We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

brizzledfw

Alice....long time and no posts? Hope you're OK. You've been doing marvellously and you need to give yourself a massive pat on the back for that.

Come back, we all miss you!!

xx

Verbatim

Hi Alice,
I thought you'd posted when I saw a new post in your thread. I am so disappointed to find you haven't!
I do hope you are doing OK. Wish I could cheer you up.
Hugs instead.
V

dawnybabes

Snap - got all excited

brizzledfw

Hi Alice, hope all bearable in RL and the reasons you haven't been posting are good....?

Thanks for the recommendation of the LL dryer...it's proving excellent and a real help with all the teenager sports kits I am surrounded by...thanks hon

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Hi All, I am so so sorry that I haven't posted for so long. It has been an accumulation of things ranging from the laptop has given up, then I couldn't log on on my mobile (didn't recognise user name/password), Then I just couldn't bring myself to have a look at my diary. RL just sucks at the moment, families aye!! I just haven't been in a very good place the last few weeks, and to finally get onto my diary and see all your lovely post has made my cry...in a nice way. You are all so kind, thank you.

Just a quick update, DS1 will be home this week, my parents are helping with his flight costs. I can't wait to see him.

On the money front - still plodding with paying everybody. Although Westcot have text me to call them, not sure why.

Have had the wing mirror knocked off the car, it's the drivers side so it's a real pain. Haven't checked out how much it is too replace it.

I will get back to posting regularly.

Xx

Verbatim

Hi Alice,
How lovely to hear from you! I'm so sorry to hear that RL is so difficult at the moment but glad that your son is back next week and that your parents have helped out with the fare.
Well done on getting it sorted and continuing to get the payments made.
Looking forward to seeing your annual scores soon. And then it's another year and you'll be so much closer to finishing this long slog.
xx

amber03

Good to hear from you Alice, RL sucks at times. Yesterday I took myself off for the day for a "me" day. Sometimes I think I am being selfish doing this but if I didn't all my time would be spent working or looking after others. I feel refreshed when I come back home and can carry on for a couple of weeks.

Glad to hear DS is home soon,take care.xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

(((Alice))) - have a hug


Well done on calling BC - are you sure your account has not been defaulted previously? Have you really been paying more than the minimum for the last 5 years?


If you are not sure get your Noddle credit report and have a look - its a free one.


You are further forward than you were 5 years ago - in Jan 2012 your debts were £34906 and in Jan 2016 they were £16839. That's £18000 paid off in 4 years and of course you have been paying them throughout this year so the debt will be even lower. You have done amazingly well!!!


Is OH actually in denial again - it must be hard for the bread winner to feel they have failed to provide for the family and that you have loads of debt? My DH often says things that make me think we are on the same wave length and then he goes and orders £50 of stuff from Amazon {bangs head on brick wall}.
Is OH having much say in the finances at the moment? I know he got ratty in the past but would he be ok if you talked more about your finances?


After paying for the flights at Xmas could you work out how much DS1 will need for the next 2 years and start putting aside an amount per month?


How old is DS3? I had a memory come up on the book of face this week from 2012 - it was DD's Xmas list (she would have been 9 nearly 10 years old) and on the list was a Nintendo 3DS XL, Ipad, Ipod, IPhone etc
Of course what she got was a 3DS and that was it. I think kids are so up with technology nowadays that everyone wants what their mates want.
What console does he want?


I know you feel you should pay for DS2's driving lessons but I'm sure he understands that at the moment you can't afford to. Could you either go halves now and then give him a lump sum in the future to make up the difference in what you gave him compared to DS2 or tell him you can't afford it and he will have to fund it himself?


Have you looked at your budget recently? Can anything be tweaked?
I know that weekends are your spend days but is there anyway of cutting back on some of the shopping you do? How much food do you have in the cupboards/freezer - could you only shop for fruit and veg one week and have a challenge to use up what is in the house already?


I am a Ninja Saving Turtle and part of the challenge and it really does make you think about when and why you are spending and there are also challenges about not buying any food except fruit/veg/milk until you have used up what is in the house - I am getting to the bottom of my freezers because of the challenge.


