Please Stop Me Now....

ROSIEGLOW255

Ok, I am having a good time but I really need to stop.

I have posted a couple of diaries in the past but as with most things I start my interest/motivation wanes and it goes by the wayside. Why doesn't my interest in spending ever wane?

In the last few months I haven't been really looking on this site as much but I have been keeping an eye on my finances, even having a credit card free Christmas for probably the first time ever. But since Christmas my spending has just kept gradually creeping up and up, until I am now feeling totally out of control. Last night was a wake up call, I was looking online at buying something and although I knew I probably wouldn't use it and didn't really want it I just couldn't stop myself from buying it. It was like a compulsion I just couldn't resist. I think it started with buying small things as treats and it's just escalated.

So, I have decided it is time to start thinking about (and doing) a spending diary. I have tried them on and off for the last few months but as soon as I miss a couple of things off or start to lose track I just think sod it I've blown it might as well just spend spend spend. It's a bit like that diet mentality of, I've had a slice of cake I might as well eat the whole cake now. Grr, it's so frustrating, I know I'm doing it but can't seem to stop myself. God I sound so helpless and feeble.

My plan is to start from 1st May. The reason for this, other than pure procrastination, is that with the holidays next week and daughters birthday at the end of this month it will be harder to budget (although not impossible I admit), where as May is a 'standard' month so nothing should throw me off course early on. Although, don't get me wrong, I am planning to reduce my wasteful spending before then, I am not going to use this next week as a free for all. No more impulse purchases for me. Although if I do find someone selling some self control on Ebay I might just have to snap it up lol.

ROSIEGLOW255

Well had a lovely weekend, my daughter was 5 yesterday so had nice day out with a party tea at home then had a party at a big soft play this morning. But however, the party is over, and now I must get on with the task of moneysaving (once again).

I cancelled my last impulse purchase which originally gave me my wake up call a couple of weeks ago. I'm really pleased I did as now I don't even want the item so it really would have been a waste of money.

I did a budget for May yesterday and after paying bills and all expected expenses (food, petrol, etc)we should have £343.99 left over for other things that crop up during the month, with hopefully some left over to pay off debts at the end of it. As for debt repayments I plan on repaying £100 per week so that in 1 years time will be totally debt free.

Will have to see how this goes as might take slightly longer as am likely to have to make lower repayments in months where going away on holiday to Mum and Dads and Christmas. I am planning on using husbands expense money to cover these costs as much as possible, he usually spends £30 per week on diesel and is repaid every 5-8 weeks so am hoping to transfer this repayment into a savings account for holidays, christmas, car repairs, etc.

To Do list:

1. Cancel Egg Direct DebitCan't do just yet as DD is due to come out on 3rd May
2. [STRIKE]Set up weekly standing order to Egg for £100[/STRIKE] - done
3. [STRIKE]Cancel Which membership[/STRIKE] - done
4. [STRIKE]Cancel Weightwatchers subscription[/STRIKE] - done
5. [STRIKE]Cancel Audible subscription[/STRIKE] - done
6. [STRIKE]Do rough weekly spending budget[/STRIKE] - done
7. [STRIKE]Check balance on HSBC weekly spend account and transfer money from Barclays to bring it back up to £0 if necessary[/STRIKE] - done
8. [STRIKE]Pay £300 to credit card[/STRIKE] - done
9. [STRIKE]Pay Next account[/STRIKE] - done

cococoladebt

Hello.

Congratulations on your daughter's 5th birthday. Get cancelling all those subscriptions and all the best

ROSIEGLOW255

Weekly Budget W/C 1st May 2011

Total Available Budget: £105

Groceries: £60.00/£0.00
Childcare: £24.00/£0.00
Other: £21.00/£0.00

ROSIEGLOW255

Well had a good crack at my to do list. Cancelled all my subscriptions so that is about £25 per month saved in no time at all. I couldn't care I didn't really use 2 of the subscriptions, just didn't get round to cancelling them, talk about throwing money away.

Just got to come up with some ideas for a cheap day out tomorrow so that don't have a high spend day on my first moneysaving day. Park or seaside, here I come. Might even have a day round house, had a busy few days and daughter is due back to school on Tuesday so could do with an easy day. Will see what the day brings.

Off to do my Tesco or Asda weekly shop now I think, hope I can get a decent delivery slot so i can order stuff in for work lunches on Tuesday. Got a new recipe book the other day so think I might order some stuff to try out some new recipes.

chevalier

good luck with your quest to be debt free. could you give your cards to somene to stop the I pulse spending? Or do you l
use them all the time?

ROSIEGLOW255

Have managed to get a delivery slot for tomorrow morning so just want to do a meal plan for next week and figured that here was as good a place as any to do it.

