Just me, random skint not mint diary

penelopedee_2

Hiya Pap, this is still a non-smoking house. Really can't believe we've done it cos we smoked for years and years. Honestly its like I don't remember smoking here now

I'm chillin, just watched a few CSIs and now going to try and catch up with Casualty.

penelopedee_2

Another week has flown by - neither good nor bad moneywise. I need to get back into a better routine but it just not happening at the moment.

I've got my spends pad back in my bag again and I'm doing the best I can its just if we don't have it I can't pay it Still we're not behind with anything its just such a flippin chore and I'm fed up worrying about it all.

Nevermind, eh, we are all well, healthy and happy here and there's food in the cupboard and still a bit of petrol in the car. We will manage!

Given that I can't do much about the money side of things, I am de-cluttering again. Two big bags of clothes from mine and DS's room going to charity. A bin liner worth of shredding taken to the tip. This week's plan is to blitz the kitchen so that I can paint it at the weekend. Really needs doing but here is so much carp at the moment to clear out.

Also I'm giving up taking my own sarnies to work - I only need them 4 days a week and the bread goes off before I eat it, the meat costs a bomb and then when it comes to lunch time i don't actually fancy them. We've a new sarnie lady now and she makes 'real' sarnies at a £1 a time which are nice, varied and filling. Given that I'm running around all hours of the day that's one thing I am going to be un-MSE about for now.

Not a lot else to report really, just wading through the mud as usual

penelopedee_2

Finally we have a target to work to. DH and I have decided to clear the debt and save for a caravan on the coast. We haven't had a dream for ages

So time to pull our fingers out. DH is back on the job hunt. I'm juggling both jobs to see if i can pick up any more overtime/hours. The grocery bill is about to be shaved yet again and there will be no more dribbling cash down the drain.

It cost me £50 to fill the car up the other day and I nearly cried. I can't do much about petrol costs because of both of the jobs and living out in the sticks but I can see if I can find something more local for one of them. A tank full lasts me about 6 days at the moment

postingalwaysposting

Hi Pen, how are you? How life? You haven't updated for a while and I know you are hiding on MSE Most of all take care and have a great weekend :j

penelopedee_2

ok I'm back. A much more centered and postive Pen At last!

So, we've another small income coming in. Still loads to pay off but a bit of leverage which was badly needed and much appreciated.

Next week we are off on our first little caravan hols of the year and I can't wait. I've even been able to put down the deposit on our summer hols and have an easy plan to pay for the total. What a complete change to our normal circumstances.

But I managed to kill the car and have had to go to the bank of Dad to get something else to drive. I want to pay this off as soon as poss (even though I know he would go mad if he thought this was cutting me short). Sometimes I think it would be so much easier if I just confessed to our mess, but I am so bl**dy minded that we are going to sort it out ourselves.

The current plan of action is:

a) still keep living like we don;t have the extra income

b) blast through Dad's loan at a moderate rate and use the rest off the debt

c) but finally start putting back some savings so that I don't feel sick when the house or something falls apart again.

We are all really well and happy at Pen towers. We really are, I just don't know how we do it sometimes with all that gets thrown at us. I'm proud of my little clan.

Had a lovely family day out today at a garden centre in the play area and picking some new bushes for the front of the house. Shame it rained when I got in so I couldn't plant them but it will keep me busy tomorrow night.

Back to work tomorrow so DH on the child minding patrol... will keep him busy

penelopedee_2

I need to re-start my spending diary as I'm frittering money left, right and centre at the moment. Got to the stage where I can only afford half a tank of petrol when I run out this week.

But hey, at least I know I have the cash to put some in the tank and I know that's all that's left until payday. Much better than I used to be and I am sooo determined nothing is going on a card!

I'm going to attack my grocery budget again as it is one thing I can sort of control. I did a completely new budget today and whilst I don't like the figures at least there is a bit of room to wiggle (just).

And I talked myself out of getting another week away in August. Had the normal Monday morning blues this morning as my day job isn't too sunny at the moment. I was so tempted just to book something and worry about it later, but that's what got me into this mess in the first place - will I ever learn

There are a few bits of insurance etc on the main budget I'm going to look around to shave some costs off in the next couple of days. I'm on track to pay the remainder of our week away in the summer hols. I've also set up a direct debit to stash away car tax etc.

So just getting organised really before I get into another mess again.

I had a no spends day today and will try for one tomorrow too

penelopedee_2

Ok, managed a no spends day (apart from the petrol). Today I had to get a few groceries as I ran out of spuds and veg - it all came out of cash.

But I am really fed up, in a stinking stomping mood today!!! Am in a really difficult situation where I need to walk away from one of my jobs but I can't because of everything and I could scream or cry!

You know when you are really trying hard to put things right and sort everything out and you just can't afford to do whats best for everyone. I'm working my b*ckside off and getting no where.

Work is going to be a right headache tomorrow and I've lost my heart in it and I can't do anything about it. Being skint sucks.

ok - breathe - get back to plodding. The world isn't going to end, we've food in the cupboards, a roof over our heads and plenty of love and patience to keep us going.

I guess I need to try and find another day job before the situ gets silly or serious. Tedious but not unachievable - I'll manage somehow like I always do. The recession is happening no matter what mood I get of out bed in the morning, so I might as well just have a laugh at it and find something else to smile at instead.

My winter pansies are still flowering and looking lush and I think my clematis might just have survived the dodgy canes I've lent it on

penelopedee_2

Blissfully, I've woken up in one of those 'yeh, whatever' moods, so work can throw at me what it wants today. Its just gonna go straight over my head

On the money front, paid off another £120 from a card and put back £100 for my bank of dad car loan.

Meaning today I am in a better position than yesterday, debtwise

OrangeFairy

Welcome back Pen!

I have got married since last chatting to you on here!! woohoo!!!

Seems like you are doing well with the debt! xx

OrangeFairy

oopps forgot to add i changed me name from Littlekel to OrangeFairy