2012 - My 3rd year on MSE ... the debt free one?!

loumac

Well laptop still not right and today my house insurance tell me that it's not covered. :mad: I'm really cross with myself because I've probably tried to save money on a quote and don't have proper cover. Grrr... Need to re-investigate getting the laptop repaired which won't be cheap.

Roll on pay day tomorrow ... though I think this might be my first month just on statutory maternity pay.

Plus it's been a very expensive weekend as we had two weekends out, one of which was for my friends 40th birthday so her presents cost loads and this week it's my brothers 30th.

I think I've been living in denial a bit and the overdraft has crept up and up as I've kept spending as if I was on normal wages. Sigh.... Back on track for March and back to work in April so need to get myself organised again.

loumac

Can't believe it's been so long since I last managed to do an update!

My laptop ended up in for repair and I only managed to get it back today. For the bargain price of £249.

I won't bore you with two much waffle but it's been a pretty rubbish month.

Income =
£500 statutory maternity pay.
£841 student loan overpayment.


Unexpected outgoings =
Car servicing £220.
Additional repairs £198.
Vet bill £185.
Laptop £249.
Missed payment on cc £12.

Plus birthdays, mothers day etc etc.

Overdraft and cc have taken a battering and we really need to get organised! New hard drive on pc has wiped out microsoft office but once I get my spreadsheet on the go I'll feel more in control again.

Budget budget budget is needed.

mum2one

glad you got the laptop back, but big booh to the cost...

Hope ur all ok xx

loumac

Thanks! It's crazy how much you rely on access to the internet to keep your life in running order. Lol!

Debt free is certainly not where we're at right now, pay day in 8 days at least. Even though I get paid pennies at the minute. Sigh...

I did a market on Saturday to try and help and didn't make a single sale. My sis made £145 though as she's currently raising money to go to Madagascar on a world challenge trip so it was worth the day and I'm really proud of her. (She's only 15!)

loumac

Oh my goodness, just looked ahead at future bills to incorporate nursery fees and it's quite frightening.

I've worked out that we each need to put £1,000 into the joint account in order to cover the bills and within that we can only spend £200 a month on food (I know that's easily achievable if we're disciplined!) and will need to be really efficient with the cars so as not to waste fuel. OH has a 64 mile round trip to work.

All these recent expenses have knocked up the credit card bill which hasn't helped. Though we finish paying for our sofa in May and I only have two more payments on my own loan.

And they've offered voluntary redundancy at OH's work today and he wants to take it even though the deal isn't that great and he doesn't have another job to go to. Argh! His logic being we'll save money on nursery fees.

Anyway, garbled waffling rant over and done with!

I have a lovely lovely weekend ahead so going to remain positive. Tomorrow I have a spa day with my mum and sister that my dad brought us all for Christmas and then on Sunday we're off to the craft fair at the NEC with my mum, nan, aunt, cousin and two sisters. Better go plan a budget to make sure I don't get carried away.

Happy Friday everyone!!

loumac

And then you watch sport relief and stop worrying about your own petty problems.

mum2one

That sounds a fab weekend, really hope you all had a great day at the Spa, that sounds an amazing present, I think he ought to bottle what ever he has got!

Sounds like the brain has been working overtime with money, at least you know what to expect and your options.

At least OH can have a look around, maybe he wants a stink as house hubbie! xx

loumac

Well that was a great weekend! :j The spa day was amazing and just what I needed, I haven't felt so relaxed in a long time. Plus it didn't actually cost me a penny. And although I missed my lovely baby Sadie it was really nice to have a break and to spend time with my mum and sister.

The craft show was also lovely though I now need to make it worth all the money I spent by making lots of lovely things to sell at an upcoming craft fair. I have until April 21st... better get a move one then!

The beautiful sunny day today is just continuing to lift my mood and means I can wash and dry all my new fabrics to start crafting.

Let's not worry about money just for today ... :cool:

loumac

Well the good weather has lasted but my good mood has not!
Pay day today ... the grand total of £510.17. Bleurgh! This does not work when I spent about £100 at the craft show and then today brought Sadie some new clothes. Doh! So much for bills and debts. Need a better strategy... the spend and ignore strategy is really not working!!

loumac

Ok, well the weekend just gone wasn't as great as the one before. Sadie pops has got the stomach bug going around so there is a lot of cleaning up from both ends and the associated washing up of 90 that comes with it! Coupled with me catching it and my DH working a 12 hour shift today I'm not feeling great.

Apologies that my diary is sounding like a down moany rant at the minute.

One bonus ... daddy came to the rescue with a 'gift' of £500 yesterday as he's been doing so well with work lately and I've helped him out with money in the past. Takes the edge off the overdraft at least. :cool: