New Year. New House. New Budget

Lurker1972

oops, the shredder has gone into meltdown and I still have more to feed it...

still not unpacked all my cookbooks, so sticking with tried & tested meals at moment, funny how it takes so long to get sorted - our friends moved in July last year & still have stuff stored at their parents.....we are guilty of that too although I dont think we'll get away with that for long - especially as in theory we have much more space in the new house

Plan is to be ready to list on the next free listing day on eBay - we missed it this weekend as had literally just got internet access - boo hiss to taking 2 months to get online!!

decentish quidco payment of £15 on the way to me, or rather straight to my credit card I should say. Mr L joined quidco before Christmas & joined Sky through them - hello cashback (new customers only, old account was in my name) & £50 in M&S vouchers

Will be reviewing utility suppliers & home insurance in next couple of months - all through quidco of course

also back doing overtime on Saturdays when available having allowed myself proper weekends throughout January in an attempt the get sorted...silly me should have realised that would be a work in progress for some time to come!

Lurker1972

& Fridayyyyyyyyyy

Its all go chez Lurks, am snuggled in my jimjams, with Come Dine with Me on the TV - some serious kitchens on tonight!!

Its been a long week and I am shattered. But the budget is in place & I am hoping its easy to get straight back on the straight & narrow with the food shopping.
I have a voucher to use @ the Co-op tomorrow & I should also qualify for money off Shell petrol which is a bonus since MrL is a petrol snob!!

Overtime tomorrow morning & then I may have a little baking session in the afternoon - its been a while since I made any yummies & it might help the kitchen feel right - not got it properly sorted yet so its not flowing ....

got loads of 5ps to add to the pot - i think i am close to having enough to pay in, woop woop...little things please little minds eh?!

Lurker1972

What a great day!!!

Started off the day by checking petrolbusters for the cheapest fuel around as my car was about empty (not complaining, last filled up on 31st December!!)
having done the research I was able to make use of a voucher from the local paper to get 3p per litre off the price....as it was only 1p a litre more than the cheapest place, thats a win for me. Put in £40 worth (monthly fuel budget), paid £39.07. Saving of 93p.

Got to the car park, hesitate before putting in the usual £2 for a day, saw that I could just pay for 4 hours instead. Didnt need anything from town so that was perfect for my mornings work. Saving of 50p.

Worked 3 & half hours @ time & half.....extra ££s for March pay.

Got home & Sky owe me £7.50 from cancelling the old contract due to the move. BONUS!!

Now have to to meal plan & shopping list, make sure I spend enough for my voucher, but not too much over the £40

Its all go here!!

Lurker1972

Note to self - believe in the signature!!!

hve been wallowing this week for 2 reasons
1) it turns out that Mr L's loan (with ex) doesn't finish for another 2 months
2) I made (yet another) mistake on my budget, leaving us short again by about £150. grrr doesnt cover it.

I dont totally understand where i've gone wrong but did see that there was a wonky formula in my spreadsheet that will explain some of it.

Have I learnt a lesson this time? I sure hope so, but having spent the week chucking my toys out of the pram over it (metaphorically) I am not convinced!

But, tis now the weekend & time to recharge the batteries.
Overtime in the morning, followed by a much needed haircut.
Then hopefully will get some oomph & get on with sorting this house out, its driving me crazy becuase I genuinely dont know where to start with it.

Moving has definately played havoc with my control freak issues. I think my planning skills are still in an unpacked box....or worse, they may have been left in the old house!!!

Onwards & Upwards!!

Lurker1972

And another week has past!!

its payday on Tuesday so will be triple checking htat my figures add up this month & then sticking Very Firmly to meal plan & shopping budget

Todays missions
1) spend nothing - should be easy, am not going anywhere!
2) sort out the bl**dy kitchen
3) attempt to make parsnip soup
4) get washing dried outside

Simples!

Lurker1972

well, having spent the last few days with a major case of the blahs, I hope I am through the worst of it!

Didnt pay for parking today and found a fiver I didnt know about & promply paid it off the credit card - that must mean I'm taking charge again.
I think its partly down to getting out of the office at lunchtime - I dont usually as am trying to build up my flexitime - but I had to go to the bank so go some fresh air in the lungs.

I still have a nice £20 note in my purse (so not used to them), its been there since Friday.....wonder how long I can go before I have to break into it....now theres a mini challenge!!!

Lurker1972

I could be on a roll here, milk bill came in under budget so thats another £5 winging its way to the credit card

need to make lunches for tomorrow but have a banging headache so may choose an early night & do lunches in the morning....trouble is the odds are against me getting up in time!

decisions decsionssszzzzzzz

Lurker1972

Its ben a very long week, but mostly frugal

Found yet another issue with my spreadsheets last night which really does explain where I was going wrong. I really do think I have got them right now!!! only time will tell though!

Today will be a NSD as I aint going anywhere!

Tasks for the day
1) attempt to find the bottom of laundry basket
2) dry contents of laundry basket on the line
3) strip bed
4) remake bed
5) throw away 10 items - should be easy, am surrounded by CR*P
6) post active kids vouchers to friend
7) post card to other friend who has got new job a mere 6 weeks after being made redundant
8) join mum on dog walk
9) dance around the house
10) inventory of food in freezer

That will do for now.....although already cant do number 3 as Kitty is fast asleep on it & I'm sure theres some reason you should never wake a sleeping cat.....

Lurker1972

Have been neglecting the diary again.
I'd like to say its because I've been busy sorting through the house, ebaying & generally getting a good grip on things.
I could say it, but would be telling porkies!

went overbudget on groceries this month - partly down to taking Mr Lurks with me to the supermarket! but I cant blame him completely - haven't been as good with the meal plans & lists recently & it shows.
But its a new shopping month so start over with a clean sheet.
Washing is on the line blowing nicely, I have made a start of straightening the tip room so that we may actually be able to sort stuff, I have a box of bits to bin so am making baby steps.
Mr Lurks is out for the day so I aim to use the time productively....but can feel a little nap outside calling...
used reward vouchers yesterday to help with the nasty 5 week month, did overtime, parked for free, used the library, took stuff to charity shop so am doing well this weekend already.

have caught up with surveys & am so very close to being able to claim a voucher.

sunshine is calling, weeds need removing!

Lurker1972

no weeding done yet, but I have sorted out some junk & in the process saved myself £2.50! result!!

I thought I needed some more polly pockets for bill filing but a quick reshuffle & shred fest means I have a load spare without spending

Am glad I decided not to buy any the other week!