My Diary--------THE JOURNEY :-)

Cherryjack

Hello :-)

Just wanted to start a lil thread just for the the next 4 weeks to see how i get on.. im saying 15th November-15th December.. its kind of a mini goal thread to help me with my first month of making a change.. (UPDATE-THINK I WILL STICK WITH THIS DIARY NOW - WHY END SOMETHING GOOD)

Please go easy on me.. this is a trial run before 2012 :rotfl:

Got to stay cheery.. no S.O.A in this one.. just little tips needed:beer: feel free to join me on the small journey. I will post spends.. disasters ( hopefully not) and anything else that gets me thru.

Ive gone from having no money to finally having a little (well maybe a lot to some) to pay for food etc.. i have a little bit of savings for xmas.

Here goes..

£200.00 budget for food ( for 2 adults one child, and a bump )- is this about right?

£134.42 for xmas presents saved..

Ebay boxes x 4 still to put on... i missed the free listing this weekend, damn!! does anyone know how much you get charged if i was to put it on this week without this little perk?

I've looked at my life insurance dd and its £28.75-does this seem high?

No more petrol station shops for bread...im after the twilight specials now at asda..10p style.. here's hoping

Lots of friends asking for trips out shopping.. need to avoid..

MUST get ahead for January-OH taking 2 weeks paternity so a drop in wages...

Thanks for reading:T

Tips tips tips needed:-) not the money kind..but feel free:D

Marty82

Ooh, the first reply honour goes to me!

Not sure what is a good figure for a food budget as haven't got that far myself yet. Is that solely food or other supermarket shopping too?

How much is your present fund target? What you putting on ebay? I missed the free listings weekend too. Grrr.

No idea about life assurance as don't have it as have nobody who would depend on me after my death.

Got a few bargains myself at Tesco tonight but will update my diary about that.

Best of luck on your mini diary; I'm sure you'll become addicted and you'll do a full one in 2012!

Cherryjack

Marty82 wrote: »

Ooh, the first reply honour goes to me!

Not sure what is a good figure for a food budget as haven't got that far myself yet. Is that solely food or other supermarket shopping too?

How much is your present fund target? What you putting on ebay? I missed the free listings weekend too. Grrr.

No idea about life assurance as don't have it as have nobody who would depend on me after my death.

Got a few bargains myself at Tesco tonight but will update my diary about that.

Best of luck on your mini diary; I'm sure you'll become addicted and you'll do a full one in 2012!

Its probably the only reply i'l get lol :-) :rotfl:thank u marty.. i was setting this for food alone.. if there's change then bonus.. its got to be ok because we were living on alot less than that when it got to the very bad stages.. i think its more now of keeping a track, rather than just buying everything with no consequences... i really cant tell you what i spent last month or the month before on anything really... (well i could if i looked at my bank statement-but it would probably scare me :eek::eek:
Ive already bought quite alot of xmas presents so the £134.42 is whats available..rather than going free fall. Believe me once the santa music starts in the shops i could just spend spend spend having this set will hopefully control me a little.. B & M here i come! rather than the elizabeth arden counter...

LOads to go on ebay, a fridge, toy unit, pushchair set.. and about 4 boxes of really nice clothes and bags that im just sick of seeing and never get worn.. its giving me a lil more space in the room.

Look forward to reading yr Tesco buys :beer:

Marty82

Cherryjack wrote: »

Its probably the only reply i'l get lol :-) :rotfl:thank u marty.. i was setting this for food alone.. if there's change then bonus.. its got to be ok because we were living on alot less than that when it got to the very bad stages.. i think its more now of keeping a track, rather than just buying everything with no consequences... i really cant tell you what i spent last month or the month before on anything really... (well i could if i looked at my bank statement-but it would probably scare me :eek::eek:
Ive already bought quite alot of xmas presents so the £134.42 is whats available..rather than going free fall. Believe me once the santa music starts in the shops i could just spend spend spend having this set will hopefully control me a little.. B & M here i come! rather than the elizabeth arden counter...

LOads to go on ebay, a fridge, toy unit, pushchair set.. and about 4 boxes of really nice clothes and bags that im just sick of seeing and never get worn.. its giving me a lil more space in the room.

Look forward to reading yr Tesco buys :beer:

I'm sure you'll manage on your food budget if you've done it before. What's the plan? No convenience foods? Trading down to value/basics? Budget recipes?

Have you many more gifts to buy? I haven't started yet but should only have three to buy; my mum, my dad and one of my friends (we do a secret santa).

Have never been in a B&M before as they haven't reached this far north. No Wilkinson's either and we've only recently got a Pound World and Home Bargains so it's not exactly a good city to be a DFW in! Lol.

Good luck with your ebay sales. I haven't attempted to sell anything in years as I don't think I have anything that anyone would want to buy!

Up late again or bedtime soon?

Cherryjack

Marty82 wrote: »

I'm sure you'll manage on your food budget if you've done it before. What's the plan? No convenience foods? Trading down to value/basics? Budget recipes?

Have you many more gifts to buy? I haven't started yet but should only have three to buy; my mum, my dad and one of my friends (we do a secret santa).

Have never been in a B&M before as they haven't reached this far north. No Wilkinson's either and we've only recently got a Pound World and Home Bargains so it's not exactly a good city to be a DFW in! Lol.

Good luck with your ebay sales. I haven't attempted to sell anything in years as I don't think I have anything that anyone would want to buy!

Up late again or bedtime soon?

