Budget or bust........again

XSpender

Didn't get very far with my list this weekend but had a play on the beach with DS and DH on Saturday and a picnic at Fountains Abbey on Sunday with a quick trip to my Mum's. DS got a Tshirt and a book and I got a GF cookbook Mum found in the charity shop and a bottle of balsamic vinegar they won in a hamper. DSD cannot stand any vinegar and I love balsamic.

[STRIKE]Use bendy veg to make soup[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Tart up above soup for lunch with HM cheesy herb bread from OS thread[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Order copy of last secured sett fig and a new one so I can work out how much is coming off each month. No chance of paying it off early but seeing it come down keeps me motivated[/STRIKE]
Book a spray tan for a races day using groupon voucher (personal spends)
R[STRIKE]ing around to find a cheap place to get my nails done for races (comes out fo my personal spends) as they are a complete mess[/STRIKE] Not going to bother now, will do them myself
[STRIKE]Washing (not much) and DH does the ironing:)[/STRIKE]
Change sheets on both beds
Vaccum upstairs and [STRIKE]downstairs[/STRIKE]
Clean kitchen floor
Take meter readings and phone energy company about DD
[STRIKE]Clean bathroom - probably a job for Sunday[/STRIKE] DH did it off his own back:eek:
Get DH to send off 2 of his PPI claims





I had made a list of things to get done this week but only got around to posting it today:

• [STRIKE]Ring energy co to sort outstanding bill, set up DD and change to cheaper tariff[/STRIKE] Waiting for call back re tariff change
• Re book insuranse assessor to come a different day as out next Saturday
• Wash kitchen floor
• [STRIKE]Go for a swim but only if I have....[/STRIKE] 30 lengths:T
• [STRIKE]Defuzz myself[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Book spray tan using group0n voucher for week fo races[/STRIKE] and got day and time I want for £8
• Vaccum upstairs
• [STRIKE] Make bed[/STRIKE]
• Find my Ip0d and get DH to send off for free new one
• [STRIKE]Write next week's meal plan and shopping list[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Make fruit salad to use some fruit before it goes off[/STRIKE]
• Send off 2 PPI claims for DH
• Book gym induction and spinning class for next week
• Get some new clothes with my birthday money:j

Still loads to do but it is only Tuesday I suppose:rotfl:

The gym is free at work and I have never used it but one of my work friends does the classes so I am finally going to join.

DH sold our old DAB radio to a colleague today so that is £25 for the pot, won't count it until the money is in my hand. Also transferred the save the change from my bank account and all but £4 of the balance left in our account to the holiday/college fee pot so the total is £31.13. Still a very long way to go and not many weeks to do it in.

DM and DSD coming for lunch on Saturday and I haven't a clue what to cook them although there is a nice recipe for Tirimisu in my new GF cook book so pudding is sorted at least. Fancy making a chicken casserole of some type, will be my first one.

We have ben invited to our friend's daughter's birthday BBQ on Sunday but neither of us really fancy it when we have a busy weekend. Difficult to make an excuse when they live 5 doors down so may show our faces for an hour:(

XSpender

I am going to ask the boss if I can change my hours at work to come in and finsih half an hour earlier than I do now. This is going to allow me to recalim some me time to use the gym or go for a swim or run errands before I go and pick DS up. I never get any time to myself and it gets me down. I want to start looking after myself better now that I have Coeliac Disease.

I cover 3 branches at work and I am based in one which is about 35 mins drive away. If I need to go to the other 2, one 50 miles away and one 12 miles away I get paid travel expenses. My boss who is based at the one 12 miles away and has suggested that I work from that one most of the time but if I do it on the days that I don't NEED to be there I can't claim expenses.

However, It will save me a lot in diesel, t is a much nicer environment to work in and the departments I work with the majority of the time are based there too. Oh and that is where the gym is so it is a win win situation for me:D

Kitchenbunny

That sounds like a good plan. Got to take time out for yourself. I go to work really early to avoid heavier traffic and it means I get a bit of time to myself when I get home from work. It gets me more done and being a morning person anyway I find it the best thing for me.

