Time to 'grow up' - the slippery slope to 30.

immoral_angeluk

Spendless wrote: »

Hello IA, you've come a long way since you started on here. Is your youngest at f-time school yet? If not, that will help out when your childcare starts reducing.

I always liked slimming world rather than WW and I'm re-joining again soon though I wouldn't be keen if I was on my own with 2 kids working f-time. I've just lost my job and I'm not keen on applying for anything f-time and that's with a husband, a secondary school age child and an almost 9 year old, so I'm full of admiration for you.
I *think* there may be some dieting threads on the beauty boards if you just wanted some support.

Whilst you're shopping in the sales get yourself a 'cinema bag'. One big enough to hold some goodies in and take them with you. That's what i do.

Youngest started FT school in Sept. The childcare has reduced some, but not by much due to needing childcare in the holidays which is ridiculously expensive (£200+ for the week for them both..). They also go to before/after school club but as I get WTC any reduction in childcare would reduce the tax credits as well so in all honesty I wouldn't be much better off. Bit of a catch 22!

I think in terms of the dieting I just need to stop buying unhealthy stuff in all honesty. We already eat a lot of fruit and veg but there are times where I'm particularly knackered in an evening and will make something like breaded fish, oven chips and beans for sheer convinience!

immoral_angeluk

I have decided to start a secret £1 savings pot for any £1 coins I get. I rarely use cash nowadays and usually use my card, so I intend to put any £1 coins (that aren't already allocated for something, like if I have £4 in my purse for dance etc) into a pot which I'm going to hide. The REASON I need to hide it is that my daughters are filthy thieves. LOL :rotfl: Especially my youngest, she will rummage through my purse for 'monies' to fill up her purse without me knowing. She's a right little minx. :rotfl:

I don't know what this saving will be for yet. Mostly tempted to pay it off credit card, or I could use it for something I need, because god knows the list is ever expanding.

Currently I need (ie things that are broken or very close to breaking or being launched out the window from their sheer uselessness...)
The cooker (Grill and one ring dials broken, so can't use either. lol)
The hoover (utterly useless. Constantly gets clogged and blocked. No suction. It's only a year old and is supposed to be 'for pets!')
The girls' chest of drawers (generally wobbly, wonky, and old. Close to breaking!)
A better tv for my room (I've now had the girls old 26 inch CRT which works fine, but makes me paranoid as previously mentioned.. :rotfl:)
Xbox controller (Sticky B button, very frustrating..lol)
New carpet for stairs/landing/my room/girls room.... (Don't even ASK about the state of those carpets..)

The list goes on :rotfl:

I know full well it'll probably go on the credit card in all honesty. I know damn well what I'm like...

immoral_angeluk

Happy Friday! Well.. at least I THINK it's friday. In all honestbing off work has totally thrown me off kilter. It could be July for all I know.. lol!

Did my food shopping and also bought food to make for DP's birthday party tonight. Came to £64 all in so £4 over.

Got a busy day planned getting stuff ready for the party tonight, and also trying to get the house in shape in general before I go back to work on Tuesday! I'm looking forward to going back to work. I'm getting serious cabin fever!!

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

vandanfc

I know it is not at the top of your list Sar, "Xbox controller (Sticky B button, very frustrating..lol)" -- but saw this and thought of you - it seems a good price (£19.95) ?

http://www.zavvi.com/games/games-accessories/xbox-360-black-wireless-controller/10240506.html

immoral_angeluk

vandanfc wrote: »

I know it is not at the top of your list Sar, "Xbox controller (Sticky B button, very frustrating..lol)" -- but saw this and thought of you - it seems a good price (£19.95) ?

http://www.zavvi.com/games/games-accessories/xbox-360-black-wireless-controller/10240506.html

Thanks, that's pretty good! Was considering getting a preowned one in time but haven't looked at the prices yet!

immoral_angeluk

Afternoon all! Last day of holiday as I'm back to work tomorrow and the kids are back at school. It's felt like a reaaally long holiday even though it's only been 10 days. I'm looking forward to going back to work and getting the routine back, but I know it's going to be maniacally busy and stressful for a bit! Oh well. Nature of the job really and I can't complain as at least I HAVE a job. There are so many people who've been struggling to find work for ages.

