PennyGrabber's Path to Pecuniary Positiveness!!

Lovethenight

PennyGrabber wrote: »

Feeling much better now! And I'm just about to treat myself to a bath with a cuppa and a book, so that's exciting!!

On another positive note, my mum noticed yesterday how much happier i seemed. I was going on and on about how much better I feel now I am less hairy!! I treated myself majorly last year to a laser thing from b00ts. OMG - it's amazing! I've used it pretty much everywhere, and I feel so much better! My face, especially. I can touch my chin now without cringing! Sorry if that's TMI, but I don't really find any subject taboo, unless I'm talking to family!


PG x

ha ha :rotfl:- don't worry about TMI - we're all friends here!:D

Out of interest, was the laser thingy really pricey? I've been tempted before but have no experience of if they actually work or not.
Have stopped going to the salon lately as they put their waxing prices through the roof and so coping with stubbly legs and shaving them every other day which doesn't make a girl feel that glam! (ok, so that's probably TMI for you!!)

Well done on all the positives lately - your hard work is paying off and I'm sure that voucher helped a lot too:)
LTN

PennyGrabber

TMI alert!!

It cost £350 :eek::eek::eek: BUT, I figure the amount I spend on razors, creams, etc and the time as well... Plus, it really has made that much of a difference. It's the b00ts smoothskin one. You do 12 sessions, one a week, then you're good to go. I have done four on one leg, just to compare the before and after, and it's truly amazing. Plus, I'm raving about it so much to all my mates that they want to borrow it, and I'll ask for a small contribution towards it, say £20 or £30. That way, they get the same feeling at little cost, and I recoup some of the money!

Yeah, I absolutely HATE shaving, and scraping my legs. Plus you always miss bits, and it's hard to do round the back etc etc.

Right, onto today. I broke my fiscal fast pledge. I spent £3.50 in a$da, on chicken and bacon slices, a frijj drink, a three-pack of caramel eggs (all of those things £1 each) then the remaining 50p on five bakery things, all 10p each, one of which was a 12 pack of chocolate muffins! Then I spent £9.03 on petrol, and they wouldn't accept my giftcard! I had to use my account, so I still have £9.02 left on the card for this week's shop. I'll now do this in a$da instead of farmf00ds, and i only need a few things. Fresh fruit, toothpaste and toothbrushes I think.

Positives for today:
- picked up the application form for the job at my school, it sounds perfect for easing me back into teaching
- didn't spend a huge amount at a$da, could have been a lot lot worse, like in the old days
- friend gave me £5 towards petrol tonight, as we went out this evening; that's the food I bought and £1.50 towards the petrol.
- one of the mums said that it showed that I'd lost weight. I haven't, but it was a lovely thing to say!
- got a free recipe book (pampered chef)
- didn't have the pasta and sauce, so I'll have it tomorrow instead
- I'm still being strong about buying books. The book people are in at work, and I always buy stuff from them, usually cookery books or books for the children. I haven't bought anything yet, although there is a nice set of books that DS would like, or would make good party presents. Must stay strong!

Think that's about it for today. I'm teaching tomorrow and Friday now, so I'll get to claim two days' supply at the end of the month. Not too shabby! Plus, once I've done 1 and a half more hours cover, I can claim a further day. One of those hours is on Monday, now just the half to go!

Got the cheque from the solicitor today, not as much as I was expecting, but still about enough to call it evens on the passports. I got £342 and some pennies. Just need to send the forms off now... That's my job for the beginning of the Easter holidays.

Pixiechick, it sounds like you're doing lots of the right things already. Yes, I get lots of things when they're on offer, like baked beans and tuna. I got to a stage, though, where I had so much it was ridiculous, so I now have a list of how much I will allow myself to have in stock of each thing, otherwise I have nowhere to put the stuff!! Baking from scratch only works if it is actually cheaper. I make quite a nice biscuit, which I freeze most of the mixture in smaller bits, so when I want more biscuits, I just defrost and roll. That works well, as it's less work - I'm a lazy cook!! In terms of stretching things, I use lentils and oats - I've got it down so they don't really know they're in there! An extra tin of toms always helps too.

