Jazee's Diary

Jazee

Wow, more than two weeks since I updated my diary. Ok, so August has been very expensive, including a weekend away last weekend but payday has arrived and I need to get back on track.

Gas & electric are down by 25% - I think this is because we're seeing the effects of DD leaving home a few months ago. There is a lesson there somewhere for all parents!!

Savings are ok and money is put aside for next year's holiday. Need to add to savings before purchasing new built in wardrobe. This is an essential as my clothes are hanging at an alarming degree and none of the doors on our current ensemble close properly.

Yesterday I made some purchases on eB@y, much better than @mazon given their minimum spend for free postage now and used MSE links to get best buys on other things.

I need to purchase some new secateurs (sp?) for the garden as I'm currently using kitchen scissors.

I have bought a new swimming costume this week with the intention of going more often, so we'll see how that goes.

Waste - broke a glass.

MSE - eating salad and veg still from the garden so saving money there and have done a meal plan for the next week mainly from the freezer.

Oh and following on from the last post, my cake was the first to be eaten at the fundraiser, can't have been that bad then!

Jazee

So yesterday DH got the shopping on his way home and it came to just over £30 but he forgot the chicken so that will need to be purchased today.

I ordered my secateurs and spent £2 on my afternoon out, although I won a raffle prize which will probably be gifted to someone else so possibly cost neutral then.

Today is going to be another day cracking on with the garden as it's lovely and sunny here.

I hope anyone reading is having a great start to their day.

Jazee

Morning diary, a very soggy morning and one with a headache.

Yesterday managed to get some free tickets to see a film with DH tomorrow so all good there, but remembered that the wedding we're going to soon has requested cash as a gift and I forgot to budget for that when doing the finances this week. Now I'm wondering what is a suitable amount (for a couple we've not even met yet - long story - well short, but I won't go into it on here). Any suggestions readers?

As it's a rainy day, my plans to continue tackling jobs in the garden is in jeopardy although I should be able to spend some time in the greenhouse.

I hope anyone reading has a great day.

Jazee

A busy week here. I did manage to get out in the greenhouse on Monday but the rest of the day was a wash out, so I did jobs and baking indoors.

We've decided on champagne and a card for the wedding which seems more appropriate than an amount of cash to people we've never met.

The film was rubbish and we left after 30 minutes and went to kfc. So still a cheapy evening out and needless to say the film got 4 stars in our local paper reviews. We've obviously got no taste.

And in other MSE news, budgets are intact, savings are at a respectable level and I got an exercise trampoline from freecycle.

Today I am not planning any food shopping as I want to use what I've already got this week in the fridge and freezers, but I do need to by wormer for the dogs and some wedding wrapping paper.

Other plans are just walking the dogs and getting out in the garden in the lovely sunshine.

I hope anyone reading has a great day.

Jazee

Sunday update:

Wedding was really good and we only spent about £15 on drinks.
Couldn't buy dog wormer as no pharmacist present to authorise so will need to pop back in the week.
Planted up my 70 pansies bought via MSE but didn't stay out in the garden long. It may have been sunny but it was cold.

Right, so DH needs new glasses as he has broken his so that comes out of unexpected spends budget, and today he wants to go out for Sunday lunch so that will come out of entertainment budget.

DD and her partner are coming over today to walk the dogs so I really only have gardening to think about and the weather should be warmer.

I hope anyone reading has a great day.

Jazee

Well a weird week here. DH and I have both been under the weather which meant that a couple of excursions out had to be cancelled which has the MSE benefit of saving money, so I've squirrelled away over £100 to savings.

All better now. Will be indoor jobs today I think as its pouring with rain.

Jazee

Morning diary. So spends yesterday were £8.25 on wormer, about £30 on food for the week and £2 at bowls.

Then DH decided he didn't want what I'd planned for tea so I popped to shop for what he did want - another £11 - not really happy as the dinner was disgusting.

Today should be a NSD, just dog walking and gardening planned.

Have a great day everyone.

Jazee

Morning diary. A day off the paid stuff today to go shopping and for afternoon tea with DD for her birthday, so will be spending quite a lot I think.

Last night was date night with DH (obviously!) and while we were out we booked and paid for Christmas day dinner, so that's that sorted.

Just about keeping within the monthly budget, lets see if that's still the case at the end of today.

Jazee

So at the end of the 16 September I was still within budget, but all that has changed in the last week or so due to unexpected spends. Had to pay the excess for a new windscreen after it got cracked by a stone thrown up by a lorry, and OldDog has even more ailments now and so the costs and new drugs were more than expected.

I'll adjust the monthly budget going forward to accommodate OldDogs new tabs. Our overspend is about £200 which I've used the free OD for rather than hitting savings. I can 'pay it back' when we get paid this week as there is a bill we don't have to pay in October fortunately.

Oh and I was naughty and have bought a coat for the autumn (needed) but it means I've well and truly gone over my clothes budget for the year with 3 months to go.

We have free tickets for the cinema on Wednesday (thanks MSE) so hopefully the film will be better than the last one we saw.

I hope anyone reading has a great Sunday.

Jazee

The film was good (The Intern) and it was pay day. DH though insisted on some beer and popcorn (£9.99) - being MSE, I took my own drink with me.

Have squirrelled some money to savings since pay day and intend to do more as the month progresses.

Thought I was going to a craft day this morning as in actually doing the crafting and thought I could make my niece a birthday card. But no, it was a craft fair, so I spent £10 I hadn't planned to and need to get my card stuff out now to make something at home.

Have sort of arranged to join the WI too.

I hope anyone reading is having a great day.