There is light at the end of the tunnel

Itsadogslife_2

Just wanted to stop by and say how well I think you are doing. PAD is something I have been meaning to join for a while so I might see you over there

Do you live by the sea? How old is Little Miss? My little girl is 6, going on 16 at the moment. She can be a little madam at times (takes after Mr It's A Dogs Life), and is doted on by her grandparents which is good as the buy her lots, I can honestly say I don't remember the last time I had to put my hand in my pocket to buy clothes In laws have also very very kindly paid for us to go on holiday to Menorca with them, we just need some spending money so am obeying the contents of the house and am doing a car boot to raise some pennies for ice cream :cool:

girlatplay

Hi Itsadogslife :wave: Thanks for stopping by. Little Miss Gap is 10. She is also a little madam at times. Most of the time she is kind and loving and very caring. She does think she is 16 sometimes though! We only have my parents (Mr Gap is not her biological dad) but she is the only grandchild and they love her to bits. They do pay out a lot for her, they buy her clothes sometimes and they pay for dance classes and other things she wants. They are really good at looking after her in the school holidays so I can still work. Also, my sis is a fantastic auntie, she spoils her rotten though. She is also good for babysitting and because she is very "trendy" Little Miss likes to copy her clothes wise. We live near Portobello in Edinburgh. I am desperate to do a car boot, we have loads of stuff but I am a little anxious about it. No idea why That sounds great that you are going to Menorca. Good idea about raising spending money. I am still working on PAD. I can't make a payment every day but I am doing it as often as I can, saving it up and paying it to my loan at the end of the month.

So on my DFW journey (this weekend) I have discovered that if I have £50 in my purse I will spend it If I have £50 in the bank I will go to the cashline and take it out £10 or £20 at a time and it lasts much longer... Hmmm.

Zumba tonight. Gap-sis is in Cyprus so I will have to go on my own for the first time :eek: I would never have done that a few weeks back but I am feeling confident today so here's to it

Got some loose change for my sealed pot and might just be able to PAD today :T

Have a lovely day everone.

Gap x

mummytogirls

Morning GAP, sounds like you had a lovely weekend but are back to being focused this morning.

Hope your sister has a lovely hen do away in Cyprus - lucky thing!!!

Enjoy Zumba tonight too x x

loumac

Evening GAP- Try not to worry about car boots, we did one last weekend and took home £100 and half as much junk as we went with! It's such an easy way to earn a few pennies, all those 50p's add up!

Have a good night at zumba and keep up with the new found confidence!

girlatplay

:o I didn't go to Zumba :o I was all ready for it, had my trainers, money, water etc but at the last minute I decided not to. I'm missing my sis. We started this together (although she forced me along to get exercise and lift my mood!) and I didn't want to go without her. It is only one week because she is back next week. I saved £4! Then Little Miss told me there is a spring disco at the school next week and tickets are £2. I will have to give her the other £2 for the tuck shop. So the £4 evened its self out.

Loumac - I really would like to do a car boot. I am just working up the courage. I don't know what the problem is really. I'm just nervous about packing the car and getting there , not about anything else

Mummy - Gap-sis called last night (and gave me a row for not going to zumba!) and they are having a great time. It is sunny and warm during the day and cold at night. She is back on Saturday :j

Well, got a lift from Mr Gap this morning so I will definitely have £1.30 for my PAD. He should be picking me up as well today so I will probably have £2.60 in total for PAD (hopefully) :T

I love Wednesdays, finish at 2pm and it is tax credit day Something nice for the tea tonight

Have a nice day everyone.

Gap x

girlatplay

I have been looking at the grocery challenge for a while now and I have decided to take it a step further and save all my receipts for the month starting this month. Sunday was not an NSD but it wasn't groceries so I am not counting that. Also we had burgers and chips at the burger bar on the prom on Sunday. We usually go to Gap-mum and dad's on Sundays for tea but they were away over night so we bought our own tea. However, generous Gap-parents reimbursed me the money for our burgers (since they decided to go away at the last minute. I love them ) so I don't need to count that in the challenge either. Problem is though that I have spent about £55 on groceries in 3 days. Hopefully tomorrow and Friday will be NSDs because I got enough stuff today for lunch and tea tomorrow and Friday (and today but not lunch!)

