Emerging from the dark - a dfw diary

Chrysalis1976

how do I get the picture to show?!

parsniphead

Hi Chrysalis

It shows when you click the link.

It's very sweet, i'm sure you're going to make some little girl very happy.

Chrysalis1976

It's official, I'm carp with money, I have no money until child benefit goes in on Tuesday so will have to pay for food and party food on £40 of credit card.

How come I can be so organised and on the ball in my work but not where it matters most at home.

Serious thinking, plans and implementation needed (I even enquired about a consolation loan for goodness sake, luckily I can't get anything under 73% apr!!!!!!! so no further enquiries made).

Feeling ashamed, stupid and annoyed with myself - must try harder and reread the inspiring and realistic stories on here.

C x

parsniphead

Sending you a big hug chrysalis. It's so hard at times and I'm sure you'll figure it out. Try to keep your chin up.

Chrysalis1976

Well not much improvement from me, I have a few pounds to last until payday on Friday and I need fuel for the car and a few top up food items.

I have been super scrimpy over the last few days in terms of making a lots of concoctions with meals and I currently have bread proofing next to my computer. Which makes me all the more annoying that I don't do that out of habit to spread the cost over the month instead of when we're skint at the end!

I logged on to my mobile account to find that the next bill will be £103! My own fault for going over the allowance but I truly don't remember making all those calls. I have now installed an app on my phone where I can monitor my usage.

Feeling sick about the amount of presents that need to be brought for Xmas and yes I know it happens every year etc. I'm planning on going to the local shopping park at the weekend with a strict budget and buying as much as possible.

I need to get tough on spends and stick to it, I have a plan on how to do this but I will wait until next payday to share if it has been a success.

C x

Chrysalis1976

Morning all, at home for the third day with ds who is poorly sounds horrid but I have saved a lot of fuel and been able to catch up a mountain of paperwork which will continue today.

Expenses have been paid a day early so topped up with fruit and milk on the way to taking dd to school. I took the meter readings yesterday and the bill sent this morning shows £35 credit, I need to make sure that I monitor our usage over the winter so as as not to have a massive bill on the next occasion.

When I was on my account page I noticed that there were enough reward points to redeem for a £5 shopping voucher, not sure if it will arrive before Xmas but it will help towards birthday presents in January.

I've also ventured on to another forum to join the Xams savings challenge for next year, inspired by ellieseleven to put away a pound a day I just need to get a sealed tin ready to start.

Hopefully an uneventful couple of days before pay day Friday.

C x

Chrysalis1976

Evening all, just in from teaching athletics which is always a good laugh as the kids are lovely.

It's the eve of pay day and I have informed my dh of the strict budget to start tomorrow, I must not give in I'm sick of this debt and everything that we can't do whilst it hanging over us. If all goes well I will update how successful the plan is.

I will sit down tomorrow and sort out all the payments due until xmas, then our December pay packet shouldn't be hit too hard as I will save from no child care for two weeks over the holidays. Hopefully January won't be too problematic then.

I have realised that I don't do anything for myself, e.g. I was talking about haircuts with a colleague and after looking through my diary I realised that I hadn't been at all this year :eek: no wonder it's looking shocking. I'm off to an awards do in Cardiff in a few weeks time so it would be a good idea to go before then!

It's been manic at work recently but I must make sure I get some me time.

Right dinners ready, yum.

C x

Chrysalis1976

New plan, day 1:

Pay day and lots gone already but that's part of my plan:

* I have paid for school dinners until the end of term which they only have on a Friday so I dont have to worry about the odd pounds each week.

* Paid for panto trip

* Put in my allocated £40 fuel for the week

* Paid for fun club until the end of term which is a big chunk and made me glup but needs must, I wasn't impressed when they sent a letter home saying that I owed £200 but when I phoned and asked them to check it came up on their spreadsheet :mad:

* Dh has already spent his pocket money for the week! tough no more to come.

So still to do; take out food money for the week, xmas shopping tomorrow, update payment book to record all due direct debits for the month.

Let's keep going!

C x

Chrysalis1976

New plan, day 2:

Went out early this morning with dd to go xmas shopping armed with a list, plenty of bags to save 5p a time, and withdrew the cash to monitor spending. We got quite a few things but then went over the next town with ds this afternoon to get a few more bits. In all we got 13 out of the 15 presents with just a few spices needed to make pot pourri and a little gift for my brother and grandad.

Very pleased with that and will only have the kids presents to buy.

I have updated my record book so need to log on and check what bills have gone out so far.

A good day!

C x

Chrysalis1976

New plan, day 3:

* note to self, don't ever go food shopping with a grumpy husband and kids who are hungry just after swimming lessons!

We spent £105 pounds on food this morning, it's just ridiculous as hubby was in a mood I didn't dare change items for non brand that he had picked up. The only benefit from this is the meal is is making now will last a few days and I got the spices to do the xmas presents.

Every last scrap of food will be eaten this week even if it is a hideous concoction.

Hope everyone is having a good day.

C x