Jazee's Diary

Jazee

Good morning diary. Today I need to do a fridge and freezer inventory, clean, menu plan and shopping list before attempting anything else. At some point I really need to do a big h0mebargains shop but I need to wait till DH is off and I have use of the car.

We went out last night. Initially DH was only going to get home just before we had to leave so no tea was planned, but he got home 2 hours early so with nothing planned or defrosted we got a takeaway (£13).

I'm trying to keep track of these unplanned spends as they really do add up.

Jazee

A week has passed and I'm just about keeping to budgets a week in from pay day but no thank to the car tax having to be paid. I'm pretty sure when we bought the car last year they said the tax was valid till end November but the DVLA wanted its money by the end of October - £145.

Also said car will need servicing by the end of the month too, when I thought is could wait till November too.

LittleyDog has sore skin again (always does this time of year, there's obviously something that bites her and causes a reaction). Anyway, I've been treating her with her cream over the weekend but I think there will be a trip to the vet tomorrow.

In true MSE style I bought some clothes in the charity shop yesterday, but splurged on a haircut I'm really happy with. I feel so much better - the style has taken years off, even if I do say so myself.

Today I have a workman coming to do a job I can no longer do myself as it kills my knees and I don't want another operation. Big spends, but worth it I think.

Ok, so lets hope no other unplanned spends crop up this week.

Jazee

So another update on the last post from me.

There was another trip to the vet for LittleyDog who is much better now but we are £60 poorer.

The work we had done is brilliant, worth every penny, and I feel a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

DH's new glasses are only going to cost £45 so that is a relief.

I've taken some time off the paid stuff (which is going brilliantly, finally) with DH this week. I only knew at short notice that DH had time off so hadn't budgeted for days out. So there will be a bit of an overspend....but you only live once and it's not huge.

Jazee

And another vet bill for Littledog today, another £60. I estimate I'm about £200 over budgets for this month now, not actually overdrawn, and I'll 'pay myself back' when it's pay day this week.

Have spent pretty much all day in bed today with a headache. Hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Jazee

Ok, so I've woken up headache free and with a lightbulb moment.

While our finances may be in a good state, we have healthy incomes, there is an excess every month and we now have savings, I need to remember that we also have £8k debt on the car and we have rather been living the good life (and I don't mean the growing our own!).

This month, partly because we took some unexpected time off the paid stuff, we have used all our budgets and the excess and have 'borrowed' from our savings till pay day next week. We also had unexpected vet bills which went over the budget normally put aside for such things but even so....

So today, I am not doing a shopping list of food for this week, we can eat out of the freezer and only buy absolute essentials.

And next month I really need to get a handle on this or we will struggle in old age as they'll be nothing in the pot.

Jazee

Ok, so reading back my last post it is now 'next month'. Budgets are done and the excess is only £25.

More vet bills expected this month (hope I've put enough aside) and car servicing and breakdown cover to renew.

And I've just remembered DH needs to pick up his new glasses (£42.50). Ah well, will have to come out of grocery budget now which I'd already cut back by £55.

Any thoughts of buying tickets for shows put on hold. I really am going to get a handle on my finances and keep my money in my purse/bank.

Essential purchase though has been four jumpers (total £52.99) as I was down to only two to see me through this season.

Onwards and upwards.

Jazee

Forgot to mention that I got a prize in a gardening competition this week so have £30 love to shop vouchers squirrelled away in my purse.

Jazee

I know I'm only one day in but so far so good. All spends budgeted and some things I would have just got on line have been put back.

Today, I will do a menu plan which includes a lot of eating from the freezer to minimise today's food shop.

Oh and did I mention that I've stopped doing the lottery although DH is still buying one thunder ball ticket per draw. Had enough in the on line account to pay for this month's thunder ball tickets.

And I got some more windfall apples on the dog walk today which I'll make crumbles with. Saves me money as I won't be buying sweet things.

Jazee

Another week has flown by and we're still in budget. Mostly the week has been fine, a meal out that we planned - we ate at home instead. An evening out we had paid for itself with a raffle prize. But one evening we did get a takeaway. I still think we ended up in the positive though.

Our holiday is costing £155 less than budgeted so that is good too. And I'm hoping to squirrel some savings away this week from budgets not used so far.

And the jumpers I ordered - well three of those have arrived - and they're perfect, only £12.50 each so worth every penny.

Today it is pouring with rain. I don't really have any plans but even those are curtailed!

Should be a low spend day, I'll do a meal plan and text the shopping list to DH for him to get on his way home.

Jazee

Two weeks since my last post. I'm about £50 over budgets although I have squirrelled away £225 pounds this month, and pay day is this week so I'm not panicking.

I am annoyed though that we got a parking fine this week, first one ever, and entirely our fault, so that will be a chunk to pay out this week. But lesson learned - even if you are late for a show, can't park near the venue and it is lashing it down with rain, you must look at the restrictions. No wonder there were no other cars parked there!