We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

mummytogirls

Awww Alice I can totally understand why you are stressed about DS not being able to come home, I would totally be the same.

I think your first treat in debt freedom should be a nice pampering trip to the hairdressers not long, keep going xx

brizzledfw

Yuck. Horrid week with news re DS to boot.

Feel for you. Thinking of you. Chin up. If I lived closer would come round with a RL bucket of wine (booger the virtual stuff )

Hope this weekend has been easier x

Alice_in_Poorland

Verbatim wrote: »

Aah Alice. It's such a slog for you and you ARE doing brilliantly keeping all the balls in the air. I do admire how you just keep going. Many would have flipped by now. And you've coloured your hair.
I too would hate not to have a "child" home for Xmas.
It's almost the solstice/ shortest day and then maybe we'll all feel more hopeful with the lighter mornings and evenings?
What is your son doing abroad?
V

I know V, when the tough gets going I either make a jelly or colour my hair.:rotfl:

I'm also obsessed with my hair as much as I am with pegging out.:)

DS is in canada on an extended field trip (aka studying), he was awarded a scholarship a few years ago. He will be back in the USA next year.

Yeah can't wait for the light mornings again. I normally don't mind the cold of the winter but not keen on the wind and rain.:(

Xx

mummytogirls wrote: »

Awww Alice I can totally understand why you are stressed about DS not being able to come home, I would totally be the same.

I think your first treat in debt freedom should be a nice pampering trip to the hairdressers not long, keep going xx

You are absolutely spot on there mummy, my first (and probably only treat) will be to have my hair coloured professionally. Without giving too much away, i like to think my hair is like the character in the Disney film Brave but more often than not I look like the cartoon character Crystal Tips.:rotfl:

Xx

brizzledfw wrote: »

Yuck. Horrid week with news re DS to boot.

Feel for you. Thinking of you. Chin up. If I lived closer would come round with a RL bucket of wine (booger the virtual stuff )

Hope this weekend has been easier x

Thanks brizzle. xx

Thanks to you all for your posts re DS not coming home for Christmas. I think after the rubbish week we'd had (financial, getting the house repaired etc) it all just seemed a bit too much. We get to 'skype' him regularly, and I'm sure we'll do the same on Christmas Day. I don't want him to feel bad that he's not going to be coming home........and the main reason is due to lack of funds........I know he'll miss us but he is having a fab time.

XX

Alice_in_Poorland

We are just about sorted in the house after our mishap. The car is in for repair next week....£££.:eek:

I went shopping yesterday, £14 in £1 shop (had £2.00 off £12 shop voucher), £25 petrol in the other car, £37 in sburys, £5 at Christmas fair.

I'm going to use my t3sc0 vouchers (double them up) to get DS3 Christmas present. Found an online code for the book people so saved on my order from them too.

Although we have really cut back on the number of presents/people we buy for, I'm having a dilemma regarding the ones we still do. Nieces and nephews that are having vouchers/cash (that's their preference which is fine, I'd rather do that than buy them someone they'll never use/didn't want). I feel like I should be giving them something else to 'top' the present up, say like toiletries or chocolates. I know they will be perfectly happy with just the voucher/cash......and they will get enough sweets and chocolate to last a lifetime anyway.......it's just me!!

No pegging out at the moment (obviously :rotfl:), had the heated airer on overnight.

Had novembers statement from stepchange. The balance of the smallest debt which I thought should be down to £23 odd is still showing as owing £73. Will check again tomorrow and call stepchange if still a problem.

Still haven't sorted Bcard, have until 10 December.

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Called debt company and they have confirmed the balance of our smallest debt is £18.23.......although when I log into our DMP the balance is still £73, not going to mess with it though! How will stepchange know how much the balance actually is? What happens if they over pay it?

That balance should/will be paid off next month. Current debt balance £17,300 (or there abouts), so will be in the 16k's going into the new year (after Decembers payment).:)

Car is going to cost £160. :eek:

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

No heating on tonight (or last night).

Car still not ready, collect tomorrow.

Today was a NSD. Not sure how many we'll have this month, got lots of social things planned. All good but will try and keep a tight rein on the finances.

Must sort Bcard out!!

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Collected car today, all paid for so not a NSD.

Heating still off, but will but airer on over night, still no pegging out.

DS gone back to packed lunch, so no extra spends there. Although have sent DS1 some money.

I have a dentist appointment (I know I need a bit of treatment) and a hair appointment coming up. Can't really afford both, teeth more important that hair but......:rotfl:

DD for Broadband hasn't come out of the bank yet. Last month I cancelled as they tried to take it on the 26th and we didn't have enough money. Confirmed with bank that ok to reinstate for coming out on 28th of the month, but nothing as yet.

Today my sunglasses broke, they literally fell apart. I have had this pair of sunglasses since 2007. I can remember buying them, we were on our way to a charity garden party and I had forgotten/subsequently lost my sunglasses. We called into an @sda and paid £2.99 for them. To be fair they were very nice, and I kept them in a posh case. Those in the know could probably tell they were cheap and cheerful:rotfl:, but they have done the job all this time. I did have a little chuckle to myself....even though I felt a little sad. I know, I know crazy lady.

OH and DS2 'need' Christmas jumpers. Could really do without forking out for these. Looking online to see what I can find.

Xx

Verbatim

Charity Shops for xmas jumpers?
Congrats for getting into the 16s by 2016. Does that mean you can anticipate an earlier dfd?

Alice_in_Poorland

Verbatim wrote: »

Charity Shops for xmas jumpers?
Congrats for getting into the 16s by 2016. Does that mean you can anticipate an earlier dfd?

Hi V, didn't see your post until tonight, fab idea. Not quite charity shop bit did manage to get OHs off fleabay and DS2 had a red jumper so he's going to use that.

An earlier DFD would be fab. I'm not 100% sure but I'm hoping it will be sooner as some of the debts will be paid off sooner than others. If we self managed I know we'd pay it all off sooner.....but I'm just not ready for that yet.:o

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Ended up paying the broadband over the phone, and have now set DD up.

Managed to fix sunglasses, will get me through the winter anyway.

Have done meter readings today, we are £77.83 in credit, forgot to work out how much we'd used since last meter readings. Heating was on for a few hours this afternoon......phew I was warm!! Needless to say OH was 'just right'.

Have been food shopping, went to Christmas fair at school, ordered 2 birthday presents and got petrol. Went to sports club tonight, spent £9.:) Must update spending diary/budget, I know they are going to look very lean.

Really must speak to Bcard.

Xx