We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

baglady1

Hi Alice, have read your complete diary over the last few weeks, you are doing so well - ever onward & all that. Confession time - I never mind pegging out a load or two At least with a takeaway every few weeks you won't feel too deprived!

Alice_in_Poorland

baglady1 wrote: »

Hi Alice, have read your complete diary over the last few weeks, you are doing so well - ever onward & all that. Confession time - I never mind pegging out a load or two At least with a takeaway every few weeks you won't feel too deprived!

Thank you baglady1, wow I admire your staying power to read all my ramblings. . If does help me keep and the straight and narrow.....most of the time.;)
You can't beat a bit of pegging out.:)
Yeah I'm hoping the 'once a month takeaway' does help us to stick with the plan. OH doesn't feel like he is missing out.;)

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Where did that weekend go.:o. Managed to have a good tidy, sort and clean up yesterday. Got stuff to do a carboot so will do one over the next month. Feeling very cleansed now, the house feels 'lighter'.:)

Today my parents came for brunch. It's been ages since I did a proper cooked breakfast. It was lovely the only dampener was I feel like I've let them down a bit by our situation....not that they know...oh no! I mentioned there won't be a holiday this year and used OHs reduced hours as an excuse. There is a few major jobs that need doing on the house, my Dad was asking about them and any time scale for doing them. So far we've managed to keep our 'situation' top secret.

At least today was a NSD, must tally the other days up.:)

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Well the washing dried, got wet but was dry by the time I got home.:)

Did the meter readings yesterday, we are £16.73 in credit. Still need to rein the usage in!

Apart from little shop at c0stc0 courtesy of my friend and the little basic top up shop OH did last week we/I have managed to keep the 'supermarket' spends to a minimum the last week. I have been to @ldi and sburys tonight whilst DS was at a bowling party. Spent £16 in @ldi and £22 in sburys.

Also had to get petrol.:o

DS1 is looking at flights to start his travels again....oh my how expensive.:o

Xx

brizzledfw

Good to see your progress Alice..sorry your parents are stressing you a little. Pity you can't confide

Keep on with the small steps

Alice_in_Poorland

brizzledfw wrote: »

Good to see your progress Alice..sorry your parents are stressing you a little. Pity you can't confide

Keep on with the small steps

Thanks brizzle, I couldn't say anything to my parents, they would be horrified.:(:o

Just got to keep plodding.:)

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Today's debt busting decision is to change the window cleaner to only cleaning the front windows and leave the back for the next few visits. This reduces the cost to £5......keeping up appearances.:o

Have updated spending diary and when OH gets paid tomorrow and all the DDs have gone out (including the reduced payment to stepchange) we will have £51 to last until next Thursday. Will need to get petrol, DS2 needs £3 for school, and I need to pay childminder......think I'm going to have to ask DS1 for the money back that we lent him. I wasn't going to as he's helping with the childcare next week whilst childminder is on holiday, so we save a bit of money there.

After next Thursday we should (well we'd better be!!) be back on track. The next major spends is the extra childcare during the school holiday. Also we've offered to pay some of the smaller bills for DS trip, ie travel insurance, he just needs to decide when he's leaving. Hopefully not for a few weeks.:eek:

Xx

pennywisepoundstupid

Hi alice, good idea about the window cleaner.

I hope you manage to juggle the pennies, sometimes it feels like such hard work doesn't it and I know what you mean about keeping a front up, I had a friend say to me last week when we were talking that it was ok for me because I didn't really need to work, I was thinking if you only knew:eek:!

Take care and have a good day.x.

Alice_in_Poorland

DS1 has given us the money back, so that eases the pressure a bit. I think I've just about got DS3 sorted for the holidays, just need to find the funds to pay for it. Paid works lottery today, will pay childcare tomorrow and give DS the money he needs for school.

OH got petrol and then called into sburys and picked up milk, fruit, bread and my hair stuff, spent £10.27.

I'm trying to remain positive but have to say this has got to be the 'poorest' we have been for long time. It's just a blip I know.:o

Xx

lhead123

Hi Alice, can't remember if I've posted on your diary yet, but I've been reading it.

I totally understand where you are at the moment. We are the poorest we have ever been at the moment. Once the rent goes out and the next set of benefits comes in we will be OK, but until then we have literally pennies

Hope everything picks up for you soon xx