OMG - what are we thinking?!

afoolandhermoney

bad, bad Fool - spent £2.50 yesterday on tea and cake at the station, brought bigger lunch to work today to stave off hunger pangs til I go out with friend this eve (and will order cheapest coffee and NO CAKE to make up for yesterday's overspend)

OH has handed notice in, hoping they let him leave earlier than the 4 weeks he needs to work

2nd car is to be MOT'd and sold as soon as OH finishes work (expect we'll get more for it with 12months MOT than 6, and it shouldn't need anything doing to pass) Tax is up on this at end of month - reminder arrived this week - so if we can get rid before we have to pay that it'll save a bit too.

Moneymash

Wow! I am surprised no-one has commented on the £250 per month for groceries. What does this comprise off, e.g. cleaning products, toiletries?

afoolandhermoney

Money mash - the groceries spend covers all food, drink, pet food and toiletries (though I'm sure it can come down some more - this is my challenge as well avoiding the little "extras" like yesterday)

afoolandhermoney

josh - it would be a better feeling if I knew we could avoid it again, but yes, knowing that the money that comes in each month goes on "real" things (whether they are essential or not) and not interest or debt repayments is great

afoolandhermoney

Friend agreed to coffee at her house rather than in town, so no spend! Got home very late to two very hungry and unimpressed cats - appeased them by letting them sleep on the bed last night after their dinner

OH will be home tonight - probably before me at the rate my day is going - only just having lunch
He's got one more week away and then we're both off work for a week chill out times ahead

afoolandhermoney

Saturday spends - £21.42 on antihistamines (stocked up now til the end of the season, I hope): from health budget; £14.70 groceries (from budget); £5.99 - new brackets for curtain pole in living room cos it keeps drooping
Went blackberry picking (ate some for pudding, nom nom, froze the rest for making jam/flavoured vodka xmas gifts)

Sunday - NSD: too hot to do anything!

Today - £16.70 train fare (from travel budget), £3.10 return bus (from travel budget), £1.20 tea at station (little treat)

afoolandhermoney

Tuesday - £3.10 bus fare & £16.70 train ticket (from travel budget); £8.75 gift baskets (for xmas presents, using xmas budget); £58 groceries shop - still stocking up on our regular non-perishables with my £6 off deliveries codes - (included £16 on ingredients for xmas gifts, so part groceries budget and part xmas budget). £1.55 lunch - unbudgeted

Music Magpie'd 20 CDs and expecting £9.80 payment (helping to clear out the spare room and make space for my Avon stuff)

Slept much better last night as its cooled down a bit now, raring to go on my Avon deliveries tonight. Also, have been allocated some extra territory so will be canvassing tonight as well :j

AFool

afoolandhermoney

Well, its been a little while. Had a week with next to no internet thanks to our router packing up (had to get a dongle for OH to use as couldn't be totally without for his work, but with a limit on downloads I had to keep my use to a minimum - hopefully we can put this through his new business as an expense, he's kept the receipt). Was worth it though as OH got three tenders (won one of them) so new business is now up and running

I then spent best part of a week away for work (kept my dinner spends to a minimum though so about £10 of my subs allowance has stayed in my pocket).

Last time I posted it was hot and sunny. Last night our heating came on! (thermostat is only set at 16 degrees - unless OH has been twiddling - precisely to delay the day the boiler fires up until as late in the year as I can stand). He's home all day at the mo, but at least he doesn't feel the cold as much as me, so he will probably leave the settings alone.

Mind you, the lovely autumnal weather has brought on the blackberries so having picked a freezer full I now have: a demijon of blackberry vodka on the go for xmas, 6 jars of blackberry jam, 24 blackberry muffins (back in the freezer) to take with lunch to work. Need to go picking again this weekend (not likely to be home earlier enough to go after work)

New Avon territory has been a boon - three new customers last campaign and now another two this campaign. Plus two of my customers asked if they could pass the book around their friends - why of course, the more the merrier!

Over a week til payday though, and no bus fare monies left, so I'm hoping its cool but dry so I can walk without getting all sticky (not the best start to the day, or for the long train ride home again)

Things achieved in September
1) cancelled direct debits for old insurance policy
2) changed the account my wages are paid into so we qualify for joint travel cover (not that we're likely to go anywhere but if we do it'll be together not just me, so having my own cover isn't really worth it)
3) as a result of 2, changed standing orders to all my "pots"
4) started on xmas present making
5) canvassed new Avon territory

Things to do before "October" (starts 28th Sept for me)
1) check OH has cancelled DVD rental subscription
2) watch DVDs currently at home and return
3) set up new spreadsheets for new budget (now we're down to just my wages and my Avon earnings)
4) nag OH to register as self employed