Huge debt, kids, horses, chickens and a dog - oh and full time work :)

DebtFree2012

Morning

It's pay day today and another working week meaning super busy for me. I've got a couple of hours over tea time to get my home jobs done before going to the yard and giving DD a lesson and riding the big girl myself. I fancy a little jump tonight, see how she gets on. In fact I think we both will.

Pony is rather fresh at the mo and I got an older, competent girl to canter him in the indoor instead of DD which is just as will as she said he was super fast and really bouncy so would have been not so good for DD!

I had a taste of looking after a livery yard at the w/e as I had 7 to do! Enjoyed it though. Once DS is older and doesn't need constant supervision it will make it easier for me.

Personally I've been thinking I need to get back on the healthy eating band wagon as I'm getting a bit of a tummy on me with all the carbs and fats I've been having since I got back from hols - easier said than done when it's cold like this. Maybe soup is the answer as I need hot food after the yard and home made is healthy and filling at least?

Household - The weather's taking a toll on the house - I need a boot room! This afty I'm going to clean the utility as it's a disgrace. I did the bathroom last night for the first time in ages (opposed to a wipe down I mean) and the kitchens ok but the floor is going to need a mop.

The log burner has been on to allow us to keep the heating off and it's working will so far and is fantastic for drying clothes during the night ensuring I don't need to use the tumble dryer either

Now I need to pay the bills I can and see where I am splodging this month.

DebtFree2012

Not that much I can do at the moment looking at it as everything is set to Direct Debit now and aren't due just yet. I've made a note of how much my groceries cost so I will update the grocery challenge thread.

A pay day closer to being debt free!

DebtFree2012

52 to go

cazmanian_minx

Soup is fab, I live off it in winter How's the big girl's leg?

DebtFree2012

Morning

Hi Caz, well, dare I say she's been "ok" lately. She'll never be truly sound so we just make sure she isn't deteriorating. I had a lovely ride on her last night and she seemed to enjoy it too. Although she was pretending to be a motorbike on the corners again! So fingers crossed.

The pony was loads better too as he'd had a couple of hours out. He's just getting a bit fresh with being in more so I'll have to figure something out.

I'm so pleased with myself - on a rather sad note - because I've been bringing lunch in every day and not spending anything. I don't go in my purse for anything that's not in budget and it feels great.

Also I managed to clean the utility out which made me feel so much better as it was disgraceful. Looked more like a field than part of the house. So slowly but surely things are coming together.

Tonight's plan is to finish the washing and hang it all out to dry and get the ironing done (hoping that most will not need it!).

Off to check my accounts and work.

DebtFree2012

Evening

Well a productive night tidying out DD's bedroom - what a mess! She's only 6! All done and feels good. I'm working now for a couple of hours and then hoping for a reasonable night's sleep.

Bought a few more xmas presents today, hoping I can balance it all out.

DebtFree2012

Morning

After a productive night, a dreadful morning. Slept in - I just could not get myself out of bed. Then the fire had gone out so had to put the heating on and I'd forgot to dry DD school trousers (mucky yesterday) and had to put tumble dryer on. Totally going against everything I've been trying to build up since returning from holidays. I have however, managed to bring lunch in despite my brain saying just buy something at work, you've been good for ages. So no spends today (other than xmas presents online which are budgetted for).

Right, money wise I've replenished the account with what's come out for said presents, from the savings (if you can call them that, very short term!). I know what I am getting my parents and one of DH's parents so that leaves is dad. He said he can have a bottle of something and that's that. Feeling quite organised re Christmas now and none of it has gone on the CC for the 3rd year in a row

Looking forward to a chilled out night with DD again watching the show and spoiling our horses.

I had a slightly un-nerving conversation with my boss last night (I work some eve's due to time difference) and it sounds like there will be a 2nd wave of redundancies in 1 -2 years. She told me to get as much training done as possible and always be prepared. I don't think I ever expected to work in that kind of environment, it always used to be a job for life. So although this morning didn't go to plan, it's keeping me going with the not spending/paying off debt plan so that eventually I don't have to work in an office any more.

I found a few properties online that would be ideal when we're in the position to do it. I can dream! The prices were scary but not AS scary as I anticiapted. Although who knows what 4/5 years of price changes would mean.

DebtFree2012

Morning

Same again this morning! Quickly moving on!

Today will be a no spend day again. I'm getting good at those.

Had a lovely chat with DH last night about the future business and how we would handle certain things. Some at our yard's been told he has to pay more for the amount of hay and straw he uses and he is annoyed where as the YO says it's not unlimited and he's using more than others so needs to pay more. His TB is 17.2 and is in a large stable so I can see both sides.

DebtFree2012

Morning

Where's this week gone? Well I think I've got the cold that everyone else has had which I've managed to avoid so far. Hoping it doesn't turn into a bad one.

DD is going into her first show near xmas so I'm getting the pony used to all the tinsel and big arena's in the mean time and doing alot of in hand work with him when she's at school and I'm on my lunch. He is a bit sharp but had settled loads so it should be great - sweets and rosettes for every entry

So now DH needs to buy us a trailer so she can go to trot n pop shows he just frowned at me lol.

DebtFree2012

Yesterday was a NSD too and so will today be. W/E will have grocery shopping but that's about it so still budgetted for.

I'm chuffed to bits I've not taken any cash out since pay day which wasn't long ago but normally I would have by now.

I need to pay for xmas lunch at work which has balance of £12 and £15 for lesson on Monday. That should be it... I was thinking about taking this out of the emergency fund I made last month meaning the bank balance stays healthier.