PennyGrabber's Path to Pecuniary Positiveness!!

PennyGrabber

Well, I didn't do everything on that list...

Positives:
- nsds yest and today
- been a good friend to someone who is VERY poorly
- used up some stock
- sorted out a playdate for dd. She has requested hm pizza for the dinner; she thinks it's a treat!!
- olb looking good, but perhaps that's because I haven't done the purses for this month yet! I'll have to do that before sat, as that's when I'm doing leedl.
- house is tidier than two days ago. My plan is to do a little bit every day, and a lot some days (eg without ch days) Working so far!

Really need to use up stuff from the freezer. Took a pasty from there for lunch today, may do the same tom. Every little bit of space helps, as I have stuff in the fridge that needs to go into the freezer!

I've added a couple of bits onto the shopping list for sat, like deodorant and shampoo. I really seem to have got the hang of not stockpiling there... (Also means I'm now using my penultimate loo roll!)

Children are just finishing off their cottage pies (we have them in ramekins), then we're having melon as our healthy pud, and ginger cake as our not healthy pud, because it needs using up from my table.

I'm looking forward to having a tidy house, and am using this as encouragement to keep on going. Tonight, there is a tv prog I want to watch, so I shall sort a pile of paperwork at the same time.

Still hoping to have a bit of extra money left at the end of the month, to get my currency with. Must be careful what I type, as eyes are watching!!

Kitchenbunny

Hi PG, have just found your diary Hope you don't mind my subscribing to it.

K xx

PennyGrabber

Kitchenbunny wrote: »

Hi PG, have just found your diary Hope you don't mind my subscribing to it.

K xx

Not at all! It's no Shakespeare though!!

PennyGrabber

So, I did my weekly shop today at leedl with the children, and it came to just over £10. We decided we could do without ham for sandwiches, as we have cheese, cheese spread, jam, tuna, paste, honey, marmite, ...

Children were very good, and helped me to find things on the list and then cross then off. They didn't even ask for anything for themselves! Been a lot of talk on the gc about schools should teach children how to budget... Actually no, that's a parent's job. I get really frustrated (and this is just a general moan, based on conversations with parents over the last 15 years) when parents try to fob off teaching their children anything, and then blame schools when their children are underperforming. I do a lot of money talking with my children. They know how much things cost, and how long they have to save for things. They also see me saving, and they appreciate everything. They're not perfect, by any means, and still ask for silly things, because they're children! But, they have a basic understanding, and they're only 5 and 7. If I can do it, so can anyone else!!

Ok, off my soapbox now...

Positives:
- sent some messages to my friend in hosp, think they were appreciated
- did the weekly shop for around £10, including dishwasher tablets and toilet cleaner. Didn't look to see if I have any handwash though, so may need to get that on Tues, along with some loo roll.
- children had a free dinner today - I'm looking after my friends' two overnight, and they got the children mcd's in return.
- we went to a pyo place, and got a massive box full of strawbs for £10. Not counting that, as technically it was entertainment as we had so much fun, and most of them will be turned into jam for presents. May even go back again next weekend, if I can source more jam jars!
- did a load of tidying in the children's rooms (so the boys had somewhere to sleep!), so that's another bit of my mind cleared.
- looking forward to a relaxing evening, as long as the children sleep, so I shall watch a film and have a hot chocolate. Boy, do I know how to live on a Saturday night!!!

Tomorrow is a bit of a busy but fun one. Going out for a scooter ride with all the children first thing, then mtg at the pub at half 11 for a Sunday lunch, then off to the theatre to see a kids' thing, courtesy of my ex parents in law! Should be good, but when will I do my washing and hoovering!?!?!?!

PennyGrabber

Just been sorting out some money, and if the car doesn't cost more than is in the car account to MOT this month, and I don't have any other major financial things to sort, I should be able to put £60 aside for currency. I know that's not a lot, esp as we need to find food money, but I get some overtime money at the end of the month, which will make up the rest of the spending money. I just wanted to get a head start.

Also, forgot to mention in my +ves, that I put £50 into both the holiday pot and the Christmas pot today! (And, if all goes well, I won't need to use all of the Christmas pot, as I'll end up getting cards and paper out of ents/gc money, and I'm making preserves, jams etc for gifts, so not too expensive! The children will have a watered down Christmas too, as they're at their dad's until 4pm on the day, which means that Father Christmas only leaves a little stocking for them...)

PennyGrabber

Had a mixed bag today...

Positives:
- went out for lunch, friends paid as a thank you for having their boys overnight (they'd already bought the children mcd's last night, but wouldn't hear of me paying today!)
- went out to the theatre to see a kids' show. I was supposed to pay for my ticket, but ex PIL paying for the children, but they didn't want my money either!
- nsd for gc, but spent a whole 95p on sweets when we all went out for a scooter ride this morning.
- made puff pastry from scratch for the first time today Why have i never done this before?!?! So much nicer than the packets I used to get that you mix with water. I made a mini sausage plait and three cheese and bacon puffs.
- just finished making two pots (one normal sized, one tiny) of strawberry jam. Need some more pots before my stuff goes off!
- ex talked to me about christianing our son. I asked him if he wanted to contribute to the cost, and he said he'd give me half. We'll see!! He said were we still ok to have the same godparents, I said yes, he said remind me who they are again!!! Well., I suppose it was six years ago we chose them (before new woman came onto the scene...)
- sorted out when I have the children over the hols, so now I can make some more plans for days out etc.


