Time to Take Control

wannabee_in_credit

Believe me, if my son wasn't as into football as he is I wouldn't have bothered. DH knows I don't spend lots on gifts for him normally, but over the year this will save a lot of money.
Just hope he remembers in future as I didn't even get so much as a birthday card from him this year.

wannabee_in_credit

Afternoon all,

The BT engineer was here for almost 3 hours this morning and I'm really, really hoping that I may be able to get online and stay online for the time being. Touch wood, it's worked for the past 3 hours, which is more than I've known it work for the past 4 weeks.
Money saving is going well, ish. May has turned out to be an expensive month in the end - see previous posts. The boys still don't know about their season ticket, but DD got her 3DS this morning and is very, very happy. The saving grace is that the bulk of my Christmas shopping is now done and I don't have to worry about how to make ends meet between now and Christmas - I'll be able to save enough for the small stuff that we'll need in December.
I have also spent out a bit of cash on myself. Decided to go onto a meal replacement diet. I don't know if I'll actually be able to do it, and I haven't told anyone at all about it yet... the family think I'm using up stuff in the house that's been left over from previous attempts. I don't know why I'm embarrassed about doing meal replacements - probably because I've failed on so many other attempts at losing weight that this seems like a fair amount of cash to throw at something that I'm not sure about. Ah well. It's early days yet - I'll see how I go with it. So far so good.
Had a good, low spend week so that always helps.

wannabee_in_credit

Another busy week over and done with - hooray. I'll be so pleased by next Thursday because the exams will be over, and I will be heading into half term with not too much to worry about and only 8 more weeks until the summer holidays and the end of my time paying for private nursery. £250 a month for breakfast and after school clubs will be like a walk in the park after paying between £500 and £1100 a month for the past 7 years between my two kids.
Good news on the weightloss. I managed fine with the shakes, and was rewarded with a 7lb weightloss in a week. Absolutely thrilled, and spurred on to keep going. Although it would be easier if I wasn't shattered and a person who reaches for food when she is tired. Hey ho.
Totally skint and still a fortnight to go until payday. This month is so incredibly tight...

wannabee_in_credit

:jHooray! Half term is finally here :beer::T
I think I hit the wall as soon as the exam was over on Thursday - I'd had an argument with nursery staff in the morning which left me late for work and in a really bad mood, that ended up lasting all day. I've used that nursery since 2007 and have only ever had to complain once, but I was so angry Thursday I was ready to take my son out and put him into his school's kids club early. Thankfully, when I rang the manager she seemed to be on my side so I think we might just survive the next 8 weeks.
And I've been in a really bad mood all week as well - like hormonal, but not hormonal. Think I've just been stressed in the run up to the exam. I worry more than the kids because it is a reflection on my teaching as well obviously. But I can honestly say I did everything I could as a teacher.
Slimming going ok - I've had a couple of naughty days during the week but getting straight back on it today.
Car is in for MOT and service this morning. It's an old car now - 8 years, and I'm terrified it's going to need some expensive repairs. Obviously I can't afford a new car, and I trust my garage, but I'm down to my last £200 until payday and starting to fret. Fingers crossed. I can't be without it.
Hope everyone is doing well...

wannabee_in_credit

Car cost £198.75. Phew - talk about a close call...

brizzledfw

Good news about the car wannabee.

Sorry nursery has been stressful....hope you cling in there until the end

Have a good break this week

wannabee_in_credit

What a costly day. On top of my car costs, hubby has just spent £341 on a new bike and accessories (for his work commute) - blatantly he has no idea that he's getting something costing over £400 for his birthday on Monday. He'd better be feeling grateful when he gets it.

wannabee_in_credit

So a zero spend day for me today. Hubby paid for the groceries and a tank full of petrol for my car, as we're off to visit his family for the day tomorrow. It's about a 300 mile round trip and we're saving money by not staying over but it'll be a long day driving there and back. We're getting up and going by about 7am...
I've spent the afternoon watching the grand prix then have spent an hour and a half pulling up weeds in the garden. I love having a garden for the kids to play in, but I really, really hate looking after it. I get no pleasure at all from gardening and mowing grass. It's dirty, hard work and it constantly needs doing. I really wish that I could afford to get someone in to do just an hour a week and it would always look fabulous. I think that's one for the debt free days...

wannabee_in_credit

Went out shopping today and spent £48, buying myself a dress, a pair of trousers, a shirt and a top. I have the very worst guilt you can imagine about it. Thing is, some of my clothes are so old and worn now I feel like a bit of a tramp when I go to work. I went to a really cheap shop (not pr!mark though) but still am overdone with guilt.
Can you believe it that I've broken my back buying a £425 season ticket for son and hubby, £73 on a 3DS for dd, and hubby's found £350 to buy himself a new bike but I can't cope with the idea of spending less than £50 on new clothes for myself?
GAH!

wannabee_in_credit

Oooh !!!!!!, I've had another spendy morning.
Had a lovely argument with a doctors receptionist about them having no appointments available after 5pm in the next fortnight.
Then did my (hopefully) final spend of the month. Hubby rang me from work in a real mood because his place are being as unreasonable as usual and he's going to be home late tonight, and he cycles 7 miles each way and it's pittling with rain. So I promised him yummy dinner - went to the butchers and got a pork shoulder joint to slow roast (£6.50 for a massive piece of meat - so handy having a friend who's a butcher). Then co-op where I got everything on yellow sticker! £5.85 on potatoes, broccoli, carrots, sweetcorn, lettuce, cucumber, cat food, crumpets and bread. Bargain. Then off to our local cat charity to donate a load of tinned food that I'd bought for our cats that they won't touch, and I spent another tenner on a raincoat, a dress, a book, headband and shorts at their charity shop while I was there.
Just made lunch for me and dd (well, reheated leftovers from last night), and now off to visit my sister for the afternoon.