XSpender - MFW in Training

yukkibear

Popping in to say HAPPY NEW YEAR .......:dance:_party_

XSpender

Been a bit slack at updating my diary over the new year.:o

A belated Happy New Year to yukkibear anyone reading:)

Over the last couple of years I have learnt to spend only what I have coming in, learnt to spend money wisely and earn cashback and think do I need it and research prices before buying but 2011 is the year I need to learn how to save.

How I am not sure but it needs to be done if I am to achieve what I want to achieve this year. If I stick to my spending budgets there should be money left over each month to save.

We need to buy a new kitchen table and the next car seat for DS in the next couple of months so I need to get saving if there is to be any left over for holidays/emergencies and overpayments.

Everything is a bit wooly still as I should have a job in the next few months.

We have been talking about having a quiet Christmas next year and going away to Scotland for New Year which won't be cheap I am sure.It is only an idea but if we do that means we will be away 5 times next year:eek:

I have decided that I am going to split any extra income between savings and overpayments.

DH is back to work tomorrow and I am back to job hunting.


Plans for tomorrow are to:

• have a dust and vaccum throughout
• clear the washing basket
• try and find DH's new black shoe polish or I will have to go to the shop to buy some and I am trying to avoid the shops as long as possible this week
• make another sourdough loaf and prepare the 'sponge' for the next day's loaf
• Make a cake and some savoury scones for lunches
• Write DS's thank you notes for his Christmas presents

That should be enough to keep me going;)

sarahevie

good luck with your goals for 2011 some really good ones.

I reckon it's better to try and fail than not try at all. IYGWIM

XSpender

The DD for the £50 overpayment has gone from our account to the overpayment savings account today. Not convinced I will be able to afford to keep it in there all month as January seems so looooong and there is not much room for manouvere this month.

My meal plan has been done around my veg box and I don't need much extra between now and a week on Friday if I stick to it and don't nip to the shops because I am bored:o

I can't go get DH some polish as he has gone to work with DS car seat in his car. I will have a proper look for it instead;)

I must get my surname changed on my paypal account this week to match the bank account, shows you how long it is since I have used flea bay, I have been married 3.5 years:eek: Once it is done I can start selling:)

DS is beginning to stir after his nap so I will go get him up and make him some porridge:)

XSpender

Just completed my first ever survey, was on you gov for 50 points:T Had tried a few yesterday with onep0ll and others but kept getting chucked out or told thanks but no thanks. Not sure what 50 points means £ wise but at least I am no longer at 0:D

Had an early ish night last night and DS didn't wake until 5.45 then went back to sleep until 7 so feeling like I might achieve something today:cool:

£1.86 gone into the overpayment pot this morning:)

I want to spend no more than £210 the rest of this month so that the money I have put aside won't be touched. It is a big ask as I have put more in the savings than we could afford really but when the SO's came out I really didn't want to transfer it back in to the current account.

I have budgeted about £25/wk for organic box deliveries (includes milk, eggs and some fruit) and £25 for other food stuff including £7.20/wk baby formula each Friday and there is another 4 Fridays before DH pay day:eek: Funny thing is if I do this I will be way under my GC target for the first time ever.

I also need one tin of paint to decorate the kitchen. I could get much cheaper paint but we both love the colour range and depth of colour you get with F & Ball paint, but it is about £32 for 2.5 ltrs. Thank god we only need one tin to do our little kitchen. Will also need to buy a new steel look curtain pole to hang my old (but new to the kitchen:)) curtains on. So about £50-£60 to finish the kitchen. I would like a new chrome clock and DH wants a new black microwave but both of these can wait. I had the new kitchen put in at the end of October and have waited this long to decorate it I can wait a bit longer for the finishing touches:)

Adding up the above comes to more than £210 doesn't it? I have put aside £150 this month but I do not want to put more than £50 back into the current account, and only if I have to. Will try and squeeze the veg box order/shopping bill.

Right, best get out of my jarmers while DS is having his nap.

XSpender

Oh just had a thought (careful, might do myself an injury;)) I have £43.50 sitting in TCB and Green Met which I could put towards the decorating costs leaving the savings intact:D

XSpender

Spent the morning searching various websites for a job. Nothing found:(

Transfered £40 from TCB to my account for the decorating stuff. Will have another go at transferring the green met money at the weekend as their site is down for maintenance.

Need to go get some stamps (downgrading to 2nd class this year) from the post office and post a couple of thank you's to France. Will have a look at the cheap but nice cards they do at the post office too. I want to get all my birthday cards bought early this year from po or card fact0ry so I don't get caught out and have to buy an expensive one.

I still feel in 'holiday' mode at the moment even though I am not working. I don't think I am back in my routine yet after Christmas.

I am feeling fat today. I am considering going to WW and joining the slimming forum on MFW. I am within my BMI (top end) but want to bring it down nearer the middle. About 11 pound should do it. I am in my pre preggers jeans but still have a bit of a paunch. I need to exercise but since I did my back in running all I can manage is walking and swimming. Might lurk on the slimming thread for a bit and pick up some tips.

Oh no the postman has just delivered the lakeland kitchen stuff catalogue and a £5 voucher...get ye behind me...I must not waste my pocket money on unnecessary 'stuff'.

Off to flick the heating on as my toes are going numb...

XSpender

Its official DS is now crawling forwards:D Not only that he is trying to pull himself up on anything and everything. I can't see me getting much done as I keep having to move him away from the tv, speakers, floor standing vase thing and cabinet. The dogs think he wants to play and are trying to get him to join in their games. Bless:A

DH and I have decided to start Carol V0daphone's detox tomorrow until DH's birthday on the 5th Feb. We both need to shift a few pounds and feel like our systems could do with a clean out. Lots of soups, juices and fruit coming up. Yum Yum:p Will be a bit of an initial outlay for some items that will last the course but we are not doing the supplements as they cost a fortune, I don't think they are necessary and I hate taking 2 paracetemol when I have to , never mind taking 15 or 20 supplements twice a day. Some of them are huge too!:eek:

Had a note with my veg box this morning. If I am willing they will drop off 250 leaflets next week for me to deliver around where I live and credit me with a free small veg box (size I usually have) worth £12.35. I might give this a go and the equivalent £12.35 can go in my op pot, will help my GC as well. I live on an estate, next to another small estate so that should be a fair few houses. Will give me a bit of exercise too and I will count it towards my earnings target for the year:)

I think I will join the MFW weightloss thread as this will keep me motivated to stick to the plan and to keep going at the weightloss after. I have a girls beach weekend booked for the end of May and I am dreading wearing a bikini:eek::o

My friend has dropped my CV into HR where she works, its a big local co, so I am hoping that they have something for me. It ould be ideal for me to work there. They are very flexible about hours etc.

golfiematt

just read your diary & wanted to wish you well on your mf journey .

XSpender

Hi golfiematt:wave: Thanks for reading.

I was worn out last night after running after a crawling DS yesterday, god can he move fast!

I have another £18.54 ready to pay out on cashback, bringing my total extra earnings this month so far to £62.04. I am going to email the organic box co today to let the know I will do the leaflet distribution. DH says it's not much money and will take me about 3 hours but it is money we wouldn't have and I have the time to do it. He did say he will help me even though I never asked him to Also have a £5 Mr M voucher, I will transfer the equivalent money over when I have remembered to spend it as I forgot to use it yesterday:doh:, so that will bring my extra earnings to £79.59.

I have 2 big transactions on TCB waiting to pay out, £30+ on sains ins and £80+ on EDF but it will be another couple of months for these to pay out.

I am only aiming to make £100 extra this month as I haven't got in to the swing of things yet, not sure where I will get the other £20 from, will need to start ebaying soon. I am aiming for £100 in Feb, unless the £80 cashback comes through, then will up itto £150 as I get cracking with flea bay.

Starting the detox diet today, will weigh myself shortly and go join the weightloss thread. Had a chinese and a few beers last night as it will be my last treats in a looooong 28 days.

This weekend we are going to paint the kitchen and put up a new curtain pole. I will need to start taking up the curtain once I know the measurements. It only needs taking up a couple of inches so I will just hem the bottom rather than take the tape off and take it up from the top. That sounds like I know what I am talking about:o I don't, I am just following instructions from my clever Mum who is brilliant at anything involving sewing. Pity she never got me or my sister in to it. We have both fogotten anythng she taught us when we were younger, that goes for knitting too:o

DH has also promised me a lie in tomorrow as he is having one this morning. DS has gone back to bed for a nap so I am going ti investigate the fruity delights of my detox kitchen and rustle something up for breakfast.:p