I always deviate from my shopping list when I go shopping, so I know I could do better, but I realise what I'm running out of as I walk around. I really need to make myself a list that I can print out, then go around the house ticking what I need. Does such a thing exist? This is how my uncle shops, only he's also arranged his list in aisle order too!! I used to laugh at him, now I think it's really sensible! He does it because he hates shopping, whereas I would do it because I can't afford to shop...

Enough ramble, night all!

PG x

PennyGrabber

Ok, new shopping list:
-bread
-fruit
-milk
-toothbrushes
-toothpaste
-apple juice
-sponges
-need to check on spuds

Next week's meal plan, not done yet, will be using up more stuff from the freezer, and hopefully from the cupboard under the stairs. I have some fajita kits that are ood, so I'll use those during the Easter hols when it's just me, as the ch don't like them! I have chicken breasts in the freezer, and frozen peppers and onions. That's about four meals done!!

Think I'll start planning the holiday food during the weekend. By then, I'll know when he's got the children...

Have a great day everyone!!

PG x

PennyGrabber

Good evening!

I am having a chill out night tonight in preparation for major tidying over the weekend. The more I do this weekend, the less I have to do over the holidays (or the more I'll end up doing, as don't you just move piles around the house?!). This year my aim is to actually have a place for stuff to go. Unfortunately, the cupboard under the stairs is needed for things other than food!!!!

Positives for the day:
- an old friend text to organise meeting up in April. It will mean missing a college lesson, but it'll be worth it as he's such a good friend and I hardly see him. Would've fallen in love with him and married him if it weren't for the fact he's gay!
- did a day of supply today, so that'll be processed next month. Also teaching tomorrow, so
- no sms, no money spent at all in fact, despite really wanting to go to the shop for some chocolate. I know it's not my time of the month, so I don't know what that was about!!
- payday is tomorrow, and it was showing when I looked online at next-day payments.

Can't think of any more positives; feeling a bit blue today, and it was hard coming up with those.

Going to go through olb statement over the weekend, to work out exact numbers from earlier this month, as I don't want to give an inaccurate figure.

Off now, see if sleep makes me feel better.

PG x

Suffolk_lass

Just wanted to post that I may not be saying much but I am keeping up with your diary and I really enjoy it! You really are very together and incredibly strong. Enough of the fan mail!

One of the reasons I've been quiet is because I've been working away and in fact, I'm off again on Sunday, but only for one night - a meeting I cannot physically get to for the start time on Monday unless I travel on Sunday. What a bu**er! I planted loads of seeds last weekend and I'm trying to get more organised to grow more this summer. Time to plant out the chitted seed potatoes and onion sets tomorrow, I think the forecast is good. Have a great weekend and stay positive!

PennyGrabber

Thanks Suffolk Lass!

I have planted loads of seeds over the weekend too, and they're all germinating nicely in the kitchen...

