Hypno's kick up the backside debt diary....

hypno06

And it tastes pretty good - took next to no time to cook. Only thing is the cheese stinks!!! Oh well, tastes good, and that is the main thing!

Seaxwyn

Hello Hypno

That dinner sounds tasty! We also had a pasta & fridge contents meal, luckily had a tin of tuna in stock which always helps. I get very sick of pasta and often eat pasta-type meals but with rice instead - sure you're wise to this culinary tip!

Sympathies re the karate. Kids activities are SO expensive. I stopped my DS and DD doing karate as it was just too expensive if you worked out an hourly rate - all those gradings :eek: They weren't that bothered luckily so it didn't feel cruel.

Hope you've got a nice weekend lined up. I'm going for a picnic with some old friends, even though I can't afford the fare, I hardly ever see these people so I'm reverting to pre-lightbulb form and spending money I haven't got.

hypno06

Hi Seaxwyn!! Yesterday was bung it all in rice thing. I think all our meals are interchangeable with rice/pasta/potatoes! I am training the children well for when they go to uni!!

This weekend is a skiing weekend, but thankfully at our local slope, so no need for 4am starts!! However, it does mean race fees, food etc, although I am hoping to take a flask and make a picnic.

Enjoy your picnic - sometimes you have to spend the money. We still have to have a life (although we do tend to forget that at times!!).

hypno06

Morning, I felt as though I could sleep for a lot longer this morning - roll on the school holidays and I might get a bit of a lie in occasionally!!

So, this morning is ski racing, then a quick nip home for a client before going back to the ski club I think. Then the children are at a bbq with school friends this afternoon, so no need to feed them! Also they are getting a lift there with another local girl, so I only have to do the driving once, to bring them home.

I have to try and get my petrol usage down. It has amazed me that we are only half way through July and we have used £100 petrol already - and we don't really go anywhere. If I go out to see clients it is only about 40 miles a week max and everyone else comes to me. The rest of it is just running the children around etc. OH works 5 miles away so again, lots of short journies really.

So, without actually "going" anywhere, we will be using over £200 of petrol by the end of the week. If I put that figure in an SOA, someone would say that my petrol usage was very high, I'm sure!! So I need to make more of an effort. May have to get my bike out and try and do some of that instead!

I do check petrol prices at www.petrolprices.com so know I am not paying over the odds for fuel, and the cars are in good nick so are not using too much. I drive economically so it must all come down to using them unnecessarily!!

So, new challenge for the summer holidays will be to use the car as a minimum - will look into bus fare costs and see if some of the journies can be replaced easily and cheaply.

Karmacat

Hi hypno
I had a big tesco shop delivered to me yesterday, and it gave me a coupon for 5p off every full litre of petrol or diesel till 5.8.07 (excluding Pay @Pump, Tesco/Esso Express stores and Republic of Ireland). Since I don't have a car, its not a lot of use to me. Any good for you? I'm off the site now, but will be back this evening, no doubt!

Sea78

Hi Hypno - how are you today? I agree the petrol does add up with all the little trips - OH often says 'I'll just fly out to...' which adds up to lots of petrol being used. At least the car is quite efficient and he gets a kick out of getting as many miles per gallon as he can

About to have a cuppa and see you later!


Sea xxx

hypno06

Hi KC, thank you for the offer of the petrol voucher - I have sent you a PM!

I have got DS's bike fixed and have bought him a distance/speed thing for it - hoping it will act as motivation to do more miles on the bike rather than going in the car.

My bike is perfectly good too, so going to try and reduce the petrol costs that way! Will be good for the old muscle tone too

GettingThingsDone

Hi Hypno - I'm going to get my bike out too later this afternoon and brush the cobwebs off
Hope you're having a good day

gtd

hypno06

Not too bad a day GTD, I hope you have a good bike ride and that the rain clouds stay away - here it is threatening a storm but in the meantime it is just very hot and sticky!

Kids have gone to a bbq so no trying the bike out today, skiing all day tomorrow, but I think it is a definite possibility for Monday.

Then Tuesday I will be unable to walk..............:o

LJD1_2

Hiya Hypno
I know what you mean about being self employed is all or nothing. Some weeks I can't fit all my clients in and then others I have a completly blank diary. I've started trying to enjoy my quiet times now and it does mean i'm around if the children are ill or anything. It also means I can choose when I work in the school holidays. However, sometimes I think that because I work from home DH doesn't always think it's 'real' work. Like today, i'm working 9 till 6 and when I told him (so he could keep children out or quiet) he gave me a look! I refuse to feel bad though as if I didn't do this work I couldn't fit in round their school etc. Let's hope he doesn't get too wet whilst he's entertaining them today!!!!!! Have a good weekend xx