Nagme's Diary - getting it under control in 2013

Nagme

Yes, I'm with Pinecone, OnePoll, Valued Opinions, Pure Profile, Toluna, MySurvey, YouGov, Swagbucks (very time consuming!), and I use Top Cashback, the Amex is cashback, the Capital One card is cashback, and the Barclaycard is a 0% balance transfer. I'm never lucky enough to find roadkill! I do have a 20p jar though, I joined a comps website a while ago, but all I won there was lots of junk mail.

Oh gawd, £168 / 6.40 = 26hours :rotfl:We did need the microwave though!
Wow Sammy, 50% car insurance renewal is really something, well done! I've kept spreadsheets and spending diaries for 20 years on and off, but the spending continued regardless - I went from one extreme to the other. This diary and the MSE challenges mean that I have more focus than ever before. Plus DH and I are working at the depression and anxiety.

I think that having realised and admitting what is happening, I can now actively change. Working three days a week will reduce the opportunities, and I never drag DS out to the shops after school, we generally go straight home as he's shattered. DH is being very helpful and understanding and still thinks I'm good with our money!

Tuesday
Went for a walk round the park today with DH and DS, took DS's trike, he was in heaven with all those puddles! Had an end-of-the-hols treat with lunch out for £12, then found a laptop bag for Mum's birthday for £9.99 in PC World. Tank of fuel for DH's return to work tomorrow. Had to throw the hanging birdfeeder out as I couldn't get it clean enough to refill, but rather than buying another, DH took the roof off the old feeder table and put a floor tile on the top so it's a good hygienic table again for the birds. Had a visit from the woodpecker last week, this is such a good time of the year for birdspotting in our garden!

x

sammy115

Nagging here...yes but did you need a microwave that cost £168

I can say this because I hate buying appliances of any kind. Domesitc goddess I am not! However, I am begining to appreciate that quality (especially in pans) can outstrip cheaper versions...so I will let you off.

I too have suffered from depression (and other related family issues) over the last couple of years which consequently have led to my current pickle....I love an orderly existence and I am married to a man who hates order....*sigh*

Right off to give sky a call and then figure out how to boss the old man about!

Nagme

Thanks for the nag. As my username implies, I do need nagging. Needed microwave. Wanted Paint.

Just had weekly food delivery, £49.90, lots of essentials brand items, and started to think of meal plan for the next week. Ordered free potato offer from gardening magazine, just had to pay postage. Apart from DS's haircut this afternoon, that should be it for the week!

Yes, my DH is a biker and would happily live in the garage, fettling with his bike. I, on the other hand, am a typical virgo - making lists, tidying up, and being organised. it's an interesting household! Sorry to hear you've suffered from depression too, Sammy. It's like being stuck under a black cloud that is so dark sometimes. Shopping was the lift for too long.

I Will Not Purchase Any Magazines At All In January.

Today's mini challenge: tackle Self Assessment on the HMRC website - for this task I will budget some chocolate and one can of coke.

Good luck with the Sky phonecall!

sammy115

Sky went well...Orange not so!

Sometimes the things I do to save money end up costing me more....oh well, long saga.

I didn't do a mag subscription with Tesco I didn't have enough in vouchers, however, I received an email from Womens running inviting me to five issues for £5 so I went for that instead.

please-let-me-be-lucky

My DH is a biker too (or he was until we had to sell the bike after his accident, but he still is one at heart even though the bl00dy thing nearly killed him!) and I'm a Virgo too so I know just what you mean!! Mind you, since the accident DH has become obsessed with washing dishes and hoovering so it's not all bad :rotfl:.

Good luck with HMRC!

Nagme

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

My DH is a biker too (or he was until we had to sell the bike after his accident, but he still is one at heart even though the bl00dy thing nearly killed him!) and I'm a Virgo too so I know just what you mean!! Mind you, since the accident DH has become obsessed with washing dishes and hoovering so it's not all bad :rotfl:.

Good luck with HMRC!

Oh that's so funny!

DH had an accident 15 years ago and I see no obsessive housework. Apart from putting things away that I am halfway through using! Having said that, he had an operation on his spine last year and now eats salad.

Nagme

sammy115 wrote: »

Sky went well...Orange not so!

Sometimes the things I do to save money end up costing me more....oh well, long saga.

I didn't do a mag subscription with Tesco I didn't have enough in vouchers, however, I received an email from Womens running inviting me to five issues for £5 so I went for that instead.

Oh dear, did they dangle a shiny new phone at you? On the other hand, £5 on running mags is a far cheaper option than gym membership (unless you are already a member!)

Nagme

Did self assessment :T

It was actually quite easy once I got to the form.

Did another errand for Dad, and earned a tank of fuel! I should be able to make it last the whole month. Had a right old saga in the car park again, (why don't these machines take 5p's?) swapped 5p's with a stranger for a 10p, machine wouldn't take the 10p (no, it wasn't a plastic coin), so back to the cash machine for another tenner, and the same cafe (this time for a cup of coffee for the homeless man instead of a can of coke for me) Then a huge traffic jam on the way home! Made a big Nasi Goreng for tea last night, so no need to cook tonight.

Cat was sick on the bed the other day, and it went through to the feather duvet got some prices, £20 to wash it! I may donate it to a dog/cat sanctuary unless I find a launderette. Maybe I can wash it in the bath, then take it to the launderette to tumble dry it?

Plan for today - go to the library and have a playdate for DS after lunch. Mini challenge: work out how to reset HTC phone to factory standard, ready for Ebay/recycling (whichever pays better)

sammy115

No they didn't dangle a phone in front of me...I was good and paid for one in full last year..waited the obligatory 3 months locked to orange on pre pay before moving my number to giffgaff - but I cocked up and didn't unlock my phone......now I have a phone that doesn't work and a sim that doesn't work...and complaining to orange six times didn't seem to make a blind bit of difference.

Have now paid a company £52.99 to unlock the shiny new phone and now orange helpers are trying to help...talk about stupid:mad:

*cough* and yes I am a member of the gym - an expensive one at that but I do use it with my daughter and husband so it pays for itself...

Nagme

Managed to do the factory reset on the HTC. DS had playdate (ears are still ringing) and had leftovers for tea. Did the library, and made a loaf of bread, so a NSD!

However, DS's bellybutton is seeing far too much daylight, it seems he needs the next size up for tops (Or perhaps I could add some pleated hems to the bottoms of his t-shirts?) So maybe a trip to Primarni looms.

Had the best night's sleep for about 6 months thanks to sleeping in the spare room last night, it seems we also need a new mattress :eek:...So I guess we'll be sleeping in the spare room for the next few months. Still - it means the cat gets our kingsize bed (she needs the space) and we get a room with the venetian blind and blackout lined curtains instead of the stylish but not so good venetian blind only.

Mini challenges for tomorrow:

• Research phone value.
• Have argument with DS about clothes shopping.
• See if I can sort out Monday's shift - (why oh why can't the teachers do their inset training before the term starts?!)
• Attempt to contact HMRC to get off Basic Rate tax code!