Monday: Roast Chicken Dinner
Tuesday: Meatballs in Tomato Sauce with Pasta
Wednesday: Tea @ MIL's
Thursday: Chilli with Rice
Friday: Tuna Pasta Bake
Saturday: Pizza
Sunday: Snack Food


Have finished shop with Tesco, £36.30 for the weeks main shop (including delivery). I am hoping I don't have to do many/any top up shops but as the main shop is so cheap am thinking I must have missed a few things but am too tired to think about it just now. No doubt will be going to the co-op at least once over the coming week.

patman99

I can remember when my DS was 5, he is now 18 (now, that really makes me feel old). Don't forget to hunt for voucher codes for free delivery from ASDA, found one last week when I did shopping online. Went through mysupermarket and picked-up another 49 MaxiMiles points on the way. Interestingly, ASDA was £2.87 cheaper than Sainburys until I discovered that in switching, 2 items had been removed as they had no ASDA equiv., but when I added these items on manually from A's stock, then A became nearly £4 more than S, but with a free delivery code applied, it was cheaper.

Sea78

hi

That menu plan sounds well nice! Better than the one I had last week by far

Well done on your cancellations - I too was guilty of exactly the same thing - kept paying for a mag that I didn't even read!! So silly but thankfully got a grip of myself and it's sorted now.

My son is 5 too - such a delightful age. My dd is 8 and it's an interesting time seeing her develop, remember her at 5, she's still lovely though of course!
Sea xxx

mum2one

sounds like your on top of things, and its good to have a sort through the bank account, but at least you had the lightbulb moment.

Thinking - more for further school hols, etc

Dry days

1. Walk in the country or near some fields.Collect some leaves or twigs or anything else you find exciting.
2.Lie on a blanket.. What shapes can you see in the clouds ?
3. Take some pictures. ( This one is great, i let Ben borrow my digital camera and he took some fantastic photos..but a disposible one would work too)
4.Have a picnic or a teddies tea party
5. Go for a bike ride
6. Draw a plant or a flower
7. Plant some seeds

Wet days ... Well as in UK we have nice wet summers

1. Make a collage or picture from leaves
2. Make clouds... These can be pictures using cotton wool or Meringues
3. Make salt dough.. I will find a receipe for this for you all
4. Watch a film then write about it
5. Have a pamper day.. Do your hair,paint your nails and have a face mask ( not very good for boys
6.Read a book then write about it
7. Decorate a cake. This can be one you make or buy
8. Family tree. These can be as little or as big as you want ( Great way to get the grandparents to watch the kids for a few hours )
9. Coin rubbing... Really easy this one a piece of paper ontop of a coin then rub over it with a pencil or wax crayon.
10. Make a paperbag puppet. This came be made into loads of different animals. I will see if i can find some templates
11. Make a sock puppet. Again these can be made as weird or wonderful as you want
12. Perform a puppet show, You can use your paper bag or sock puppets
13. Star in a pop video... Wear your best party gear, do your hair. Pop on your favorite tune. Then magically you become youre favorite pop star !! Ask someone to eith camcorder it or record it on a phone.

I found it worked well so i added a days out one too
Such as visit local zoo or nature reserve. Trip to the cinema.. A game of bowling.

We also scrapbook the summer holidays/ activities we do
You can get a scrapbook for 99p from Wilco or other stores or even use white a4 paper.
Everything goes in there. If we go into town on the bus we add bus tickets and i get the kids to write a little bit about what they did today
Its a fantastic way of making those little memories that stay with a child for a lifetime






