8.8 years

mrsdee

Wow good for you. Just think of how each month you are bringing your end date closer!

Octobergirl

I've fallen off the Mse wagon for the past 6 weeks or so, which has led to spiralling overdraft. Bum. I now have £10 to last me to 1st July, then need to go back to my jars. We had a fab (unplanned/ not budgeted for) holiday camping in edinburgh, as hubby was doing the marathon. The activities were frugal but spent a fortune on food, so £500 for the week has sent me awry.
On a positive note the new motability car is great on diesel, still on a fill up 3 weeks later.
Been trying to plan summer itinery for when the kids are off so I can budget, (also planning christmas:-)).
No major expenditure other than too much on groceries - I have had a few sleepless nights about my lack of a pension, I was hoping to put £50 a month into an Isa but haven't managed to start due to the overdraft.

Octobergirl

Just got back from a fantastic camping holiday , we had such a great time we extended it for nearly 3 weeks. the budget went awry, spent £1000 eek:eek: £250 over budget, but well worth it.

Mortgage down to £77k:D
overdraft up to £1500 I shall need to get the jars up and running.
Our gas/elec has just gone up AGAIN....from £84 monthly dd to £150pm in the space of a year - so I've changed to a 3 year fix. A bit wary after being burned by my Mse phone swap, which has turned out to be costly.

A bit of good news on the mobile front. Having drowned my new upgrade, I eventually got fed up with trying to get signal on my old spare. I went to get a cheap replacement, the shop had no records of my upgrade so gave me a new one...result:D

Hot, sunny, child free holiday in 4 weeks.....OH is in charge of finding spending money, haven't told the children yet as its going to unsettle DD. Need to shift 3 stone in a month.......

Octobergirl

I'm starting to flag and looking forward to school starting! DH is away with work for 5 days, which I have to be honest, is lovely and peaceful. The kids are calm, he's not winding up/ shouting at DS, it's a stress free zone:)

Money is painfully tight, £15 spent at a summer fare today, offset by some school uniform kindly bought by Grandma. Bought DD a Christmas present today (motion sensor sweet dispenser) £26.99 down to £8.99 - she's incredibly hard to buy for so very pleased. Already bought all of DS Christmas presents and 4 of DD' support workers:D

£15 shop in Lid!, which covers sandwich making for the week plus 2 meals and we've been invited out for Sunday dinner tomorrow.

Been given 4 free tickets to the Moscow State Circus, which DD is delighted about as she loves all things clown / circus related. I need to chase up logistics as they are ringside and we need wheelchair accessible.

Found out yesterday that I haven't even been short listed for a job as school dinner supervisor.....4 years at university well spent eek::eek:Not to mention my post grad studies:D

Octobergirl

I was going to take the kids to the cinema this morning, however DD was an absolute sod at 2.00am, crying and carrying on, Tv in the living room on at full blast. She rarely plays up, but when she does you can't reason with her, so I removed plugs from sockets and left her to it.

So, no cinema as punishment and a very tired, grumpy mum. I took DS to the car boot, he's only 4, but always manages to find great 'treasure'. Today he got a huge hot wheels terrordactyl set for £1.50, which he's played with all day

cleaned, tidied and culled DD's room.....carer is having the children tomorrow for a few hours so I can have a blitz.

Octobergirl

Feeling down this morning, totally fed up with constant penny pinching and trying to make ends meet. 7 years ago, it was an adventure and a thrill to get a bargain, now it's just draining.

Redid my budget this morning, it just doesn't add up. Now down to £200 food budget per month. I'm going to split the jars into weekly amounts to tighten the reigns.

Desperately need to get a part time job, nothing doing at the mo but hopefully when DD starts full time something will come up. I worked out on the benefits checker that I would be £200 pm better off if I'm a single mum......

Meal planner for the week...

Philly, bacon & leak pasta
Tuna & sweet corn jacket pot
Ham salad, new pots, coleslaw
Irish stew & crusty bread
Nut roast, new pots & salad
Chicken burger, salad & wedges
Cassoulet, new pots, green beans

Be interesting if I can do it for £50!

Octobergirl

I'm much more disciplined with the weekly jars and feel a little more in control of the finances. My birthday last week, oh devised a great treasure hunt around the village, ended up digging up treasure at the end (silver necklace) which was great fun.

My tax credits went up today by £30pm which is very gratefully received . 2 weeks til we go away......(not sure I'm going to lose the 3 stone in time ) Still haven't told the children as dd will go into meltdown/panic mode. Spent the evening writing lists /schedules for my parents as she has a plethora of weekly carers /therapies.

Got a brochure for free will writing in October....seriously need to pull my head out of the sand and get this done this year.

Shall attempt to get DS some school shoes again tomorrow....everywhere had sold out in his size yesterday:eek:

Octobergirl

We had a wonderful holiday, hot, sunny, lots of swimming and drinking.....bliss! Back to reality, had interview on Tuesday, starting new job on Monday:eek: the job isn't a problem, the childcare is proving stressful.

Sadly, most of my wages are going on childcare or replacing benefits, so working 25+ hours for £200 a month:(. A bit galling, however it's a step back on the ladder. I can pay another £50 overpayment off the mortgage, £50 extra towards holidays, £50 on food an general living and £50 savings.

Done my christmas shopping for both kids, daughters birthday party is sorted. The circus was great fun, got half term activities booked....I'm feeling in control:rotfl:

Octobergirl

I decided not to take the job:( various issues concerned me -it appeared to be a messy child protection incident in the making, I certainly don't need the stress. It was almost full time, requiring wrap around care....for £200 a month. so.....as we appear to be in a benefits trap, we've decided quality of life needs to be our focus rather than higher income.

I must say, I've loved being home alone, cleaning cupboards out, organising paperwork, bought paint and roller to decorate the hall tomorrow:D

I fitted an electronic usage gizmo today ( an Mse freebee that's been sat in a cupboard for the past year) and spent the day watching the cost change depending on objects used ..... 7p per hour for dishwasher...48p per hour for kettle....32p for heating:eek:been manically switching lights off after everyone:D

Chased up npow@r, who could be yet another dodgy Mse switch following the diabolical first util£Ty. 4 months after switching, they still haven't taken any payment??!

Half term activities are booked, daily swimming lessons for both kids, halloween birthday party for DD, halloween tea party/ trick or treating together with some spooky wood walks and treasure hunts.... I'm getting all excited:D

Octobergirl

I've definitely, definitely finished christmas shopping for the children. I MUST NOT buy them anything else!!!

Bought myself a yoghurt maker as it was half price, not using the branded pouches but an Mse recipe instead. DS eats loads, but he wasn't a fan of the first batch, not sweet enough. I however, loved it, so big thumbs up:T

Lots of activities planned for half term next week. DDs birthday, budgeted for, just need to try and get her a second hand keyboard from the bay.

Went for a lovely 1 1/2 walk with the dog this morning. Wish I had the will power to do it everyday, it would make inroads onto my ( non existent) weight loss.

OH is taking the car to work now that I have no child duties in the daytime. Theoretically my petrol budget should now go down. I need to start putting little savings aside for ops, in fact, I need to see if I'm allowed to op online. I have a direct debit that goes out on mortgage day, but would have much more incentive if I could do small ops ad hoc.

DS needs new trainers, DD gets new splints tomorrow, so will also need new shoes......not budgeted for these:(