Nymphadora's getting sorted (at last)

Nymphadora

My head is bursting with money ideas.

On paper we should have £700ish left but we never do:( I have tried in the past to keep a spending diary but life gets in the way of good intentions.

I am :mad: SIL 40th birthday this month. DH's family want us all to chip in for a big present and a meal. It is going to cost us about £100 possibly more :mad: can't really say no but I just don't see why it needs to be so much. I am sure I won't expect that much on my 40th. I think what makes it worse is no one asks can you afford/do you mind it is just taken we will pay it.

It's things like this that put me into this mood, yes ok we can afford it and perhaps I am selfish but I think about what I could do with the kids or buy for them with that.

Right enough of me moaning. Will be out and about all day tomorrow and most of the evening as going with DH and the kids to a friends to celebrate friends DS birthday, nothing too expensive just a trip to a play centre and McDonalds at lunch time then dinner and cake at friends.

oh and it rained on my washing earlier on but thankfully I caught it before it got wet, just as well really as the washing was almost dry.

Didn't sort gas/elec but will do that tomorrow if I get a chance if not Friday.

Nymphadora

God I feel awful. Fibro has been full on these last few days.

Struggled out of my bed today at around 12. Kids got themselves up and fed thankfully. DH at work today. He picked up an hours overtime the other day so I think that is 5 in total this past week.

Have spent a fair bit the last few days.

£10.75 entry to soft play
£24 on lunch
£22 in Asda
£7 in FF
£100 taken out and put aside for SIL birthday :mad:
£100 for Gas and Elec (though should be able to save some of this)
£20 Petrol

House is a tip there is also a funny smell (though no one else can smell it) so really need to muster some energy to clean the place.

Not sure what is for dinner but will try and make some Veg soup today.

Pippilongstocking

I just wanted to say goodluck and I admire anyone trying to avoid monster munch crisps.

meal planning is my Achilles heel - so good luck with that too

Pippilongstocking

Nymphadora wrote: »

My head is bursting with money ideas.

On paper we should have £700ish left but we never do:( I have tried in the past to keep a spending diary but life gets in the way of good intentions.



Didn't sort gas/elec but will do that tomorrow if I get a chance if not Friday.

Now I hope you don't mind me saying this but here's how I did it.

I tried all other methods and failed.

I just put a jar in the kitchen with a lid on the worktop and I put all my receipts in there for a month.

Then I sat down with a very large glass on wine (receipted :rotfl:) and worked through the lot.

It was a real eyeopener.

When I didn't have receipts I just wrote down 'crisps and carp - local shop £3.78' on a bit scrap paper or in my phone then I wrote it one something and put it in the jar.

It was probably the most scary and effective thing I did on MSE.

I found where my food budget was going
I found where the 'wee treats' spends were
And all sorts of things I'd never thought of.

Its the start of the month

that's all I'm saying - in 28 days from now, you might be able to sit down and be brave too.

Then you'll see where the money actually does go.

Its honestly the best thing I ever did.

And goodluck - feel free to ignore.

:A

Nymphadora

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

Now I hope you don't mind me saying this but here's how I did it.

I tried all other methods and failed.

I just put a jar in the kitchen with a lid on the worktop and I put all my receipts in there for a month.

Then I sat down with a very large glass on wine (receipted :rotfl:) and worked through the lot.

It was a real eyeopener.

When I didn't have receipts I just wrote down 'crisps and carp - local shop £3.78' on a bit scrap paper or in my phone then I wrote it one something and put it in the jar.

It was probably the most scary and effective thing I did on MSE.

I found where my food budget was going
I found where the 'wee treats' spends were
And all sorts of things I'd never thought of.

Its the start of the month

that's all I'm saying - in 28 days from now, you might be able to sit down and be brave too.

Then you'll see where the money actually does go.

Its honestly the best thing I ever did.

And goodluck - feel free to ignore.

:A

That's a good idea. I keep all my receipts but they live in pockets, bags, purses and the car. I eventually just bin them but will look out a jar and get DH to put any receipts he has in there (and me) not sure I would be brave enough to have a look at then end of the month but I suppose that's what the wine is for

Nymphadora

Feeling much better today :j

One washing load on the line (please stay dry) another load in the washing machine.