I need to start making lists like yours and publishing them online so I stick to them. I have a to do list but only I can see it - might get more done if i have to own up to stuff

K xx

XSpender

I can't believe it's Friday tomorrow already!!:eek:

We have a lovely weekend planned with DPs coming for lunch on Saturday, church on Sunday then into town for a coffee, shopping and a late lunch. DS is going to DMIL for a picnic, his new favourite thing:)

We are not regular church goers nor very religious, more spiritual I suppose, and it is DH who likes to go more than me though we haven't been for a good while:o I had a catholic schooling where as he had no religious education at all, funny how it all works out.

Not much DFW or :money:going on today. £4.50 spent on a swim from my personal spends then I undid all the good work by having a chippy tea costing £5.80:o

I was later getting to the baths than I wanted to be, then had to stop at the cashpoint for some money to pay for the swim and all the time I was thinking 'I will be late back for DMIL' who watches DS on a Thursday and had to give myself atalking to about how little me time I get. I had the same argument with myself in the pool as I like to do a minimum of 30 lengths and I kept looking at the clock and feeling guilty about the time even thought I was still back for my usual time.

I haven't got a clue what to cook DPs when they come up. I was going to make a GF Tirimisu but it is made with almond biscuits which DH is alergic too so there is no point. You would think now that I am eating meat I would be spoilt fo choice but I have drawn a complete blank.

Finally got the number for the 2nd hand baby stuff shop so I am going to sort all DS's old equipment out and see what she will give me for it. Probably won't be much but better than no money and a load of clutter in the loft:D

XSpender

I am not doing very well on the making money side of things at the moment:o I don't have a great deal of spare time and then when I do get a bit I just want to chill for a bit and usually fall asleep.

Right, need to get my butt into gear so for the remainder of this week I will:

Wed - ring insurance assessors and rearrange visit
Wed - open an on line savings account for DS
Thurs - Evening appointment, home late
Fri - Hospital appointment
Fri - Food shopping
Fri - Buy 2 x 3 year old girl birthday presents
Sat -Out all day
Sun - Washing and housework

We have decided not to go out for lunch on Sunday for my birthday as we were out last Sunday for a meal so we will save a bit on our food budget there.

DH has also suggested puting our personal spends in Septemer towards our holiday which I am willing to do but since DH goes through his like I don't now what we will see.

Budgets for this month - update

£150.59/£380 Food inc meals out, toiletries, household and dog food
£60/£120 Diesel
£89.48/£75 Miscellanous including gifts
£25/£125 Haircuts

Blown the misc budget buying DS some pjs. (I like to get him decent ones as he has exzema) and some bedding plants.

It is the food budget I need to really watch as I always overspend here and can't if I am going to put anything towards my big target.

I have also taken out the usual amount we spend on alcohol to put in a jar as savings for Christmas treats as DH is wanting to give up alcohol for the next 100 days, if not for good:eek:

XSpender

I have made a bit of progress today:)

Wed - [STRIKE]ring insurance assessors and rearrange visit[/STRIKE] done
Wed - [STRIKE]open an on line savings account for DS [/STRIKE]- need to visit branch so will have to wait until next weekend
Thurs - Evening appointment, home late
Fri - Hospital appointment
Fri - Food shopping - bought the meat
Fri - [STRIKE]Buy 2 x 3 year old girl birthday presents[/STRIKE] done
Sat -Out all day
Sun - Washing and housework

I have also changed the tariff with our energy supplier. It's only saved us £7/month but every little helps. I believe our usage is going up because DMIL looks after DS at our house now so there is energy being used during the day, 3 days a week and they have the telly on constantly.

I have transferred £100 into the holiday/college savings and I have another £10 I am waiting to receive so that is £130.13 banked and £35 still to come in making a total of £165.13. I am not adding the £35 to my signature until it is in my hands. I am very worried about hitting this target if I don't get my (and DH) arss in to gear and get raising some cash. We do have £60 in the 'no-beer' savings but I don't want to touch this as it is supposed to be an incentive for DH.

Went to Mr S and bought some meat and stuffing for Sunday since we are not going out now and some bread and fruit and the 2 birthday presents I needed. I used £5 n3ctar points to bring the total down a bit.