I am still pegging out also - I have a load of towels out at the moment.


If you want to watch TV all afternoon why shouldn't you? My house is always a mess and I just don't care (well I do when the door knocks and I am not expecting visitors), I have so much else to do each evening I can't do everything.

Hi EE, I'm pretty sure that Bcard hadnt defaulted the account previously but I will do a check over the Christmas break. Got loads planned money wise. Will also have a look at the budget. It's gone a bit askew over the last month or so.

OH is just his usual self. You'd of thought I'd of got used to it and accepted it by now. It was his works do last weekend, he had no idea where the money was coming from, and he wanted/needed £30-£40. He took £20 and I stayed up to fetch him.

DS wanted a PlayStation 4....but we've got the game he wanted for the Xbox so that will have to do. Plus we will have to get a computer/laptop, DS2 desperately needs one for his school work.

I've been running the freezer down the last few weeks. Plus I've been trying to eat really cleanly in preparation for any over indulging of Christmas.

Xx

Verbatim wrote: »

Hi Alice
Thanks for the update. I don't know your situation but I get the impression that in your house everyone's needs/ wants come before yours. You perhaps prioritise your OH and kids and your needs come a poor 5th.
If there is belt tightening to be done I would suggest that first in line for the money diet is your OH. Take a look at how much is spent on his activities and perhaps some savings could be made there.
And delegate the chores. There are 4 at home now so no reason why you should do it all as well as working full time, planning and worrying for the whole family.
Is ds1 banned from working in the US? It would be good if he could work his way through uni to help with the expense. Is there a job he could do in the UK while he's home for Xmas to at least repay you his fares and keep?
Well done on sorting the evil bc and on paying off so much since you started. I do admire you for your energy and the way you keep it all together.

Hi V, yeah DS will pick up some work upon his return, bar/waiter work so hopefully the tips will be good! Downside to that is that we'll have to wait up to fetch him....doh! Unfortunately he can't work whilst in the US.

I always put myself last V, that's just me.

Going to get back on track.

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

LauraB89 wrote: »

Just read your whole diary - you are amazing. Definitely helping to inspire me on my df journey!

Xxx

Oh blimey Laura I admire your stamina there. Thank you for your kind words. Having a bit of a wobble at the moment but will get there.

Good luck on your DF journey.

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

dawnybabes wrote: »

Snap - got all excited

brizzledfw wrote: »

Hi Alice, hope all bearable in RL and the reasons you haven't been posting are good....?

Thanks for the recommendation of the LL dryer...it's proving excellent and a real help with all the teenager sports kits I am surrounded by...thanks hon

Xx

amber03 wrote: »

Good to hear from you Alice, RL sucks at times. Yesterday I took myself off for the day for a "me" day. Sometimes I think I am being selfish doing this but if I didn't all my time would be spent working or looking after others. I feel refreshed when I come back home and can carry on for a couple of weeks.

Glad to hear DS is home soon,take care.xx

Thank you all for your concern and posts. I've got to get back on track and get on with it.

Can I start posting half way through the month......yeah I'm sure I can.

Nothing really to report on the money front. Haven't called Westcott yet. Food bill has been reduced a bit as we've been eating out of the freezer, but had to get some bits tonight in preparation of DS1s return....he eats continuously.

Also we are entertaining Christmas Day and Boxing Day, I've got food/drinks lists for both days, plus people are bringing a contribution. Keeping it really controlled this year, not going to be putting things in the trolley that are not on the list!!

Christmas presents coming along. Need to order last few bits but waiting for OH to get paid on Thursday. Have got some of the 'cash' gifts, will get the rest from the cashpoint once I get paid on the 22nd.

Having haircut this weekend, DS3 and OH need a trim too. OH thinking of shaving his beard off.......good job I haven't got him a beard trim voucher for Christmas, he'd have to have a wet shave instead.:rotfl: This would be off the kids as we aren't exchanging gifts again this year but I don't want the kids to see us not open something, even if it is just a voucher, if you get my drift.

Hoping I've got my mojo back to bust this debt once and for all.

Xx