We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

mummytogirls

Morning Alice,

Hope the car problem is something and nothing.

Not sure if this is a good suggestion but how about you putting some food on at home and asking people to bring a contribution towards?! You could be upfront and just say as youre paying out for the insurance, car things etc you cant really afford a meal out but have this as a suggestion?

Nearly the weekend xx

Alice_in_Poorland

dawnybabes wrote: »

Ova do is expensive but they do send you offers through quite regularly (just log on to site and look round and amazingly an offer comes through a few days later :-) ) for between 15% and 20% off your shopping

Thanks for the tip dawnybabes, Ill try that.

starfish1975 wrote: »

Alice... I have read your entire diary over the last 3 days.. It's addictive. Like a real life soap opera!

You are an inspiration.. I really admire you. You have achieved so much.. Juggling a full time job and a busy family life.

I have worked hard to clear my debt over the years.. I had accumulated quite a lot after my separation and setting up a new home for me and my daughter. I don't have any debts now apart from my mortgage.. But reading your diary made me realise that I have no grasp over my money.. No idea what I spend on grocery bill, electric, oil etc.. Kids hobbies etc.. I just spend money willy nilly.. Although I live within my means.. I would like to manage my money much better and feel in control of it. Maybe I should start a diary too!

I sympathise with you on the problem with your husband... I have been in similar situations.. Ex girlfriends.. Esp with kids involved have been the bane of my life! Facebook is also a curse.. But that's another story!!

Well done starfish on clearing all your debt. I must admit I do try and keep a track on all the spending, right down to haircuts and the window cleaner. :rotfl: Keeping a diary has certainly helped me.:)

Totally agree with you about FB, I'd add mobile phones and money to that.

Good luck.

mummytogirls wrote: »

Morning Alice,

Hope the car problem is something and nothing.

Not sure if this is a good suggestion but how about you putting some food on at home and asking people to bring a contribution towards?! You could be upfront and just say as youre paying out for the insurance, car things etc you cant really afford a meal out but have this as a suggestion?

Nearly the weekend xx

OH has driven the car to work this morning and it seems OK, ie no water leaking anywhere. We don't use it very often at all so will get it looked at when it goes for its MOT.

Good idea MTG, I could have everybody round, that would certainly be better for us but I know that some people would frown on being asked to bring a contribution. Mmm I'll have a think about it.

xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Called into sburys, spent £23. I'm really pleased with that amount.:o Put £20 petrol in. I will update the budget, shame I had these spends on the last day of the month.

Took some cash out for lottery, pocket money, window cleaner and 'leisure pot'.....which I have neglected recently.

Next week just got a few days childcare, kids going swimming (have a voucher for 1 free entry) and I've got 2 days off work.:D

Nearly the weekend.:)

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

The start of a new fresh month......:)

Not a good start to the day, had to do battle with HR (new lady in HR ) over booking 2 days off next week as I hadn't given the quite enough notice.:o
It's costing £150 per week for DS3s childcare so I decided I'd use some more of my holiday to help keep the costs down. Anyway it's all sorted now.......there really wasn't any need for all that drama Mrs New HR Lady.:rotfl:

Still feeling positive about sorting the debt out but a little sad with DS1 leaving us again........Oh well they've got to leave some time.;)

My challenge for August is to keep track of the NSDs.:)

xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Last night we had a chippy tea as it was the first Friday in the month.:)

DS3 went to a birthday party, luckily it was at the indoor play centre. OH took him, spent £1.50 on a coffee:eek:

Then we went to the £1 shop and topped up with toiletries etc, spent £13. Went to sburys spent £72 but that did include school trousers for DS3, beer for OH and hair colour for me......rock and roll.

DS1 met us from work and we had tea at sburys, cost £20 with a voucher out of the local paper for 5 of us, a cheaky treat. Not in the budget but I'm using the fact that DS1 will be leaving us soon as the excuse.

We gave away the last lot of 'baby' garden toys today and the sent the sandpit/pool to the local dogs rescue for the doggies to paddle in.:D. Then a trip to the tip with the rubbish. The garden looks much better.:)

Have taken 'mummys' advice and invited everyone round tomorrow for a little get together for DS1. I have very cheekily requested everyone bring something as we will be a cricket with DS2 in the afternoon, an away game so I won't be at home to prepare everything. So far everybody has agreed. We've got some bits and bobs in the freezer, salad (some homegrown ), and some drinks. Hopefully it will all turn out ok.:o

Weather was pants this morning so didn't do any washing gggrrrrr. Hoping to catch up with it tomorrow, forecast looks good.

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Of all the mornings in all the year why does OH pick this morning to have 'one on him':mad:

Anyway on a lighter note, I've pegged 2 loads out already . This evenings get together is coming along nicely.:)

Have done meter readings and we are £35 in credit, now we don't make another payment until the 28 of the month so we really need to cut back.

Another bad note is I've smashed my little mirror on the kitchen floor. I've had this make up mirror for ages and I was getting my purse and it got caught and just flipped out. I'm really gutted is was a present from DS1 when he was little.:(

Budget updated, money pots done........money in leisure pot at last.

Hope everybody has a great day........and OH snaps out of his mood!!

Xx

Dolphin1

Hope your OH snapped out of his mood and the get together went well!

Also, shame about the mirror, hope you aren't too superstitious. :eek:

Dolphin1

mummytogirls

Morning Alice,

Woohoo to the get together, im so glad everyone agreed on bringing a contribution... How did it go then? Im sure the most important thing is that they got to say bye again to DS before he goes off again. Good excuse using the cricket .

Hope DH snapped out of his mood xx

debtfreewannabe321

Hope your get together was a success when does ds1 leave? Hope you have a little while with him yet x

Alice_in_Poorland

Dolphin1 wrote: »

Hope your OH snapped out of his mood and the get together went well!

Also, shame about the mirror, hope you aren't too superstitious. :eek:

Dolphin1

Hi Dolphin1, well I try not to be too superstitious, although I am waiting for the run of bad luck to start.:o

mummytogirls wrote: »

Morning Alice,

Woohoo to the get together, im so glad everyone agreed on bringing a contribution... How did it go then? Im sure the most important thing is that they got to say bye again to DS before he goes off again. Good excuse using the cricket .

Hope DH snapped out of his mood xx

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Hope your get together was a success when does ds1 leave? Hope you have a little while with him yet x

Thanks for your lovely posts, the evening went very well. I did have to get OH to nip I to t3sc0 xpress for a few bits on their way back, spend £21.

I think OH could tell he was pushing it and when he came back from cricket he was OK. No idea what caused the 'strop'.:o

Everybody had a great time (so they said ) and there were a few tears when it was time to say goodbye. Glad we did it this way (thanks mummy), as it was more informal and DS got to see more people than if we'd gone for a meal.......and we've been left with a few cheeky bottles.;)

DS goes this weekend.

So back to the money front, will need extra petrol at the weekend for our run to the airport. Paid for 3 days childcare today, apart from that it was a NSD.......although I won't class it as one.

I've done a really time saving thing and pegged the washing out tonight as no rain is forecast. Will leave a note for the kids to get it on tomorrow lunchtime ish.

Xx