Fed up of being the family's Money Muppet

FalseEconomist

Thanks Mrs S- I assumed there was no aldi near me but after you posted I thought I'd check and found one in the town my husband works in!! So- next week I'm taking fifty pounds and that will be my weeks shopping money!!

I'm certainly no supermarket snob and have always been a proud member of the blue-stripe brigade, but everyone has been raving about Aldi so will give it a go. One thing i really need to make sure is that I do my 'big shop' without the kids. When I've got them with me, particularly the older one there is no time to browse and workout the best deal- I've just got to grab and go, but on my own k can take my time.
We are a family of four, but the kids are 4 (well, 4 tomorrow!) and 11 months and my husband works 5 days a week 8am til about 11/12 pm so not really here- so on reflection 100 a week is inexcusable. I'll let you all know how I get on

FalseEconomist

Wow- had Ds birthday party yesterday- in a function room in a pub, was great fun but really quite tiring and stressful too- was a bit annoyed because we had a magician and my son sat on my lap to watch the show so I asked OH to take pics but he just took videos on his phone- can't put them in a frame! So now have no photos of the biggest party we're likely to throw until his 21st!!!

Do have a pic of the cake though- my husbands pastry chef at work made it for us (for free!) , its a number jack as Ds loves them. Don't know how to upload it on here though.

Have been thinking a lot about what extra expenses there will be this month. It's my mums 60th next week and there's a function. Food will be 55 for all of us plus petrol down there plus drinks. Then another biggy will be my sons new school shoes and a few bits for school uniform. Then my best friend's son has a birthday. Then my daughters 1st birthday is early in September.

I do one shift a week and get paid weekly, with this comes 15 holiday pay which I can apply to have whenever I want. By the end of August I should have 60 saved up so that can cover Dds present and food for a little tea party for family and friends.
Then I think I'll try to let that accumulate- 15 a week between now and Christmas should easily cover presents if we're careful. It would be so nice not to start January completely broke. (Obviously until debts are paid we are technically broke but you know what I mean- hate the mad panic a few days before Xmas where you suddenly have to buy last minute presents and completely decimate overdraft- this way there will be a set amount ready in cash).

Had that thing where I thought i was keeping such a close eye on things and then wallop! 30 taken out of my bank in (planned) fees- hadn't realised they were taken at beginning of month- grrrr. Still, now I've cleared overdraft and switched accounts that should be the last time (fingers and toes crossed, lloyds are a bit of a law unto themselves).

Have been enjoying a lie-in as on night shift tonight, so now time to get up and face the hoards......

P.s am so on the diet train from today- a friend came to the party yesterday and had lost loads of weight and looked phenomenal- that will be me in a few months!!!!!!

FalseEconomist

Also, can someone please tell me how to subscribe to threads or did my subscribed threads? I find it really easy on other forums like minimins but am at a bit of a loss here

Mara_uk7

Look above your first post on this page, see Thread tools ? Click that, and you will see subscribe to this thread.

Once youve done that. The green bar above that one has "quick links" , all your subscribed threads will be in there ... Very handy for us busy ladies who have no time to scroll ! Lol

Looking forwards to following your diary

FalseEconomist

Ok, I need to have a bit of a word with myself- am working a night shift (basically its a night 'sit' so there's very little work to actually do) and I pass the time online on my phone (used to link up to a BT hotspot at the cost of £6 a night- but since I've gone all MSE no more!!). Have spent the last five hours or so reading some inspiring threads- and then the last fifteen minutes adding things to a watch list on eBay!!!! EBay? Not sure we can afford milk this month and I'm thinking about clothes shopping? My rationale is that my friend's wedding is coming up in December and I'll need something new and if I buy it in a size down I'll be inspired to slim into it. Yes. Because that strategy is SO effective. It's that strategy that means I have no money and a wardrobe full of lovely clothes that don't fit me. I didn't call myself the False Economist for no reason!


So I've logged out of eBay and come back here to re-read my above posts and give myself an !!!! kicking. Fool.

