Staying Positive & Focused !!!

weeclick

Hey fellow Northern Irelander here!! Well done on starting a diary, it will be the best thing for you! I started one last year (only lasted half the year in fairness but really helped regardless) as you say i helps to put all your thoughts on "paper" I started last year with alot of "silly" debt, things that I didnt need to buy but had bought anyway at a time when I could afford it not considering loss of jobs etc and also saving up for a holiday costing £5.000!! Believe me you will get there, a year on I have a new diary (feel free to check it out and subscribe would be lovely to see you there! Its called 1 Year on) and things are alot more controlled now!

You mentioned car insurance, have you tried axa? We saved nearly £200 with them compared to other company quotes - it still works out the same monthly payments as our last insurance but makes a huge difference when you see what others are now charging!! Better still they are "made" for us lot in N Ire. and so I have found a real pleasant experience with them so far! Cant help with the tax though, we are very fortunate ours only costs £35 a year!

Also the "reduced" section in tescos is now the first place I head to! We've picked up sausages (20 pack of tesco finest) for 20p, mince bundles for 50p, microwave lunches for HM around 80p-£1.50 - and we see a huge difference in our bills now when we get to check out. If you are near an asda check out mcgees butchers at the back, they offer meat packages too which we would do sometimes - 9.99 would last the 2 of us for 2 weeks so could make shopping a little cheaper for you too!

i have subscribed to your thread and will follow with interest! Good luck x

mamato3

Thank you jwil was pleased with the sales I really didn't think they would do as well just on the hunt now for five items for this week - I'm always surprised that I keep finding more things to put on!

Welcome Weeclick its lovely to have a fellow Norn Iron to follow my journey:) (I've also subscribed to your diary) ...Yes will have to try AXA, how lucky £35 for your tax - we changed our car and now have the huge £160 to pay it was £35 and £160 for hubbys tax, both of which are due in April mmmm I think it could be six months for both.

Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday .. the sun is out and it looks beautiful have a good one:) and it should be a NSD

weeclick

Thanks mamato3 always nice to see a fellow N Ire on here Let me know how you get on at Axa they have been good for us so far (changed over in November) and as a company policy the DD comes out on the 1st every month which is nice you never forget what day of the month to keep the money for which has always been a problem for me lol and customer service is the best Ive come across for insurance anyway!

mamato3

DD off to school today with her final payment of £50 for school trip (7 months of £50 .. yep £350 for school trip! ) .. but at least thats it paid and will give us a bit extra for next month. Going for another NSD today could be 4 in a row for me yippee.

Weeclick will let you know how I get on with AXA just to find the time to phone them now!

Happy Monday folks..

mamato3

Not an NSD today forgot I had no butter for muffin making tonight so had to stop for that on the way home but boy do those muffins smell good:) DD came home from school with 2 notes coming to another £22, I'm pretty sure it wasn't this expensive when I was at school so I had to get money out for that and of course our petrol guzzler needs filled tomorrow as well:( so no NSD tomorrow either. Have worked out we will have £110 each week for the rest of the month with all extras taken out so hopefully we can stick to that budget would love not to be in the overdraft this month!

Off to have a lovely muffin:)

mamato3

No NSD yesterday or today but only small amounts spent so not too bad. Will add groocery spend to my sig aiming for no more than £280 this month will have to check my spending diary to see where i am at the minute.

Electric bill due out on the 12th but said that the dd for this month would be £4.00 as I was in credit!!! So if that really is the case then I can put another £100 in holiday fund which would get me half way yippee .. but will wait until dd comes out just to make sure.

Still waiting on a ebay buyer to pay I wish they would pay once an item ends will give it another day then contact them.

Still up to date on save a pound a day which is good and have five items to list for ebay as welll just have to find the time to do it!

mamato3

I've updated my sig a little - just got some great gifts on boots website - 5 gifts for £20 on their 3for2s plus points which I was pleased with so have added this on and have added on my food total so far fingers crossed I can stay within the £280!

weeclick

Good going mamato3 sounds like a good week so far!

mamato3

Yes Weeclick not a bad week so far and just got my next five items listed as well just a little shattered my little guys been poorly this week so not much sleep at the minute glad its Friday tomorrow!

Have updated sig spent £19.71 in Mr Ts today so have to try and keep a close eye on all the little trips to Mr Ts they tend to mount up to quite a lot!

Off to try and get some sleep before the little one wakes up!

mamato3

Hopefully not a spendy weekend more like a clean the house weekend! Which is good for the purse and might find a few more things to list on ebay Oh and of course fingers crossed for the lotto lol! .. that would solve all our problems!

Hope everyone has a good one