I have found a way of cutting my tea bill at work by just buying a hot water and milk for 10p and supplying my own tea bag. This will save me 88p/day or £4.40/week:T

rising_from_the_ashes

XSpender wrote: »

I have found a way of cutting my tea bill at work by just buying a hot water and milk for 10p and supplying my own tea bag. This will save me 88p/day or £4.40/week:T

Wow! That's a pretty good saving:D - really adds up over the year:money:

Well done on the hol savings:D

Kitchenbunny

Amazingly if you spend £4.40 a week over the course of 50 weeks that is £220 a year (if I'm working that out right) Go you!

Plus, saving £7 a month will still save £84 a year - which could be put to use easily

Nice savings - well done

K xx

dory22

XSpender wrote: »

Wrote a long post on Thursday night jsut before bed and haven't had chance to re post until today.

I have made a bit of a booby on my spreadsheet and have missed off our car insurance at £44.05 from our outgoings. On top of that my hair cut and colour is due, I thought it was after pay day, so that is another big chunk of money to find. I have double checked the spreadsheet and added the car insurance in to the rest of the year's pages. I think the original pln was to pay it in one go so I hadn't put it in but as usual, with no money put aside, it never worked like that.

Found out that though a discount scheme at work I can buy Mr S gift cards with a 5% discount so it may be worth getting one of these for my diesel when I get paid on the 22nd. They also do boots, B&Q etc. The wallpaper I want for our bedroom is from B&Q so I might get one from there too if we decide that is definantly the paper we want.

I am about £87 short looking at what I have left for the month and what I still need to pay out. This is if I can minimise my food spends as there is less than £30 in there.

This means I will have to use some of the money I put away towards our holiday and to pay for the bed next month. On the plus side I will have paid the £50 deposit for our holiday and saved £100 for the bed. That's better than we normally manages as we have mothers day to pay for, MIL birthday, the car has been MOT and serviced and we have had £165 of joinery work done in the house..........normally we wouldn't have a penny saved at the end of the month:D

My sealed pots have also been fed nearly every day..including £6 of £2 coins and about a fiver of 20ps.

Will try and post more often next week, even if I am only talking to myself, it helps keep me focussed:rotfl:

looks like your doing great, me an dmy friend have a swimming challenge every week we try to go for either free or 2-4-1 using voucher cloud on our phones, i got 6 free swims from here through british gas and from local paper, i also refuse to pay for my gym so use free trials from here and again voucher cloud its a brilliant thing to have even if you dont have an iphone you can sign up to voucher clouds emails.

dory22

XSpender wrote: »

Meal planning is going well but I seriously need to cut our food budget in August. It is still ridiculously high. I have asked the ladies and gents on the GC thread for a few pointers and am on a mission to get is much much lower than the last couple of months. This is where we over spend and I want to spend that money on other stuff.

I do have quite a lot in so I DO NOT need to buy very much at all this month!

I haven't done anything towards my plans to raise our holiday spending money and my college fees.

I am going to spend a bit of time tonight looking in to DH PPI claims to see if we can get them sent off this weekend.

The weather is a bit unpredictable to sort out all the stuff for a car boot.

TARGET BY 31ST AUGUST - £1672:eek:

SAVED PAID £0

I also need to sort out where we are with our energy supplier as we are behind I think as our DD has been cancelled a I need to make an arrangement with them. I also need to find a cheaper tariff with them that doesn't tie me in. I finish at 3.30 tomorrow so will take a couple of meter readings and give them a call.

i recently found some gold in the loft and got £120 for it, if you've got any gold this could help towards yours budget, also iv got an iphone but just switched to giff gaff £10 a month and earn money by recommeding people, also there are always vouchers on here or voucher cloud if you have iphone for eating out and attractions could save you some pennies for the holiday.

also on superscrimpers they had a challenge on there for a family to do a room out for £50 are you signed up to freecycle ( there will be a freecycle group in your area) your be amazed what people get rid of you might be able to find fabric on there to make your cusion covers, its what i do.
also a collague of mine who on maternity leave buys her wipes and nappies from amazon as it works out cheaper per pack and if your doing surveys you can use the amazon cards towards them
hope this helps.