Keeping away from the Money Beast

LivvyLoo_2

Brand new diary for the start of my New Fab Life.

So here it is, a new diary to keep me on the straight and narrow with my money since becoming debt free. It hasn't been an easy 2.5 years but I am nearly divorced, have moved house and will be changing jobs shortly.

The three things I have mentioned above are all significant to me regarding money, one because I don't have any ties money wise to ex now I'm in my own house...we had a joint loan which has been paid out of ex's profit, two because my new job is a promotion and three because once the divorce is through it means ex can't sting me for any more of my money (this should come through in October).

So happy times ahead for me and DD. :j

Don't get me wrong, my money set up is perfect and works brilliant for me with all my different pots and my spreadsheet, however I am prone to getting carried away and buying things I don't need or can't afford. So I need my diary to log my mini challenges, frugal living and savings...then when I am living in Monaco on my boat I can look back and see how I got there.

Will be back with todays post shortly xxx

LivvyLoo_2

OK so this is me, I am a single mummy who works full time. DD is almost 5. I have been in debt most of my life (well since starting Uni almost 20 years ago) and I am only out of debt as I sold my matrimonial home. Out of my half of the profit I bought a new house...moved in 1st June, and paid off my consolidation\car loan.

Mortgage is £786 a month and with the rest of the household bills and child minding costs I pay out £1570 a month (plus £243 childcare vouchers straight out of my pay). In October this will be reduced as DD starts full time school and I won't have the solicitors to pay any more so that will give me £300 back a month.

I check my accounts every single day and log everything I spend on a spreadsheet, since moving I have got rid of my cleaner and gardener to save money but I find the jobs I have to do are never ending...it doesn't help that DD has a phobia to tidying up after herself :mad:.

So this month I am going to save money by eating up whats in the freezers. Doing well so far this week. I popped to Mr Als on Monday for fresh stuff and spent £31...managed to stick to my list. I need to make lunches for myself and DD whilst its the school hols. I did spend £90 on food before I realised my freezers were bulging so total food spend so far is £121.

I have decorated 3 rooms so far in the new house, DD's bedroom, ensuite and hall, stairs and landing...the latter took me flipping yonks to do so I am well and truly hacked off with painting even though the front door is still to do (just can be ar£"$). House and decorating fund is now down to £200, all furniture and white goods which I needed have been purchased so really I just need to save up for curtains\wallpaper\light fittings etc for the remaining rooms.

Last week my Dyson broke, the smoke alarm broke, the sole came off my flip flop and the garden umbrella blew over in the wind and broke. Not happy!!!!
Making do until after payday, DM has lent me her Dyson until I get the man out to fix mine...£80.

Mowed my lawns last night and have put the towels on a 60 wash this morning. Got a huge list of jobs to do, but whats new?

xx

DebtFree2012

Hi Livvy

Welcome back to the boards. I didn't want to read and run!

Congratulations on becoming DF all be it in circumstances you didn't forsee when you started off! I hope you have a lovely life ahead for you and DD and keep posting, it will keep you on track.

*subscribes*

xx

LivvyLoo_2

Another lovely sunny day here today...hoping this weather continues for another week as I have my annual beach trip with my friend and the kids planned for a week on Saturday. Its a great day, we take a picnic and get sunbeds and a wind break and then thats us set up for the day...now I just have to understand the tides so we don't get washed up.

My new blue bin is coming today WAHOOO, finally!!! Put my green bin and recycling out this morning as I plan on doing a bit in the garden at the weekend.

Spent a couple of quid already this morning as DD is going to the park and visiting butterfly world with the child minder...like I don't pay her enough anyway.

I was making our lunches this morning and I actually think that we will use everything in the fridge without any waste for the first time ever. Crisp breads, cream cheese and ham for me today. I don't want to use my wheat free wraps all at once as they are £3 for 3!!! Astronomical price but the only thing that tastes remotely like normal wraps. Think I am going to write to Mr Warburton.