Also, I have been getting between 1 and 2 Mr M's savings stamps each week. I don't notice the extra pound or two each week and it will help towards Christmas. I did it a couple of years ago with a savings card with Mr A's and it was brilliant. I didn't have to fork out extra for food, drink and chocolates at Christmas :beer: That and my sealed pot should help a long way towards the financial burden that is the festive season. I don't count up the money in my sealed pot but I would guess I have about £30 odd pounds in it right now.

:eek: can't believe I have started talking about the C word and it is only May! I never do that. Must be the new, organised me that is trying to shine through :cool:

Now if I could just get the mess in the house organised...

Gap x

girlatplay

£1.30 to my PAD today. The school is used as a polling station so it is closed today. ANOTHER day off for Little Miss! Gap-parents are being angels :A and looking after her today for me (thank you ). Gap-dad gave me a lift to work this morning, hence the £1.30! I will be walking home but have decided not to include bus fares from when I walk for two reasons, 1. I am getting home under my own steam and 2. I am scared I will run out of money for the bus by the end of the month. I am so used to just putting the unused fares back into the fares pot so there is loads left at the end of the month. Because I am not putting it back in the pot I am worried I might miscalculate and end up short.

Today should be a NSD. I remembered to bring my lunch :T and we have something for tea.

It is May 5th and I still have money left in the excess and haven't used the cc! :j (by this time in the month I have normally used the cc - yes I know we are only 5 days in but that is how disorganised I used to be!)

Have a good day all

Gap x

mummytogirls

Afternoon GAP, well done on being organised and not spending too much 5 days into the month :T. Thing is its not even difficult once you get your head into gear is it!!

How lovely for your parents to reimburse your burger and chip money, very sweet!!!

Have a lovely day x x

girlatplay

The great thing is, Mummy, when I am organised it is a piece of cake to not spend anything

Today was supposed to be a NSD but I'm getting the keys to Gap-sis's new flat today. She is still in Cyprus (comes back tomorrow) and I work in the office so she asked me if I would get the keys and go take a meter reading for her. I have decided that I will clean her two (!) bathrooms for her as a surprise. I would do the whole flat but I don't finish until 5pm and Gap-dad is dropping Little Miss off to me around 5.30ish and she will get bored. So, was supposed to be a NSD but I have promised Little Miss a McD's on the way home tonight since we have to almost drive past it from Gap-sis's new place. £2 for a happy meal! (she was trying to talk me into getting her a big mac meal but I said no ). I don't like McD's so I won't get anything and will have something in the house when I get home. :cool:

Also my colleague - Grinders (she has such a pretty name as well but we will call her Grinders for the purpose of this thread) - and I were having a moan about work this morning and Grinders decided she wanted a coffee from the coffee shop. I, of course, didn't want to end up with coffee envy so I now have a nice steaming paper cup of coffee on my desk beside me:coffee: :D Aaahhhhhh....

However, it is not all bad today, managed £1.30 to my PAD because I took the car to Gap-sis's new flat and parked there. It is half way between my flat and my work so I walked the rest of the way. Means I can walk back there and then take the car home after and the cleaning stuff is in the car ready. :T I remembered my lunch and have managed to not eat it so far (had two chocolate biscuits instead :eek:).

Oh well, suppose I should do some work now:rotfl:

Gap x

mummytogirls

Morning GAP, you are very chatty this morning arent you :rotfl:!!

Awww thats lovely that you are going to clean the bathrooms for Gap sis, im sure she will appreciate it very much :T. Is she back this weekend?

Enjoy your coffee, call it your Friday treat .

Have a lovely weekend x x x