Hello :-) :j

Think im going to do a few main bargain shops.. im cool with the value stuff (got to love 14p spaghetti).. and then top up with the cheapy reduced section stuff..(hopefully choosing the freezable stuff).. we stopped to MD's after the last shopping trip and each got a muffin - i realised it was not worth it after gettin a very lush cake on offer for 12p.. i should have skipped the MD's.. Must make up some soups.. got a call from the docs today, they have put me on iron tablets-it would explain the afternoon sleeping-ive been shatterd!! so plenty more veg needed. Im after you carrots lol
Still quite a few presents to buy, its ever so hard because mum doesnt have much money but she rolls out with 2 sacks each at xmas.. and know shes skint at the end.. ive told her to stop but she wont. So i feel like i must help her in some way, because the items i buy her last her all year -bless her.
Only up after monster day time sleep :-) silly body clock..

will update soon :beer:

Marty82

Cherryjack wrote: »

Hello :-) :j

Think im going to do a few main bargain shops.. im cool with the value stuff (got to love 14p spaghetti).. and then top up with the cheapy reduced section stuff..(hopefully choosing the freezable stuff).. we stopped to MD's after the last shopping trip and each got a muffin - i realised it was not worth it after gettin a very lush cake on offer for 12p.. i should have skipped the MD's.. Must make up some soups.. got a call from the docs today, they have put me on iron tablets-it would explain the afternoon sleeping-ive been shatterd!! so plenty more veg needed. Im after you carrots lol
Still quite a few presents to buy, its ever so hard because mum doesnt have much money but she rolls out with 2 sacks each at xmas.. and know shes skint at the end.. ive told her to stop but she wont. So i feel like i must help her in some way, because the items i buy her last her all year -bless her.
Only up after monster day time sleep :-) silly body clock..

will update soon :beer:

I'm cool with value stuff too and you're right about the spaghetti. It's the shame the baked beans aren't as good but I find the value ones runny and tasteless.

I have been buying reduced stuff to throw in the freezer but it is now full. Needed space to freeze new stuff so had to take a whole chicken out to defrost for dinner on Tuesday or possibly Wednesday if it hasn't thawed in time. I've never defrosted a chicken before so have no idea how to do it and how long it will take!

I've never had a muffin from McDonald's; are they any good? I usually have a chicken salad deli wrap meal and sometimes a Crunchie McFlurry if I'm feeling naughty! What kind of cake did you get for 12p? I have decided I'm going to try to bake more as it'll save money and think I'll enjoy it too.

kerri_dfw

Hello cherryjack, you can list 100 items a month for 0-99p for free (without any perks) on ebay if that helps? I really need to do this myself, the OH keeps asking if I've listed the car stereo but I always forget on listing weekends so it'll have to start at 99p. All helps in the end I guess and might go for a bargain.

Looking forward to reading more from you.
Kerri

Cherryjack

kerri_dfw wrote: »

Hello cherryjack, you can list 100 items a month for 0-99p for free (without any perks) on ebay if that helps? I really need to do this myself, the OH keeps asking if I've listed the car stereo but I always forget on listing weekends so it'll have to start at 99p. All helps in the end I guess and might go for a bargain.

Looking forward to reading more from you.
Kerri

Thanks so much Kerri :-) i had no idea about that.. I can definetly get the selling on this week now.. which is easier cus little man is in school, so have plenty of time on my hands in the day :j Have a lovely coat from next to out on brand new with tags (im sure this is the best time to list it) plus all those big items are cluttering up the house.
:beer::A

Cherryjack

Marty82 wrote: »

I'm cool with value stuff too and you're right about the spaghetti. It's the shame the baked beans aren't as good but I find the value ones runny and tasteless.

I have been buying reduced stuff to throw in the freezer but it is now full. Needed space to freeze new stuff so had to take a whole chicken out to defrost for dinner on Tuesday or possibly Wednesday if it hasn't thawed in time. I've never defrosted a chicken before so have no idea how to do it and how long it will take!

I've never had a muffin from McDonald's; are they any good? I usually have a chicken salad deli wrap meal and sometimes a Crunchie McFlurry if I'm feeling naughty! What kind of cake did you get for 12p? I have decided I'm going to try to bake more as it'll save money and think I'll enjoy it too.

Hello, i managed to get a little sleep :-) haha.. yr right about the beans and there full of sugar. The asda own reduced sugar ones are lovely.. quite cheap also in a four pack.
Ive just had a coffee and we are off to do a big shop in asda (a wall mart superstore) some many offers in here. Im gunna be choosy and will update later! With the chicken i would take it out on a plate for say half a day and then put it in the fridge. Please dont go on my advice tho lol..im vegetarian.. i hope ive been doing it right for the family. If i havent then people please speak up!!:rotfl:
The muffins are good.. but you can get a whole pack of them for the same price, so dont do it. The cake i got was luxury victoria sponge mini roll kind of things.. they were heavenly!
Love the baking idea.. its a nice hobbie and you can do it in bulk and freeze.

have a lovely day :beer:

Cherryjack

Just wanted to share this little freebie site http://www.offeroasis.co.uk/

its great for free hot chocolates, fruit teas etc.. i love recieving free stuff in the post-enjoy x

Catslovelycats

Cherryjack I think your month trial idea is fab!
All the best with it.
Not sure I've any advice for you. Seems like you've thought things through carefully already.
i know how easy it is to take the eye of the ball, so keep focused.
Don;t do what I did and in the busy-ness of life forget about this site. It's so helpful and encouraging when you need it (and when you don't!).
Good luck this month and for 2012!