WelshWoofer's Staying Debt Free Mission

WelshWoofer

Thankfully its Friday - this week has flown!
2 days off now though (although I do all my planning for school on the weekend, but at least I can do it in my PJs!).

Its payday on Tuesday and I'm counting the days! Have already had my payslip - why do they tease you with the money that you haven't got yet!:mad:

Tonight I need to finish off my meal plan and shopping list for tomorrow - have decided to use the £8.50 of Clubcard vouchers I have to keep the cost down - I'm aiming for less than £20 before the vouchers - we'll see how I get on.....

I'll also try to do a budget for the November pay month now I know exactly what's going in to the bank.

No big plans for the weekend - it'll actually be nice to have a rest and catch up on things rather than be sociable! I'm sure I'll be bored by Saturday evening though!

I have also managed to resist the Friday bottle of wine on the way home too (buying one not drinking one on the way home!) Even a fiver saved will help me to stay in budget for the last few days of the month.

WelshWoofer

Well, I've done the budget and it doesn't look too bad for November's pay so far.
After the mortgage and bills etc and direct debits there's just about £600 left.
So allowing £120 for food and £40 for petrol thats about £440ish left over.
Then take £130 cash for general spends and socialising (no big plans yet), £30 for a dog hair cut and a £30 parking fine :mad: it leaves about £250 spare.

I'll initially put £50 into the living room fund and £50 into everyday savings as soon as I'm paid so I don't miss it and leave about £150 "spare" money in the current account.
Hopefully the majority of that will still be there at the end of the month and can also be ferretted away too. Hmmmm, it never seems to quite work out that way but I can but try!

I'm considering taking the £130 cash out when I get paid and seeing if having and using only cash works - although the temptation to spend it may be too overwhelming. Perhaps I can take it out and leave most of it in the house and just enough for each week in my purse? Decisions, decisions....

WelshWoofer

Morning!
Had a busy morning so far - walked the dog, cleaned the house and been to do the grocery shopping - why do I wake up raring to go at 6.30am on a weekend:mad: In the week I have to scrape myself out of bed!

Anyway, I went to B&M Bargains for the first time and was amazed at the prices on some things - half the price of Mr T's. I managed to get a lot of things on the list for a lot less than at the supermarket - will definitely go again, its just opposite Mr T's too so no excuse for not making the effort! I spent £10.68 there and just £1.79 at the supermaket after £8.50 of CC vouchers had been taken off so a total of £12.47 on groceries this week!:j That included dog food, toothpaste and toothbrush and a few weekend treats too:T

I also picked up a box of Mr T's version of after eights for Xmas for some reason reduced to 50p! They may be changing the packaging or something for Xmas I guess? Anyway, a good find! They're squirrelled away in the Xmas stash before I get tempted!

I think I'll take the dog for a walk along the canal later - the tow path is concreted and hopefully won't be too mucky after all of the rain we've had. Will do us both good to get a bit more fresh air today before it no doubt rains again!

Staying in tonight as its nearly payday and funds are running low - will watch a DVD borrowed from mum if I get bored.

Lemon_Tree

we've just got a Family bargains store which i'm guessing is similar to home bargains, they seem to have a lots of good things at much reduced prices but you have to be careful. are you offering around the after eights yet? not that i'm hinting in any way lol

WelshWoofer

After Eights are securely hidden in the spare room wardrobe upstairs! Not to be touched!

Managed to do loads of work this afternoon - quite unexpected - I thought I'd make myself do an hour and then looked up three and a half hours later! Sometimes you're just in the groove (not very often though!).

Watched Pride and Glory on DVD tonight - its quite good, all about crooked cops and has an unpredictable ending - all for free too, thanks Mum!

Watching the boxing now, if it goes on too long though I'll end up in bed before the end. Seconds out, round two!

savingholmes

Sounds like you got loads done... Well done you!!

I went xmas shopping and got some great bargains but got totally exhausted

WelshWoofer

SH - what did you get, anything exciting?

Just back from the park with the dog and ready to have a shower and sort myself out before the Rememberance ceremony on the TV. I always used to watch this as a child with my grandad who was a desert rat and it always makes me cry - its just a tradition that's sort of stuck (and I'm almost 40 now).

More work on the agenda today - I have visitors next weekend (mum and sister) and I'm trying to get ahead of myself a bit workwise.
Who ever said that teachers have an easy life!?

Lemon_Tree

ah but now i know where you've hidden them i can sneak in and 'borrow' some.

i don't think i've ever missed watching a Rememberance ceremony on tv or in church, all of my grandfathers (i've 3) fought in various ways during the war and the headmaster of my middle school was in the dambuster squadron so i have nothing but respect for the armed forces. enjoy your visitors

WelshWoofer

I've managed to get a lot of work done again today - feel a bit more in control now.

I got a bit bored earlier and decided to make some flapjack/hobnob sort of things to take to work for breakfast - they actually worked out quite well. All with free stuff from the cupboard:T
Work is going to be a bit of a hard slog this week - another open evening, exams, getting ready for an observation next week - and the usual teaching, marking , planning etc.... Oh well, its only 5 weeks to the Xmas hols!

I've also tried on a suit I bought as a bargain in the summer and haven't worn yet and it actually looks ok - will wear it tomorrow, don't know why I haven't before really, perhaps because its a jacket and skirt rather than the trousers that I usually wear.

Just waiting for the Strictly result and then going to watch a film.

WelshWoofer

Well, my visitors have just gone home and the house is peaceful again:j I love seeing them but am always happy to have my house back.

I did the shopping on Thursday this week to make sure that I had plenty in for the hordes - spent £49 this week:eek: but it will hopefully last 2 weeks and I'll only need to get some fresh stuff next week. I had to get extra for the visitors and additional dog and restock the freezer a bit. I'm still comfortably within budget (at about £100 of £150 predicted) with just one more shop to go for the month so should make it OK.

I have also officially filed for divorce - I dropped the paperwork off at the court on Friday and a nice lady there checked it for me and said she couldn't see any issues. Ex OH is keen to get on with it (I think he wants to buy a house in the new year so wants it to be sorted by then) and is being very reasonable so far - he's even offered to give me half of the £340 it cost to file the petition - a big help. We're getting on better now than we have for ages! Funny isn't it!

I have spent a bit more than I'd hoped over the weekend and I need to look at the budget again to rejig spending. It was payday this week and I've put £100 into the living room savings and £50 into general savings and will try really hard to not dip back into it. I don't have any big plans fr the next 2 weeks or so and can hopefully economise a bit.
I did manage to not use the CC and not get overdrawn last month and so lived within my means - it can be done!

Loads of schoolwork to be done today - I'm beng observed on Tuesday and so everything has to be top notch so lots of planning and marking to be endured - boo!

I must dye my hair today too - looking a bit two tone - not a good look My nails need doing desperately too - am a bit tattered lately and need to spruce myself up a bit!

Right better get cracking....