Just another DFW diary - Mizmir's progress

mizmir

car is running beautifully - started first time this morning. the garage is sending on the invoice as he hadn't got it sorted when I picked up the car - at least won't have to pay it till the new year!

Had an expensive day today finishing shopping for Christmas and getting clothes for a wedding we are going to between Christmas and NY - nothing suitable to wear. Managed to get some real bargains but still spent money.
But we are now set up so should be fine for clothes for ages (these will double for work as well). New year is going to be the start of the real budget - it is too hard over christmas - though i think just being aware of spending is helping a lot.

hypno06

Hi! Have been away for a few days on a break to Center Parcs with the children. Was worried about the money but we took a certain amount of cash with us - no cards, so couldn't spend more than we took. The children were very aware of the budget so worked out everything down to the last penny without any complaint. As a result we managed to eat out for every meal and have a really good week, on a budget of £200. Of course, had I cooked at the villa, we would have been able to reduce this by about two thirds, but I really needed the break, more than I actually realised, so to eat out was heaven for me.

We managed to find almost £5 in change that people had dropped, so that went in the jar when we got home, and I got home to find a cheque for a refund of bike tax for £15.50 that I had forgotten about, plus a cheque for over £50 that OH got for complaining about customer service on his credit card!

While I was on holiday I was writing stuff down in a MSE diary, - I think you are infiltrating my brain somewhat!!!!! I actually found it really useful, so not sure whether to do a diary on here, or to write it down in a book at home, that I can look back on when I am a millionaire(!!) and show my grandkids that in the olden days, we were poor!!

Anyway, you seem to have generally made good progress in the few days since I was last here, so keep up the good work, and have a fantastic Christmas x

miggy

hypno06 wrote:

Hi! Have been away for a few days on a break to Center Parcs with the children. Was worried about the money but we took a certain amount of cash with us - no cards, so couldn't spend more than we took. The children were very aware of the budget so worked out everything down to the last penny without any complaint. As a result we managed to eat out for every meal and have a really good week, on a budget of £200. Of course, had I cooked at the villa, we would have been able to reduce this by about two thirds, but I really needed the break, more than I actually realised, so to eat out was heaven for me.

I'm sure you did the right thing and Christmas will be all the more enjoyable for it!
Well done for the £5 added to the jar by the way, and good news about the cheques.

taxi73

Hi Mizmir...good news about the car...glad it's sorted for you:j :j :j and great that they hadn't sorted the invoice...more time to pay:D
It's good that you got the clothes as well and like you say at least you can double them up for work:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: glad to see you're still managing to keep an eye on what you're spending...so well done for that:T :T

mizmir

Hey everyone!

Happy Christmas Eve! Have been busy away from the 'puter with family stuff - friends over yesterday for an early Christmas dinner - lovely time! Today we'll be eating up the turkey and tomorrow are having lamb as a change!

We're still keeping an eye on the finances but know this is going to be an expensive few days (wedding away - hotel to pay for - kennelling etc). We'll keep it as low as we can and then reassess and start again with a vengeance in the new year!

Have a great hoiday everyone!

nevadagirl

Hi Mizmir,

Enjoy the lamb! You've just brought back happy memories of Christmas when I was a nipper, we always had lamb instead of turkey just because we liked lamb better. And it was Christmas, so we had what we liked best, not what was traditional. My dad has continued that tradition of doing what you like by heading off to Vegas this morning - I'm so jealous!!

Have a good one, and I'll see you at Michael's weigh-in on January 1st.

Nevadagirl

hypno06

Happy Christmas! Here's to a happy, healthy and wealthy (well, we can try!( 2007!!

taxi73

Funny that we've always had lamb as well as my kids wouldn't eat turkey when they were little...we're having turkey this year as my daughter is cooking it(1st time for her)...enjoy all your festivities and wedding:beer: :beer:

mizmir

Hello all. Back from annual family tour and settling down to seriously get a grip on this debt. I've taken a few extra days off work to get myself sorted - want to start the year organised and ready to go.

December was a horrendous month for spending - not just Christmas but car needing serious attention and some unexpected vet bills for our old dog (not insured anymore as it wasn't worth it - they wouldn't pay out for anything!). But we also got a bit of extra cash in so I am hoping it balances out and we are no worse off. Spending diary has been running a month so one task in the next day or two is to add it all up and see what the damage is :eek:. And the Christmas family break brought a potentially lucrative extra money making opportunity - need to do some investigations but think this may be very helpful - will fill you all in later!

Am determined that 2007 will see a significant reduction in that debt figure - £10k at least to go.

hypno06

Ooh, those words "lucrative extra money making opportunity" make my spine tingle!!!

I look forward to reading more about it in due course.