Yet more financial faux pas and many other disasterous decisions

Igamogam

flying_fresian wrote: »

Methinks I've found a new holiday destination for you

Love it :)

moo2moo

Have had a whirlwind of a week. Went to visit OHs mum for a few days. Whilst there we'd arranged for the hound from hell to fit in a photo shoot for what we thought was a niche publication. Turns out the publicity for it is going nationwide in the national press and a shed load of magazines. Both DDs are incredibly excited although we won't hear anymore about it until next summer. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Walked miles doing it, got blown away (literally) at some breathtaking places and generally had a great day out. Quite possibly the cheapest day out we had all week too.

Have spent a small fortune on entrance fees to attractions and food. But have had a v. pleasant break from the norm. Read lots and lots and lots of books. Found lots of traffic jams too. Need a couple of days quiet time to get over the whole holiday experience and catch up with the laundry. Have done lots of thinking too about various things which is veering towards a muchly revamped budget featuring only those things which I have any control over. Things like the gas, electricity, water, TV licence etc etc are pretty much carved in stone changing only at the whim of the supplier and then only in an upwards direction. Will figure out what remains of the monthly money post bills and go from there. On the one hand we're so close to being debt free and on the other it feels a gazillion light years away. A final assualt is needed..... and its free listing day on flea-bay....... wonder what excuses I'll concoct this time?

Double_Trouble

Welcome back glad you enjoyed your break - but mornings are not the same without your update

Looking forward to hearing debt clearing plans I am on the final 6 months of CC debt clearing too - but then the Everest that is the mortgage beckons

DTxx

moo2moo

Spent the day lurching from sofa to washing machine with a detour back to the sofa via the airer / washing line / tumble drier. Its going to take eons to get through the washing. The hotel room was damp so we're having to wash absolutely everything.

Still t'is not the end of the world as I've knitted an apple pin cushion for my secret santa victim to go with the pearl headed pins I got as a freebiw with a magazine a while back. Have also been struck by inspiration and having discovered just how expensive needle markers are I set about making some out of stretchy bracelet elastic and beads left over from the DDs last trip to the bead emporium. They're not as bad as I'd feared and having tried out one of the rejects whilst apple making I'm going to make myself a set too. All thats left is to seek out some chocolate and some smellies, package it up, colour in the Hannukah card I've printed off t'internet and then remeber where I've stashed it when the beginning of December rolls around. Despite being rather MSE I'm pretty close to the budget I was set... if I'd gone for hand dyed sock yarn (as implied in the sign up instructions) I'd have blown the budget before I even started.

Meanwhile the budget in progress looks vaguely like this:

Food............................................£300 (£75 a week)
Animals.........................................£50 (2 dogs, 2 cats & a heck of a lot of chooks)
Childrens after school activities.........£150 (still considerably cheaper than childcare)
Unexpected demands from school......£100 (photos, books, fundraisers, trips etc)
School dinners DD1.........................£50
Frivolous splurges for moi.................£30 (haircuts and wot not)
Clothes and shoes..........................£100
Car..............................................£100

All of which is very conveniently roughly what I earn. Good eh? Wellll its not really but it does mean that the surplus from OHs account, and most notably his overtime, is used to reduce the debt and anything I have left is an added bonus.

beanielou

Looking good me thinks though :eek: to £100 for school demands.

moo2moo

beanielou wrote: »

Looking good me thinks though :eek: to £100 for school demands.

Yup, its a bit scary but unfortunately all too realistic. It averages out at £20 per child per week of school term. Considering that sitting on the desk I have a sponsor form, school photos and a lettter from the PTA reminding me about film night, carol concerts, school concerts, the Poppy Appeal, Peace Service and the Christmas fundraiser its probably not enough. Especially next year when I have to pay for two trips for DD2 at something approaching £450.

Need to venture forth to a purveyor of food in order to feed the starving masses for the next week. Seriously contemplating doing the entire shop at Lidl although I know this will result in multiple whinges because their range is very resatrictive. Its the simplest way to stick to the budget because I know if I go to Mr Ts it will be £120 plus.

Rummaged around in some drawers and found more stuff for my Secret Santa Victim. Will need to go through the pile and figure out what to send without going overboard or being stingy.

Stayed up far too late last night but did manage to list 16 lots on Fleabay in the hopes of generating much cupboard space. Much to the DDs disgust I listed the compare the meerkat toy that arrived yesterday. Its ugly as hell, cheap and nasty and yet selling on E-bay for somewhere between £20 and £60 depending how drunk the bidders are. If I get my bum in gear I could finish sewing together mices bums and list that too...... don't want to get too carried away though.

Spent a happy afternoon colouring in a Hannukah card for the secret santa victim. Had forgotten how hard it is to stay between the lines. Won't be doing that again in a hurry. Decided a Hama beaded dreidel was overkill although DD2 did volunteer to make one.

Plans for the day involve much more laundry, lots of last minute homework, a spot of washing up, much ironing of uniform and a spot of gardening thanks to the farmer masacring the hedge and liberally spraying the garden with spikey shards of clipping which are matting nicely into the old dears furry coat.

ebayqueen_2

Hiya Moo

Delighted that you had such a nice break away. You are quite brave to take a big dog with you too!!!!!

Its hard to believe it is November tomorrow and then of course we will be bombarded with Christmas adverts for every shop imaginable. At least you are starting to get organised with your secret santa. I have an idea about most pressies as my lot would prefer anything with the Queens head on it :):) but there will be pj's etc to be purchased to make it look as if they got something:):) I feel a trip to Prim*rk is required. I love their jammies and they are good value too.

You have done well to get so many items listed. I just cannot get my ar*e in gear at all. Have an inner ear infection and the antibiotics are making me feel quite ill and tired so I suppose that explains my lack of motivation.

Is hubby heading to Finland soon Moo?

take care
E

Igamogam

ebayqueen wrote: »

I have an idea about most pressies as my lot would prefer anything with the Queens head on it :):)
E

Stamps - thats got to be the easiest present ever - :rotfl::rotfl:-sorry -:o I thought it was funny and then I thought maybe they are avid stamp collectors.Sorry again:o:o

moo2moo

Didn't make it to Lidl. DD1 had a Next gift voucher to spend so we headed for the nearest next store who sell baby clothes, clothes for 3-12s and really drab office wear for the over 60s. It was most perculiar. Ended up buying a winter shawl in black sine it was that or something twice the price which looked suspiciously like a picnic blanket. Rather disasterously it was situated near Poundland... cue two pairs of monkey socks with toes.... rapidly followed by an assualt on Mr Ts which resulted in a £95 spend. Will eek that out until at least the middle of next week.

Did plan to list a few more things on E-bay but really can't be arsed. Am knitting my final hat order instead.

mooomin

Weirdly, I used to hate Next, but now buy a lot of clothes from there I like their jeans a lot.

I'm counting down till the post-Christmas sale so that I can buy clothes that fit as the unfortunate side effect of doing Fat Club is that you have to buy new clothes more often than any decent moneysaver should