It's been strange being out of routine as it tends to knock me off kilter hence my lack of posting on here. I genuinely don't know what to do with myself! lol

Had a mooch at the preowned xbox controllers whilst in town the other day, and even an official second hand one is £30 :eek: Will end up getting one online eventually as you can get a brand new one for £20 online so it seems stupid to pay that much! :eek: I'm also nearly finished with one of my xbox games (need for speed the run, which has only recently come out), so might be able to trade that in for a controller once I'm finished with it. Or might just trade it in for cash and get some money to pay off the card instead God I'm boring.

Speaking of games, DP bought himself a Xbox kinect for his birthday. It's BRILLIANT. It's so much fun and the girls absolutely loved it (As did DP, as he went about beating the living daylights out of a raving rabid...). Just a shame they're so expensive or else I'd consider getting one at some point. But seeing as they're still £100 I think I'll pass. :eek:

Have done my budgets today and only just noticed that my child benefits has gone in on the past 2 fridays instead of tuesdays, which is odd considering they're not bank holidays?? I didn't even notice which is unlike me! Just goes to show what being in 'holiday' mood can do to a money nerd

Anyway, budget time!

Food £60.00
Petrol £30.00 slightly higher this week as I put in less last week as it was the holiday so am 'making up' some to get back to normal usage. If that makes sense in the slightest.
Social £10.00
School dinners £21.00 *grumble*
Dance £20.00 Have increased this (see below)
Bills £336.93

total out
£477.93
total in bank
£520.82
surplus to CC £42.89 :j Hurrah! Back to business.

Think week I'll have made up the money I 'borrowed' from the bills budget and still have £42.89 to pay off the credit card on Friday. Next week will be back to normal so should be able to pay off more hopefully! I want this CC gone for good now and as soon as it's clear I'm closing the account straight away and not making the mistakes I've made before of clearing it and then using it for some kind of 'emergency'or 'retail therapy' and lo and behold it's back up again. I need to get this sorted once and for all and not fall into old habits.

The dance budget has been increased, as I'll also now be doing a 'body tone' aerobics class which is on before dance class in an aim to get fit and lose a bit of weight. It's an extra £3-4 but it will hopefully help with the overall fitness level and help me tone up. I really struggle with doing DVDs and diets and I just can't stay motivated on my own. My street classes have been the longest type of exercise I've ever done and I've been doing it 9 months now mainly because I enjoy doing it with everyone else and that helps to keep me motivated. Hopefully the body tone class will have the same effect but help with the overall fitness (and get rid of my jelly bum/thighs )

Ooh I've gone on a bit of a longwinded post today haven't I? It's a shame that I can't be more personal on here anymore. I really miss it and there's been many times especially over the past week or so that I've wanted to really vent on here but can't. Oh well. It's for the best I suppose!

Anyway, off to make another cup of tea and then get on with tidying and getting stuff sorted ready for 'back to normal' tomorrow.

Catch you all on the flipside..

ZTD

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Ooh I've gone on a bit of a longwinded post today haven't I?

No, no, young grasshopper - this is just a "medium" post...

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

It's a shame that I can't be more personal on here anymore.

Why? What has changed?

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

I really miss it and there's been many times especially over the past week or so that I've wanted to really vent on here but can't.

:grouphug:

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Catch you all on the flipside..

And happy New Year! :T

immoral_angeluk

ZTD wrote: »

Why? What has changed?

I'm very wary of posting anything too personal about my home life, or work for fear of reprisals. You never know who is reading sadly so I can't be my usual open self about everything as it could cause problems, especially if I post about what I do at work for example.

ZTD

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

I'm very wary of posting anything too personal about my home life, or work for fear of reprisals. You never know who is reading sadly so I can't be my usual open self about everything as it could cause problems, especially if I post about what I do at work for example.

Is this reprisals from people you know?

immoral_angeluk

ZTD wrote: »

Is this reprisals from people you know?

Well yea. As I say, you never know who is reading and just waiting for a chance to screw things up for you, or would take something out of context.

Also obviously in the type of work I do it wouldn't be hard for clients to google me....