January's Big Financial Freeze!!!

wiggysgirl

Hi all...

Too late for Januarys challenge but can you sign me up for February's please?

Like a lot of us, I'm finding there's too much month at the end of the money:eek:

Maybe February could be the start of something better:j

Here's hoping!!!:)

Ninno820

afternoon everyone - I have been struggling to admit this but am going to confess.

Today should have been a planned cost of £15 but it was cancelled. Now a true MSEr would have regarded this as £15 saved. Instead I have gone out to our local cinema (a bargain £3.50 plus free coffee), arrived early so nipped into the local c**p to see if there were any bargains and spent £13.58 (steak reduced from £4.24 to £1.99 plus diet yoghurts, pineapple and mellon - all for SW). So total spend for today is £17.08.

In penance I have removed the NSD I claimed earlier and added the £13.58 to my grocery budget - which blows it!

On the upside I think that I have double counted two cc payments on my tracking spreadsheet (wondered why there was nothing left for food and petrol!) and cold be better off to the tune of £250! I am planning to go through the month reconciling the spreadsheet with the bank statement every week before I celebrate too loudly. If this is true then I could be rid of debt one by December - 6 months earlier than I thought possible.

YORKSHIRELASS

fairy3 wrote: »

Finally think the teenagers are on board :
DS2 - Mum we need some crisps
DD1 - You have no chance she's on NSD's til Saturday
DS2 - What does that mean?
DD1 - You are not getting any!

Ha! I buy a very small amount of crisps and chocolate biscuits every fortnight and once they are gone thats it.

DS2 made himself a sandwich for lunch and rummaged through the cupboards for some crisps. Complete disaster!!! There are no crisps - we are all going to starve. He grumbled and stomped to the other cupboard. No kit kats either.

I sweetly suggested he could have a hm scone or flapjack but thats no alternative is it?

YORKSHIRELASS

Right, back here to read properly. Sorry to hear things are tough Beckyboo. £350 a month on groceries doesnt sound too terrible, especially if you are buying nappies. I guess every penny really does count for you at the moment though and I certainly know how that feels.

Well I have had a NSD - havent been out of the village. But I did meet a friend and she was telling me about her holiday plans which made me feel a bit unsettled and fed up. I have to really rein things in for a least the next couple of years and I feel a bit down. OK its just a wobble and I will get over it. I do feel like I am at the bottom of a mountain though.

On the upside I found out yesterday that I did some hours in December that I didnt get paid for. I have really got to buy my son a new mattress, his is very old and really needs replacing. So now I can cobble together enough money to buy him one without having to upset my finances.

I have also remembered that its half term in Feb - and we have got family visiting. So I will need to set aside some funds for a couple of days out, need to think of some cheap things to do.

nannygladys

Hi everyone, well Ive had a lovely day looking after DGD and visiting DD3 (who is having a baby) love seeing family:)

Another nsd and Im hoping tomorrow is as well as I work Sundays and after work im only ready for home, cant wait to the end of the month to see how the CC and OD have changed its got to be on the positive side.

Anyway off to get my stuff ready for tomoz and then a very early night to finish reading my book
Jxx

nannygladys

Just realised my fuel amount was for four weeks (I get paid four weekly) so I will have to hope I dont run out!!!!! cos Im NOT buying anymore until Feb

Verityemilia

Hi ... Will you continue in February, if so will you start a new thread or keep with this one ?

rosiecheeksblossom

Thankyou to Fairy3 and Ninno 83 re: website for tax refund. Will definitely be looking at that.
NSD 21 today but have had to get petrol, only £2.99 left in that purse.
Hopefully three quarters of a tank will last 2 return trips to work and one to Manchester for Strictly, So excited!!!!

Siouxsie32

Is it STILL January? Does anyone else feel that it's gone on forever? I'm rapidly running out of back up money. I had to pay the SM a visit to buy toothpaste and washing up liquid. Oh, and some chocolate that was on offer (It was a stressful day and it's almost a full moon ). Not strictly necessary, I could have eeked it out a few more days, but I was in the SM vicinity so decided it would save petrol if I did it today. Although I used all my January food budget already, I still had £17.95 left from December's budget so I didn't have to find money - phew.

Other than that, I've had a quiet day...staring at my tax return stuff, thinking I better make a start, then eating some chocolate and reading MSE Nice tip about union fees and shoes - shoes? £6? Is that a £6 allowance - ie 20% or whatever of £6? I need to call HMRC on Monday anyway about something else so I'll ask them if I can claim that too Their phone lines are busy busy busy at the minute with people like me leaving it til the last minute. I tried to get through to them on Friday but it was constantly engaged.

Beckyboo, we're all here for you :grouphug: You've done brilliantly so far. I love the idea of the welfare system in principle, but I hear time and time again about how it helps those who don't help themselves and clobbers those who try. Incredibly unfair on you and our OH but, well you know that old saying about what doesn't kill you making you stronger. I have no doubt that you'll get through it. I know you can't just magic money from thin air and when you haven't got it you haven't got it, but you have to give yourself a huge pat on the back for laying the foundations before the poo poo hit, and also for everything you've achieved since. Oh, and it doesn't sound like you're likely to starve anytime soon

So, no snow down south Back to work for me tomorrow Only 3 more sleeps til payday :j

NinjaSavingKat

I am here. I am watching. Yesterday was an NSD.. Today will be an NSD. Friday was not! I had an egg on toast at work, a red bull to stay awake.. £5.62 in Lidls for pizza, onions, apples and pineapple and wait for it..£101 at my local beautician on skin care. Yup that's what I've done.. It is in Februaries budget but bought this month as I am sick to death of looking like a minger.. Simple as that. I'm nearly 30, with scarring that needs to be a little reduced before my epic holiday.. So there. Somebody spank me!!

I'm also extremely tired. This is day 6 at work currently hitting double time.. I have another 6 days before a day off. I can barely function passed eating and sleeping! I finish at 0700 this morning and I'm back in at 1500.. Treats! :-)

February to those wondering will be a new thread back in the 'thread' area instead of here where the challenges are. We never got moved back for some reason and I missed the chance of a fourth month as 'DFW Thread of the Week".. Lol!!!

I have yet to finalise details for February's challenge but yes I've felt this month go on and on and on and on.. And it'll go on until Thursday.. At least the snow has gone and I don't have to use the train!!

Right.. Back to the grind!!

Onwards and Upwards!!