[FONT=&quot]1.Write numbers from 1 to 100. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2.Find an object in your house that begins with each letter of the alphabet. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3.Write 10 sentences. Use a number word in each sentence. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]4.Make something in the kitchen involving the use of measuring cups. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]5.Go outside and find things for every colour of the rainbow. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]6.Write a story about your pet or a pet you would like to have. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]7.Write a letter to someone.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]8.Write the names of five friends, now make as many words using the letters of their names as you can. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]9.Make a scrapbook of animal pictures. You might want to choose an animal you like. See if you can find some old magazines or calendars to look for the pictures. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]10.Read a story to someone. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]11.Count the money in your wallet or ask mum or dad to give you some coins to count. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]12.Keep a journal of what you do during the Summer. Write in it at least 2 times each week.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]13.Write numbers from 101 to 300. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]14.Write the alphabet three times in your best cursive writing. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]15.Go outside. Find things for the sense of touch, things that are smooth, rough, prickly, sharp, hard, soft, dry, wet, etc. Make a log book of what you discover. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]16.Correctly spell as many colour words as you can, try some of the harder ones too like turquoise and burgundy. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]17.Write numbers by 5’s to 100 and then to 1000. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]18.Make little signs to name things in your room. Put them up in your room. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]19.Draw a picture of something outside. Write 5 or more sentences about it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]20.Write all the number facts that will add to 10. (6 + 4 = 10, etc. ) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]21.Go on a nature hike. Collect things and put them in a picture. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]22.Pretend you are a giant. Write a short story about it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]23.Write numbers from 301 to 500. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]24.Cut out words from the newspaper - one for each letter of the alphabet [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]25.Use the letters in the word UNITED KINGDOM to write as many words as you can. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]26. Find a recipe that uses a colour word in it's title and help your mom or dad make it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]27. Count out loud to 1000 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]28.Write 10 sentences. Use a colour word in each sentence. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]29.Write numbers by 2’s to 100 (2, 4, 6...) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]30.Write a fairy tale. Then read it to someone younger than you. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]31.Write a poem about the weather, an animal or a plant.. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]32.Plant something outside or help take care of a garden. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]33.Imagine that you have an alligator as a pet. Write a story about it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]34.Cut apart the squares of a comic strip. Mix them up. Rearrange them in the correct order and then rearrange them into a funny mixed up story. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]35.Compare your bike with a friend’s bike. How are the alike? How are they different? Then do a safety check on both bikes.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]36.Make a sandwich. Cut it in half and then in fourths, see if you can cut it into eighths too.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]37.Make a list of everything you can find that is orange.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]38.Cut out words from a magazine. Make sentences out of them. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]39.With your parent's permission, find one person on your street who is elderly and offer to help them with their garden work one afternoon. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]40.Write any ten numbers between 1 to 100. Cut them out and mix them up. Arrange them again from smallest to largest. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]41.Cut out a picture from an old calendar. Cut it into puzzle pieces and then put it back together. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]42.Choose a flower out of your garden, learn everything you can about that flower. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]43.Make price tags for several objects in your room. Make some play money and use it to buy the things in your “play store.” [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]44.What would you do if you lived during the time of dinosaurs? Write a story about it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]45.Write numbers from 501 to 700. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]46.Draw a map of your garden, put a treasure (a small box with a few treats) somewhere in your garden and mark it on your map. Invite your friends to try to find the treasure. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]47.Find objects around your home that begin with the sound SH . Draw a picture of each of them or have someone help you write them down. (sheets, shoe, etc.) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]48.Write your name. Cut out each letter. Arrange the letters in A,B,C, order. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]49.Pick anywhere in the world and find out more about that place by going to the library or searching on the internet. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]50.Read 26 books, starting with a book in which the authors last name begins with A, and then B until you get to Z. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]51.Write numbers by 10’s to 500. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]52. Go to the library and check out some books about space. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]53.Go outside and find 3 different kinds of leaves. How are they alike and different? Try to find out what types of leaves they are. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]54.Write numbers from 701 to 1000. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]55.Go outside. Learn which direction is north, south, east, and west. Walk 10 steps north and then 5 steps west. Where are you? (Stay out of the street!) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]56.Volunteer - ask your mom or dad to help you find someplace in your community where you can volunteer once or twice a week to help (places like the library, a veterinarian clinic, a senior's home). [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]57.Collect bottles from your neighborhood and donate the money to a local charity. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]58.Write all the names of animals you know and have a friend do the same thing. Who can write the most names in 5 minutes. Have your mom time you. .[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]59.Find pictures of objects that when matched will make a compound word. Suggestions: a horse and a shoe: a nut and a shell; a tree and a house; a cow and a boy. etc.. Then have a younger relative try to match all the pictures. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]60.Look for rocks in your garden. See if you can find 10 unusual rocks. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]61.Visit 3 tourist spots in your hometown or area. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]62.Make a picture journal of your Summer. Each week take 3 or 4 pictures of some of the things you are doing and when you develop the film, put your photos into your journal and write a description about each picture. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]63.Find out if any of your local museums or libraries have any summer programs just for kids.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]64.Memorize a poem and recite it for your family, or have everyone in your family memorize a poem and have a family poetry night. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]65.Count out loud from 400 to 500. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]66.Have a game night each week with your family, try some indoor and outdoor games. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]67.Make a list of everything you can find that is the colour red. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]68.Make kites with your friends out of newspaper. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]69.Play the “What’s Missing?” game with someone. Find 5-10 objects inside your home. Arrange them on a tray. Have someone look at them for 5 seconds and then cover eyes while you take one of the items away. Can they guess what is missing? Then let your friend remove an item and you try to guess what is missing. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]70.Have a paper airplane contest, who can make a paper airplane that flies the furthest. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]71.Find a neat recipe for a dessert and have your mum or dad help you make it.. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]72.Write a thank you letter to someone who has done a great job or helped you in some way.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]73.Plan a picnic with your family, make up the list of items you want to take and games to play while on your picnic. Then help your mom and dad get things ready for the special day. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]74.Think about a job you might like to do when you grow up. Write a letter to someone who works in that job and ask them questions about their job. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]75.This is the year 2007. Write down 2007 words you can spell or read. You might want to work at this over a few days. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]76.Cut out food pictures from magazines. Make 4 category cards - Dairy Products, Meat, Fruit and Vegetable, and Bread and Cereal. Arrange the pictures under the correct category. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]77.Draw a map of your house and label all the exits you would use in case of a fire. Plan a meeting place with your family in case there ever was a fire and what talk about what you should do as well. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]78.Measure things in your house. Make up a chart. Measure the items by the length of your finger, hand and arm. Then try measuring using a ruler. Record the results. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]79.Play the “Direction Game.” Have someone tell you three directions and see if you can do them correctly and in the right order. Example: Clap your hands 5 times. Go look out the window. Write your name on a piece of paper. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]80.Make up some bubble solution and find some objects around the house to blow bubbles with, try some unique things using straws, string, and other objects. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]81.Practice the times table. Day 1 do the 1 times table, Day 2 do the 2 times table and go as many days as you can. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]82.Go to the library or look on the internet for a neat craft you could make. Ask your mum or dad to help you find all the materials. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]83.Sign up at your local library for their Summer Reading Program. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]84.Get a book about birds and spend one afternoon seeing how many birds you can identify that live in your backyard. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]85.With your mum or dad's help, go through your old books and donate them to a hospital for sick kids to be able to read. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]86.With your mum or dad's help find some "good" old toys and clothes and donate them to a shelter in your town. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]87.On a piece of paper write the dates for 20 days during the Summer months. Beside each date write the name of a fruit or vegetable you ate on that date. See if you can have 20 different fruits or vegetables on your list. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]88.Choose a sport you like. Either find a way you can play that sport or write a list of new things you have learned about it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]89.Write a letter to your last teacher. Tell your teacher the best things about your class last year. Give your teacher one new idea you think next year's class would like to learn. Take the letter to school on your first day back to give to your "old" teacher. If they have moved away, ask the school's secretary if they could send the letter to your "old" teacher for you.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]90. Write all the number facts that will add to eighteen.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]91.Lay down a blanket in the backyard and go star gazing.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]92.Plant a sunflower seed and keep a journal about how it is growing.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]93.Create a sculpture using rubbish.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]94.Write a play and have family and friends perform it.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]95.Get a skipping rope and count how many times you can skip without missing. Try it again. Can you beat your record?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]96.Make a list of 10 things you could NEVER do in the summer.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]97.Make a list of 10 things you could NEVER do in the winter.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]98.Write a joke and tell your mum or dad the joke.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]99.Pretend to be a pirate and imagine an adventure.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]100.Write an adventure story and read it to a younger child.[/FONT]

