Weekly Flylady Thread 21st February 2011

pigpen

Chloris wrote: »

Next is to find a children friendly doesn't send them nuts squash if such a thing exists! All ideas welcome.

Hugs and spoons.x

We get tesco value squash.. I love the value ranges they are so cheap they don't have anything like as much crap in them.

We got a high juice one from lidl which had no aspartame in and it sent them off.. we can't have that jucee stuff or whaever it is now called... have you tried just cheap sparkling water and pure fruit juice?

sockdrawer

Chloris wrote: »

Sockdrawer, I have a guilt free allowance, or adult pocket money for my craft/mags/random buys. This is only £10 pw

That's what my hubby suggested, and I think it's a good idea. Building it into the budget means it's always there for when it's needed. That's what he seems to do as second nature, and doesn't see why I don't do it too. (neither do I tbh)

Chloris wrote: »

I am also on a finish the last project before you start the next one drive.

Yes, this is what I need to do too! (see my listy regarding evelasting Rowan jumper!) I do feel the need for completion though in some of my projects, hence the smaller side-projects. I just need to focus more. I know I can get so much more done when I do.[/quote]

With the topping up the grocery shop, I am going to try to only do 1 or 2 extra shops on top of our weekly shop. I aim to write my initial list more thoroughly!!! We buy our meat seperately so need to do some extra. I am re-evaluating our budget at present!

I'm going to spend some time tomorrow evaluating what I do versus what I would like to do, and find some middle ground. I don't want to beat myself up (as I'm apt to do) regarding the spends, but I do feel (because I'm a good cook) that I could do better. What I need to do is actually put a budget in place and stick to it, rather than paying off everything that needs paid off, then, what's left is the budget (so it can be any amount) and also do as greenbee suggested, put some potential mortgage money away before I do my daily living spends.
The other thing that catches me out, and again, I may be the only one,
is, random children spends. I've factored in school/home lunches, but it's the no school uniform days, random trips, need money for lunch because we're playing (take your pick) softball, acting, netball, skiing, rugby, football etc etc etc. or suddenly "mum I need black trousers/plimsolls/kit for some activity or another" These do throw me.
Writing it out, I can see, I have to put some cash into a random kit/children account. Sorry to waffle, was thinking as I wrote.... x

Life In Termoil Don't be ashamed honey. It's good knowledge to have. We all have our things we spend money on. It's just whether it's worth it or not, and only we ourselves can decide that. I cleared so much of my debt by not smoking, but I needed to do it (stop smoking) when it was right for me (and I was sick and tired of it!). xx

greenbee

Well the kitchen is tidy, and the work surfaces and units are clean. Partridges are defrosting. Washing up is done. Kettle is descaling.

Tomorrow morning I need to:

Bung partridges in SC
Put washing up away
Change sofa covers (these have chocolate on them, luckily two sets of covers were delivered when I bought it!)
Dust the sitting room and clear the coffee table
Clean the woodstove window and restock log baskets and coal bucket
Top up water in flowers and throw out dying ones
Dust the hall
Clean the loo and sink
Clear the kitchen table and lay it
Remove junk from kitchen
Hoover downstairs floors and wash them
Hoover upstairs
Change bedding and ideally wash it...
Make cake (I have biscuits in case I don't get round to it)
Plant a few things
Chop some kindling as I'm getting short
Cook vegetables for lunch

I also need to call my cousin, who is an estate agent, to decide what to do about the agent who is hassling me. On Monday I need to call a couple more local agents for valuations/sales proposals. Things have been a little complicated by the fact that there appears to be a 4 bedroom house for sale about 100 yds from my brother & SIL. The price is higher than I'd budgeted, but I COULD afford it (mind you, my mother would probably move in with my permanently!). So I'm going to look round it and see whether I like it, as its not worth worrying about it if I don't. If I do, then whether its the right or not will depend on whether I can sell this for the right amount in the right timescales!

Now I just need to decide whether its better to put my bonus into my ISA or keep it as cash or pay another chunk of the existing mortgage (to give me the biggest possible deposit) given that things might actually start moving!

Suppose I should either do some more housework or head off to bed and have an early night in preparation for my busy day of domestic drudgery tomorrow!

