Pinot's Potty debt free journey!!!

ceebeeby

Hi Pinot,
Well done on taking that very brave step of doing your SOA. As you know, I have similar income and similar debt levels, so can emphathise with how hard this must have been for you.

I've told the children all about the finances, but not in numbers. Like yours they're very good and understanding. With regards to hobbies (dancing etc.) we've come to a deal that I'll pay fees, they pay accessories & equipment (i.e. dance shoes; costumes) as they both have generous savings accounts from previous birthdays and Christmas'.

Mine are now experts at shopping on a budget and can actually do it better than me, whilst keeping up with nutrition. I don't feel guilty about this, I'm really pleased that when they do come to run their own homes, they'll know exactly how to do it, without having to go through the costly mistakes I did - I wouldn't wish this debt on anyone.

Well done again and have a great day
x

PinotGrigio41

kerri_dfw wrote: »

Hi Pinot, sorry to hear about the ding dong teenagers get paranoid don't they :-(

Does your landline include broadband?

Yes it does include the broadband, thanks for mentioning it Kerri. I have just gone back and edited the SOA .

PinotGrigio41

ceebeeby wrote: »

Hi Pinot,
Well done on taking that very brave step of doing your SOA. As you know, I have similar income and similar debt levels, so can emphathise with how hard this must have been for you.

I've told the children all about the finances, but not in numbers. Like yours they're very good and understanding. With regards to hobbies (dancing etc.) we've come to a deal that I'll pay fees, they pay accessories & equipment (i.e. dance shoes; costumes) as they both have generous savings accounts from previous birthdays and Christmas'.

Mine are now experts at shopping on a budget and can actually do it better than me, whilst keeping up with nutrition. I don't feel guilty about this, I'm really pleased that when they do come to run their own homes, they'll know exactly how to do it, without having to go through the costly mistakes I did - I wouldn't wish this debt on anyone.

Well done again and have a great day
x

Thankyou Ceebeeby, we do pay for everything re hobbies (although as mentioned before DD2 trys to pay for her riding lessons when she can, and has got herself a bit of a job at the stables now, so that really helps ), We had to deplete their savings accounts a few years ago. We were unable to give them pocket money last year, but we started again in December, but its not enough to cover dance shoes, etc but when DD1 goes out with her friends to the cinema etc, I have insisted that although we pay for the tickets she must pay for drinks etc herself, but preferably take drinks or sweets from home. I am keeping the riding lessons in the budget for now incase we can manage the odd one, but again if not the plan is to squirrel away anythign not spent if possible.We have been buying clothes from ebay, if they fancy something a bit trendier , I got some great Hollister and Jack Wills t shirts for next to nothing , and they know they are 2nd hand but are more than happy with that which I was pleased about. As long as they have a good clean and iron and dont smell funny under the armpits I cant see a problem !;)

I hope you still have your manic smile plastered on your face, mine is wide as you like for all to see.

f1widow

Hi Pinot - have been reading your diary for the past couple of days from start to finish (Im sorry I have probably missed things!) I really admire you and what you have achieved so far. Myself, Ive just started a diary (not to be an ostrich or something like that!)

Can anyone tell me how to "subscribe" to someones diary as I would like to keep up with you (iykwim) for starters

I saw your post about telling the children - my son is 10 and seems to have forever lived by second hand - bless him his christmas list said on each item whether it had to be new or second hand - is that too much pressure on a 10 year old - I really worry sometimes he is not allowed to be a child - one thing we do do with him is say if he wants a new game etc then he trades in or sells some toys/games on ebay (thats not to say we have not been lax with him in the past) - my road ahead is just starting so being lax with him will not come into it anymore

As for friends / family on money etc dont get me on that one - I saw your struggle before christmas and thought ah not just me then - thought it was me being unreasonable moaning about friends and family not taking into consideration money probs - you made me feel better on that one - thank you x
Anyway keep up the good work and look forward to talking with you more

PinotGrigio41

f1widow wrote: »

Hi Pinot - have been reading your diary for the past couple of days from start to finish (Im sorry I have probably missed things!) I really admire you and what you have achieved so far. Myself, Ive just started a diary (not to be an ostrich or something like that!)

