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

jwil

Have a good evening!

brizzledfw

Hi folks

Well have had a good weekend and not too bad MSE wise either..

Yesterday we had a lovely time with an old friend on Saturday. We bought some flowers and some alcohol as we went to a BYO. She paid though for the restaurant meal which was great of her. Then, very unusually, we also did a bit of clothes shopping. OH needed new jeans ( last pair about 3 years ago) which were reduced and DD2 needed boots, also reduced. £17 not £34 and hopefully they will do for school... So not bad.

Today was also a LSD. Under £10 on cheese and 2 DVDs - one of which we enjoyed as a family today. Had wood burner on all day but still using up free wood! Heating has been on a bit today! When the DDs could see their breath in front of their faces at breakfast I wondered if I was getting things a bit out of perspective??!:rotfl:

But we will take another £15 when OH and I go out this eve for our increasingly traditional Sunday eve pint. Have also meal planned for the week so that we can use up bits. Fridge is looking very very bare. OH is cooking lentil dahls and curry tomorrow. Nice and tasty but also cheap. Have also made a few PADs. 80p on the panels despite the shocking weather

That's it. Over and out folks!

brizzledfw

Hi

Well we didn't go out. Stayed in instead!!

Have started spending on Xmas presents.my good intentions re only buying locally have taken a bit of a hit..as am trying to only buy thoughtful presents eg. Clothes for DDs, they each need a suitcase for our hols at Xmas and unfortunately our local high street don't stock those! But have tried to be thoughtful and careful about what we buy. Same with Sainsbos order today, using a voucher, free delivery and also getting as many special offers as I could whilst working off the list.

The other MSE news is that I hadn't realised but MB!A won't take Virgi& cards as BTs. So have found an offer I was sent from BC and have just transferred most of the V card onto a new 0% promo offer until Aug 2013. Tried to phone MB!A to cancel it or ask if they would keep the bank account transfer portion but their vm message is that they are taking 20 working days to assess new applications and the clear message was to get you to hang up...so if it does come through I will just have to cancel then. Or maybe I will just formally write and cancel...don't want to have to argue about a BT fee...

So that's good news. Back to work tomorrow. Just wish I had another fortnight off pottering!!!

Hope alls good with everyone

Brizzle

grannyx2

Nice to see you back on track honey x

brizzledfw

Thanks for popping by Granny!

Still waiting for my solar panel payment. Am sure it's due now..will have to chase and see when it's due. Can't have the government being slow with their payments after all!!

Had a NSD!! Whoop whoop:T hard to do as by my rules it's when neither OH or I spend a bean. But managed it even though I was in town today.

BC have moved the money over from V ..I can see this from my online statement so they were blooming fast. Not that I am complaining! I will check tho that MBNA don't try and do the same thing. I need to write that letter to MBNA I think. Will then update signature.

Not sure I mentioned it yesterday but £1.80 on the panels..great news as was fairly sunny. Also had a fantastic lentil dhal and potato curry HM naans and rice cooked by OH. Yummy beyond belief and yet was cheap as chips so will get him to make that once a week! Yay! :T

Going away for work for a bit so may not be able to drop in..but have a good week all

Brizzle

PinotGrigio41

brizzledfw wrote: »

Balls. Lost the thread..

To continue....

Have to pay for diesel too of course.

I am still very upset and if I am honest plagued with GUILT ( and anyone who knows me in RL would know that guilt is something I emphatically do not do) at the way I have demolished our savings and run up new debt this year. The sig says it all and I hate it.

So will be partly using my week off to sort it all out. use vouchers for food shopping and finalise a new budget. I am also going to start doing some threads again on here such as the small things thread.

Thinking about you this weekend Mrs PG and Piq as girls had a horse riding lesson at a lovely stables last week. They adored it. So rather than simply buy lessons ovr next few months I have secretiy booked them 6 each for their main Xmas present. I think they will love it.

But..it also reminded me again of the social peer pressure of these things. You want your kids to have great experiences, and ones that do not always revolve around a screen..(and as mine are girls I am particularly mindful of getting them to be physically active and comfortable with different activities).. But it's hard to say no. We don't have the money. So that's why I am dressing this up as a Xmas present. But in the same week I have declined going on a holiday to Thailand with great friends and I just came out with it and said we can't afford it. I said yes first ( then felt a fool...as I knew we couldn't justify it) and then a few days later came clean and declined. But I think it's almost the only time in my life I have said no and explained its because we don't have the cash. People look at us and see good jobs..and assume that you have plenty to spare. Well I need to wake up, think about those red figures every day, every hour even..and start regaining control. And part of that is being (fairly!) or more honest with people about where I can't spend money. It's not a crime and I shouldn't feel embarrassed or as if I am letting anyone down if we can't do things...

Over and out...have a great day everyone

Brizzle x

Its Me !!!

I'm back....well sort of, but I just read this, I swear I wrote this myself in my sleep last night !!

I empathize, agree, nod and murmer at every word you have said !!

Why dont you live around the corner ?!!!

Oh and I love Thailand....my most favourite palce on earth, sadly never visited with Mr PG or the Girls....but one day we will !

