Risen from the ashes ...

cleggie

Hi Rising.
Just seen your post on the GC re the new dog that you have had to return to the rehoming centre.
Just wanted to give you a massive hug and et you know that i am thinking of you at such a sad time.x.

rising_from_the_ashes

Thank you Cleggie ...

He really was a fab wee soul in the house / garden (as long as no-one was near my fences) but just seemed to absolutely flip if he couldn't actually go up to someone I had to stop and ask directions last night & the guy I asked came up to the car (about 2 feet away) and he went nuts.

I know it was the right thing and I'm really hoping he does go & be a service dog as think he'd be great at that - keeping my fingers crossed he makes it.

It was wonderful having a waggly tail & someone excited to see me when I got in from work yesterday and company in the house - and I loved out walk yesterday in the woods & down to the beach.

Just can't seem to pull myself together at all:( - unfortunately it's reawakened all the feelings of how much I miss Ben and the love/happiness he brought to my life (as well as guilt for not being able to keep this one).

rising_from_the_ashes

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=52149341&postcount=11

That's why I'm sad ......

rising_from_the_ashes

In the spirit of "normality":

March budget update (copied from the FL Challenge page ) Well, here goes:



Groceries: Overspent but not as bad as it looks! Part of that is my April "stock up" of toiletries/cleaning stuff but as I was in town last weekend (where there is a Home Bar*gains where a lot of it comes from) it seemed silly not to do it whilst there & therefore save a 60 mile round trip again next week. Total spend for Jan - March is £469/£420 which is over but Jan's stock up did include a lot of stuff that will last all year (but hadn't thought of splitting the figures out over the year at that point:o)

Clothes: did have to buy a few things this month - my last pair of jeans gave up life (patches had patches!) & as we have a "dress down day" at work each week, I did really need something (also trying to get through visiting friends, general wear with 1 pair was a bit ridiculous). Managed to get 2 pairs (£10 and £14) and 2 tops (both £10 reduced to £5) and a lovely t-shirt (£8) which will do for my night out in May and a couple of bits of underwear so not too unhappy.

Mobile phone: Will show as quite a big overspend for a few months & should hopefully balance out a bit as I get to claim my cashback throughout the contract (get £50 back ever 4 months or so).

New contract works out at £8.50 / month (after cashback taken off) so quite pleased with that - although there will still be a small overspend compared to what I'd budgeted when I had the PAYG.

Landline: Going to have to look at this as my bill has jumped from £15 / month to £23.50 / month :eek:. Partly down to being housebound for 9 weeks after surgery last year (I was careful but there were still some daytime calls that aren't incl in my contract so did have a small overspend) and partly down to a rise in prices. Will have to have a shop around .....

Fuel: This is killing me at the minute Have cut 3k / year off my mileage in the last 2 years and just can't get it any lower. Record the p / litre on the spreadsheet and it's gone up another 6p this month:eek: When I got Dinky (who only takes 35L), it cost £35 to fill her .... now it's £49:eek: and that only lasts around 10 days ...... Think this budget will def be over this year.:(

rising_from_the_ashes

Updated below

cleggie

Hi Rising.
I feel your pain re the fuel.
Luckily, uni is over for me now, so no longer have to do a 30 mile round trip 2-3 times a week, so will save me a fortune!

Have you ever thought about car sharing? Or if you work with someone who lives near you, you could drive them to work and they coud go halves on the fuel cost? Or are you able to drive part way and walk part way to keep fuel costs down?

rising_from_the_ashes

cleggie wrote: »

Have you ever thought about car sharing? Or if you work with someone who lives near you, you could drive them to work and they coud go halves on the fuel cost? Or are you able to drive part way and walk part way to keep fuel costs down?

I'm registered on the trip*share network but no joy as yet - and there are several people who live in the same village as me & also at my workplace.

I think the big problem / reluctance of people to do it - is that we have flexi-time. Nothing worse than giving a lift to someone who doesn't finish until 5 and it being a beautiful day and you want to leave at 4!:cool:

The people who seem to be looking for lifts, really live in the sticks (prob as it's so hard to get a bus) but by the time I'd gone to get them, I'd be more than doubling my journey which defeats the object!

Will have a check of the site later though as haven't been on for a while.:)

rising_from_the_ashes

Updated pots ..... round down to G&F now done.

• Main account - £180
• House & bills account - £630.48
• Dog - £200.20
• Cats - £98.70
• Emergency - £75.04
• Car - £41.72
• House insurance - £150.15
• Groceries & Fuel - £41.61
• Car insurance - £80.06
• Monthly savings £100.52 (replacement boiler fund: £25 / month for 12 months)

CC bill still to be paid so need to sort that out!

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhhh lordy, just realised I've now got 10 accounts ..... wish I could get them all into one but just not confident that I could keep track - something to work on!

cleggie

I have 3 accounts now Rising, for the same reason that you have 10; i just cant keep track of everything when its all in 1 account.
I think 10 accounts is fine, if you need them all.

My 3 are:
Main account- This is the one that my student loans, CB and CTC go into, and that all of my DDs/SO's come out of
Savings (Xmas/birthdays and car)
Savings (emergency fund).