Can anyone tell me how to "subscribe" to someones diary as I would like to keep up with you (iykwim) for starters

I saw your post about telling the children - my son is 10 and seems to have forever lived by second hand - bless him his christmas list said on each item whether it had to be new or second hand - is that too much pressure on a 10 year old - I really worry sometimes he is not allowed to be a child - one thing we do do with him is say if he wants a new game etc then he trades in or sells some toys/games on ebay (thats not to say we have not been lax with him in the past) - my road ahead is just starting so being lax with him will not come into it anymore

As for friends / family on money etc dont get me on that one - I saw your struggle before christmas and thought ah not just me then - thought it was me being unreasonable moaning about friends and family not taking into consideration money probs - you made me feel better on that one - thank you x
Anyway keep up the good work and look forward to talking with you more

Hi & welcome F1 ( hee hee love the name !!) :wave:

Glad you are enjoying the diary. I am a very big believer that all that matters is that the children know they are loved and are clean, fed and clothed. I know it sounds a cliche, but even when things were great for us financially, the children were never what I consider spoilt. With attention and love maybe, but not materially. Mine dont tend to do Christmas lists, they never really have but just ask for surprises, but my DD2 for the last few years if she has thought of something she would like has looked on ebay for a second hand item then added it to my watch list ! One of her favourite presents ever was a Fur Real friends Pony and 4 years down the line is still one of her most prized possessions, Santa bought him for a song !! I think thats her little way of doing something to help ! Personally I think your son will grow up knowing the value of money and wont get into the same messes we have ! If he is trading games / selling on ebay you could have a budding entrepeneur on your hands in the future, with some business sense gained at an early age. I am sure he is allowed to be a child plenty of the time, but maybe with a wise little head on his shoulders.:)

I will have a hunt for your diary , and as far as friends / family go, you know where to come to rant !

I will be back in a minute when I have written down instructions for subscribing as I am on the wrong page at the moment !:)

PinotGrigio41

Back again F1, go to the top of my Thread for example, or whoevers you fancy subscribing to, click on Thread Tools on the left hand side. Click Subscribe to thread. It will ask you if you want email notification of any new posts, and confirm your subscription. Hope this helps !

PinotGrigio41

Challenges for today !

1 - Beat Ceebeeby and smile, bigger, wider and cheesier and for longer !:D
2 - No moaning, about anything at all ! Does the very tiny moan about the lack of jam doughnuts count ?!
3 - Complete all Surveys in inbox again - Nearly done !
4 - Update my signature and compare to recently posted SAR - Updated ! Yey !
5 - Join PAD and Grocery Challenge ( decide how much to challenge myself first would be helpful
6 - Check Spending Diary to see how much spent on Groceries so far this month - £237.00
7 - Look at budget for next month ( Gonna be a tough one!) -
8 - WORK - VERY IMPORTANT !:) - Still doing that !
9 - Reply to Wescot re last weeks letter - Done
10 - Send LBA to MBNA re 2nd credit card and offer re charges
11 - Put DD2s beautiful barely worn red duffel coat on ebay ( sad about that one , she looked so lovely in it !)
12 - Go to parents evening
13 - Resist urge to run to local corner shop for a Jam Doughnut !- Ate leftover Curry instead
14 - Oh and just remembered - Free tixs to Preview of Haywire this evneing, best we sneak out of Parents Evening early and organise a baby sitter ! Oooh thats something nice to look forward to ! :j

I will update in red later if I actually get anything done !

kerri_dfw

Grr only popped on quickly, now I want a jam doughnut. The beans on toast isn't going to cut it. Will have to just look at pictures instead *sniggers*. Enjoy Haywire tonight

f1widow

Hi have now "properly subscribed" to Pinot - thanks for that

Your list sounds horrendous - I really hope you get to tick them all off - as for mentioning jam doughnuts grrrrrr all I can think of now is custard slice

Can anyone answer this - when you are being good and cutting back why do you think of oo a nice cake, or new mag and nice lipstick etc - and yet when there is money in your back pocket I dont crave these things at all!;)

Let us know how you get on today xx I admire your positivity

kerri_dfw

f1 you could make a cake However, you now have me thinking about custard doughnuts grrrr