Mum2one - next chapter - baby steps make big strides

taxi73

you seem on top of the finances and glad you're enjoying your course

mum2one

Nearly another month gone, where does the time fly.

DMP - 3 payments in, the halifax are being a pain in the rear, the weird thing is I have 3 debts with them, but there only being a pain with the one, everyone else seems to be ok, so plodding along, - one on reduced interest, others have all stopped so finally sinking in.

I made my pay 5k in 2012, a grand total of £5031 - 100.62%, with the DMP now, I'm going for 4k in 2013, as still have some of Lapland left to pay and car repairs from last yr!!

We had a very quiet Christmas, really nice just the 4 of us, - it was 3 today for dinner, I came down with food poisoning last ngt (teach me to be healthy and eat fruit!!) that was the only thing eat different from the others. So a day of rest.

Been good I've had a look at the online sales - and brought 3 books form M+S, ready for bday presents nxt yr.

His lordship still breeching the court order, but can't really do anything until 12mths has elasped, so case of grin and bear it.

after the hassle at school - resigned from the PTA, - cut a long story short, I had to get the police involved - one parent now been served an harresment order. I'm sure there plenty of other places could put my talents to. (not sounding big headed, - over the last 4 yrs, all raffle prizes I've collected from companies and businesses, - turned the prizes around from £10 voucher, to an average £400 to £700 worth of prizes).

Enjoying this OU course, - got another assisgnment due 8th Jan, that be no 3/7 but even in Lapland I found myself applying the theories I'm learning to the situation out there, - when we did Husky rides (was amazing), the guide says they work 4 mths of the yr flat out then 8 mths unpaid.

DD - shes ok, ups and downs, a lot of that is out of my control, but just be there for her.

I reckon as I bit the bullet with the DMP plan in 2012, that 2013, is the yr that I try to get the rest of my life sorted - weight, health, and stop hoarding..

My new manta for buying - "do I really need it"

Jan - I've got mum and dads golden wedding anniversary, were having a buffet at local pub for few friends and relativies, (I am tempted to send the rellies, ID badges, I wouldn't know who they are!!) It go ok.

Just take 1 day at a time, and have my lists - seem to be organised with those,

DD - she was on about having her haor cut shorter she hates having to tie it back all the time for the school, the length taking the weight out of her bounce. Shes asked me to look in to whether her cut off bit will be long enough to donate to a childrens cancer charity for them to make kids wigs, she said as its nan and grandads anniversay, that there 1st daughter should be there, (she passed away at 18mths from cancer back in 1969, before I was born, but DD named after her). I could have cried, such a heart of gold, if she does it be later in the yr, she needs it to grow a little but more.

xx

taxi73

glad to hear everything is going ok and well done on paying off what you have....I always use the mantra before buying stuff ..it's amazing how much stuff we don't need

mum2one

I've just done my bday and xmas lists for 2013, have culled the lists from this yr, off to town tomorrow to pay some bills and sort out the house insurance for dad, - it be case don't get in my way, I'm on a scooter!!

Have a peep in sales, clothes wise need some pjs, - brought 2 pairs for Lapland - one pair got extra ventolation holes in the wrong place!!

Need 2 pairs jeggings or pull on jeans. Last time got weighed at GP lost 4lb, on holiday thinking lost more weight, had to keep pulling 2 pairs of jeggings up, felt so pround, till i took them off and DD kindly pointed out that the elastic had gone!

(typical). xx

mum2one

Very pround of myself had a wander round the sales, and bar getting some xmas cards, clothes wise I brought a pr of jeans for £5, and 2 bras reduced to £15 from £40.
Got a few items for presents - theres me in the middle of the shop pulling out my list so I could allocate the presents ready for people to save wastage xx

taxi73

I see you're organised as usual..well done

echo_and_narcissus

Hello mum2one, love the image of you standing in the middle of the shop checking your presents list When I go shopping I always try to work out if anyone is an MSE'er!

Anyway you have inspired me to be very organised with my present shopping. I don't do too badly but I like how you do it so I might pinch your method and work with it if that's okay!

mum2one

Can't believe were nearly 2 weeks into Jan, - got mum and dads golden wedding anniversary, - very pratical I brought them a new toaster, very mse as it was 75% off - dads not over keen on it - its pale pink with white spots!!

I'll get them a small gift at the end of the month, when theres a spare few pennies.

DD - shes got them a keyring each with a coin on from the yr they got married , so they've got something sentimental.

