We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

Alice_in_Poorland

PinotGrigio41 wrote: »

Sorry to hear you have been so tired Alice. It seems to have been a long week, I have been exhausted .

Glad to hear you think you can hang onto the fridge / freezer a little longer, its tough isn't it when family expect you to just replace things immediately with no idea of your financial situation. I think I get this on a daily basis.

Hope you manage to enjoy the bank holiday weekend xx

Thanks Mrs PG, don't know why I've been so tired this week.:( I really don't like telling lies especially to my parents. In fact I try not to think about it, it's a horrible situation.....but we are doing something about it. xx

brizzledfw wrote: »

Well done on the borrowing!!

Take care of yourself and take even a few minutes out if you can. Maybe cut the grass and then sit with a glass of wine enjoying it?

X

Thanks brizzle, OH is itching to send the mower off to be fixed!! xx

Alice_in_Poorland

I am home alone..........now this doesn't happen very often.:D

DS1 is at work, DS2 is at his sports club, DS3 and OH have gone over the field with a ball for half an hour. We've had a lovely lazy morning, I've updated spending diary/budget but I have NOT put the washing machine on! I did all the ironing last night (I know how to party on a Saturday night, a hot and steamy date with the ironing board:rotfl:). So I thought I'd have a day off from washing and ironing today.:)

Yesterday we had a bit of a spending day, a mega shop at C0stc0 which included OHs razor blades, and impulse buys of car shampoo and big jar of peanut butter. :eek: Then we went to Mr A's and got white vinegar (typical not washing today and can't wait to use it instead of fabric conditioner....I know I'm sad!), OH had new undies and socks, also picked up shampoo and conditioner for everyone, some alcohol and some food!

Missed going to the farm shop today.

Cheapest spends yesterday was lunch at C0stc0, £4.65 for 3 of us. OH and DS3 don't mind shopping as long as they've had food!

Spends on food so far for this month £355, this does include the extra spends and bulk buys yesterday at C0stc0. Petrol spends £110 so far. OH has put £20 in DH1s car.

Have had a sneaky peak at our debt balance - £29,861. 18months in and we've finally got below £30K. Wonder if we could self manage......mmmm not sure.:(

Tried to sort my car insurance out this morning but the website isn't working.

What a rambling post! Feeling a bit strange today, perhaps I shouldn't of looked at our debt balance. Wish I didn't have to lie to people, wish I didn't have to pretent all the time, I don't want to wish the next five years away til our DFD.:o Anyway I'm going to pull myself together before I cry.........its going to be one hell of a party when we're all DF. xx

Harri-bear

Hey, don't cry ..... (just wanted to send you a hug ). Just think, you aren't at the beginning any more and the end gets closer every day.

Someone (far wiser than me) once told me, 'You're stronger than you think you are.' and I so believe it's true.

pennywisepoundstupid

Hi Alice, well done on getting below 30K, you are doing really well.
we all have down days and want to wish the time away, I keep looking at my 2 children and realise how fast they are growing and I just want to be at a point where we can enjoy things with them before its too late and they have grown up left home, but its what spurs me on to become debt free.

Alice_in_Poorland

Harri-bear wrote: »

Hey, don't cry ..... (just wanted to send you a hug ). Just think, you aren't at the beginning any more and the end gets closer every day.

Someone (far wiser than me) once told me, 'You're stronger than you think you are.' and I so believe it's true.

Thanks Harri-bear for a lovely post. I get frustrated more than anything. Although I didn't have anything like the meltdowns I've had before.:o Just a little wobble, perhaps i shouldn't be left alone in the peace and quiet as it gives me time to think!!:o:)

What a great 'quote'. xx

pennywisepoundstupid wrote: »

Hi Alice, well done on getting below 30K, you are doing really well.
we all have down days and want to wish the time away, I keep looking at my 2 children and realise how fast they are growing and I just want to be at a point where we can enjoy things with them before its too late and they have grown up left home, but its what spurs me on to become debt free.

Thanks PWPS, I know time goes fast enought as it is, without me wishing time away. I hope my kids have fond memories of their childhood when they grow up. They are aware of our financial situation, without knowing all the details, if that makes sense. They know are are trying to stick to budget and cut back here and there without all the gory details.

I hope it will spur them on to never get into debt. We'll get there.:) xx

Alice_in_Poorland

We've had sunshine all day. Have managed an hour chilling in the sun this afternoon.

When DS2 came back we went through his clothes and had a sort out, not that he has that many clothes, nothing to fleabay, he's a bit of 'second hand rose'. But at least his wardrobe and drawers are sorted now.

Forgot to mention we finally managed to get on to Freecycle, well OH did actually.:) Will keep 'em peeled for any free slabs and a fridge/freezer.....although the pressures on for a FF.:(

Today was NSD 6, 20p pot upto £59.20, £2 pot still at £82.

Need to sort out a present for BILs special b'day next week, and neices special b'day in a few weeks.

xx

Alice_in_Poorland

We've had a lovely tea but there never seems enough meat to go round.....bearing in mind we only have meat 3 meals a week. Tonights tea was jackets, corn on the cob, salad and BBQ chicken breasts, I'm sure they could of eaten say 3 or 4 chicken breasts each easily.......and DS2 has just eaten 4 w33tabix and a round of toast!!.......and doesn't carry an ounce of extra weight.:eek:

Have finally got round to putting some stuff on fleabay.:)

Looking forward to another day off tomorrow. xx

mummytogirls

Well done on getting below £30k Alice :T xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Grrrrr it's taken 30minutes to get the laptop to work.:(

Anyway we've had very productive day so far. I/We have -

1/ Pegged 1 load washing out - vinegar worked fine.:)
2/ Raked the front lawn - what a job, certainly worked those stomach muscles, got blister all over my hands now tho!
3/ Trimmed hedge
4/ Borrowed a mower, cut back and front lawns
5/ Weeded front borders
6/ Washed garage door down
7/ De-weeded pathway
8/ Washed car
9/ OH finally put the vent cover on we bought weeks ago!
10/ Sorted paperwork that had gathered in the kitchen

Everybody just had a bit of lunch. Now we're going to carry on sorting out the bottom of the garden where we would like to move the shed to.

OHs going to town tomorrow to get the rest of the stuff I need to make washing powder (probably only got enough for 2 loads left!) and get DS3s hair cut.

Looking like today could be NSD 7.:) xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Carrying on from this morning, we've done loads of digging in the back garden trying to prepare shed base, we need to get rid of a load of soil......mmmm think, what can we do with it????

Have just sorted my car insurance out, original quote from Church Hill £564 (was paying £54 per month with them), went with T3sc0 cost £234. Made a payment today and will be £20ish per month for 10months.

I must make sure I put the difference of £25per month in the emergency fund!!!

Off to prepare tea, cheese and potato pie, baked beans and HM meatballs.

xx