Jazee's Diary

Jazee

Thanks for that, but ours only offers them at this reduced rate though. Still a bargain, and DH and I have now agreed where it will be sited. Not going to order it for a couple of weeks though as I won't be around much for a delivery till then and would rather arrange for it to arrive when I know I'm going to be working from home.

Am I sad to be getting excited about composting? I have never been convinced that all the recycling I put out ends up going where it should.

Jazee

Well DH's holiday has started but mine won't for a couple of days yet. Yesterday we had a lovely day in York with DS. He has a way with words and regales us with his tales which are so funny.

DH demanding breakfast, I will be back.

Jazee

I'm back to catch up on here and DH is now tucking into eggs, bacon, tomatoes and toast. He has a long journey ahead of him today, a proper one, not one of life's 'journeys'.

So back to the York trip and it should have been a cheap day out really as we were having a picnic with DS, but parking cost £10. This is a lesson on how to deter visitors (and the toilets weren't great). I know the council et al would say to use public transport but we were travelling 20 miles to meet up with DS, the transport links aren't good from the village and when you have a picnic hamper to carry, public transport is not ideal. Rant over.

Today, the weather is cooler again, so the dogs will get two walks. The day is my own and I'm planning a quick hoover & mop through the house and tidying of the plant pots in the garden.

I've just started reading a new book on the kindle, it's really funny, so I will take some time out to continue with that today before back to the paid stuff tomorrow.

Hope anyone reading has a good day.

Jazee

Well, I'm still no further with the new book on the kindle as I bought another book in an old book shop and have been dipping into that. Have also downloaded a couple more freebies to the kindle today.

I've been offline for almost a week and have had a whale of a time with DH. Have spent lots but now have a complete summer wardrobe. DH lost one of my bags during our shopping trip but I only lost a T-Shirt and as we used the tastecard to eat out, broke even. That's my round about way of saying he's forgiven.

Today I have done a 'big' monthly shop which wasn't that big at all as we've not run out of much and I'm running stocks down during the summer, ready to stock up again for winter.

Have also rejoined English Heritage to rediscover some of our favourite places as I'm afraid NT didn't work out for us.

The best thing about this week - we didn't touch our savings even though our short break is one of the things we've been saving for. Oh and we still have tomorrow before being back to the paid stuff, so will finish our break with a nice Sunday lunch out.

Jazee

I forgot to mention that in true MSE style, yesterday in Sainsbobs I reduced a £33 bill to £10 with the use of offers and nectar points.

DH brought home some YS salad on his travels yesterday so I'm stocked up for the week.

Today will be hoovering through the house, then a nice Sunday lunch out with DH and a walk afterwards.

Oh and a weigh in tonight. DH and I both need to lose 2 stone so the first to hit the target will get £100 to spend as we please.

Jazee

Quick update:

Have lost 4lbs so far this week.
Yesterday was a NSD.
Reduced car insurance from £600 to £330.
On target for lowest month grocery spend ever.

All good then.

Jazee

Mmm, I seem to be leaking money this week, spending it as though it's going out of fashion. August is going to be an expensive month. I've decided to pay the car insurance as a lump sum, MOT is due, two of the dogs need their booster etc etc.

I have a busy weekend planned which never comes cheap either. On the positive side I'm looking forward to it, and currently the savings remain untouched. For how long, I'm not sure.

Hopefully we can keep grocery spends to a minimum this week. The fridge and freezers are full.

Jazee

Spends today so far (think DH wants to look in the club shop later :eek:): £7.22 on milk and bread for the week.

Waste: 29p - some mushrooms which were past their best.

Jazee

Tomorrow this diary will be one year old. Happy Birthday Diary! I was thinking of finishing it at this point as I think I have MSE ways instilled in me now, but having just had a read through, it is actually the process of writing down what I'm spending and the support I get from other DFW's that is making all the difference.

I think though that this is a good time to sum up the last year so here goes:

* Our debt free date was Mar 23 2015. It is now Jul 1 2014.
* I still save what I can in my coin pot but dip in to pay things like the window cleaner and bits and bobs for parking etc. Yesterday I took £35 from it which is now changed into notes to use for spends this weekend. Currently the pot has just over £8 in it.
* NSDs. I don't have many of these now as DH has become very MSE and picks up bargain YS food nearly every day.
* I go in the gym almost every day.
* I still do the flylady thing and feel in control of housework.
* Our shopping budget is nearly £200 per month less than we were spending a year ago (incidentally a box of soap powder at £15 last 6 months, may be a bit less now DD is back home), our stash of shampoo will last more than a year, but the teabags didn't last a year (I drink a lot of tea).
* Possibly my best purchase of the year was the second freezer, must have saved us a fortune in being able to buy YS stuff and bulk cooking.
*I no longer have months where there is an 'overspend' which I have to recoup by saving elsewhere.
* We are able to have dentist/hair/optician appts when we need them, not just when we can afford them.
* We have savings. We don't seem to have added to them this last couple of months but haven't used them either.
*A year on I still have my bad arm but not as bad.
* I've learnt that you can freeze cooked beef without putting it in gravy first! Also, you can freeze chillies and ginger.
* I still have my job.
* I did well on e*bay but don't have anything to sell at the moment.
*I don't practise the piano nearly enough.
* I have reduced all our insurances over this year by using MSE tips.
* I still haven't got the hang of cashback sites.
*I'm still volunteering.
* I am growing some of my own vegetables and herbs (all free).
* I don't watch nearly so much telly anymore and have completely stopped watching Corrie. It's probably been replaced with spending so much time on here.
* DH and I have had two breaks away this year with another couple planned.

And reading back through, Littleydog ate my best summer sandals last year, but now I can't even remember what they looked like.

Busy weekend ahead, hope anyone reading has a good one. Thanks for all your support over the last year.

Jazee

Well it's been one week since the last post and I still feel as though we're still spending rather than saving. Have definitely had some splurges but fun too. Also Bank of Mum & Dad has had to rescue both DD and DS this week so savings have been touched albeit temporarily.

My composter has arrived and I just need to do the ground prep this weekend and it's all systems go. In my wanting to live a greener life, I have planted some cress seeds on kitchen roll today!

Another busy weekend planned although Sunday will be a busy weekend at home doing the gardening, as the garden is beginning to resemble a jungle, we've been so busy elsewhere.

I should get some more share money this week, but it's already 'spent' - shower repair/replacement, a bill I want to pay in full although it's not due and no doubt there will be something else.

Hope anyone reading is proving to be a better money saver than me.