Money - tight month but Ive got a few presents already - bar family got 16 bday prezzies to buy already got 8 done, just hoping Boots has there 75% sale.

DD not to bad - had a bit of a hard time with her, not her fault, she just feels used and let down by her dad, - all the fuss he made about its their 1st xmas in contact and the just of it he'll spoil her rotten, she says she didn't want anything but even a selection box or £5 in a card - he didn't bother, but as she said she bets his new son didn't go without any xmas presents or his step children.

It hurts me, as he spent so long dragging us both through court, and made out he was daddy of the yr, now he has limited access, (letters only no visits) and he doesnt even bother, its as though shes been a pawn in a game of chess, that Ive got my life together and put her 1st that I know lets upset it.

so far he's breeched the court order twice, but i think if I go ahead now look like I'm jumping for joy, so got to give it 12 mths in total and see how many more breeches he does.

There was something weird, in the xmas card he put your always be in my heart, so whether he's walking away and thats his way of saying I don't know.

enough guessing....

Back to reality - just got a slump i my OU got to get my rear into gear, I'm enjoying the course, but its not challenging enough for me, think Ive got 4 assisgnments left to do, then touch wood, if I can get funding go back to business next yr.

Next weeks plans
School - coffee meeting
OT coming out for an assesment
Doctors - check up
Ring dentist - broke tooth
Do OU assisgnment
Hope Boots 75% sale!!!
Update New Diary - work out Jans Money xx

Itsadogslife_2

Hi M21.

That's a really nice gift that DD has got for your folks. I will have to remember that one

Such a shame that her dad cannot see the psychological effects that his behaviour has on her I think that she must be one very frustrated, angry child - when she is old enough to make her own decisions she will look back on these times and remember them well. At least she has a fantastic mum in you

I would love to be able to say that I was struggling to do my degree studies because they weren't challenging enough - you might yearn for the easier ones as you move up a level

Bad luck on the tooth - I hate the dentists, it makes me sweat just thinking about it

mum2one

Can't believe where January has gone, what a month, seem to have got a lot done, but it feels like a little, thou guess thats me being daft.

Overview

Mum and Dads party - that went off to a T, everyone loved it, the weather held, we had a small shower of snow on the morning, bit apparently it was better than the day they got married! It was the coldest month in eternity, even the Thames froze over.
Everyone loved the buffet, and they thought it was a lovely idea that we had put tea and coffee on, - and the party bags went down a T.

I ended up buying mum a new mobile phone, it was half price! so mse, dad had hot air balloon voucher (half xmas, half anniversary).

School - we've had some ups and plenty of downs there a little bully there who decided to start on DD, - so have been on top of that.

adult courses - I was due to go back for adult classes, which I was having a great time with, but the head has been very unhelpful about the bullying by other parents, and I couldn't put myself through it.

OU - I've got some grovelling to do, - with everything going on, I took too far of a back step, so got to see where i stand, - can catch up as its a level 1 course, get there somewhere.

Car - Not exactly planned, but I have changed my car, its new to me and a bargain, but scraping the pennies together for it, - sold my car - to dad - his car we scrapped, - I felt like I lived at DVLA office - but everyone happy, and the new car is called Mr Kipling (DD choose it), mums decided to name my old car golden oldie - as the original arrangements re new car took place on their golden wedding.

Presents - i hit the sales - brought vouchers throughout the yr and used loyalty points - so have kitted out all bday presents, some of mothers day, some fathers days and a good chunk of xmas done.

OT assesment
She was in a million - really positive and were making headway

Health - just had ngtmare of a month, - ha tummy bugs, IBS playing up and massive dose of flu

Dentist - Go end of mth

Money - I need a rich man or the winning lottery numbers, thats not too much to ask.

DD - Shes been up and down, our hands are tied at the mo,

Debts - Now paid 5 payments off my debts paid £1040 off the debts with stepchange - so know every penny going to them is going to debts. We're plodding along, - as long as no one complains doing ok.

DD time - I'm trying to do different things with DD rather than just getting a ds game or wii game, we've been having a go at pottery making, (not perfect but we had fun), and we also had a go at pottery painting - mum and dad had a dinner set given them at xmas -I brought some pens (£20!!) but she has took to it like a bird to water, I picked up some coasters, shes done matching mugs and coasters they look really gd, so were adding them into bday and xmas prezzies.

The plan is every month we have a new challenge - so were using Feb for the pottery painting..

All bills upto date for now xxxx