Keeping up appearances.......

FlacosFloozie

Sorry to hear about your horse, Happy. Hope he feels better soon xx

HappyNow

girlracer wrote: »

keep up the good work and i shall subscribe
Have a fab day

Hi girlracer, thanks for dropping by. Hope your debt-busting is going to plan - I'll nip across and check up on you

poohbear59 wrote: »

I know it is best to try not to use credit cards but sometimes they are a Godsend when things go wrong.
We have an account for emergencies which I put £50 a month into and which we can't easily access. It is empty at the moment but it will soon build up again and you too will be in that position in a few months I am sure. At the end of last year I used it to pay some big car bills.

You're right Pooh. I love the idea of cutting up my credit cards, but I'm a way off being able to do that yet. I did start an emergency fund last payday, but I had my first emergency after about three days and spent it ! I've had another three emergencies since then, and they've all gone on the credit card! Still, they've not been massive amounts (although I haven't got the vet bill yet!!) so I should still have an overall debt reduction next payday - just a smaller one than I'd hoped.

brizzledfw wrote: »

I am in same place as you as I have £307.00 to find before 7th April. Not sure what we will do - maybe put on a 0% card and then pay off at end of year. But the money pots are the way to go. And go you!!!! Knowing where every penny has gone..well thats a great achievement in itself!!:j
PS the rice pudding was much loved. Will probably give it a week and then make some more!!

Good luck with your £307 - I shall nip onto your diary and find out about it. And yes, I think my greatest achievement since starting this diary is to actually be able to account for ALL my spending.
Good news about the rice pud. It's a real favourite in this house, can't believe I didn't make it years ago

HappyNow

gollygosh wrote: »

Sorry about the tyre, that's a right pain. In a few months you'll be set to do the "money pot juggle" in times of unexpected expense, so keep going it does get easier and very addictive!

Hi gollygosh, thanks for popping in . Ha ha, the 'money pot juggle', I like the sound of that - can't wait! I'm doing the 'empty pot rattle' at the moment!!

FlacosFloozie wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your horse, Happy. Hope he feels better soon xx

Aww, thanks FF. I've just been out to check on him and he is standing up now (been flat on his side most of the day) and comfort-eating several £s worth of hay! We're waiting for his abscess to burst (euww!!) and he will apparently feel instantly better, but it could be a few days.....

Box_of_Fluffies

Hi HN, sorry to hear about the small emergencies you've had and hope your horse is feeling better soon.

It's a good feeling though, ey, to know exactly where your money has gone and that you haven't wasted anything. As you say, you'll still have a debt reduction this month, albeit not as big as you'd hoped. It's better than an increase in debt.

Hopeful1

Hi HN I've just caught up with your diary again. I don't know where the time's going at the moment!

Hopefully your run of emergencies has come to an end now. When debt busting, emergencies seem to be compulsory and are commonly known as 'Sod's Law'

You're doing really well

HappyNow

Box_of_Fluffies wrote: »

Hi HN, sorry to hear about the small emergencies you've had and hope your horse is feeling better soon.

Hopeful1 wrote: »

Hopefully your run of emergencies has come to an end now. When debt busting, emergencies seem to be compulsory and are commonly known as 'Sod's Law'

Thanks ladies, hopefully there'll no more emergencies for a little while, but who can tell!

The HappyHorse is still feeling rough, but his abscess is oozing black and yellow gunge now which is good. It is the most disgusting, smelly, stomach-churning thing I have ever seen! Still, 'better out than in' as they say!

Little Miss Happy is home from uni for the weekend for her birthday. Well her actual birthday is mid-week so I am going to be very, VERY sad not to see her on the actual day . The first time ever......

Anyway, we're going birthday shopping for her pressies on Saturday, then the four of us plus my parents will be going out for a meal at a local pub on Sunday. We do this every year and WE ALWAYS PAY FOR EVERYONE!!! There is no way I can bring myself to say that we can't afford it, so I am just going to smile, order the cheapest thing on the menu for myself, and put the whole lot on a credit card .

My parents (like everyone else) think we're doing great financially and would be devastated if they knew. So partly for my pride and partly for their peace of mind, I will just act normally and pick up the bill. That's the problem with Keeping Up Appearances of course - it's very expensive.

I will be spending £100 on presents and £60ish on the meal, so not a good MSE weekend! I did try to budget in advance for it, but it hasn't been possible. Ah well...... :cool:

PinotGrigio41

Just catching up Mrs Happy, and my oh my, its all been happening. I'm sorry things have been tough, but I'm very pleased to hear the Happy Horse is doing better, even though the gunge sounds quite disgusting !

I really hope you have a lovely birthday weekend with Little Miss Happy, I suppose not seeing her on her birthday is something that goes hand in hand with them growing up isn't it, but I too would find it tough . Totally agree that Keeping Up Appearances can be expensive, but also exhausting and a little stressful. We had the same at the weekend with DD1, her birthday stretched over 3 days, and as we are obviously doing so well financially , it was very much expected ( not by her) but the OTHERS that we would be pulling out all the stops as usual. It made me feel a bit sick to be honest. We couldn't put it on a credit card, as the credit ran out a few years back, hence they were all chopped up, but we managed and she had a lovely birthday and I don't think anyone noticed anything was amiss. :cool:

Have a good day today and I really hope the weekend turns out well for you and you manage to enjoy yourself without worrying too much xxx

FlacosFloozie

Glad to hear that the horse is feeling better and hope you and Miss Happy have a lovely weekend.

Box_of_Fluffies

Hi Happy, pleased to hear the Happy Horse is doing much better.

Don't be too hard on yourself about 'keeping up appearances' with the family over DD's birthday. The main thing is that you enjoy your time with them. As you say, you're not in a position to do anything about the financial side of it so I would try to put it to the back of my mind and have fun. Particularly as you won't be seeing DD on her birthday. I too would find it very difficult if I didn't see DS1 or DS2 on their birthday.

brizzledfw

Hi Happy

Very pleased to hear that your horse is on the mend. Nerve racking stuff keeping animals! Also well done on making a decision re your DDs birthday. It's a pity that you can't tell anyone but what's important is that you are not doing this without a great deal of thought and everything that goes on the CC is accounted for and considered. Well done!

Have a good week hun