May The Force Be With YOU!

short_bird

Not so good on the SFD's (Tuesday!) but have spent roughly £12 over Wed, Thurs and Fri. Which is significantly better than usual.

I believe I'll be having a go at that free Ebay gubbins this weekend as well as getting ready for a stall at a record and book sale next Sunday.

Jonesy88

Just a quick check-in to declare a SFD. Happy sunny bank holiday weekend

Bouncyminky

Well, I'll be glad when this month is over. Highly embarrassed that I seem to have the highest food budget of all and STILL cannot stick to it. This month will be the mother of all bad months I feel. :mad:

I have managed to (for the first time) get into double SFD, but seem to spend a lot of the days I do spend!!

I had a wobble (why should I bother, especially when OH not on board) but that attitude never got anyone anywhere but worse off. I had a friend who used to have the if you cannot beat them join them attitude and she is still paying off an IVA years after the relationship ended. Was feeling like I should skulk off into a corner and not infect you all with my weakness but then realised that this forum helps me to stay focused and allows us all to see the good, bad and ugly about all and support each other through - whatever.

Am still trying to get bargains whereever possible and do free/cheap entertainment. Got some summer sandals for £2.50 today, disney dress up outfit for DD for £2.50 and shorts for DS for 1.75 today.

Was supposed to be going into a free pirate day today with DC, but DD was ill so she spent day on the sofa - but the dress did cheer her up no end! Desperate to be a princess!

Off to a children's first aid course tomorrow which is free but they ask for a donation. I will donate as I know there are others in worse off positions than me.

Enjoy the sun tomorrow everyone.

YORKSHIRELASS

Aww Bouncyminky dont beat yourself up. I have been on this journey a while now and the one thing I can guarantee is that you will fall off the debt free wagon sometimes. Its just so hard to sustain being frugal long term.

The main thing is that you know you have slipped a bit and are back on track. And yeah I can relate to the whole OH thing, mine is pretty good on the whole but doesnt always understand that when I say we are skint I really do mean skint!! Hope your DD is feeling better.

I had a nice surprise today. I pay £350 a year for a bus pass for DS and I didnt realise that I had paid the last instalment for this school year. So I had put £38 in the budget which isnt needed, happy days!! I am going to take the kids out for a couple of days next week though so that will cancel itself out.

Well done on all the extra hours Kat - you are an inspiration to us all.

Visiting the parents tomorrow so will be a SFD then a day at home Monday. Roll on the end of this month, it seems to have been a long one!

stationeryspender

Sorry! Phone hasn't been letting me post this week, but am now on my computer so hopefully this will work. Hello to newbies and good luck to those still in this month's challenge - I'll be glad when May is over that's for sure!
Real mixed bag this week - 2 SFD courtesy of design week, with all the free alcohol and canapes a great MSE couple of nights out!
However, fell off the wagon properly on Monday...bought a new wardrobe. Not a set of new clothes, but an actual wardrobe. :eek:
I absolutely love it and am truly glad that I bought it. However, this has made me think about my relationship to purchases and I've
realised that I have a serious problem when it comes to resisting what I perceive as a bargain - the opportunity cost of missing out is something that I really struggle with. This is something that I need to get in check if I am ever going to clear the debt. Working on my budget tonight - payday was yesterday but I have a really crazy month coming up with Sister's 30th, my birthday and a long weekend abroad in the middle. Hoping to clear out a load of stuff and take advantage of fleabay's free listings this weekend as well.

NinjaSavingKat

Morning all! Am up with the birdies! SFD yesterday and hopefully again today. Short day today so hopefully done by 1500. Motor biking today- honestly feels like its been ages since I played with him..:-).. Make-up bag did a vanishing act and its the second time I've left it at work. At a different building today so can't retrieve it until Wednesday! Cheapo bits will be purchased with a lone £10 I left in my other account for 'emergencies'..