On a more positive note I'm a bit excited because my OH gets paid today (although I've just been online and no wages in yet). So my first month of seeing if I can balance the books begins now. Challenge on. Really don't want to mess this up.

Now, back to read some threads and get some ideas for making money. Get thee behind me EBay!! (Throws salt over shoulder, sprinkles Holy Water, clutches HSBC code dongle thing as a talisman)

DawnW

why not use ebay to your advantage and sell some of the clothes that don't fit you / kids outgrown stuff etc?

Might help pay off the debt a bit quicker

FalseEconomist

Hi Dawn, yes I think I will soon. Am quite good at ebaying when I put my mind to it, made around 200 in May which was useful when Mr FalseEconomist's birthday rolled around. Just takes so much effort! But have just had a clear out of DS stuff and he's got some Thomas the Tank stuff that should make a couple of pounds.

Just climbing into bed now- I don't particularly like working nights but I LOVE going to bed on a rainy Monday morning when the rest of the world has to get up and go to work- just wish I could have a proper sleep but I know I'll only get around 3 hours. Hey ho, better than nowt! Then it's up and at the finances (think Scrappy-Do picking a fight with the monster 'let me at 'em, let me at 'em!!')

FalseEconomist

So today marks the real beginning of the work. Started yesterday by paying the two credit cards that were due and the rest of the bills fall due today. Will go online in a moment and try and work out how much we have left for the month. Think it'll be circa £2.46

Have already installed a jar in the kitchen for this months receipts. Everything we buy the receipt will go in there. I've asked Mr F to scribble what the receipt is for on it if its not obvious and on petrol ones to write down which car it's for. He keeps taking the mick and goose-stepping around the kitchen but I think he'll comply!

Today is the second day of my diet- and because it's a low carb set the second/third day are always tricky as the body switches between burning glucose and burning fat and I always feel a bit weak- but should be able to cope!

In other news- I need the rain to stop! I made a pact to myself that I would completely retire the tumble-dryer but
I don't have an airer to have no ways to dry clothes indoors- smell of damp clothes is not appealing!

MrsSmith2013

FalseEconomist wrote: »

Thanks Mrs S- I assumed there was no aldi near me but after you posted I thought I'd check and found one in the town my husband works in!! So- next week I'm taking fifty pounds and that will be my weeks shopping money!!

I'm certainly no supermarket snob and have always been a proud member of the blue-stripe brigade, but everyone has been raving about Aldi so will give it a go. One thing i really need to make sure is that I do my 'big shop' without the kids. When I've got them with me, particularly the older one there is no time to browse and workout the best deal- I've just got to grab and go, but on my own k can take my time.
We are a family of four, but the kids are 4 (well, 4 tomorrow!) and 11 months and my husband works 5 days a week 8am til about 11/12 pm so not really here- so on reflection 100 a week is inexcusable. I'll let you all know how I get on

Hi FE, thats great there's an ALDI within your reach! I'm definately a convert now, it just means we have more money to throw at the debt each week! Well once August is over with and I'm back on an even track.

I find that exactly the same, food shopping with the kids is just soooo stressful, not to mention expensive! I've been going in the evenings, so the kids are left at home with dad. Definately helps!!

I'm sure you'll manage for around the £50 mark. I even buy nappies etc from there too now, you get 40 for £4.49 or something, and they are just as good as any other brand.

Lol, just thinking, people will be thinking I work for Aldi or am on some sort of commission, but I'm not - I'm just converted from other supermarkets!! :rotfl:

Mrs S x

jennikitten

FalseEconomist wrote: »

Wow- had Ds birthday party yesterday- in a function room in a pub, was great fun but really quite tiring and stressful too- was a bit annoyed because we had a magician and my son sat on my lap to watch the show so I asked OH to take pics but he just took videos on his phone- can't put them in a frame! So now have no photos of the biggest party we're likely to throw until his 21st!!!

You should be able to grab stills from the videos - quality probably won't be great but better than nothing!