Ready for the challenge...roll on 2013!!!!!

brummiebabe

It's the weekend:j. Have had a nice chilled morning but need together myself moving now if it's going to be a productive day

Plans for today include doing a top-up shop, getting birthday cards that I need for this month and having a general tidy up & clean before the return to work next week:(. Do think that it spoils you having so much time off sometimes. It'll be nice to get back into a good routine though, with the kids being back at school too. No doubt I'll be moaning about it next week but I know I'll get much more done once things return to normal.

DS1's friend stayed over last night so that will keep DS happy for today....they'll probably spend the day playing the play stations/x-box. Although I know it's not good for them...it's free entertainment:rotfl:

We're off out tonight for my belated birthday meal.....all budgeted for, so feel happy about that. Am also pleased that a payment has finally cleared my account - I bought some petrol on 11/12/12 and up until yesterday they'd still not taken it! I was sensible though, and put it into another account for a while so I didn't touch it....normally I'd have just assumed it was taken & thought the money in my account was all mine to spend.....this checking online banking regularly and doing spreadsheets does work!!

I also need to go and get DD 2 new school cardigans today....she is desperate for some..but again this is something I have budgeted for:T

Am pleased with how January is going so far:rotfl: I know it's very early days but I have more money left in my account than normal...so that's got to be a good thing.

Am heading to the shower now.....have a fab day

brummiebabe

Haven't updated for a little while but things are going pretty much to plan:T

Had the MOT for my car yesterday. Had enough money to pay for the actual test, but if anything had needed doing I'd have had to put it on the credit card:mad:. However, it passed:j:j:j so nothing has been spent on the card now since Christmas!! We're not overdrawn either - this could be the first month in a long time that we actually manage to stick to our budget.

We have booked a short break (in the UK) in the summer, but it's self catering & we will perhaps eat out once - previously we'd have eaten out most nights....all the money we need will be saved & nothing will go on a credit card. I know this money could have gone towards my debt though, and do feel a little torn as to whether we should do it, but I'll try to cut back in other ways to make up for it.

Hoping to have a NSD today....just got DS' football (if it's on) an seeing family- not venturing near a shop:rotfl:

brummiebabe

NSD....yay!!! DS1's football was off so I managed to get my ironing done whilst DH took DS2 to his match.

Hoping to get the kids into bed early so that I can relax for a bit & pray it doesn't snow.......

brummiebabe

Enforced NSD today due to being stuck in the house because of the snow. Have, however, given DS1 £10 - he has gone to a friends for a sleepover & may be going to the pictures tomorrow....weather permitting. If he doesn't go, then hopefully I'll get some of it back:rotfl:

DH gets paid on Wednesday - and we still have a bit of money left:j:j this will be the first month in ages that we haven't overspent ....am so chuffed, especially considering it's January!!

Need to check my online banking...but all looking good so far:T

brummiebabe

Yet another early start as DD decided she was ready to get up at 6.00am:eek: - managed to make her stay in bed until 6.45, but then gave up.....:rotfl:

Have checked all my accounts & credit card balances. I have not added any debt this month:j & am either at £0 or slightly in credit with my bank accounts - this is excellent as DH gets paid on Wednesday! We still have some cash put aside & enough petrol to last us....the only thing we're likely to need is milk! Can't believe how pleased I am not to be overdrawn (even slightly) - it feels like things are back in my control.

Have started sorting February's budget. It's a fairly expensive month for us unfortunately, with various birthdays, paying holiday deposit & both DS's needing football training gear....but I think it's achievable:T. Doing a realistic budget is an eye opener....worked out how much petrol we were likely to need & because there's 5 Wednesdays (the day we normally put petrol in) it's going to cost us £380......that's madness isn't it.....but I use my car at work (community nurse) and to get kids from school etc & DH works a distance away, which would make public transport almost impossible! Cars are such a drain on your finances:( but a necessary evil.

So the snow is still here, which means I shan't really be going anywhere! May see family, and pop to get some milk and check we've got stuff for packed lunches....but that's about it. Will be spending the day doing some bits of housework & generally getting organised for the week ahead. Hope everyone has a good day!

beanielou

Lookin g good :j
Have we seen you on TV then?

brummiebabe

beanielou wrote: »

Lookin g good :j
Have we seen you on TV then?

TV? Not likely...lol

Had to put £20 of petrol in as didn't want to get stuck in the snow & run out if fuel:rotfl: Also brought milk for work (89p) but I will take this back out of the tea kitty.....couldn't face work with no coffee today!!

beanielou

I am enjoying the new series about community nurses.

brummiebabe

Oh I see.....no they're District Nurses aren't they? I'm a psychiatric nurse working in the community....they don't do any programmes about us :rotfl:

Pay went in today:j & am pleased to report that we didn't go overdrawn & managed to save £40:money: However.....had to buy a new iron.....so spent £33 of it...but it was money we had & it didn't go on a card:T

Have split everything into envelopes & am paying cash for as much as possible.....plus I'm religiously using the app on my iPad to track all of my accounts. We've got an expensive month ahead.....but if we stick to our budget then we'll be on track for a better March! Feels like I'm wishing my life away......

beanielou

Got you, you are a CPN.
I just buy value/basics for a fiver as I drop them & if they break I dont feel bad about chucking them.