Lots of positives for this weekend:
- went the to garden centre yesterday, walking, to look for pea seeds as somehow didn't manage to buy them before. They were £2.49, so I thought I'd just carry on walking to lidl (25 mins), and lo and behold, they were 49p! I also bought some handwash (to decant cheapo stuff into) and some flowers and chocs for my friend whose uncle died, and that was all I bought.
- got three loads of washing washed and dried, and the children have just gone to bed in air-dried sheets - that is how I know it's summer, it's the smell! (Just have to put all the ruddy clothes away now...!!)
- another £11 in the holiday pot today; both ds and dd offered to put their pocket money in too, which was really sweet! DD said that they wanted to see their friends in Ox more than they wanted pocket money! I convinced them to keep their money, to save up for pocket money while we're there. The aim is 2016, so they've got a long wait!
- made a risotto today for the first time ever. DD ate every last grain of rice, which is the first time she's finished a meal for a long time. I'll be making that again then! One chicken breast, one cup of rice, some peas, some onion, two chicken oxo cubes and some herbs. Simple, cheapish, easy!
- friend signed off the passport forms yesterday, so I can send them off next week. It'll be just over £200 for the three of us, which means the money I got from the solicitor will more than cover it, and I can use the rest to buy myself a sewing machine.
- been looking on fleabay, and there is loads of cheap fabric, new, so I shall be making some bags, dresses, etc to use and to sell.
- sorted out two drawers in my kitchen, and got rid of loads of stuff. Filled a box with it (not just from the drawers), and now feel much better about that room. Still lots to sort out, but with no goal it's hard, so I'm going to chat to my friend in the week and organise a date for us to do a car boot sale together. I won't do it if it's just me, and she wants to do one too, so we said we'd keep each other company. Once the date is sorted, there'll be more pressure to actually pack the stuff to sell. That money will go onto the credit card, yay!
- the children helped me to tidy the front room today with no moaning, they're getting really good at that, and I'm so proud of them. When I was little, the room got magically tidied when I was asleep, and I think it's really important that they see how it happens.
- saved myself loads of money for later in the month, was half invited to go and see a friend in Lincoln, but I just can't justify the fuel, the eating out, the present for her for putting us up, the picnics on the way up and back, etc etc etc, so I've said I'm not going. It's a shame, but I'll see her later in the year.
- spent some quality time with two friends yesterday, separately. Both were in need, and have helped me loads in the past, so it felt good to be able to return the favour. One friend had recently broken up with a guy, for good this time, and needed to get things off her chest, plus her work is rubbish at the moment, and the other's uncle died, so she just wanted some hang out girlie pizza time. We watched true blood all evening, so I had fun!!
- did the weekly shop on Friday evening, and it came to £8.27. I had £9.02 left from the gift card last week, and a friend gave me a fiver towards petrol earlier in the week, so took those off the cost and had to pay £8.27! AND, I 'treated' myself to salad ingredients for lunches this week. Oh, which I'd better go and make now!
- downloaded and emailed the wrights voucher to myself at work - I don't have a working printer. Looking forward to using that!! Esp as the cheese and onion bread is 98p in te$co, which means it'll cost 18p, although the ciabatta one is only 75p, so if I get three ciabattas for every one cheese and onion bread, it'll cost me 3p for 4 loaves!! Yeah, think I'll be legitimately stocking up there! I'll have to clear some space on a shelf in the cupboard under the stairs, and see how many will fit onto it, and just buy that many...
- no heating on over the weekend, so less fuel bill. Also, I've had the windows open all day, and it's amazing how good I feel now I've cleared out the musty air.
- Stayed in bed til half 11 yesterday morning finishing a book. It's the first time in a while that I've been up in the morning on a sat when I haven't had the children!!!!
- house is tidier now than at the beginning of the weekend. And cleaner. With less stuff in it (not much, but less is less!)
- IT WAS SUMMER!!

On all of those positive notes, I think I'll go and make the lunches for tomorrow now. My salad and their packups. They're having tuna mayo sandwiches this week as their meat filling, as I didn't want to buy ham and I have lots of tuna! Not much mayo, but enough to last me until April.

After that, I'll spend some time getting my letter of application started. Not due in until the 26th of April, but never hurts to start it now, that way I can get a mate to go over it for me.

Night all,

PG x

PennyGrabber

Wow, I did say there were a lot of positives! That makes me smile as I shut down the computer!
x

PennyGrabber

Think I'm getting towards my totm again. How can that come around so quickly?! Anyway, I think that because I've stopped sleeping, and I made a huge tray of brownies and ate about half before they were cool! They were supposed to be children's snacks for the rest of the week! Feeling a bit sick now, so prob won't have any more this evening...