Food cupboard looking decidedly bare. Will post ingredients so you can all laugh but a few bits might need purchasing before June!

More shortly from work for those suffering.. Gotta get on the road!

EDIT: Make-Up bag located. In my rucksack. #numptyalert

angelpye

Hi all, bit of a spend day but justified as bargains and food only. Bargain number 1 was a PAC a mac from millets - they had two offers buy one get one half price and also some down to £15 from £25. My sister needed one too so we both chose from reduced range and I paid together so £11.25 - thank you very much! Also needed some seedlings as haven't been very on the ball with veg plot and B&Q have 3 for2 so 6 Tom plants (3 varieties) and 3 strawberry plants (again three varitities) for £6. Usually I grow from organic seed but have just been soooo lazy this year... Needs must.

Justified purchases as I keep getting caught in the rain and madam two yogurts has decided my other mac is cool - so cool in fact I never get to wear it! Have bought one she definately will not see as cool!!

Have to return to B&Q this morning as left something behind - yesterday I had a lift, today it will be a walk in the sunshine

wannabee_in_credit

I had a planned spend day yesterday with the car being in the garage. Thankfully it came in at just under the £200 I'd budgeted for it - and I can stop worrying about it for the time being (until the insurance is due in 3 weeks anyway). Today is food shopping day, and the car is desperate for petrol, but thankfully both budgets are still looking reasonable for May. All I can say is roll on Friday - May has felt like a really long and really skint month as far as I'm concerned.
Have a good day all.

NinjaSavingKat

Well now... BouncyMinky... like YorkShireLass said don't beat yourself up. These challenges are merely here so you are aware of what you are spending and try and curb it. There is no punishment when it comes to SFD count.. it's just something to allow you to think about what you are spending and why. But i think you are dealing with this just fine- how many in your household by the way - I am sure I asked once and have forgotten sorry...:(. I have the utmost respect for someone dealing with an OH who isn't MSE minded so to keep a harmonious home some things have to give and yes food is the one thing people see as not something worth cutting down on... Seriously though stick with us... it makes it easier to have a place to rant a little. Glad you are doing the first aid course though so don't worry about donating!!!

I had a nice surprise today. I pay £350 a year for a bus pass for DS and I didnt realise that I had paid the last instalment for this school year. So I had put £38 in the budget which isnt needed, happy days!! I am going to take the kids out for a couple of days next week though so that will cancel itself out

.

Oooooh Yorkshirelass this is so cool. I love it when things like this happen! Where are you taking the little sproglets? I might have an extra £38 if the Student Loan people stick to their word and return it asap. I just need to wait until my payslip comes out...#groan.

I absolutely love it and am truly glad that I bought it. However, this has made me think about my relationship to purchases and I've realised that I have a serious problem when it comes to resisting what I perceive as a bargain - the opportunity cost of missing out is something that I really struggle with. This is something that I need to get in check if I am ever going to clear the debt.

StationarySpender this is avery honest portrayal and very interesting. Can you tell us a little more - when did you realise you do this and how are you planning to tackle it...? I especially like your last comment... trust me you will get to the point where you will want to buy nothing.. I broke the buying habit as "treats" cause I deserve it and now treat myself with home baking...:T

Mrs_Toast

Morning everyone,

All this talk of beating yourself up when you overspend at the end of the month has got me thinking. This is the second month that we've had money left in the joint account before payday but still may have overspent a little. The thing is, with all my individual savings pots set up for these things I don't feel bad. I know I am in control of our spending and have certain goals for savings/debt repayments that are possible. I'd rather enjoy my life than scrimp too much and especially being heavily pregnant now I need to make it easier for myself.

This is all probably me justifying going out for lunch on Friday with DS and DH. After my injection and glucose tolerance test I fancied a treat :rotfl:There was money to cover it in the joint account and I transferred £30 out of it to savings. I've planned a stock shop for this morning from money I've saved/earnt this week otherwise it'll be a 5 week month again and we'll struggle.