Learning to Live on Less!

White_Iris

...and I've just got a message from someone wanting the old microwave. I love Freecycle!

Itsadogslife_2

I have only just caught up, so sorry for your loss of your four legged friend. I know how awful it is as we lost three dogs last year, two to old age and one a youngster who was poorly.

I hate only being a one dog household it feels like the house is too quiet. But I can see the logic in keeping only one pooch, it can be difficult renting with one dog, let alone two

White_Iris

Itsadogslife wrote: »

I hate only being a one dog household it feels like the house is too quiet.

I agree, it feels like we're just waiting for him to come back in from the garden or wake up from a nap, then happy-chaos will reign again...but sadly not. I'm sure we'll be getting another once we're settled.

White_Iris

Just added up this months eBay sales - £198! Not sure how much will actually go towards debt repayments though as I have bought some winter clothes for myself and the children out of this and some has been put aside, to be used for our weekly family swim...should be able to pay off at least £50 I think.

Skint_but_Optimistic

Good plan its nice to have a fun fund. x

White_Iris

So, the first update on my resolutions.

White_Iris wrote: »

Time for some New (school) Year resolutions...

FINANCIAL

• Meal plan and keep track of grocery money - maybe join the Grocery Challenge? Keeping track of the money better but still can't get my head round menu planning!
• Don't 'borrow' from the petrol money - it never gets paid back Petrol money disappeared again - envelope system for October should fix this.
• Don't, whatever happens, use the credit card again!!!! Bad month for this - all consolidated now though, updated signature next week
• Get back into surveys and get some vouchers for Christmas So far have £30 - would like to get another £30/£50
• Start to take money out as cash and use the envelope system again to keep track of it This starts tomorrow, when I can get to a cash machine and withdraw everything we need for the month

PERSONAL

• Get out of the house at least once a day! Managing to get to the park with the children 3/5 days and have started going to baby and toddler group one morning a week
• Make an effort with my appearance even if I'm only going to the park with the children I'm trying - don't always find the time but do always feel better for it if I do!
• Try and lose a few of my spare pounds by Christmas Will weigh myself tomorrow morning and see! 2lbs down according to my slightly dodgy scales :-)
  
• Continue to refine my wardrobe - only wear clothes that fit properly and I feel comfortable in (and ditch the holey underwear :eek:) A few nice bits in (via eBay of course) and some unflattering clothes out - still need to replace some underwear though
• Read more, watch TV less and stop procrastinating in front of the computer Definitely reading more, when TV is on during the day it's usually CBeebies now but still wasting time in front of the computer.

Time to have a think now about what can carry over in to October, what can be scratched off the list and what I need to add.

White_Iris

Forgot to add that I got my electricity bill yesterday and were over £130 in credit, which is being refunded to us in the next few weeks! Without even having to ask for it! A little part of my brain is questioning why we're so much in credit but I give them accurate meter readings so they shouldn't ask for it back. Another wodge to come off the credit card then - woo hoo!

White_Iris

Well motivational Monday mornings didn't last long! I've got loads to do and no energy to do it, I have so far put on a load of towels to wash had a quick tidy in the dining room and written a list of things I must remember to do today but I just CBA with all of todays housework :-(

I'll add a longer post later once I've got off my bottom and actually done something!

Skint_but_Optimistic

Its hard to get into the jobs on a Monday especially after the gorgeous weekend we had. x

White_Iris

I managed to get up and do some housework and now two loads of washing are on the line and the third is in the machine. The kitchen is clean the hard floors have been vacuumed and mopped and the living room has also been vacuumed. Upstairs is tidy and hoovered but I still need to put away a small mountain of children's clothes :eek:

I listed 19 items on eBay yesterday - hopefully they will sell and I can reduce the clothes pile a little. We were going to list two expensive things as it was free listing this weekend, but never got around to photographing them, so that's something I need to do this week ready for the next free listings.

Car insurance quote has arrived and it's less than expected so that's a pleasant surprise. I had expected to put about £100 on the credit card to cover it but I don't think we'll need to do that now.

We had to get both the children new shoes at the weekend - wow they're expensive! That has had to go on the credit card temporarily, until I can make enough on eBay to cover it.