dizzy lizzies Debt Free Diary

dizzy_lizzie

Thanks KP. Hope you had a lovely time. Will pop over to your thread. I'm going to be posting more on my diary in 2011
Luvz Dizzy x

dizzy_lizzie

Okay so here we go...oh hang on, just going to make a quick coffee.
Right I'm back...
Have decided that 2011 is going to be a 'spend wisely' year.
Have been to the shops today with OH and to be honest there was nothing I wanted at all even though the sales are on. We took our little GD and got some pyjamas for the 'Sam doll' we bought her. He already had an extra outfit we'd got him as well as the one he was wearing but of course he needed pjs and socks He looked so cute. He's almost as tall as GD.
Went into the garden centre on the way home and bought two ceramic hearts to hang in our bedroom and they were only £1.69 each.
So I've been thinking about the coming year and I'm really going to be sensible with my money. The main place as I've said countless times were I can save money is my grocery bill. OH pays everything else, the mortgage, though that has only a couple more years left on it and the bills etc and I just buy the food. I do well if I write a menu and follow it and if I don't I spend £££££ssss and then still haven't got anything to make a meal lol. Well it feels like that sometimes.
So I am going to be committed to doing a menu and sticking to it...again!
I am also going to do more craft stuff. DD is 21 next year and I've bought loads of scrapbooking stuff, embellishments and a book etc and I'm determined to make her a book from birth to now with photos, momentoes etc in. I'll have to schedule in a page a week so that I do it.
I've also knitted some lovely fingerless mittens, and really want to do more knitting and crochet. Saying that I'm on my second pair of mittens, these are for DD and I'll do some more on them tonight
Youngest DS is 17 next year and I've said I'll pay for him to have driving lessons so hopefully by being sensible with the grocery bills I can put that to his lessons.
For Christmas OH bought me some Stella perfume by Stella McCartney, had it before and it's gorgeous, vegan chocolates (which was a lovely thought because he had to go and get these specially out of town) bottle of grand marnier and socks, I must be one of few people who love getting socks, paid for my hairdresser appointment and gave me money, which I will save Yay. Also other gifts off the children, Bless them and friends. Been very happy with my gifts but to be honest as I get older there's not really anything I truly want, material wise anyhow.
Not sure whether to sign up to the challenges or not, I never finish them which doesn't help so might just do my own thing on my diary, not sure yet. I might take £50 a week out and use this for groceries and when it's gone it's gone!
Anyhow going to chill out now and get a bit of knitting done. Will be going out later to pick up both DSs. Was picking DD up at 4am this morning. I can't help it, I can not go to bed when they are out. I stay up then pick them up when they're ready even though they would gladly get taxis home. To be fair eldest DS usually does. They only go out mainly at the weekends, thank crikey, I sometimes wonder whether I was a vampire in another lifetime the times I go to bed!
Wow that was probably a really long post but it's good to get it all down. Will have a think what my first challenge will be. Oh I'll tell you what I did get in the sales, well OH did. A lovely little timer, half price and I'm going to set flylady tasks for say 15 mins to help to keep on top of the household chores. I bought 'Sink Reflections' by Marla Cilley, founder of the FlyLady system, a few years ago now and it's a lovely book to dip into, lol just reading it doesn't get it done though
Right I'm off. Love to everyone who reads and comments on my thread, you know who you are, all three of you lol KP, Taxi and mum2one and I thank you tons and tons for your comments :A also a mention to girlracer, hope all is well with her and she is still happy with life.
Luvz Dizzy x

taxi73

Those sound like good plans for 2011.grocery budget is one of the things I should look at too.Sounds like you had a great christmas

Keeping_Positive

Hi

£50 a week sounds good. I bet you have more in your cupboards than you think when cash is short.

I will be here to follow and support and hopefully we will be debt free just like GR before you know it.

dizzy_lizzie

We will KP. 2011 will be our year. I ended up transerring the overdraft to Virgin, 0% interest till Jan/Feb 2012 so I'm actually in credit now with my wage going in so with 'wise' spending my aim is to pay off Virgin asap. I did try chipping away at the OD because I really didn't want to do a transfer but if I had a good careful month it was as if it gave me carte blanche then to go spend a lot the month after. To be honest I thought about for a while but it seemed silly paying bank charges for my overdraft when it could go to paying it off on a 0% interest card.
I feel really upbeat about starting the New Year in this frame of mind.
You're right about food in the cupboards as well KP. I thought I'd pop to Asda today to get a few things for a vegan pilaff, then I thought I'd probably end up spending more than I wanted, and what's the point when we have food in, so I haven't gone.
I've already planned my evening to include some more crochet and knitting and I'm going to start on DDs memory book. Finished one of the mittens last night as planned. I also had a lovely crochet finger puppet book bought me and GD has chosen which ones she wants so I'll have a go at those tonight. Also got to plan New Years Eve, we usually alternate at friends houses but now our children are grown up we've decided to venture out somewhere, maybe a comedy night or something, if it's not too late to book. To be honest I don't mind, it's the company that's important not the place and we always have a laugh.
Keep warm everyone
Luvz Dizzy x

taxi73

love reading all the positivity in your diary..hope you find somewhere nice for NYE

dizzy_lizzie

Aw thanks Taxi
Look at the time again.
The only thing I didn't do this evening was start on DDs book but i did manage to finish the mittens which just need sewing up and I crocheted a lion from the book I was bought at Christmas. He looks very odd but kind of cute...



Have just made DD and DS some vegan pancakes, whilst we've been watching the series 'Lie to me' Better wash up and then get some sleep. Time is whizzing by again.
Luvz Dizzy x

taxi73

that's cute and it looks like the picture in the book ..well done x

dizzy_lizzie

These are the fingerless mittens I've knitted and they are so easy to do! I love the combination of colours together.
Got to pop to the post office today, have got sister into reading Ruth Rendell and so going to pop one of her books in the post for her as a surprise.
Luvz Dizzy x

dizzy_lizzie

Popped into Asda yesterday to get some baby sweetcorn for the vegan paella that I decided I did want. (not pilaff lol) Manage to spend £25 'ouch' but not on frivolities.
Bought ingredients to make a vegan baklava too which I haven't had for over 4 years since becoming vegan and it was sooooo yummy and really easy to do. I expect it's full of calories but sometimes what you fancy does you good!
Plans for today are to pop into town to get a small crochet hook and wool (acrylic). Got lots but need a couple more colours for the puppets, take library books back, get two links taken out of a watch we got DD and do some rows on a matching scarf I started last night for DD to go with the grey mittens.
Hmmmm think that might be enough for today.
Hope all is well with everyone.
Luvz Dizzy x