Jazee's Diary

Jazee

Tomorrow is payday and we are down to the last £3 in the current account. Today, I spent £25 on Sickdog's special food and DH bought washing up liquid (32p each) and some biscuits (13p each), so all good.

Will get up early in the morning to progress the budget. Have also got some more free tickets for the cinema next week.

Probably an early night today as DH is boring me rigid with the details of his hobby.

Jazee

I got up early today to go through the budget properly as it is payday. Everything looking ok. I've decided to keep a spending diary. I think I've tried this before, but this time I must try harder. It's for all those spends on the card or cash and I've included a column to add it whether the purchase really was essential or not.

So today's spends:

£10 sponsorship for DS (not essential)
£4.40 on 10 old fashioned light bulbs so I can actually see what I'm reading during the winter months (essential)
£3.18 lunch for DH (essential as he ended up doing a double shift so his packed lunch didn't suffice)

Over the next week I will be planning what I need to restock my cupboards ready for winter with the plan being that I will do a big shop and an online order at the end of next week.

I have also booked myself in for a proper hair cut as opposed to a dry cut as it's a bit out of control again. Will be dyeing it myself though.

Busy evening planned here, tea, dog walk, sew dress for DD, dye DD's hair.

Hope anyone reading has a good evening.

Jazee

Quick update. Today's spend £21 on essential food.

Tomorrow will be lottery and bread only. Also need to go to PO but DH and DD will be paying for the postage on their parcels. I'm getting strict here!

Sunday: Parking and dinner out (tastecard) and maybe entry fee to minster (all from entertainment budget)

Jazee

Morning diary. I'm up early despite trying to have a lie in. Obviously my body clock thinks its a work day. But on the plus side the dogs are having a lie in, so I am sitting here in the peace and quiet enjoying a cuppa and catching up on some threads. I'm sure the mayhem of feeding, medication, playing, walking etc will start soon.

My plans for today:

Breakfast & wash up
Sort the dogs out as above
Wash hair and make myself look presentable
Wrap & post parcels
Get bread order from baker
Walk dogs
Hoover through house
Plan which stores are needed to see us through the winter

And before I forget to mention it h0me barg@ins are opening their largest UK store this weekend in the nearest town to us...I promise to be good.

Have a great day everyone.

Jazee

DH and I worked together to go round the house, checking cupboards/stores and seeing what we needed to stock up on for the foreseeable. So I have just placed an online order with Mr T, using vouchers, got the cost down from £97 to £80. The delivery is not planned for 10 days which gives me time to go in town and see if I can get some of the stuff cheaper from HB or B and M etc, and amend the order if necessary.

DH also got some YS food today, so fresh fridge, and freezer stuff all stocked up.

Jazee

Today is the day that I'm popping into town, firstly to get my hair cut (essential) and then to see if I can get any of my shopping cheaper locally and then adjust the Mr T order as appropriate.

DH is really in to MSE ways now. He is batch cooking and picking up YS food BUT I've had to tell him not to buy anything else fresh/frozen today as we just don't have any room left to store it. My menus are planned till the end of the month and there will still be food left.

I have sinned this week as I have organised a celebration for our anniversary which is costing a small fortune but something we've always wanted to do. So a lot of cutting back in other areas now required if I'm not to dip in to our savings.

Got a quote for the tyres this week - £400 - after haggling so that will get done when we're paid in October, so at least the car will be ok for the winter.

I'm up early today as all three dogs have been unwell this week and are still unsettled. Also DD is away and I think they are missing her.

Good things this week:

DH's MSE ways
Have been out and about socialising with friends (MSE style, only spent £3.30)
DD has learnt to swim
DS has got a promotion at work
I got recognition at the paid stuff

I hope anyone reading has a great day.

Jazee

A nice week has passed. The usual paid stuff but also celebrations for DD's birthday.

Having done all the big bi-monthly shop I am down to £33 in my shopping budget with almost 2 weeks to pay day but menus are planned into October.

I have been squirrelling away odds of money here and there towards our anniversary treat and have refused to lend DS money for a beer festival. If he can't afford to go, he can't go. Them is the rules!!

Pet insurance is due for renewal. OldDog and SickDogs insurance is staying the same. Am awaiting the quote for Littleydog.

A quiet low spend week ahead as the week after is time off from the paid stuff (budgeted for fortunately).

Hope anyone reading is managing to keep their heads above water too....

Jazee

Another two weeks have passed very quickly and have been most enjoyable, and I've even managed to keep to our budgets.

I have kept OldDog and SickDogs insurances as they were but have 'changed' LittleyDogs. I am still with the same underwriter but through different 3rd party, monthly payment is a little less and I'm getting an Arg0s voucher which makes it cheaper than last year. I've said it before but insurance companies (and utilities actually) are bonkers in the way they run their businesses.

I was right to refuse DS a further loan recently - he turned up here with a PS3. If he can afford that......

DH and I have booked next year's holiday and have paid the deposit so lots of saving for me to focus on now.

Right, time to catch up with other threads. DH is cooking dinner tonight.

Jazee

Oh, what a week it's been. Best laid budget plans and all that! SickDog has been very poorly this week and I have decluttered £££s during two visits to the vet. There is now no way I can go to the end of our financial month (almost another three weeks) without touching savings, which is a bit disappointing. But yes, that is what savings are for, rainy days, and on a plus note, SickDog is now improving.

Despite the manky weather today, I am enjoying the weekend with DH.

Jazee

Morning diary. Well by a miracle in balancing the books, I may get to the end of this month without touching the savings. Actually, I'll need to dip into them, but when DD pays her rent before our pay day the money will go back in to savings so we should be end the month with the same amount in there as we started with.

This week, I have actually ordered veg seeds as per MSE email. If I get good at this growing my own I may have 3 years veggies in season for less than £8. And I got a new to me winter coat in the charity shop for £10.

Have decluttered more money at the vets today but glad to report that SickDog is on the mend although the tumour will win in the end as it can't be removed.

We are eating from the freezer again this week so have just had to purchase fresh milk etc.

Right, time to walk those dogs.