Just me, random skint not mint diary

penelopedee_2

Better day today. I finally got DH to mend the curtain track in the living room, put up some tie back hooks and put up the coat hooks in the hall way. I now have my curtains hanging again which will help with the heat and they look lovely DH is also in a good mood as he feels he's done something today, bless him.

I still have enough petrol to get to work tomorrow so I should stay in the black before payday (thankfully). I've also done my gas and electric readings and it looks like I might have a little over which I can put towards the roof fund. Small things like this are really helping at the moment.

I'm off to meal plan for next week now 'before' I go to the shops at the weekend and waste money. I've kept my spending book up to date this week so I know exactly how much money I have left before I get paid again in a few weeks time - makes me feel a lot calmer about it all and to be honest it looks less dismal when I start to plan things properly.

Choc-addict

penelopedee wrote: »

Better day today. I finally got DH to mend the curtain track in the living room, put up some tie back hooks and put up the coat hooks in the hall way. I now have my curtains hanging again which will help with the heat and they look lovely DH is also in a good mood as he feels he's done something today, bless him.

I still have enough petrol to get to work tomorrow so I should stay in the black before payday (thankfully). I've also done my gas and electric readings and it looks like I might have a little over which I can put towards the roof fund. Small things like this are really helping at the moment.

I'm off to meal plan for next week now 'before' I go to the shops at the weekend and waste money. I've kept my spending book up to date this week so I know exactly how much money I have left before I get paid again in a few weeks time - makes me feel a lot calmer about it all and to be honest it looks less dismal when I start to plan things properly.

Isn't it lovely that little things such as sorting curtains can make such a difference

I agree with you Pen, planning is def the way forward and like you say makes you feel a lot calmer. I think it's having that element of control in your life. So what if we don't have a huge amount of surplus cash, it's how we manage it all that counts!

Have yourself a lovely day x

penelopedee_2

I did it, I've managed to stay in the black up to payday and with £18 left in the back, £6.93 in my purse, £2.15 on the work key and a full tank of petrol in the car. See a little bit of planning works.

Now I know exactly how much is coming out of the bank tomorrow (my main debt repayment day) and how much I have left for groceries and petrol (and stashing away) until payday again 2 weeks time. Looks healthyish - I need to do one big grocery shop and will need another tank of petrol. I want to hide £30 for a new christmas tree as ours fell apart last year. I don't need anything else so the rest can go towards the new tyres.

If all goes to plan and I stop frittering I may even get my hair done

Honestly this budgeting business is a revolution to me :rotfl:

Choc-addict

penelopedee wrote: »

I did it, I've managed to stay in the black up to payday and with £18 left in the back, £6.93 in my purse, £2.15 on the work key and a full tank of petrol in the car. See a little bit of planning works.

Now I know exactly how much is coming out of the bank tomorrow (my main debt repayment day) and how much I have left for groceries and petrol (and stashing away) until payday again 2 weeks time. Looks healthyish - I need to do one big grocery shop and will need another tank of petrol. I want to hide £30 for a new christmas tree as ours fell apart last year. I don't need anything else so the rest can go towards the new tyres.

If all goes to plan and I stop frittering I may even get my hair done

Honestly this budgeting business is a revolution to me :rotfl:

Woo hoo.....well done Pen, it's a great feeling being in the black and knowing you get paid tom :-)

Just starting to embark on this budgeting business myself and forward plan a little for larger expense. Have car MOT on mon which I haven't factored in at all so keeping everything crossed it's not expensive.

Thanks for the opinion on curtains, def going to go with lighter curtain....seen some cream ones with strips of blue and choc brown at the top....perhaps that may be better.

Take care and happy budgeting! x

brizzledfw

Hi there Pen have just subscribed and will keep reading. We use a little application on OHs phone for recording spending..it's been a revelation how much less we spend just by recording it..plus if you get really sad ( like I do sometimes:rotfl:) you can do all sorts of analysis on what you spend on what....

Brizzle

penelopedee_2

Hi Brizzle, I've already started splitting out the expenditure and its becoming a bit of a shocker. Unfortunately I can only just about cope with texting on my phone, I'm a bit of a notepad and pen nerd at the moment

brizzledfw

Agree..my vices are groceries and eating out...and they are big ones! The other thing is stuff for the kids..piano lessons, ballet, swimming etc etc..the bill is truly enormous..

On the other hand having a record over the last 18 months or so makes me feel in control..and I like it that way!!:rotfl:

penelopedee_2

I went to a firework show last night - free apart from drinks, which DH paid for out of his 'pocket' money He's also had a phone call regarding some work so fingers crossed.

Unfortunately I woke up with a banging head (self inflicted I must not mix my drinks) and then had to do the fortnightly shop in Mr T's. It was rammed and everyone was bad tempered so I just sang carols all the way round. Put a smile on a few people's faces and the rest probably thought I was mad but at least they got out of my way.

So the grocery budget has been hammered but I'm not going again for at least a fortnight (veg, milk and bread excluded). The freezer is packed with meat as I managed to do well out of the offers today. Got a lovely half price joint of pork.

I did treat us to breakfast out at a cafe as I knew I could use a little of my cash to pay for it with the money put back for last night. Also if I didn't the boys wanted to come to Mr T's with me to get cook breakfast stuff whilst I did the shopping - that would of cost me twice as much as the cafe once they'd filled the trolley for me :eek:

Feeling lazy now and I don't really need to do anything apart from a bit of house work which can wait for tomorrow. I don't need to go anywhere and I'm not spending any money until petrol at the end of the week. Off to price up fake Christmas tree's online - although I am tempted to see if we can make do with the broken one. It seems alot of money to spend for just a couple of weeks and the cats will only try and trash it. They all look nice anyway with a few lights and a bit of tinsel

penelopedee_2

Brizzle, I know what you mean about kids expenses. I really hate putting back £12.50 each Sunday for the week's school dinners. And he only buys rubbish to eat. Unfortunatley its not very cool for teenage boys to take pack lunch apparently :cool:

I must remember to add this to the budget list and his pocket money.

penelopedee_2

Still in credit this week. Its funny how listing the expenditure and watching the total going down stops me from frittering. I nearly cried last night when I had to part with some change to get some milk for home.

Today I will be spending as DS is off school so I couldn't 'steal' the last of the bread to make sarnies for work (I was trying to hold out buying anymore until tomorrow). One good thing is the shop by work is shut so I have to rely on the canteen. Also the money on my vending key is running out and I only have a little change in my purse - so I can't spend much. I've just found some skinny mocha sachets in my work which will do for brekkie

Tomorrow will be more of a test as both DH and I will be off work and its one of the times where I can walk into a shop and come out £30 lighter without thinking.