Talking of writing, I sent an email to the council yesterday complaining about the neighbours who have parties every Sunday...and Friday and Saturday if their DM is away. DD gets scared and asks to sleep with me because of the noise and I have to close the windows (and in this heat its not good). The parties generally go on until the police come but each time the police turn up they all hide and then the party carries on again afterwards, so I thought right enoughs enough1 Hopefully something will come of it...as long as I remain anonymous.

Tonight I need to sort out post mountain in the kitchen, put keys in a plastic pot in the drawer, water plants, cook tea (salmon and mash I think), empty tumble dryer, get up in the loft and get some pictures out for the kitchen shelves (which will be clutter free when keys are moved) and paint nails (pink sparkly stuff is starting to peel off), I do this after DD has gone to be because she is obsessed with makeup and nail painting.

x

dawnybabes

Ooh have you been to Asda ? They've brought out some new gf wraps, pack of 6 for about £2.50 (can't remember price just that they where about half the price of the warburtons) and my ds loves them. Any going a bit stale I turn into pies or pizza ... Waste not at that price !

LivvyLoo_2

No I haven't, that sounds great thank you. I will deffo give them a whirl, its an expensive do being gf but needs must.

mummytogirls

Hi livvy, found you!!!!

Well done on everything you've achieved after a tough few years!!!

Butterfly world wouldn't happen to be in Leeds would it?! Xx

LivvyLoo_2

Well that £2 for butterfly world was all I spent yesterday.

Hi Mummy, so glad you've found me and come over for a chat. No its in a park in Yarm so a bit further up than Leeds, rather her than me with them all fluttering in your face.

Accounts checked, all in order. If I can get through this weekend without spending anything (or less than a tennar), then my money should last 2 weeks (don't want to wish my life or the summer away but...roll on payday).

I got through a load of little jobs off my list last night, I was gutted when I went in the loft to get my photo's out as one of the photo frames had smashed during the house move and it had scratched all my other frames. I managed to get most of the scratches off my fave frame but its still looking a bit bedraggled

I had a mini pamper session after DD had gone to bed so I feel all spruced up today.

Jobs for the weekend
Take up laminate in the hall ready for new carpet coming Tues. YIPEEEE :j
Paint the front door
Hoover and clean inside the cesspit...I mean my car (mammouth task seeing as though I last did it in April).
Wash all bedding and this weeks dirty clothes
Go to the tip (before cleaning the car)
Vax living room carpet.
clean windows inside (maybe not all of them)

I have two of my friends coming tomorrow night who haven't seen my new house yet, will have to make sure it stays tidy even with Taz (DD). Wine and lemonade already bought in.

HM Goats cheese and red onion marmalade gf wrap for lunch today.

Have a good day y'all.

Prothet_of_Doom

On your spreadsheet, have a section called "Emergency Buffer"and another called "Luxuries and FUN". Set up a side account or another account at another bank, and a standing order every month. When the buffer reaches £1000, £1500, £2000, etc you can reward yourself with a 10% splurg. So then everytime you see something that you don't need, you say to yourself. I'll see if I still want it, when my splurg is due. and you force yourself to wait.

LivvyLoo_2

Thanks POD, I do have a lot of bank accounts one of which is clothes and entertainment but it never reaches £1000 ha ha, infact most months it reaches £0 in a matter of days. Good idea to lock it away and reward myself when I reach a target. Will deffo try it.

I have drawn out £10 for the weekend...I must I must stick to my budget. Going to buy those gf wraps from Asda tonight on the way to DD's party.

This afternoon I'm off to the solicitors to sign the consent order, my divorce has been approved and I will get my Nisi on the 15th Aug (OMG). I can apply for the absolute from 27th Sept, once this all goes through it will be the end of my marriage....concides nicely with my birthday actually so I may have many a glass of wine.

The main thing is that ex can not come back for any more money off me...my days of money worries caused by him are over (well almost). Phewieeeee.

xx

dawnybabes

We've had the new gf pizza and garlic bread pizza from asda today, wouldn't buy the pizza again, but the garlic bread was lovely. Also had the new fresh free from pasta - only found penne up to now but it cooks in 3 mins and tastes exactly like real pasta !!