Learning to Live on Less!

White_Iris

Much less manic this morning - just a bit of tidying.

Good news from eBay buyer - he finally got in touch and is coming to collect on Wednesday :j I think I'm going to use the money for family fun stuff not debt reduction - we don't have much entertainment money but over the last few weeks we've started taking DS and DD swimming which we all enjoy. If I stick the £50 in a dedicated "swimming" envelope that should pay for our sessions for the next couple of months.

I also finally got around to cleaning and de-cluttering DHs fancy coffee maker from the kitchen. I think we paid about £150 for it four years ago and based on the number of times it's been used I'd say the cost per use works out at about £5 a cup :eek:. So at DHs suggestion (he's really getting in to de-cluttering!!) it's off to eBay.

Money is pretty tight at the moment but I'm not going to resort to the credit card so I've just put the breadmaker on instead of going out and buying a loaf. Shame we don't have a cow though as I will have to buy some milk later...may make up a jug of dried milk and keep it in the fridge for tea and coffee though, it should save a few pennies.

I'm really not sure what's happened this month money-wise - both grocery and petrol budgets seem to have disappeared. Next month will be better as I'll have full control over all the money - DH has said that £50 should be enough pocket money for the month, which he wants in cash so he can keep track of how much he has.:money:

Unfortunately we're going to have to take one of the doggos to the vets this week as he's hurt his shoulder. He's been hobbling for about 10 days and although we've been resting him it hasn't really improved, so off to the vets and fingers crossed they don't charge more than £50 as that's all we've got sat in the pet savings at the moment.

White_Iris

Yay, blank Christmas cards have arrived...time to get festive!

Skint_but_Optimistic

Aww hope the doggy is ok... and it doesnt cost too much..

Yes its that time again to dig out the Christmas cards and start to intend to write them x

White_Iris

I'm feeling a bit frustrated this afternoon at our general lack of money. It's stemming from not being able to do anything today to either make more money or pay of some debt. One of the reasons I started this diary was to be able to let off steam when I'm feeling like this, so hopefully just writing it down will help.

I usually try to do something pro-active like list things on eBay (done everything suitable at the moment) or clear some clutter from the house (have been so good at this there's nothing left). We have applied for a new 0% credit card so hopefully we'll get some positive news about that in the next few days and I've been checking periodically for surveys but there are none at the moment. I just don't really know what to do with myself this afternoon - really there is nothing to do at the moment :-/

debtfreewannabe321

have a cup of tea/coffee (whatever you like) and relax you do so much you are an inspiration really, but you need time for yourself occassionally so put some rubbish t.v on and put your feet up (i realise this is easier said than done with 2 toddlers lol)

dfw x

White_Iris

Less organised here this morning as the twins are having a minor meltdown - DD becomes a biter when aggravated by DS and DS loves nothing better than to grab her around the waist, drag her screaming to the ground and lie on top of her, pinning her down. Not surprisingly there have been lots of screams this morning :mad:

So I still need to sweep/hoover the floors, clean the kitchen and do a general tidy up but that might have to wait a little while :cool:

Sent DH out for milk last night as he was passing the supermarket on his way to the vets. Instead of spending real money I remembered the £5 voucher I had in purse and so, under strict instructions to find the best combination to use it all as we wouldn't get any change, DH came home with 6 pints of whole milk, 6 pints of semi-skimmed and a bag of value pears for the grand sum of 10p :T

On a less cheery note doggo has to go back to the vets on Friday morning for x-rays (all covered by insurance so not a money issue) as his unexplained limp may be caused by something more sinister than a pulled muscle. He's currently on anti-inflamatories and pain killers at a cost of £60, which was put on the credit card. As mentioned before we have £50 in the pet savings so it means the credit card is now back up in to the £380's.

Twins now playing quietly, each at their own thing so I may try to escape to housework before things get noisy again.

Skint_but_Optimistic

Aww bless the doggy. And those twins sound like little firecrackers.

As for the lull in proceedings, how about meal planning / going for a walk and a forage / christmas list writing?

or perhaps even writing a short story for submission to someone like take a break? they pay 10 or 20 pounds for them!

White_Iris

Skint_but_Optimistic wrote: »

As for the lull in proceedings, how about meal planning / going for a walk and a forage / christmas list writing?

I really can't get my head around meal planning I've tried about a half dozen times to sit down and come up with a list of meals we like but can never remember more than 3 or 4! Then I get completely muddled trying to match meals with ingredients we have and what we need to buy! I will conquer it though :rotfl:

Skint_but_Optimistic

well it was just a thought - ive started the batchcooking so i make like three shepherds pies at once

its fun and games so ive a shepherds pie a week to get through...

White_Iris

Just made a mini payment to the credit card - now at £380. Round numbers are so much nicer :-)