Dinner tonight was an old favourite, bolognese pasta bake. It used up some day-over milk, an ood packet mix, and the pasta which wouldn't fit into my pasta jar because I bought a bigger packet!! Plus, some frozen sweetcorn and peas which then meant I could fit in the lollies I bought today from farmf00ds! Spent £4, and got 8 rocket lollies, 6 fabs and 7 snickers. That's 21 lollies, so an average of 19p each!! Certainly beats the icecream van, not that one ever comes round by us. It's the kind of thing that is nice for an after school treat, now that we're home earlier in the day.

Looking at my totals so far, I'm at £436.42 for the first quarter, against a budget of £420. I'm so pleased with this, as it also includes £90 for party food! NEVER before have I only spent £330 in three months! I'm so proud of myself! It's given me a real buzz, and I want to carry on now.

My mum has said she'll buy me a shopping trolley thing for my birthday if I want one, but I think I'll hold out until I know for sure if I want one, and where I would store it. Need to clear out more stuff...

Didn't get around to chatting to friend about the car boot today, so must do that tomorrow, also need to put another note on the board about jam jars, as so far no donations.

Positives for the day:
- paid all of my month's bills (well, transfered the right amount of cash into the bills account)
- worked out my finances for the month, I can manage
- dinner was cheap and cheerful, and there's enough left for tomorrow (that was the plan as well!)
- made some brownies (from a packet that have been taking up valuable space)
- have managed to find a sewing machine for £75 on arg0s website, half price. This could be paid for with the money left over from the solicitor after doing the passports...
- only £16.42 over my quarterly budget so far. Anything I buy now will come from the April budget, hopefully that means I won't buy anything as I really want to do well next month! I am determined to go back to using a cash purse for different budgets, so upset that tesc0 cash machines not working last month, as it screwed up my budgeting!!
- I did a mummy helper thing in school today. Our teachers often ask parent helpers to do things in the evenings, and I offered to cut out some felt puppets ready for sewing later in the week. It's only a little thing, and took me about half an hour while the children were playing, but I'm happy I was able to be a mummy. (IYKWIM!)

Not much else to report. It's going to be a funny few weeks, as the ctc doesn't go into my account until the 9th of April, so I'm going to have to get bits of budgets into the purses, with a note of how much each is owed, as I can't afford to get all the money out now.

Dinners for the rest of the week are not sorted - think I have the post-ofsted knackeredness, so I'm off to have a cuppa and rectify that situation right now!

Night all,
PG x

Suffolk_lass

Hi PG,
Back from Brussels v late last night so a slow start today for me. I just wanted to remind you that there are only 3 more get-ups until the School Easter hols start (I know this, because DH says it every day now with his little count-down). He is also knackered but that is because this term is always awful for teachers of GCSE and A Level as the project deadlines loom. Then after Easter they team mark everything (after school of course) to ensure consistency with the grade standards. I'd better try and find someone in a local office so I can go in and work there this afternoon or it will be 100 miles round trip just for the afternoon. Hmm working from home maybe...
Take care
SL

pixiechick99

Ooh I'm so glad you mentioned that sewing machine in Arg0s:D I was contemplating getting one a few weeks ago - I had a completely no-spend week (apart from groceries), saved £100 of my tax credits but then told myself to think about it before I splashed out:o Now you've pointed out that bargain, which is less than the £85-90 ones I fancied. i have reserved it in my local shop and am still thinking about it:rotfl:

I meant to post and say how much I loved all your positives the other day - really lovely to hear all the good things, no matter how small.

I had a frugal shop this week - £32 for my week which was very good considering I usually spend £60. i just refused to buy any meat as I had enough in the freezer, no crisps (we'll use up what we have), no coke. That's still a spend of just under my £250 March budget so nowhere near as good as you, but I'm pleased with it for once;)