Regular Ramblings from LookingAhead

LookingAhead

Who said I was anti celebration!!??

lynsayjane

'your not so poor anymore! your not so poor anymore'

thats my footie chant to add to the noise! haha

LA since when did we dfw's even need an excuse for a celebration. aldi cider all round!!!

LookingAhead

And twiglets! :rotfl:

taxi73

HI LA...just checking you're ok....xx

LookingAhead

Hi taxi. Coincidence! I have only just logged on and I saw you had kindly posted to check on how I am.

I am OK thanks hon. I missed this place whilst it was off-line but I am now struggling to get back into it....though I have fits & starts. I've spent lots of money as well recently and totally screwed up the plan to be overdraft free & credit card free by the end of the year as well but all I can do is carry on.

How are you?
I saw recently on your diary you have been making good progress and you got some nice cheques & pigsback vouchers in too!

taxi73

Hi LA....you know what to do ...jump back on again..lol....that is true you just need to carry on...it seems lots of people were off the wagon last weekend so you're not the only one...it's all going to work out fine as I know you still want to do it...so good on you for carrying on...the O/D balance doesn't look bad and your egg card is reducing so you are still making progress...
I'm fine thanks for asking....I haven't paid that big amount off the CC yet ..it's what I will be paying about the 12th as I want the normal payment to come out of the bank first...pigsback vouchers really help don't they?...I've got £30 here so should be able to buy my 2 sons something with them...and I got my tiscali cheque at last and an unexpected £28 back from BT...so all in all quite a good week there...
take care xx

LookingAhead

Thanks taxi, for your words of faith & encouragement. It's good to know other people believe in me, even if I doubt myself at times!

I have a pigsback voucher (Boots) in my purse which I intend to use for myself to buy toiletry things which will help. I have budgeted Christmas money out of November pay day but it's not a fortune: £200 for everything, presents for family & friends, wrapping paper, cards, postage etc etc. And I have quite a big family now (loads of babies have come along in the last 5 years!) so it will be quite tight. I'll do my best!

Glad you are OK - 12th is not far away now. Can't wait to check your signature after that!

taxi73

HI LA...I'm sure you can stretch that a long way...for the babies..they do lovely clothes in places like Tesco,Asda and Matalan very cheaply...I buy loads of JJs stuff at these places...Booots also do 3 for the price of two on their toys...I went overboard last year...hence why I have enough for his christmas and birthday this year...staying in hampers,pampering hampers etc for adults...just a few ideas..cards and wrapping paper are really cheap in whats in store...but you've probably got ideas already...good luck with the shopping

lynsayjane

hi la

don't worry too much about falling off the wagon, knowing you it either wasn't that bad or on stuff you needed and we all fall off a little once in a while.

in addition to taxi's advice about baby clothes, I've found that new look do some nice things in their stores that stock kids clothes. Got the cutest little hoody for my firends daughters first birthday this weekend, it's grey and covered in pink stars adn only cost £7. If it were big enough I'd wear it!

and most importantly remember it's the thought that counts not the money spent!

xxx

LookingAhead

Thanks you two. It is lovely to read your advice on Christmas stuff. I just can't get my brain to start thinking about it...it's almost as if there is some sort of timer in there that won't ping on until 1st December. Seriously. Every time I go to start thinking about it, my mind just isn't having any of it.

Anyway, I appreciate your ideas and I will refer back to them.

The kiddies in the family range from 6 months to 5 years now so a wide spread of ages to cater for.

LJ: Last weekend I had my hair done (colour, cut & straightened for the weekend), I bought a much needed new winter coat and a few tops, a skirt, a scarf & gloves, a few accessories/toiletries - and I also went halves with fiancé on a curry (we hadn't been out for ? months together). All in all I think I spent about £270 which is why my bank account is now overdrawn again and will be until January pay day at least. January will be quite bad - the overdraft will probably go back up to about £500 again.

Luckily, First Direct now have a free £250 overdraft and then they charge 12.6% on anything over that.

I'm annoyed with myself but there is no getting away from the fact that I needed the Winter coat and the tops. Some of the other stuff I could have done without probably but it was the coat, tops & hair that ate most of that cash up.

The hair was budgeted for though actually.

Oh well upwards & onwards! There are far worse problems out there.