at times like this that I wish Grumpy's dad was still alive to go and sort it out for me. It's not the end of the world, but I could do without it.
Oh, and I've paid £3 for him to go on a trip to a free museum. That sounds reasonable for the cost of transport. What they don't know is that we've been several times before, and he knows where all the nude marble statues are:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Since I had my gall bladder out I suffer with excess acid and if I ever eat fruit or drink fruitjuice, with the exception of just after a meal, then I get dreadful chest pain that radiates right thru to my back. Veg is no problem. I only ever eat fruit with a meal, and drink fruitjuices soon after food too.

I just can't understand the mentality of his school not letting him bring a healthy snack... weetabix is healthy... for snacktime. I could understand if you were sending cake or biscuits but its not :mad:

narabanekeater

Good afternoon to you all on this brrr cold one
I too would like to share my happy news expecting a baby. I didnt want to mention it before as we lost twins last year but have now had a scan and a pleased to be sharing our good news. So far my observations are that it really isnt just morning sickness but all day long sickness.
DH is over the moon and is wearing the largest smile
A massive congratulations to fellow board members with their news as well
A massive hug and thoughts and prayers to those who need it.

gailey_2

HUGE CONGRATS ANNIE:j
Over last few months your posts always make me laugh outloud or smile.
Love your positive outlook, tales of revenge on ex and latest dating exploits with monty.

So pleased for you both. bless your dad getting all emotional.
Never realised you used to be a midwife dont know how I missed that.

Any questions will try my best to answer but even preg no 3 im not expert, made mistakes.

Jediteacher- im on school pta so know how important fundraising is to school its just comboned with charitibale donations, trips, school dinners all adds up.

our pta recently funded new bibles, cameras for each class and infant play equipment.

I never went on school overnight trip or ski trip as parents couldent afford it ,Also never did exchange programme either.

Not having productive few days as still feel full of cold.
Hubbys still doing the floor.
babys napping at last.
watched last giles and sue last night wonder if they will do an xmas special.

The news confuses me no end, anyone else?

Really feel sorry for ireland right now, we think we have it hard in uk.

What I find weird is they not broke they have enough money until next year.
But europe and markets forcing them to get into more debt ie bailout inorder to restore market confidence and not spread to other weaker euro countries.

just seems mad that getting into yet more debt makes markets feel better.

Also so many eurozone countries same currency but different levels of interest seems complete mess.

We bailing them out 8billion I think.:eek:
I worry about all these bank bailouts as it just transfers business debt ie bansk to sovereign debt whoch threatens solvency or country and everyone who lives there has to suffer and pay for it.
Think both uk and ireland have bailed out our banks twice.
Amazed me fisrt bailout that they gave money with no enforced conditions attached all darling used to say is we very cross with banks.

The bailouts has still meant loss of lower end jobs in banking sector with disastrous merger of Lloyds /hbos yet bankers at other end of scale still got jobs, pensiosn and huge bonuses does not see fair as they know state will always pick up the tab.
I wonder if we sorted root cause or are we on course for another financial crisis.
Morgages low level approval in oct.
just hope the irish budget not too harsh on the irish people.
I know irish girl from uni one of 11 and about 6 of them live in other countries just with their housing crash, loss of jobs do wonder how they will cope.I compare bailouts to sort of payday loan its unsustainaible to keep mounting up debt surly.

congrats narabankeater on baby too must be such a reliefe everything ok.

Right best go summon up energy to do stuff.
suppost to be making soup, pizza and quiches today.
suffering worst heartburn latly, keeping me awake at night.

jackieglasgow

Congratulations naranbanekeater that's great news. Delighted to hear that we will be hearing the pitter patter of lots of tiny feet next year. :beer:

I would like to announce some news of my own..........






















I am not pregnant, I am just fat!

Fruball

Just caught up properly!!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS ANNIE56 AND MONTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :j:j:j and also to Naran... :j:j:j

Wow, what a lot of OS babies are arriving next year! Hope everyone is keeping well and not suffering with the dreaded all-day sickness that I had with DDs :eek: