Mrs Boo Boo's Budget Bonanza

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Wow London_Bred glad I could be of some assistance.It's usually easier to motivate someone else.

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Well it's a new month yippie.
Planned to go shopping yesterday,but hubbie's van in garage and he now has the car. Did have to fill up with petrol yesterday,but am hoping with less distance commuting it will be a lot lower next month. Also had AGM for allotment society last night so paid £90 for 2 shares. Hopefully we will be better rewarded this year in oodles of veg. What a terrible year it was last year. Had to buy potatoes which is usually unheard of. Agreed to be a veg buddy and pick and deliver veg to those who are unable to do it themselves this year.

Have finally sorted out car insurance a real dread of mine. Started to use comparison sites writing down the dets and passwords this time in a book so I don't lose it again! Couldn't beat my renewal quote so have gone with them again. Also last year one of the conditions was I couldn't drive another car 3rd party. Not a real problem as I don't,but new insurer so able to now.Always good to know just incase. Really hate doing this so will start earlier next year with my super organised book.

Completed NHS professionals form.
Made bed.
Still got accreditation form to complete today.

Go for a run while the sun is still shining-used to go with a friend after work,but due to change in jobs will no longer be able to do this. Keep up the routine.

Make card for mate and buy pressie ready for meal out tomorrow.
Sort out stuff for craft fair tomorrow.

A budget has really made me get organised. I am now thinking in terms of buying items such as toilet rolls and hubbie's beers once a month. It takes time too. well for me anyway.

Looks like hubbie has no tax to pay this time,but of course there's always the payment in July. Am also going to get him organised as he chooses not to be money savvy. Luckily he's not a great spender,but it makes a great difference. Small things like paying my car insurance at the right time so that I get £5.00 off my credit card bill for spending £300 makes all the difference.

Must get on and get dressed.

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Well started new job today got the rest of the week at induction yawn.
Took me 20mins to get there! My brain is buzzing.
Popped into Mr Ts for some redbush teabags and ended buying 2 packets of Surf (50 washes) for £5.00. Also some reduced pork fillets which can be turned into teryaki pork and stir fry.
Amazing how the budget gets used up quickly. Mind you wont have to buy washing powder for a while. Also got reduced stuff at local Spar shop yesterday. Not sure what to do about grocery budget yet. Do I carry it over or save it? Really can't afford it yet so will have to monitor for a while.
Have had a debate about wearing a uniform. Some do some don't. Would much rather as it saves buying clothes for work and washing it can be set against tax.

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Very quiet weekend with not much spending either. Lazy too, no running. Oh well strat my part time next week so have Monday & Tuesday off. Need to be disciplined so have decided to stick to working hours to get stuff done. So easy to waste the day.

Need to start getting on top of things such as paperwork which has been so neglected recently. Like to be able to put my hand on things easily.

Hubbie has acquired a TV off a mate for £100. Old TV was circa 1980's and was only the 2nd one we've had in 25 years so not bad going. Odd getting used to the size,seems so big.

Still not got refund from ebay seller despite emailing again. Grr!

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Great weather today,although a tad windy.
Washing out on the line already, saves going to the launderette and £4ish.

Started sorting out the paperwork last night and instead of looking to buy some new holders for the filing cabinet I made do and mended them instead.

Attend a study day and due to staying with a friend I wasn't able to make any food. Survived on the soup and roll and later on was hungry again and remembered my old staple of banana sandwiches. Ideal 15p for a banana and reduced pack of rolls 59p. Cheap and filling too.

This budgeting diary is certainly helping me concentrate on saving money where I can and not going too mad.

Finished student accreditation form.

Mobile phone has to be looked at next. Have a very old contract with Orange and it's not working because I have to top up with £15 a month to get free texts etc. I don't do this very often so it's costing me more. Not bothered about what phone I have because I only use it for texting and the odd call.

Anyway got to crack on.

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Well another week has passed. Beautiful day again so washing out again. No visit to the launderette and money saving. Offline at the mo.main computer not well so am using hubbie's phone. Had to check my signature for shopping budget. Still working well and am getting used to how much stuff I need per month. So as we go along I will buy in bulk for the month and that's done. Also budgeted for hubbie to have a beer a day,but he's not had one every day so carried over to the next month. Also have not bought any chocolate or wine lately so feel a lot healthier. Not tackled mobile yet! Oh well Rome wasn't built in one day.

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Back online properly, thank goodness and at no extra cost. Thought we'd at least have to buy a new one! yippie.
Nearly blown shopping budget,but there is a method. Bought in monthly bulk so shouldn't have to buy much else. Well that's the theory. Went to Farm Foods for toilet rolls and came out with a bit more! Pack of 1100 Typhoo teabags for £9.95 which should last for ages. Bread,tinned tomatoes and butter. Then LIDL and ALDI today.
Went to my leaving do last night,but my lovely colleagues paid for my meal and my friend's partner did the taxi bit.
Need to clain for extra hours for induction week.Being new I thought it would automatically be taken into account,but have to complete an extra hours form! Can't afford to let it go,also need to claim for mileage expenses too. All teething problems and annoying,but will soon settle down.
Have decided to make biscuits and cakes every week so have not bought any sweet stuff this month. Flapjacks and tea loaf,I think. Didn't buy any crisps either. Need to watch the treats because they all add up.
A bit tired and jaded so need an early night.

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Oh my goodness where does the time go?
Shopping budget is getting very close this month so hopefully able to make it last til the end of the month.
Am owed travel expenses from work,but would be lovely to put this by to pay for car stuff,but not sure.
Still baking, rather than buying biscuits and cakes so will hopefully cut costs. Will attempt to make savoury biscuits too.
Bought a magazine subscription for my sister's birthday next month for £13 from Living Social and that's good because I never know what to get her.
Result on ebay refund after I reminded the seller and recorded negative feedback. Didn't realise I'd left it too late to raise it with ebay. Oh well you live and learn.
Spent today at a craft fayre raising money for the Alzheimer's Society. Not great,but managed to cover table costs. Lots of free time to make more items to sell.
All good stuff.

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Well time has flown again.
Food budget went out the window last month,but have lots left over so am hoping it will level out. didn't realise I have 2 big box washing powder.
Managed to get another phone with Clubcard vouchers from Tesco. Was told I couldn't change my number by the customer services girl,but have just check the website and I can. Need to contact Orange. Brain frazzled by all the tarifs so an a standard PAYG at the mo. Liked the idea of the triple top up,but only lasts a month and not sure if I will use it.I only text and rarely call.Like the feature where it lets you know how much credit left after each transaction. Other phone died funnily enough after I bought the other one and I have no way of retrieving my numbers. Had the idea of getting a really cheap phone with my phone fund and putting my sim in that to get all my numbers and use up the remaining credit.
Lovely sunny day so washing out and drying. Saved on launderette.
Need to crack on especially with NHS professionals training. Good thing it's induction and only recently did that.Still hoping for extra hours at work or for a part time job to come up so that I am earning a bit more. Been feeling a bit off colour this week and have less energy to get things done.
Husband's van insurance due soon so need to make a start on that.
Off now housework calls.

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Good day today in terms of raising money for charity. Attended a charity craft fayre today and the raffle money was divided out to each stall making a total raised of £120. So pleased. Tombola was popular. When I got home sorted tombola out and added more prizes for next time so I can just pick it up and go. Still some more to do because we have a few events to cover this year.
Made a yummy goats cheese quiche and some 'curry in a hurry' base mentioned on here from 'mortgage free in three' blog tonight. Have some coconut milk and plan to make naan bread to go with it.
Had a good idea about overpaying mortgage which seemed impossible with our situation,but endownment payout (will not cover mortgage!!!!) due in June and have decided to use monthly endownment amount to overpay .Yippie.
Managed to switch old phone on and retrieve numbers and 30p credit left.
Not much going on tomorrow. Need a paperwork blitz.
Need to look for credit card I carefully put in a safe place to use up the £22.50 credit I have on it! Not sure what weather will be like tomorrow. Wet and foggy today,yuk.