So glad to see you back xx

brizzledfw

Thanks PG..its lovely to be back.

I have been away for work but pleased to be off work today. So far have:

- made more HM bread, using flour from my lovely 25kg sack of flour from Shipton Mi9l. have had problems with bread not rising but have battled on thinking it might be a broken BM not heating up to full temp. OH and DD2 pointed out that had been using yeast that was not meant for BMs so have activated yeast first this time so hopeful its that and not a broken BM:T..felt a bit of a wally:o DD2 is 10 after all and even she can read the instructions

- read a few diaries..always nice to catch up. Will read some more over the weekend

- cancelled 15 (yes 15!) charitable and 2 children's savings DDs yesterday. We can't afford it and whilst I feel carp about it..anyone that has seen my SOA knows that we used to give to a lot. We will still keep the CAF payment of £75pm though so about 5 charities still get helped via that. The childrens savings were earning zilch so no tears about that. the best thing we can do to help them when they leave home/want to do things is to have paid down the mortgage and have cleared this blo7dy debt

- this morning I moved over money from my OP pot:mad: to help clear down a creeping OD..largely from advance Xmas presents, CC repayments (too far too fast) and OH buying a new bike as his last 2 broke within the same week..and I mean really broke. OK one was 25 years old but to have 2 frames crack in a week is shi=e luck. Hated it but right thing to do as paying interest on OD facility.

- am about to cancel the family dinner for this eve at our local restaurant that I booked about 6 weeks ago. (So booked before I came back on the forums here..) Can't afford it so will sit in and eat use ups instead! It would have been lovely but going out to a friend's dinner tomorrow so thats the priority. We will also be going to somewhere tomorrow (incidentally) that takes £BPs so the money will not even have to come out of the current account - :T

- off out now. Going for a working lunch..which will be free . Then back to do housework no doubt..the 'joy' of small things:(

Laters folks

[Deleted User]

Hi brizzle, have started reading your diary- youve done so well. Only got to page 5, surprising how long it takes, but I am really enjoying reading about your progress and getting great tips!

Will read some more later.
GLx

Piquant_2

brizzledfw wrote: »

- made more HM bread, using flour from my lovely 25kg sack of flour from Shipton Mi9l. have had problems with bread not rising but have battled on thinking it might be a broken BM not heating up to full temp. OH and DD2 pointed out that had been using yeast that was not meant for BMs so have activated yeast first this time so hopeful its that and not a broken BM:T..felt a bit of a wally:o DD2 is 10 after all and even she can read the instructions

Just the ordinary tub of dried yeast will work. I use the Allisons yeast, a tub lasts for ages. You can also add half a teaspoon of vitamin C powder to make the loaf lighter.

- read a few diaries..always nice to catch up. Will read some more over the weekend

Mine's too long and probably boring if you're short of time. I did a synopsis on Mrs PG's thread to help her out :rotfl:

- cancelled 15 (yes 15!) charitable and 2 children's savings DDs yesterday. We can't afford it and whilst I feel carp about it..anyone that has seen my SOA knows that we used to give to a lot. We will still keep the CAF payment of £75pm though so about 5 charities still get helped via that. The childrens savings were earning zilch so no tears about that. the best thing we can do to help them when they leave home/want to do things is to have paid down the mortgage and have cleared this blo7dy debt

Once the debt is gone you'll have plenty of disposable income and wisdom on how to use/invest it! Also, along the way, you'll have taught the DDs money sense...

- am about to cancel the family dinner for this eve at our local restaurant that I booked about 6 weeks ago. (So booked before I came back on the forums here..) Can't afford it so will sit in and eat use ups instead! It would have been lovely but going out to a friend's dinner tomorrow so thats the priority. We will also be going to somewhere tomorrow (incidentally) that takes £BPs so the money will not even have to come out of the current account - :T

Well worth the saving, once eaten, it's over! The memories come from the family being together over a meal, not necessarily where the meal was.

- off out now. Going for a working lunch..which will be free . Then back to do housework no doubt..the 'joy' of small things:(

Laters folks

My housework's waiting if you're in the mood....:rotfl:

brizzledfw

Hi folks

Thanks for dropping by GL and Piq. Have to say Piq that the tub of Allinsons wasn't working but after separately activating it it has worked brilliantly. Spent the whole blooming day yesterday pretty much in the kitchen... Making a roast veggie and meat lasagne which we will finish up tomorrow. Also made some Chelsea buns with carrot and parsnip ( yummy pecan and sugar mix drizzled through as well ) which were scrumptious and will do as snacks. They should have been sweet potato Chelsea buns ( picked up a few recipe in the free Guardian that accidentally came through my door yesterday) but as I didn't have those used the root veg instead.

We then went out and spent £BPs for my friends birthday. An expensive night but we didn't go on to the casino:eek: and when she mentioned Thailand again I just said we couldn't afford it so that's that.:o

OH just back from reclaiming the van from its virgin hire. Must pop down now and see whether all is ok...

Brizzle

PS
Piq...always too much to do here housework wise..even though our childcarer also does 6 hours cleaning every week...god knows how we manage to be quite so messy..:(