Getting a Grip on 2013

shrimpy_80

LOVE that saying about the skinny dippers Cinny! I know a few people like that, but Birdie is right, its all about different priorities. I drive a clapped out old Fiesta but OH and I have a mean takeaway habit, but I know people who drive nice cars/take flash holidays but compain they can't afford to feed themselves! Its all about balance. It sounds like your brother is overstretching himself to please his GF though, and from what you've said before she isn't likely to change her outlook. Hope it all works out ok.

I saw a pic of the wedding on your FB and your sis looked awesome Great that you still got to see it. I bet you can't wait to visit!

tinkerbel

Horses for courses with spending priorities I think! I hope your brother doesn't get into a money mess trying to keep up with the joneses and impress people! I know what you mean about not wanting to help when they seemingly waste their money.. Really happy for you that you and your oh have fit your finances on track and are doing well well done

Weird that your bro is so cheap birdie! There is definitely a difference between cheap and careful I think!

Cinny91

Sounds familiar driving an old car and having a takeaway problem, Shrimpy

My Brother has finally put his car up for sale, so I'm hoping it's a turning point for them and things are on the up They'll be upside down on the loan but at least they'll have some savings and be able to get out of their overdraft. Right now there's just more month than money which seems to be digging them deeper into their overdraft. I think it's the feeling of there being no way out that's the worst part.

OH was getting all excited yesterday "only 3 weeks until payday and I still have £700" just hope he doesn't go typically OTT at Christmas. I can't lie and say I don't like being spoilt (who the frick doesn't?!) but I've made it as clear as I can I'll be happier this Christmas knowing he's got £200 more in the bank to buffer than I've got £200 more worth of stuff. Just scatting around asking people for tattoo money. I mean, I'll have that forever!

Bonus of my Grandparents going to Mr M this week, so I have the final weekly voucher without having to go spend £40 tomorrow :j

Have everything planned for London, and everything that's going to cost us pennies (London Eye, hotel etc) are all already paid for. Mainly hitting up free places, like museums and obviously some parks. Lots of walking and sight seeing, I'm hoping we'll only really use the tube to get back to the train station on Saturday So just tube and food money really! Decided I'm just taking £50 with me so I don't buy stuff for the sake of buying stuff And it's all systems go!

shrimpy_80

Oooh Cinny remind me when you're off to London? In a funny way I always find it easy not to spend too much there as there is always so much going on and plenty to see for free (although it is equally very easy to spend money on all the shiny things!)

I'm loving my car at the moment, I shut my seatbelt in the door a couple of nights ago and didn't notice, meaning the interior light was on all night. Somehow it still started in the morning, so in my mind it's something of a miracle motor at the moment!

Birdie85

Hope things will turn around for your Brother, sometimes you need that sinking feeling near the end of the month to make you realise that there's a problem and you need to rethink. Hopefully selling the car is the first step to financial freedom for him!

Hope your OH listens to you about Christmas! We've got a tiny budget (£30!) which OH is saying he's stuck to religiously (even down to wondering what he can do with the last £1.70!) but I'm still secretly hoping he'll have treated me to a Kindle Paperwhite! There's a very slim chance of it happening!

You'll have a lovely weekend in London by the sounds of it, great that so much is paid for already too, beats the queues and the shock of having to hand over the cash at the time!

Cinny91

We go in the morning We'll be there this time tomorrow! I was planning on leaving my card at home, but everything prepaid needs my card for validation. So damn

I do think if the world ended and everything was wiped clean like in the "epic movies" that 90's Mum cars would survive. I do love my little car, happy I've decided to make it work over getting a new one. He's still not even done 30k!

Keeping my fingers crossed! He's just never had to worry about his lifestyle, and I mean if you're used to having more than enough why budget? I've offered to help, I'm good at money stuff so I mareswell make myself useful

I wish we had a limit for Crimmus, we always say we will but never set it so one of us goes and buys something and it all goes to pot! You never know, he might just be fibbing about how his present buying is going so he can properly surprise you!

Caved and went to the shops before work. I need drugs! Been attacking my bug with herbally remedies, and low impact cold and flu tablets. But today I went and bought lucozade (hate it normally but it makes me feel semi-human!) and loads of different potions. Also maybe dropped that swanky new "sparkly" shampoo into my basket Something to make me feel better on the outside! Getting mur hur did later, so hopefully it'll still look jazzy.

Cinny91

London was lovely! A little hectic and it made my feet want to cry by the time we got home on Saturday but we had Sunday to be slobs. And Ryder was worn out from two days being surrounded by other pups so it worked fine for a day grazing through whatever was in the cupboards and watching Christmas movies

Still not feeling amazingly festive, think I just need to get work over and I'll be good to go by Friday evening. I think one of the things is I haven't seen my Grandparents house all dressed up for the day, and their house is just what Christmas is to me. I go every Christmas Eve and spend the evening with them, so I think that's why their house is what gets the festive-spirit moving! OH is off to get us Christmas jumpers on his break, so hoping that will help too!

But I am getting a little nesty festive, when you want to have everything clean for when Santa comes! So today after work I've got a big to-do list. Like cleaning the fridge and kitchen cupboard, organising the spare rooms and tackling the ironing. OH has also requested "hot chicken sandwiches" for tea but we have no bread in, so I'm going to attempt to make bread buns too (never work out right tbh! )

Picking up the cheque for the money I'm borrowing from my Grandparents this Friday too, so I can take it to the bank and have it cleared by the New Year. Will be nice to have the money in order and ready to go, as right now it's all just a jumble in my head and nothing is 100% set. If that makes sense?! So on Saturday I'm off to close my old bank account (finally!) and pop the cheque in le bank.

Was looking over my budget and realised I was putting money to one side for things I don't need to anymore. Whoops! So adjusted that for a little extra money for the Christmas shop

shrimpy_80

Glad you had a good time in London Cinny, I enjoyed your pics on fb.

I'm trying to get my house tidy for Santa but the cats keep destroying the Christmas tree so its a bit of a never ending job at the moment! Your food talk always makes me so hungry! I swear if I lived nearer I would gatecrash your tea every single day!

Cinny91

You'd be more than welcome! I just roasted two chicken boobs, with home made paprika wedges (make a little paste from oil, flour, paprika and salt and throw it over chunky cut wedges and roast for about an hour. Le boom!) Cheated and chucked them on some buns I bought from Asda and made a salad to go with so it didn't look like a total carb fest :A

I get those feels though Shrimpy. Ryder's tail swished the tree yesterday and he spent some time barking at it, then I figure they came to some kind of agreement and he curled up under it. By his present, which I caught him licking (again!) Then he ripped up a toy in the living room and I just thought, why bother!

A little scared as I have a woman with OCD interested in our house and wanting a viewing :eek: She said I don't need to bother about it looking spotless, but I am bothered now! I'm house proud but I'm not that house proud. So deciding to ditch the deep cleaning in favour of making biscuits is now making me feel a little anxious!

No fun sounding meals tonight, OH is out for the evening so I'm eating on my lonesome. Which means pasta something, and I always get excited and eat too early which means by 7:00pm I'm sniffing around the kitchen again

tinkerbel

So you got a grip in 2013... What thread ya gonna have in 2014?!?