LBM in 2003.. What have I been doing since??!

brizzledfw

Hi..

Update so far:

- meal planner done for week ahead and only 3 meat meals. No fish:( apart from tinned tuna which doesn't really count but lots of veggie stuff.
- found out about direct debit..it's to one of the CCs..but cos it said Egg as a reference..even though it's to a Virgin card that really confused me!!:rotfl: think V bought them out a while ago? Anyway..all gone to the right place and with the extra OPs against that card am looking forward to updating my sig
- OH on board with the envelope for the family entertainment money eg. DVDs, eating out, days out ..once it's gone it's gone. We can discuss what we want to do that month..and then hopefully everyone can buy into the idea

Loads more to do..must dash!! Hope you're all having a lovely day x

jwil

That's weird about the Egg, I had an Egg card and that's just been bought out by Barclaycard. At least it's sorted though.

I see your point about the overpayment pot - it makes sense to carry on saving and then clear the cards before the 0% runs out.

brizzledfw

Hi all

Sorry for lack of posting. Have been away for workand cannot stand typing long posts in on my personal mobile!

So more baby steps. Realised that new DD for charity spends is actually £150.50 rather than £175.50 so that's good. My mistake. Still making PADs most days even if it's just rounding down and I really like that. Only problem is that have a lot of work expenses and need to get more rigorous about claiming them regularly. I know it's just a cash flow issue but it really throws me out and has sent me into an OD again..so although it's on 0% at the moment that won't last and I need to get into a routine so it's cleared and I don't use an OD. Some goes on a 0% card but not all of it.

Having people around for tea/dinner and will do HM pizza. So far still need to buy a block of cheese but at the moment everything from stores apart from £2.40 worth of veggie toppings. Magic! We have beers in so no problem there.

Haven't spent very much over the last few days as have been away for work so that's good. But still need to check what OH has been up to! He has posted the car on some free sites though as it didn't get a sensible offer via EBay so that's good.

Had coffee out with a friend this morning but she paid as I had forgotten it was her 'turn' so that's nice.

No real plans for the weekend so hopefully a couple of LSDs and some decluttering. Went to my sisters this week and was amazed at how great her house looked...not that it usually looks bad lil sis if youre reading!!..but you know what I mean.. and it's all about decluttering she tells me!! Think we need to adopt the same approach!!

Will read some more diaries later, hope everyone is OK and looking forward to the weekend!!

Brizzle x

HappyNow

Hello, just popping by to give you a smile and a wave .

Wow. £150.50 per month in charitable donations. I understand and admire your reasons for this, but WOW! If you were to half that it would still be very, very generous, and it's something you could always increase again when you're more financially stable. But your choice obviously, and how terrible does it sound to discourage someone from giving to charity !

Have a good weekend x

jwil

I'm not very organised at claiming expenses either, it's such a faff on the work system (probably why they introduced it!) I am making a much more concerted effort this year to even claim for the small amounts.

brizzledfw

So:

Got onto insurance company to pursue a claim. Need to send them a receipt that for some reason my sister has..need to get onto that as could do with the cash ( obviously:D)

Took girls for haircuts and steadfastly refused to buy anything else. Home now and OH has started making marmalade..blimey. Sterilised jars too so nothing for me to do other than check it doesn't burn. He is out getting some more sugar. Pity not going to ALDI but can't be helped. No point getting car out in this weather or in fact spending on fuel

HM bread on..using up more flour at back of cupboard..this time working through a bag of flour dated BB July 2011.. Oh well waste not want not!!!:rotfl:

LOs for tea..that lovely veggie casserole from Monday as well as jacket potatoes. A feast fit for a king:T

Must shut up chooks well..otherwise they will freeze. It's very chilly here and a light dusting of snow..

Have a good day folks

jwil

Veggie casserole sounds good Have a good evening!

I discovered today that nearly everything in my kitchen cupboards is dated 2009

brizzledfw

PS Happy..I have this thing about giving to charity a certain percentage of my income. Although I am not religious I try to follow the Muslim idea of zakat , which is a tithe of 2% of your income or of course the Christian idea of 10% being given away..I suspect other religions do the same. So I try and make sure I don't give less than that..and given my and OH's gross income £150 pm doesn't seem a lot...but as jwil says its about lifestyle choices...so we'll carry on as we are and see how it goes :-)

brizzledfw

Jwil..thats great. I love that :rotfl: and am sure it'll be very edible too!! dont throw any of it unless its caked so hard you cant use it..like the dried milk powder from my cupboard last week!!:rotfl:

brizzledfw

Hi..latest..

We have thought about having teenage foreign students here before but have now taken the plunge and signed up. They usually stay in pairs so 2 lots of fees!! Should be fine, we are used to sharing the house anyway and it's only 3 weeks. Only problem is that we are scheduled to be away for the last weekend of their stay..not sure how we will get around that. OH is pretty keen on having a more long term lodger, loads of students around here for example. Guess its easy money if you get the right person and we are pretty relaxed as a family. But after sharing for about 4 years I quite like having the house to ourselves and DDs not sharing.

This eve are staying in with a bottle of wine. OH got a 5 year old Rioja for under a fiver..very MSE I must say...

Haven't done the CLs yet..have been reminded to go for a check up so need to do that and then suspend the payments for a couple of months. Am not missing the newspapers yet so that's good

Planning our allotment for the year later this week, am determined to make best use of it this year so onwards and upwards:T