Sorting through my rubbish

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Quietly pleased with myself today.

I applied for 2 0% cards last week and have transferred the bulk of my cc debt to those, I have 18 and 20 months on them.

I have just phoned and closed one of my old accounts which was nice, had slightly over paid the account by £1.88 which they have donated to charity (I could have had it back but hey!).

Another account has £221 left on it which I will pay off next month (would have been this month if I hadn't just had to pay for tyres:mad:).

Little steps but I feel good about it, I am really determined this time. I am already noticing a difference at home now DS1 has moved out, less washing, food lasting longer and less stress (particularly in the mornings), still really miss him tho !!

It was nice that I actually had the money for the tyres and didn't have to put it on a credit card. Hopefully my finances will continue to improve this year I hate having to scratch around when there is an unexpected expense.

Hope everyone is well

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi,

I've been away for a while, 1 weeks Annual Leave and the kids half term.

Had a very nice visit Up North to see DS1, who then came back home for a couple of days, went out with him on the Saturday night but managed to only spend £10 as we walked home afterwards.

Had a trip to the dentist (we make a day out of this) but kept it as frugal as possible.

There was a temporary 'ice' rink set up in our town centre, just £3 per child and the kids were on there for 2 hours. It was great as normally we would have to make a 120 mile round trip to go ice skating.

The rest of the week was spent cooking with the children and just doing family things, dog walks etc.

Meal plans going well, keeping grocery shopping to a minimum and using up stocks.

I have placed my 1st online order with Mr T's for this coming payday, got £12 off £60 first shop and £5 cashback, also managed to book a £3.50 time slot so not bad really.

Have got another 0% card approved so will rejig my signature. Have worked it out and if I am really careful and strict with myself I should have the bulk repaid within 2 years - watch this space!!

Trixie - I am REALLY worried about you now, hope all is well.

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Well the end of another week:beer:

Kept to the meal plan which means I have not shopped for food since last Saturday, will pop out tonight for bread, milk and pasta but that should be all.

DS2's birthday next Monday so DS1 is coming home for the weekend:j and we are going out for a meal on Saturday night.

Payday next week. Only been a short month but what a struggle, car tyres, trip up north and DDs school trip all paid for!!!

Will try and budget better next month and make some of these extra paymants to credit.

Must dash

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Payday:j:j at last.

I know the joy will be shortlived, I have done my budget and know exactly what is happening to every penny!! But for 1 day and 1 day only my bank account looks GOOD!!!

Have transferred money to the bills account and taxed one of the cars (only did 6 months as it is DS1's car and not sure what he will be doing with it after training).

[EMAIL="T@sco"]T@sco[/EMAIL] order due tonight £53 worth of basics, should tide us over for the month with what is in the cupboards, mainly bread and milk and fruit and veg to get for the rest of the month. Will be meal planning to limit waste/expenditure.

Still working through the toiletteries stash, did succombe to some more hairdye in boots though as it was reduced to £1, so I bought 5! Putting £1 in my Xmas tin everytime I use something up. Also sticking to putting the savings itemised on my till receipt into the tin, it will all help at Xmas.

Had a few family birthdays this week but have used pressies and cards/wrap from my pressie cupboard.

Quiet weekend planned after last weekend, was lovely to see DS1 again but was expensive with the meal out etc and DS2's birthday on Monday! I am going to make a start on the loft, need to sort out.....

1. My pressie stash and put it in 1 accessible place
2. sort out rubbish/charity items
3. sort out and ebay childrens old clothes
4. sort out and organise car boot items

There is so much to do and as we are determined to go abroad this year (1st time in 6 years) I need to make as much additional income as possible and mentaly I need to declutter the house and make life seem more organised.

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Well that was a waste of a weekend.

It certainly WAS a QUIET one, we were all ill!!

I have had a stinking headache and felt achy and nauseus all weekend, not feeling great now, DH had similar symptoms to me. DD stayed off school on Friday as she was feeling poorly, she has been coughing and burning up all weekend and also feels nauseus. She has got her first residential trip with school on Wednesday so she is desperate to be well by then, it is the climax of their time at Primary School, during the last year they always go to the same activities centre and look forward to it all through the school.

I haven't even looked in the loft this weekend or done any baking!! In fact we have hardly eaten except for a bit of tea and toast!

I have £2.54 left in my purse until Wednesday but we have everything we need until then, bread, milk etc. Loads of food (the T@sco order arrived and it was all correct so much better than Asd@!!)

Busy week this week, picked up some extra hours and DS1 is home again for the weekend (it is his birthday this time!!) I don't expect he will be back again for a while after that as it costs soooo much on the train

Must fly

take care 321 xxx

lucielle

Hope you're all better soon.
L

satchmo1

hi 321, sorry you've all been poorly - I hope the worst has passed now, and DH gets to go on her trip.

Doesn't DS1 get an Army-issue rail-pass? My son used to get one when he went anywhere by rail with Cadets as a trainer.

Satchmo x

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Lucielle and Satchmo :wave: nice to know I'm not wittering away to myself!!!:rotfl:

We are all feeling much better thank you both, DD stayed off from school on Monday and Tuesday to ensure she was fit and well to go yesterday, she was sooooo excited.

Satchmo - DS did get 4 single tickets paid for when he started his training and now has a Forces Railcard which gives him 30% discount so it helps but his journey is at least 5 hours and that is if he manages to get a direct train so it is always going to be expensive plus he never seems to know what time he will be finishing to plan which train to get so he cannot buy tickets in advance either!!

I have bought NO food this week! DH told me we needed bread yesterday but I knew there was a loaf in the freezer plus bread rolls. Will try and last the weekend but I think I will have to give in and buy bread and milk by Monday!

We are meeting our new employers tomorrow (have been taken over) so off to a prep meeting in a mo, bit hesitate about it all as I don't really like change and have been really happy in my job so fingers crossed it all pans out well.

Must fly

321 xxx

lucielle

Hope the meeting goes well.
L

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi everyone,

Well we have had quite a good week this week. Haven't bought much in the way of food, bread, milk, reduced strawberries and mushrooms (25p a punnet), 2 reduced gammon shanks (£1.50 each and each will do a meal for 4), wraps for 16p a pack, 12 crumpets for 35p and a BIG block of deli cheddar for £1.45!

DS2 is away all weekend, DD is away Saturday night so DH and I will eat up any odd things from the freezer and spend our time sorting the loft and Ebaying (maybe with some 'recreational' time in between!!:p).

Need to meal plan for next week as again need to keep food buying to a minimum. Also need to do some baking as I have been slacking in that department for the last few weeks and the kids have had bought cake and biscuits in their lunches.

Lucielle - thanks for the wishes; the meeting didn't go how I had hoped but I am looking into a few options so will see what happens. Fingers crossed

DH has booked us a holiday, a weeks all inclusive in Spain in April, he has got a VERY VERY good deal and although I said we can't afford it (which we can't) he has insisted that with all the stress of the last year and with what is to come I need a holiday, at least being all inclusive we won't need loads of spending money! The kids are really excited as we haven't been abroad for 6 years, DD has packed her bag already!

Right must sciddaddle!

Take care and have a great weekend

321 xxx