Erm....time for a new plan me thinks...

brummiebabe

Have had a fairly enjoyable weekend...took DS1 shopping this morning so that he could spend his birthday money. Was quite proud of him, he wanted some new football boots but said he didn't want the most recent ones as they were "too expensive" and he wanted to keep some money back for other things!! Think he's got his head screwed on when it comes to money (well..his own money...) - shame he doesn't think the same when it comes to spending ours!!;)

Had a nice surprise as my brother is planning to take my boys out for the day on Friday to Warwick Castle...we've always wanted to take them there but it's really quite expensive..so they'll have a great time (and I'll have the day to myself as DD is meant to be going to a friends' to play!)

Am only in work for 2 days and then am off until after the kids go back to school!! Those two days are going to be hectic though

Have decided I'm going to restart my spending diary as of today and try to post my spends on here each night - as much to embarrass myself as anything. We are overspending each month...and this has got to stop!! Next month should hopefully be easier, once the kids are back at school..no more uniforms/days out to fund!!:eek:

So today's spending looks like this...and I'm admitting that I DID buy a purse........but it is purple & lovely....:rotfl:

£1.49 insoles for DS' trainers
£25.00 purse
£6.00 for 3 new footballs for the kids (they've already kicked one over the fence! :mad::mad:)
£7.05 Druckers (2 scones, a pepsi & a latte)
£5.00 owed to my mum - paid back today

Tomorrow should be a NSD..will take a packed lunch and don't need petrol or anything...oh, mind you, it might be re-enrolement this week for swimming lessons....that'll mean £80 of my child benefit gone...but will most likely do this on Friday instead

Pay day on Friday:j:j- can't come soon enough....will start work on my budget for September this week....

brummiebabe

Monday mornings......don't you just love 'em...

I'm struggling to drag myself out of bed, the kids are all still fast asleep & there's only me who needs to get up :mad: I will get up in a minute but it's hard to motivate yourself when all I've got ahead of me is a madly busy day

Am going to try to go back to writing myself a daily plan, so here's today's:

Work 9-4
Take DD to swimming lesson
Half an hour ironing
Eat healthily - no snacks/treats (have slipped up with this one recently)
Sort out DD's clothes which no longer fit her....decide what to sell, donate to another mum or put in the recycling boxes.
Update my MSE diary tonight
Have a NSD:D

Right, really must get up now...have to be out by 8.30

brummiebabe

Quick check in whilst DD is in her swimming lesson. Am a bit mad that my NSD has been scuppered.....there was a collection for someone who's leaving - so £2 spent:mad: Is it bad that I wished I hadn't been in the office when they came round???

Have decided to start saving all my 50p coins....have realised I don't miss them & they build up quite quickly!!! Have got around £3 saved do far....am going to wait until it's £5 then pay it off the credit card! I fo save all my other change, but if 50p coins are in there then they tend to get raided by DH!!!

Had a madly busy day at work but only one more day then I'm off for a couple of weeks....can't wait!! Not going anywhere as we're broke, but am looking forward to just jot being at work & getting the kids settled into school!

DH has surprised me by finishing the emulsioning in the hall/stairs - am not sure that we've gone for the right colour, but will stick with it for now & see what we think when the glossing is done. Only thing is, we let the kids do some of the first layer...and there are bits that aren't smooth.....anyone know whether lightly sanding & repainting would help get rid of the lumpy bits????

Will post properly later once I'm on the laptop.......

Long_tall_sally

I'm afraid I don't have a clue about painting or decorating, so can't help you there.

I know what you mean about leaving collections although luckily it's not too bad at our place as it is just done by putting a little note & envelope in everyone's pigeon hole & if you do want to contribute, you then just take it to the office. I must admit I only contribute for teachers or assistants that I know pretty well.

brummiebabe

brummiebabe wrote: »

[STRIKE]Work 9-4[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Take DD to swimming lesson[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Half an hour ironing[/STRIKE] managed an hour!!!
Eat healthily - no snacks/treats (have slipped up with this one recently) Slipped up again...it started with a colleague bringing in trays of cakes for her birthday - will try again tomorrow
Sort out DD's clothes which no longer fit her....decide what to sell, donate to another mum or put in the recycling boxes Ran out of time....forgot I needed to sort out my house insurance so did this instead
[STRIKE]Update my MSE diary tonight[/STRIKE]
Have a NSD:D Failed miserably......flippen collections.....:mad:

Am pleased though as I've saved £12 p/month on my buidings/contents insurance, and should (eventually) get cashback through Quidco (£50 I think!) Just need to cancel the DD for my other policy now as they renew automatically......:eek:

DS1 has finally found some football boots that he wants.....am pleased that he's decided to order some that are only £14.99!! They're not the latest ones...but he likes them and is pleased that he's got some money left over!! Think he's beginning to realise that money doesn't grow on trees and that, if you can save some money somewhere, that can only be a good thing. Now DS2 is another story..........money burns a hole in his pocket & he buys any old rubbish!!!!!!:rotfl:


So tomorrow's plan:

• Put washing on the line before work (if it's dry)
• Take lunch with me
• Work 9-4:(
• Get a leaving present for nursery - my DD leaves on Wednesday and the staff are just fantastic....we love them all, and it will be a sad day:A
• Sort out DD's clothes...didn't manage this today
• Maintain spending diary
• Save any 50p coins
• Complete my mileage claims and get them signed..otherwise I won't get paid them in September
• Half an hour ironing
• Read a little of my book
• Re-paint my toe nails (my 'pampering' treat..these have slipped too..)
• Eat healthily.....