ETA... writing the above has made me realise that despite my payrise, I need to take a long, hard look at my finances. If I'm moving to somewhere that is going to cost me more than twice what I currently pay in terms of mortgage costs I a. need to start understanding where my money goes (and I don't have regular monthly expenditure - for example, today's very expensive health food shop trip is probably a once-every-three-months job), b. seriously consider ebaying stuff rather than freecycling/charity shopping to help generate some cash to cover moving expenses c. cut back to what I would have available if I had a higher mortgage to see whether I can live on it long-term... with the added bonus of potentially paying a large extra chunk off the existing mortgage in the meantime!

So... as of tomorrow, the heating is going off. I have lots of logs and need to get myself organised so they dry out and can be used. Chopping logs and kindling will be good exercise too!

Oh... need to sort out language classes and voice coaching too!!! LOTS to do!!!

MrsChaos

Valli - thanks for the link. I will have to watch it again (and again) and share it with DS1, who will love it.

LIT - could your teens do their own mealplan (and cooking) for days when you work?

Would love to join in with the spending diary, but my month started today and DS2 and I have been out shopping. Not sure if I can remember it all! I also can't remember much else from the thread, so general hugs etc as appropriate.

Costco and M'hall (very crowded) in one day was a bit much, but necessary. I now have a halogen oven and DS2 has new trainers and a few clothes. Have just spent the last hour catching up with the thread while listening to Meatloaf on youtube. Time for one last song and then lights out for a last early night before work on Monday.
x

MrsChaos

greenbee wrote: »

Suppose I should either do some more housework or head off to bed and have an early night in preparation for my busy day of domestic drudgery tomorrow!

Take a book and a drink and wind down for a bit before a good night's sleep. Looks like things might happen quite quickly for you in the near future. Are you happy to be so close to your family? I don't have any siblings, so not a good judge in these matters, but I can imagine that I'd prefer to be at least a couple of streets away.

Chloris

pigpen wrote: »

We get tesco value squash.. I love the value ranges they are so cheap they don't have anything like as much crap in them.

We got a high juice one from lidl which had no aspartame in and it sent them off.. we can't have that jucee stuff or whaever it is now called... have you tried just cheap sparkling water and pure fruit juice?

At home I try milk, water or pure fruit juice. The squash is more for when we are out to put in drinks bottles. I find water tastes awful in them, and I worry about diluted orange juice going a little yucky! A friend said last week you choose between hyper kids or bad teeth! I'll look at the tesCo value squash.

Chloris

sockdrawer wrote: »

.

The other thing that catches me out, and again, I may be the only one,
is, random children spends. I've factored in school/home lunches, but it's the no school uniform days, random trips, need money for lunch because we're playing (take your pick) softball, acting, netball, skiing, rugby, football etc etc etc. or suddenly "mum I need black trousers/plimsolls/kit for some activity or another" These do throw me.
Writing it out, I can see, I have to put some cash into a random kit/children account. Sorry to waffle, was thinking as I wrote.... x

[/QUOTE/]

I have a clothes budget and a school activity budget. School meals would come out the grocery budget!

Go me:beer: I sound dead organised. Main problem is getting DH to inform me when he spend huge amounts of money online on books!!!:cool: Or at the comic shop. Or Oxfam book shop. Ermm, pattern emerging.

greenbee

Thanks for the link to the spending diary jinks... I can see some great displacement activity ahead of me

But I really do need to put some effort into working out what I can afford when i move. I don't want to end up being miserable because I've spent so much I can't afford to live... but I also don't want to move to somewhere if it isn't significantly better than where I am...

Froddy... want to come house hunting with me

life_in_termoil

Whilst ive been at work ive managed to do a meal plan for a week and also done my shopping list. Just done an online shop at mrT for delivery tomorrow and it came in at £76.92 which includes everything for breakfasts, lunch, packed lunches, dinners, snacks, all cleaning stuff and dog food Oh and delivery. I bought a sack of potatoes from work £5 which should last me a month. I am determined not to spend anything else this week.

sockdrawer

Chloris wrote: »

I have a clothes budget and a school activity budget. School meals would come out the grocery budget!

Sounds like a plan! :beer:

Chloris wrote: »

Main problem is getting DH to inform me when he spend huge amounts of money online on books!!!:cool: Or at the comic shop. Or Oxfam book shop. Ermm, pattern emerging.

mmmm, Hubby dear has been enjoying the discounted Steam games lately.... however, he's such a dear, I find it difficult to hold it against him. I just wish he'd let me know so I knew I had to make cc payments.