My first home &I want to OWN it!

Katzen

Only £2.48 of actual money spent in town. Some cheddar crackers for the boy to eat, a sheet of Christmas stickers for this afternoons Christmas card making together and £1 on a cinnamon bun each in the Swedish store (coffee was free with family card). I did spend money in the shop but I also returned some bits so nothing came out of my purse for those. Also cashed cheque for our internet cash back, so that's £80 to be squirrelled away once it clears and withdrew £60 change for the boot sale on Saturday, here's hoping I sell some of our tat now!!

Katzen

Boot sale today netted £5.80 profit after the table fee and the £3 I spent on chutney! Not exactly going to make me rich but better than a kick in the teeth. Now need to get some stuff on eBay and then carry on with the declutter, as I've booked in for the next sale in feb.

Katzen

What a dreadful day?! Ended up chucking DS in the car and driving him around for a nap then getting myself a drive thru as I just couldn't face trying to make something from the dregs of my cupboards. Really didn't want to spend £7 on rubbish food but done now. Did manage to get to two shops and only bought the Christmas presents I went in for, one of which was almost entirely covered by an old gift card I found knocking around in a drawer. Also discovered I can pay for one of my remaining gifts via PayPal so need to sell, sell, sell on eBay to have the funds for that.
Here's hoping tomorrow goes better! Xxx

Katzen

Been a tough couple of weeks being back at work but holidays now so yay! Not a great MS month, but then December is always going to be pricey so I guess I can let myself off. Had to borrow £50 from savings to keep me afloat, hopefully that will be all I need though. Have managed £25 in eBay sales so far and all on the 50%off fees offer so only £1.25 to pay on that. This has gone towards a couple of Christmas present orders that for shops that take PayPal, so that has helped. Also, spread the rest by timing purchases with credit card statement dates so some will be due in Jan and some in Feb. Just need to remember that I've got a long January ahead of me.

In other news, I've come up with a little crafting business idea. Hoping to set up a Facebook page and attend some craft fairs. Need to make a bit of stock, get the online sales going and aim for a fair or two around valentines. Won't be enough to pay the mortgage but every little helps.

Katzen

I have no more money! Must remember this! Difficult as there is a credit card so I can 'borrow' from future months plus my little savings slush fund could be raised again but I really don't want to. I need to get all presents out and assess what I've got. I'm fairly certain I have everyone covered.

Chatting to a friend yesterday and she said she's got DS a little present, that I wasn't expecting, so I need a little something for her two kids. Fortunately I think I can cover that from items in my 're-gift' pile so no spends there. Going to sit now and plan my week off so I make it as low spend as possible.

Katzen

Last of the Christmas shopping has been bought or collected. Cutting things very fine money wise but do get paid on Friday so won't be going into the overdraft at all.

Tried to exchange my HKD that have been sitting in my bag for weeks, but the flipping holiday shop at the retail park was closed for refurb.

Posted two boxes to Ziffit and Music Nagpie today. Gutted to get so little for the things but I was never going to shift it all at the carboot, and now I have more space and less clutter so it's all good.

Just sat and added up my extra income. From cashback from various sources and eBay I have cleared £190 in the last two months!! I still have over £40 waiting to be payable on quidco and £30 for switching energy suppliers. It has definitely subsidised this month and just disappeared so I need to try to claw that back into savings over the coming months.

Also found out I should have been paying 50% union subs since I went part time. Called up to change and they've back dated. Also booked my 6months free for maternity leave so as now paying no suvs for 18 months. Have set up to transfer them to savings instead.

Katzen

NSD today. Need to start logging these. Have got back into my bullet journal so will create a log in there I think. Journal has really helped me keep motivated with all the cleaning and sorting for Christmas this week. Does mean I've kept myself mega busy and am now a bit knackered, but 5 days at my parents' should be nice and steady, if not exactly relaxing. Just got to get us all packed and ready to go during tomorrow.

Katzen

Exchanged some lurking holiday money =£26
CD trade in confirmed, just waiting to clear the bank =£21

Using cashback sites, cashback deals and selling my junk, I've cleared over £200 since November! Obviously this won't be as big in the long term but it's a healthy start

Have ordered tickets for Sealife centre and tokens for a pizza lunch using Clubcard points so that will mean we only need to pay for transport and any spend over the vouchers on food.

Massive supermarket shop -£92!! Did pick up a few Christmas offers for the boy's party next week and a couple of treats for NYE. Need to reign that in.

Off to buy some stock to start my little business today. Hoping to get the Facebook page launched on New Year's Day.

selloptape

Good luck with the business! I've often thought of it but too nervous to tAke the plunge

Katzen

Thanks sellotape. It's still not up and running but, in the spirit of mindfulness and being kind to myself I'm trying not to make it a source of stress. I think you should go for it, you never know unless you try

Money-wise we are a week in and all the bills have been paid. Savings look healthy. My emergency fund is back to where I want it and my 'slush fund' should cover up coming mot etc. Accounts looking a bit sparse but thinking about what else is to be paid I think it'll be fine. Better that way really as it stops me splurging.

Did get charged by my union this month, having called them and been assured I wouldn't have anything to pay, so that's another phone call for this afternoon.

DS birthday tomorrow, hoping to be low spend day out and then a little birthday tea on Sat. Got the shopping delivered for it just to take one thing off my list but still need to shop today for some last cake baking bits.