We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

HappyNow

Sorry to hear about your off-day Alice. I think most of us have them occasionally and you have bounced back so no harm done. I've heard a few people mention the 'one bill away from disaster' article but I haven't seen it - probably just as well because that's exactly where the Happy household is!

Alice_in_Poorland

Down to zero pence now. We've both paid works lottery and I gave the rest of the change to DS2 so he could buy some toast at school (a rare treat). OH has taken DS1 training and has called to say he his petrol light has come on, so he's just going to put £10 in, thats all he needs as he is biking to work for the next few days.

This is where I start to feel nervous, I don't need any money but I'm still getting used to not have any money at all in my purse. I'll get through it .

Have done 2 loads of washing already, another load in as apparently its going to be dry and humid here tomorrow........it had better be now!!

Got a few spends coming up next week, hair cuts all round, OH needs to renew driving licence (£20 :eek:), dog needs injections, also must do Te3co shop to make use of voucher. Tomorrow may be my last NSD for a while. xx

PinotGrigio41

Hey Alice,

Catching up on your diary as behind again. Sorry for the bad news re the PPI. Obviously I dont know the circumstances behind your claim, but the fact it was on your statement, so therefore you knew you were paying it, to me seems like an attempt at passing the buck. Have you got a copy of the original agreement whereby you agreed to take out the PPI, did you tick the box or was it a store person ? Im just asking as both of my current claims werent signed by me incl the one that they recently paid out on, despite the fact the PPI was on the statements for both accounts each month , at no time did they attempt to use this as a get out clause. Just think it might be worth a challenge thats all.

xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Thanks Pinot, I'll have a check to see if I've got the original agreement. They state on the letter that they haven't got a copy!!

Te3co shop ordered using voucher. Will still need to go to sburys to get a few things I like/can only get from there. Will go to butchers on Saturday too. Wont be going to A1di this week but sure I'll survive.

Desperate to do a carboot and could do with putting a bit on ebay, just need a kick up the bum to get on with it!!

Although my car passed MOT over the last couple of days it is sounding more like the exhaust is starting to blow.....you know that meaty boy racer noise, only a bit but fingers crossed it will hold out for a while.

Quiet weekend coming up, just need to book dog in for booster.

xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Total NSDs for the month will be 15 , I will try and match if not better that next month.

Te3co shopping arrived, spent £43 after voucher but inc. delivery.

Took £40 cash out this morning and have been to the butchers, got sausage (enough for 2 meals), bacon and strawberries, total spend £9ish. Went to 'cheapy' shop and got cleaning stuff, tape, glue sticks, air freshner, squash spent £11ish. £2 on carparking, gave DS2 £4 as he has gone out for the day with his friend and parents, got some replacement flip flops £2, and had £6 in £2 coins for the pot so out of £40 I've got £6 left. I still havent sorted bus money pots (£20) and I need to pay for after school club (£8).......I didn't work that one out very well!!!

I also need to get petrol .

I must update spending diary and budget, I'm sure we will be just under budget on petrol for the month but need to get this food budget down even more.

Have been searching for cars for DS1 (he's got the money) and trying to get his insurance quotes down, cheapest so far is around £2K, would be a bit cheaper if he could pay all in one go but that isn't going to happen, he has enough for the car but that won't leave enough to pay insurance in full.

Still haven't booked the dog into the vets, and I just remembered need cash for haircuts next week too. Its just never ending!!!

Hope you've all been lucky and got some sunshine.xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Only me and DS3 up at the moment, so whilst DS3 watching TV I've just caught up with my budget/spending diary.

Petrol for June are 90/100 for me so just under budget and OH spent 75/100 which is great. He's going to try and bike 4 days a week instead of the 3.

Food budget well over, will make bringing this down a priority this month.

FIL would like to borrow some of OHs tools so I was thinking we could be cheeky and ask if he could pick DS3 up from school tomorrow on his way upto ours and that would save £4 at afterschool club and he would get the tools he needs, will suggest that to OH when he gets up.

It looks lovely out there so hopefully we can have a day in the garden tidying up. xx

Baileys_Babe

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

FIL would like to borrow some of OHs tools so I was thinking we could be cheeky and ask if he could pick DS3 up from school tomorrow on his way upto ours and that would save £4 at afterschool club and he would get the tools he needs, will suggest that to OH when he gets up.

Doesn't sound at all cheeky to me, FIL gets to borrow the tools he would like to as well as spending time with grandson, you get to save a few quid.

Would it be possible to delay the haircuts by a week or two and long term keep the period between cuts slightly longer than it has been in the passed to save another few quid.

Congratulations to DS1 on saving for a car, that is quiet an achievement, is he fully aware of all the related costs of car ownership:

buying
insurance
tax
MOT
servicing
repairs
breakdown cover
fuel
sundries (wiper blades, screen wash etc)
saving for next car

has he tried adding you to the quote as a second driver to see if that makes it any cheaper. Has he considered waiting a few months (I know it would be hard for him in the short term, but long term it could save him lots of problems)before buying a car to save the extra he needs to pay for the insurance up front and to have a car emergency/contingency fund.

debtfreewannabe321

Fantastic news on the petrol spends, we always seem to go over on this ! Am keeping a very close eye this month though as determined not to spend over!

Well done on your ds saving for the car rather than taking out credit to fund it. I agree with bailey's babe in the fact that cars are so expensive....has your son got a little pot/account he could pay into each month to fund the repairs & stuff? The last thing you want is for it to break down and he have no money to repair it.....he'll be straight over to bank of mum & dad for a loan lol

xx

mummytogirls

Wow Alice youve done really well with the NSD's, well done you! xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Thanks Bailey Babe, DFW321 and Mummy,

We've managed to go an extra week this time with the hair cuts and DS2 is only having it cut every other time as his hair grown quite slowly.

We've made DS1 aware of all the costs of running a car, as with a lot of young folk its the cost of the insurance thats the problem. I'm going to try adding me, and his Nan and Grandad and see how that effects the quote. It has been going up when I add OH as he has 3 points on his licence. He finishes college in a couple of weeks so he can work more hours and get some extra funds behind him. We've seen a couple of cars which would be suitable but he hasn't wanted to part with his money. He is good with money........thankfully, I never want the kids to go through what we are the moment!!

Had a great day in the garden today and we've decided to move the shed, nothing costly just a lot of hard digging and levelling. I managed to get the ironing done when the dinner was cooking.

DS3 was shattered having been outside playing all day and had a complete meltdown when it was bath time, heaven knows what the neighbours must of thought, anyway we had a little talk when he had calmed down a bit (after his bath) and he said sorry and went to bed without a story and was asleep in about 30 seconds.

Had a letter from our gas and electricity provider who would like to increase our monthly payment to £114 per month (from £98), we are about £60 in credit but they want us to build some funds up for the winter.

Today was NSD number 1. LOL. Hope we all have lots of NSDs this month.xx