Jamiedodger's Sparkly New 2011 Diary

beanielou

All looking very good

JAMIEDODGER

Thanks beanie:) although I am a little reluctant to book a holiday before debt is paid back, I know if I wait until I've paid it back to book, it will probably cost me twice the amount. I know I still have enough money for the deposit, unallocated in June's budget so I know I can afford it. Also it will not have any bearing on debt repayment. If I do decide to book I will make sure I put away a set amount each week between now and next April to cover the remainder of the holiday cost.

How is everything with you?? X

beanielou

Im plodding on JAMIE.
Nothing else for it!!

hypno06

You seem very focused on it all right now - I am sure it will pay dividends!

JAMIEDODGER

Thanks hypno:) I have worked out that if I went for it, I would need to put away £5 per week to pay for it, this is the same amount as I allocate to parking fees each week. To break it down even further, if I put £1 per day away ( like the 365 challenge) I would have enough to pay it and leftovers, to pay towards lunches. That is definitely manageable as I am not noticing the £1 per day I am already saving.

I also want to start putting away some money for Christmas soon so will be thinking of the best way to approach saving for that too.

JAMIEDODGER

Morning!

Have done banking, have squeezed in another small payment to Credit Card of £10.63:)

Aiming for my first NSD of June today. Won't be going anywhere, lots of housework to do!

A few more watchers on my eBay items, 5 days left so fingers crossed I get some more bids!

This weeks budget still looking quite healthy but plenty of days left in the week yet, still todays NSD will mean that the money in my purse stays the same into tomorrow. Really looking forward to going out tomorrow night with the girls. I have set a budget which will include taxi's. I hope I come home with money leftover, as that would be a real bonus.

I think I will book that holiday later today if I can get through on the phone. I will need to make another 'pot' to store the £1 per day to cover the rest of the holiday payment in April. I just feel it is too good a bargain to pass up, unfortunately will four kids, holidays are so very expensive and as this one is only £68 each with two meals a day taken care of, I know I won't find much of a better deal.

I was also thinking I could use any extra money earned via eBay etc to cover the cost of spending money. This way I wouldn't have had to pay for it out of debt repayments or my weekly allowance. I like the idea of 'earning' our spending money from other sources.

So, I need to start thinking about Christmas. If my calculations are correct, there are roughly 29 weeks left until the big day! I am aiming on spending a lot less this christmas than I usually do. I have already decided that I will be making up gift bags for all the members of my family and friends except maybe my kids. I do not want an expensive christmas this year. I have I think 20 people to buy for including the children, this does not include a small gift for the youngest two to give to their teachers. It does include my three closest friends, and my two carers and my babysitter who do more for me than my family do! I obviously need to start cracking on this right now!

My main priority is paying back the debt, so I am going to start small and put away £10 per week into savings until September when the school uniform has been paid for. I can increase it after this.

Luckily with DS1 at college now, I only have to buy uniform for 3 kids. Still very expensive though. DD moves to Juniors this year and her PE kit and bag will change. Unfortunately, I can only buy her uniform at yourschooluniform.com so buying it bit by bit is more expensive because of the postal charges, so I will be buying hers all in one go. I can however buy DS2 & 3 in little bits, so I will be making a start with that very soon. I will be asking for a uniform request form from DS3 school next week to make sure I am up to date on the prices.

So, I will be putting away £10 from this weeks money into Christmas savings and every week from now on. As the money will be in cash, this means when I see a bargain for one of the gift bags, it will be easy to get to. I will be also keeping a running total of everything I have spent and on whom, so that I can make sure I can keep within a tight budget. I have a feeling Martin's Money email will mean I can pick up some great bargains especially for the girls bags.

JAMIEDODGER

A quick update:

I've booked the holiday and paid £125 deposit. £215 to be paid by 13/4/12.

I also had an email for 20% off and free delivery for school uniform from m&s so I have ordered 10 pairs of school trousers for all the kids. That's one horrible job out of the way for £65. I usually buy them from there so a great deal for me!

JAMIEDODGER

Morning:)

£3 to credit card for me today and £1 in the holiday pot. Debt is slowly coming down and savings going up!

Today will not be a NSD as I am off out tonight for drinks with friends.

I also sold an item on eBay for £6 including postage so will need to go and buy some packaging and pay postage for that. Other items have a few watchers and one bid, doing ok so far. As soon as I get the money for that it will be going straight into savings, together with the quidco payment which should hopefully hit my account this month.

Will be something quick and simple for dinner tonight, DS1&2 are off to see their dad at 6pm and sitter will be with me at 8pm. Sharing a taxi with my friend, there and back so should save a little money.

Hoping to come back with lots of change for the pot!

I started to write out a christmas list yesterday, will spend a little more time on that, need to keep my eye on Grabbit board etc, see if there are any good bargains about. I know there is nothing 'big' that my kids want this year, so I am planning on buying them little bits too.

My friend decided to book up to butlins too, so we are going to go together, this is nice company for me and also for the girls. Should be a really good laugh.

Got all my pots sorted now and know exactly what I am saving for. It really helps me joining all these challenges as it keeps me focused on the goal. I know that if I can keep on top of things then I will be back to being DF again soon:D

The sealed pot challenge is very addictive, and I find myself wanting to keep putting money in it all the time! I will be keeping my eye out for pennies on the road now as some people find them all the time, I obviously haven't been looking hard enough before!

I haven't been able to put anything in my VSP yet, that is because I drew my entire allowance out in cash this week. Next week should be different. I will be leaving my food and petrol money in the account and any money saved on shopping and on petrol will go in the VSP, which is the savings account attached to that current account. This should build up nicely, especially as I am now doing the grocery challenge and also I always spend less on petrol during the school holidays which are coming up very soon. It will mean that I may be putting slightly less into the SP but it is all savings in the long run!

Have a great day everyone!

JAMIEDODGER

Have just sold 2 old mobiles and some gold jewellery. Waiting to see what my payout will be:)

Any money made will do into my 'extra earnings' pot!

JAMIEDODGER

I didn't realise that you could withdraw money from your paypal account free of charge! Just transferred £5.60 to my bank account, should hit in 2-3 days...my first deposit to my Extra Earnings pot!