Not so positives:
- ex won't change his night, which means that it'll cost me an extra £16 childcare for him to have them on a Tues:mad::mad::mad:
- ex PIL think it's their job to decide when he and I have the children, as they booked a holiday for Oct half term. I kindly explained that with a split family, the mother has to be involved with these things, and it's not their place to do it before they speak to me. :mad::mad::mad:
- haven't done all of the washing that I needed to do, which means I'll have to catch up tomorrow, which actually means I won't be doing it til Friday!!:o


It's just so hard sometimes. I haven't even thought much about my budget today, as it's been so busy. I need to talk to ex about money though, as he needs to give me more, esp as I've covered his childcare for the last five years, and he doesn't even give me enough considering he got a pay rise LAST May, and I've not seen a penny of it.

:huh: Sometimes it's all just too much. There, I've said it. At least I was strong when I spoke to everyone.

Long_tall_sally

Oh dear chin up Penny Grabber! At least you have more positives than negatives but totally understand why your negatives can feel too much at times. If I was you, I would bite the bullet & talk to your ex about more money etc.
Hope you have a good day.

PennyGrabber

Thanks LTS.

After feeling sorry for myself, I have pulled myself together and had a better day today. Technically a nsd for gc, but went to an open garden at a friend's. She does one every year at this time, and has cakes and tea/coffee etc. I donated £5 to the charity she's supporting this year. It's a cancer one, as we have someone at work who is suffering quite badly...

Positives:
- gave to charity
- nsd
- enjoyed my day at work, despite being ultra busy (didn't have time for a drink all day!!)
- made a nice use-it-up dinner. Had no idea what we were having, until I looked in the cupboards! We ended up having half a pack of bacon, with fried eggs, hoops and mash. Not the best or healthiest, but quick, cheap, easy and in the house already!!!
- got ds' school report today. Although he had one last year in nursery, this is his first official school one, and it was awesome!! Really proud of him. I wasn't supposed to have it until tomorrow, but I took it to do a copy for his daddy, as tom is a daddy day and I wouldn't see it then, as he would assume it was his copy to keep, and not think that I would need a copy! Need to do same for dd, but hers wasn't ready this evening.

Feeling quite tired, as I read until late last night, oops! I will go and do a bit of washing, clear up the kitchen while the radio's on, and then sink into my lush bed. I'll be up early tomorrow, as it's bin day, so can make the lunches then.

Apparently I forgot a whole load of bits that needed to come out of my account this month, so I now have the grand total of 46p in my account. I have taken out the gc money, filled the car, paid the hol and Xmas pots. Just need to make sure I don't have to buy anything else. Don't think I have any parties coming up... I will not let myself go into the red. I do have about £17 I could call on from the savings account, but that's it. (I have more than £17, but I don't like to go below the hundred mark, so it's an ocd thing!)

Night night!

PennyGrabber

The last few days have been good. I have put operation Christmas hampers into action. Bought some jam jars online, and have made strawberry jam (7 jars) and raspberry jam (5 pots, although two were tiny). Will look out for more razzers rtc, to make some more as that's my absolute fave. Going to make rhubarb and ginger at some point. Have the rhubarb and ginger in, just need to do it! Making a quiche at the moment, as I'm going to a works night out tomorrow, and I didn't want to muck up my budget with having to buy stuff. The pastry is just resting now, and then I'll throw in some frozen onions, frozen ham, and some cheese. Got a bit of red pepper left, may shove that in too. No extra spending, great food.

Mr T have 400g of straws for £1 at the moment, so may get some as that works out comparable to going to the pyo. More jam!!

What other flavours of jam could I make?

Two people this last week have said to me they wished they were my TA next week. And a parent said that her daughter has really enjoyed my lessons this year, and tells her mum that I'm funny.

All of these things add up to me feeling really good about myself. Good times. AND, I have organised the dates for the summer holidays, so now I can book up things to do with people. I have sorted three things so far!!

Also, I have just given away my old cot, and a baby box filled with goodies that I got myself when I fell pregnant before the miscarriage. My friend will really appreciate them, and they have gone to a good home.

Very much feeling the karma - what goes around comes around. I've taken loads in my life, where people have helped me out, and now I am giving back. Who knows, I may even give back more, and get more karma on its way!

And back to money...

My account is at ZERO. I have money in my purse. I don't need to buy too much for the rest of the month. Bills account has extra money in it to cover any extra I may have forgotten about. Car account has nearly £300 in it, which should be enough to get through the MOT at the end of this month. I have a 'spare' £17 in the savings in case I desperately need it. Looked at AP, didn't order. Filled a basket in the book people site, cancelled it.

Think I'll go to bed after all that! A good few days, though, feeling ok about money at the moment. Let's hope it continues.

Suffolk_lass

Hi PG, I got back from yet another foreign meeting (3 days out for a one day meeting in a hot dry place) the hot and dry was lovely, sitting outside to eat, it was just like a real summer! It means I am way out of date reading the forum pages I follow and I'm off again on Sunday.

Re Jam flavours Rhubarb and Strawberry is nice as the rhubarb helps the strawberry set. You need to cut the rhubarb short though or you can end up with it a bit strandy. My family really like rhubarb and strawberry crumble too (you'll have seen from my other posts that I freeze the components in separate bags for a winter treat). I've never had success with frozen strawberries as domestic freezers don't freeze them fast enough but they are OK for jam and crumbles or smoothies, just not for anything with a presentation element

Also I had just a handful of blackcurrants and I mixed these in with strawberry and used only enough sugar to take the absolute tartness away. I didn't weigh anything so can't give a recipe but I used about two tablespoons of sugar with around a pound 440g fruit and it made three half pound and one pound jar. I've been using it on ice cream or as a vic sponge filling so the sweetness is in the cake, not the jam and it is yum.

Have a good weekend
SL