We're also having a quote tomorrow to get our conifer type trees (in the back garden) trimmed back/have some taken off the top of them...they provide brilliant privacy but are far too big really, we can't get to the top of them to take any of the height off....so it needs doing. This is something we're going to have to start budgeting for as they grown massively in the year we've been here.

Am just watching Shooting Stars...never liked it back in the day and it's no better now...Vic Reeves looks odd but Bob Mortimer looks the same!!!:rotfl:

brummiebabe

Am shattered....can someone please tell me why I don't just go to bed when I'm so tired???:rotfl:

brummiebabe

brummiebabe wrote: »

• Put washing on the line before work (if it's dry) -DH did this...unbelievably!!!
• Take lunch with me - done
• Work 9-4:( done
• Get a leaving present for nursery - my DD leaves on Wednesday and the staff are just fantastic....we love them all, and it will be a sad day:A - done
• Sort out DD's clothes...didn't manage this today...not managed again
• Maintain spending diary - need to fill in
• Save any 50p coins - none acquired:(
• Complete my mileage claims and get them signed..otherwise I won't get paid them in September - completed and left for my colleague to get signed;)
• Half an hour ironing - not done...:o
• Read a little of my book - not done
• Re-paint my toe nails (my 'pampering' treat..these have slipped too..) - not done...will try tomorrow
• Eat healthily..... - not done:mad:

We're also having a quote tomorrow to get our conifer type trees (in the back garden) trimmed back/have some taken off the top of them...they provide brilliant privacy but are far too big really, we can't get to the top of them to take any of the height off....so it needs doing. This is something we're going to have to start budgeting for as they grown massively in the year we've been here. - £240!!!!!:eek:

All in all, I've not really done much today other than work!!! Had a really busy day and didn't leave till 4.45 :mad: - there's always so much to sort out when you're going to be off for a while.

So the good news is that I've finished work for a couple of weeks...the bad news is that we had a text from the Primary school to say that they're not starting back now until the 7th September!!! Some major building work has run over....this now means I will only be able to take my daughter for 1 day of her induction week rather than 3!!! Feel gutted:( althoug I'm sure she'll be fine.....

In other news.....have booked a weekend at Haven near Blackpool for Halloween weekend!!! It was £139 for 3 nights which I thought was fab......we're going to share with my sister and her kids, so will only be paying £70!!!! The kids have talked for ages about wanting to go to the Pleasure Beach and of course the illuminations will be on too!!! I've never been to Blackpool.....so it'll hopefully be fun for all of us......have been trying to work out what we need to save:

£70 for accomodation
£98.00 for Pleasure Beach entry/wristbands
£100 for general spends??? (Is that realistic???) - we'll cook food at the caravan..:money:

Leaves about £268 to find......may round this up to £350, with petrol and bit extra, just in case....Have 3 paydays to save it....so if I can save £120 p/month then we should be fine. Of course, I'm still saving for Ibiza and Christmas........:undecided

So the aim for the next few months is clear..SAVE..SAVE...SAVE!!:rotfl:
Managed to get a couple of christmas/birthday presents for DD today...Polly Pockets (which she loves) going cheap at Home Bargains!!! My present box is getting a little fuller....

The boys are already talking about what they want for Christmas...they both want a scooter...which come in at around £125!!!!! We'll hold off though..they're bound to change their minds closer to the time.

Tomorrow's plan (let's hope it's abit more successful than today's):

• Drop birthday/annversary cards at my Aunt's house (saving on stamps..)
• Boys have got eye tests.....free though!
• General tidy up
• Pop in to see my mom and dad - mom still can't drive after breaking her ankle a few months ago...
• Lunches at home
• DD to nursery for her last day:( - remember to write card/take in pressie (Thorntons chocolates from Home Bargains..)
• Update spending diary
• Ironing
• Paint my toenails

Spoke to my friend on Skype this morning - she's recently moved to Singapore with her husband's work - it was nice to catch up with her. Our DS' were best friends...they spoke later in the day! How fab is Skype:rotfl:

Right...off to update my signature then better log off as DH wants the laptop:mad:

brummiebabe

Right, Spam duly reported...wonder whether anyone actually gets taken in by that stuff!!!!

Hovel_lady

Doubt it, we're not daft on here are we?
Reported too.

brummiebabe

Thanks hovel lady;)

2 more days until payday & I can't wait!!!! Have run out of teabags today

DH has gone back to work today after a couple of days off with the kids - so it's me & the kids today. DD is off to nursery, so it'll be nice to spend a bit of time with my boys. Thing is, they normally end up costing me money......

The end of the school holidays are in sight (although extended slightly:eek:) and it's gone very fast I have to say. By the time they've gone back to school it'll be time to start seriously planning for Christmas:eek:

Am hoping to sort out my budget on Friday....DH doesn't get paid for another week, but his salary is static....mine can change due to mileage payments, but I think it'll be a basic month as I didn't put my claim in in enough time:mad:

The savings I'm planning this month are:

£200 Christmas
£300 Ibiza
£120 Blackpool

I'll be making at least £100 payment to my credit card on Friday too, but will hopefully pay off more than that once I've sorted my budget. I'm also planning to apply for the Platinum Barclaycard for their 20 month interest free balance transfer card. I know there'll be a fee to pay, but it'll be less than any interest I would incur. The rest of my holiday deposit is due to come off my M&S card soon, and once that's done (and I've been accepted if course;) I'd transfer both cards onto the Barclaycard ....then throw every spare penny at it!!!!!!:rotfl:

Right, am off to sort out the kids' breakfasts then finish getting ready. Have a great day everyone x