Kids are on a sleepover tonight so have got them to strip their beds and will get them washed and dried and back on their beds for tomorrow.

House is still a bit of a tip but not as bad as it was.

DH is at work and has taken some of the HM soup with him. Kids and I will have that for lunch today.

Dinner will be the sausages from the freezer (taken out to defrost) with mash and beans.

Will need to nip to the shops today but only to get milk and bread.

MIL has invited us for dinner tomorrow night so that's one less meal to plan for. Freezer and fridge are low on food so will need to go food shopping but will try and leave that till Wed or Thursday.

Have not been doing well with the water intake only about 500ml each day over the last few days but plan to get back on track.

I weighed myself again and according to the Wii I lost a 1lb.

DH put £40 in the elc and nothing on the gas (still had £28 on it) so he has put £40 into the jar and if we need to top up the meters he will use this. There should be another £20 but DH used this for petrol.

So last month confirmed savings from the Gas/Elec was £30 :T

Nymphadora

Going to note my receipts here.

Receipts from the 24.7.13 as that's when my month started.

FOOD

24.7 Lidl £54.22
24.7 FarmF £12.62
27.7 Tesco £1.40
27.7 M&S £2.48
28.7 Asda £12.93
28.7 Lidl £0.75
28.7 FarmF £4.28
30.7 Tesco £1.53
31.7 Asda £4.28
02.08 Asda £21.54
02.08 FarmF £8.84
04.08 Asda £3.88
04.08 FarmF £6.45
06.08 Lidl £8.02
08.08 Co-op £2.02
08.08 Lidl £7.00
08.08 FarmF £4.09
10.08 FarmF £11.96
13.08 FarmF £8.25
14.08 FarmF £27.96
14.08 FarmF £15.39
14.08 FarmF £5.17
17.08 FarmF £11.40
17.08 Morrisons £1.83
19.08 FarmF £2.00
20.08 FarmF £3.67
21.08 FarmF £8.25
Entertainment

26.7 Swimming £7.80
01.08 Soft Play £10.75
01.08 Mcdonalds £24
03.08 Chip shop £16
19.08 Cash £50 (Night out)
22.08 Filling Station £19.40

Back To School

28.07 Asda £11
04.08 Asda £5
06.08 Tesco £5
07.08 Brantano £14
07.08 M&S £27
07.08 SportsD £13.99
11.08 John Lewis £21.00
12.08 Primark £4.50

Birthday Present (lots this month)

01.08 Dobbies £14.99
01.08 £100 cash for gift/dinner (later on this moth)
04.08 Asda £19.18 (including cards, wrapping)
10.08 £10 cash
11.08 Clintons £14.99
17.08 Morrisons £22.85
12.08 Lakeland £3.98
18.08 £40 cash drinks

Petrol

31.07 Bp £20
04.08 Esso £20.00
09/08 BP £20
17/08 Morrisons £20.01
18.08 BP £22

Misc

01.08 Dobbies BBQ items £10.50
10.08 Boots £3.79 (Athletes foot powder)
12.08 Savers £3.98 (Air freshners)
17.08 Morrisons £3.00 (Tights)
18.08 Spectrum £17.88 (Coffee Pot)
19.08 Boots £12.50 (Foundation)
19.08 Primark £4.00 (Umberella)
21.08 Cash £10 (school lunches)
22.08 Boots £12 (makeup)
22.08 Next £119 (Clothes)
22.08 H&B £6 (Pills)

Nymphadora

Lunch has been had.

just going to nip out to get bread, milk and ham.

We have a load of birthdays this month and the kids have several parties to go to as well so need to get a birthday present when I am out. shouldn't be too much (hopefuly)

3rd Load is in the WM. 2nd Load split between outside and the TD.

Nymphadora

I am done in. In my PJ's already. Just finished dinner and plan on a lazy night in front of the TV and an early night.

Tomorrow is going to be a spend day need to get the rest of the kids school uniform.

I have decided the kids have really eaten far too much junk over the holidays so they are on a mini health kick. DD is worse than DS but they both need to eat a bit better. They also have ha too many late nights so tonight they will be in bed early.

Right off to put my feet up (dishes can wait till tomorrow).

Pippilongstocking

Well done on getting brave and facing those scary receipts.

I reckon feet up is the only way forward.