On the up (Hopefully)

sugarcube84

Not much to report, changed hubby's car which means insurance is £7 cheaper per month not to mention the savings in petrol which should be around £100. That's what happens when you go from a towing 4 x 4 to a 1 litre!!


The business is officially gone, but onwards and upwards hubby has been told of a role coming up that he has been told to apply for, it might be a bit too soon but he can't lose anything and the experience will be good for him.


I have exchanged some of my clubcard vouchers for a meal out for me and the hubby for our birthdays and a day out for my ds and his cousin.


Off to check the banks and update the spreadsheet, we have a family christening this weekend and I think I may need to go buy ds a shirt. He is growing like a weed at the minute!!

sugarcube84

Grr so annoyed with Mr Tax man first a letter that hubby's self assessment was late so I had to write a letter to object and show proof that I had a unique submission receipt reference number which you only get if submitted successfully.


Now a letter that he owes NI from self employment despite an exemption and his profit never going over the NI threshold so I will have to write another letter!!!!


Grrrrrr!!

sugarcube84

Pay day tomorrow :-)


I've just upped the c/c payment again as I dropped it down last month due to the garden work.


Off to grab a quick lunch with the hubby and ds while they are both off.

sugarcube84

Woo!!! up to payout level on my surveys so that's £20 between the two sites and some more money has cleared for payout on the cashback site so in total that is £60. Going to try and keep it towards xmas.

sugarcube84

Got a balance transfer offer through from one of the c/cards that hubby doesn't use, logged on increased the credit limit and did a balance transfer from the one credit card that was incurring interest, saving £40/month.


More cash back has cleared so up to £114 in various different xmas pots, due anther £99 any day now. So that plus the £99 to clear plus any more survey money between now and Dec plus the money tins should easily sort xmas.


Feeling quite positive and thrifty at the minute even hubby is in on the act opting for a free museum for a day out with ds today.

sugarcube84

Low spend BH weekend we tidied the garden and house, took ds for his swimming lesson, popped out for last minute school and dinner essentials (£14) and I used up some meat from the freezer for a lovley beef Sunday roast, a steak pie and using the leftover brioche a choc chip brioche bread and butter pudding.


Dinner tonight is all from the store cupboard and I shouldn't need to go shopping until Thursday.


Spendy day today as I bought ds some boots online for winter as his canvas summer shoes are about to give up and its a waste replacing them with more canvas type shoes with winter round the corner.

sugarcube84

Busy week as back to school, ds started his new school and, fingers , so far he loves it!!


Once again last minute but I've been told we can have the driveway started next week so I jumped at the chance. I only need to pay next month and if I can string it out to mid month that means 2 pays between now and then. I'm also going to reduce one of the credit card payments this month which means we should be able to cover it all. Another big house job ticked off and another step closer to moving!! :-)


Banks are all behaving themselves, my extra £99 cashback still hasn't cleared (booooo) and I got a bathroom cleaner sample to try so free cleaning!!!


I've been sorting the wardrobes as Autumn/Winter is fast approaching. Ds had his topped up with a new coat,2 x jumpers, and a pair of pants which should see him through. I also got a pair of chino shorts, swim shorts and sandals for the holiday next year all in the sale.


Hubby needs a new pair of pants buts that's about it so I'm hoping to make him last until xmas.


Me on the other hand I need a couple of jumpers/cardis, boots, slippers, socks, pj's and a new coat!! good job it's my birthday this month!!

sugarcube84

Old driveway gone it was taken up this weekend and a grab wagon moved it first thing this morning. Materials have been order for delivery either tomorrow or Wednesday. Feels like all systems go!!


Had an unbudgeted spend on Saturday (Not the driveway!!) ds was invited to a party next weekend so I needed a prezzie, I managed to find something for a fiver plus girly wrapping so £6 total. Not the end of the world, as I do already budget for presents but it did make me realise that I probably need to increase the prezzie budget a bit to cover school birthdays as well as family. On the plus side I saw things to buy all the children in the family and some of the adults for xmas presents and they were under the budgeted amount so looks like I can reduce the xmas budget to offset the increase in birthday spends :-)


The logic works but not quite in practice this year due to me wanting to use my cashback and survey vouchers to pay for xmas, but I can swap with the clothes budget.


Just need to start the xmas shopping in earnest now that it's September I feel really unorganised I normally have it all done by now!!

sugarcube84

Well the driveway has been started, about 1/4 done just need some dry weather to get it finished.


Pay day today!!! Updated my budget sheet, including an amount for the materials for the driveway, hopefully from what I've allowed we should be under budget.


My cashback has cleared and I've requested pay out which means I can start xmas shopping when it arrives. Woohoo!! All I need is a B00ts xmas catalogue and I will be feeling properly Christmassy!! I've got an idea of what to buy everyone so it should be straightforward. Must remember to get dh to get the xmas bag down from the loft, I don't think I need to buy any paper apart from some kiddy paper this year.


Feeling good at the minute, big overpayments on the c/cards, big job on the house sorted and xmas saved for :-)

sugarcube84

Thanks MSE, bargain Nails Inc prezzie for my sister for xmas!