mum2one

Dry Days

• Treasure Map Challenge (follow the map to find some treats!)
• One for the girls - collect flowers and dry them out along with some fruit (such as oranges) to make your own pot pouri
• Scout around the local area and make your own wall map
• Take out some nature books from the library and use the "keys" to try to identify the plants/flowers/trees in your local park.

Wet Days

• Use a big piece of cardboard to make your own board game. When I was around 12 years old I made one with my sister based on a "Lord of the Rings" theme (I loved the Hobbit at the time) and the end was a picture of the Dragon with lots of treasure.
• Design and perform your own dance routine
• Script and perform your own play (a huge fav of mine when I was a kid) I used to film my cousins performances using my uncle's video recorder
• Design your own calendar (using photos/stickers and drawings) - great for Christmas presents!
• Little kids can make their own musical instruments using seeds/dried rice and paper plates (taped together) , paper cups taped together, empty plastic bottles or tupperware bowls etc
• Use a blank notebook or scrap book and various photos of children/family members/friends to let them write and illustrate their very own imaginative story
• Make modelling dough to create your own sculptures (or a bowl for your pot pourri - see above!).

Inside Play
Read a book
Write & illustrate a story
Salt dough models
Paint salt dough models (after baked)
Cook biscuits
Bake a cake & decorate it
Make sweets/truffles
Make a sock puppet
Put on a play with the puppets
Make a collage picture
Alter some clothing (fabric pens/paints/gems etc)
Do some stamping with paint
Make a sun catcher (black card frame and tissue paper)
Make a scratch picture (colour paper in with wax crayon, cover in black paint, leave to dry then scratch picture in, revealing wax crayon below)
Make some beads & jewelery (paper beads, fimo beads)
Finger print pictures
Make some bread & then make into shapes/animals etc

Outside
Body painting (paint with feet, hands etc)
Bubble paint
Picnic out with football, kite etc
Plant some seeds
Paddling pool out
Go blackberry picking
Library trip
Breakfast in the park (it gets busy later on so early morning is perfect to have a play)
Water play (bowls, water guns etc)
Papermache bowl
Papermache piggy bank (made from balloon, loo roll & papermache)
Glass painting
Take a walk to visit family
Explore the town park/countryside