Enjoying the Sunshine whilst Saving for the Rainy Day

debtfreewannabe321

Afternoon

Well so far today i've only walked 5500 steps :eek: However I again forgot to put it on until 8am (been up 1 hour before that) and then I did do an awful lot of sitting around today so hopefully tomorrow will give me a better idea :think:

This morning I started a new meditation course for which I only have to pay for the manual and a small contribution each week. There is only a few of us there so it's a great chance for a chat about spiritual matters and some down time After I met my HS (homestart) family and she seems lovely, has more kids than me and no support so I hope I can help a little even if it's just some company for her. One of her daughters has a disability so this is something new to me, so I will hopefully learn something whilst there too. My first meet by myself is next week and i'm not nervous now i've finally met her *phew* :cool:

No rental money through yet and i've a bill out tomorrow (have money aside for this one). However, I'm still £20 short for the phone bill thanks to DH Hoping that bill goes out after the weekend now so the child benefit will cover the shortfall. Rental money is all tied up with paying back funds that I took to pay for NT, Easter trips etc as well as any left over after that to go to the ISA.

DH is going to apply for his bonus so that should come through next pay day and we will buy the new car with that. We're unsure of how much it is and as i've said before DH doesn't like to ask anyone who does know, he just likes to wait and see (and annoy me in the process grrr!:mad:) so we really won't know how much we have to spend until it arrives! Hoping we can actually afford to buy something newer than we already have which shouldn't be too hard to beat as our car is 13 years old :rotfl:

JustAboutThere

I think the NT membership is a great investment for your family.

Just hope the ensuing fiscal shuffle its caused will resolve itself.

Skint_but_Optimistic

We are all robbing peter to pay paul this month|!

StressedSteph

Hi DFW,


Well done for planning ahead for the kiddies holidays. I never do this and get caught out badly everytime.


Think I may plan on budgeting a higher fuel allowance so we can afford a few trips to the beach etc. Our local beach is about 30 minutes away so quite do-able.


We have had NT tickets in the past and really enjoyed it. Trouble is we have kind of exhausted all our local ones and the next nearest ones we a real trek away so another membership is not real feasible for us.


You are doing so great, good luck with the car buying. Its such a minefield.


xxxx

debtfreewannabe321

Afternoon-

We used our NT cards today and visited Ickw0rth in Bury St Edmonds, first time that DH & I had actually stopped there (driven through many times!) it was lovely and super busy at the house today as there was a race going on! We took a picnic and managed a NSD :T Petrol I put in Friday lasted there and back (£20) and we have enough left over in case of emergency needs for short trips before pay day

I've just filled out spreadsheets and i've been naughty this month

(£400 budget) Grocery was under :j at around £300
(£100 budget) Petrol was kind of in at £120 as I included the train tickets under this category and they were £21.40 so I was technically in
(£100 budget) clothing was waaaaaaaaaay over £291 :eek: However I used my pocket month this month to help cover the costs and DD has grown a shoe size meaning over £50 was spent on her for new wellies, trainers, shoes I bought ds1 some new clothes too as he has grown!
(£000 budget) Take away/eating out! £130. £130 over budget :rotfl::rotfl: (not really funny though eh!)
(£30 + any in his account) DOG!!! £180 we spent and only £50 odd quid was covered by his account :eek::eek::eek: however it was an emergency and he needed vet help to get better so i'm happy to have spent it.

Overall we overspent this month by just under £430. This is NOT including the NT membership which I will pay with May's income (DD due out mid month) just under half was on the dog but oops on the rest not really well thought out spending there. I'm thankful for the emergency funds which are now shockingly low at around £370 from nearly £1000!!!!! I'm desperately awaiting rental income still.

Savings this month were £563.22 so a good amount i think If I get the rental money this month I will use it to top up the emergency funds as I think that category is equally important as the ISAs!

SO overall, April was a rubbish month and roll on Wednesday and MAY!!!:rotfl:

brizzledfw

Hey DFW just catching up! Onwards and upwards I say . Unexpected stuff appens and at least you had the pots this time to cover it not buying a car on credit is another big step forward. We may have to do the same soon

Have a great week and hope that rent money comes through fast

Eager_Elephant

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Afternoon-

We used our NT cards today and visited Ickw0rth in Bury St Edmonds, first time that DH & I had actually stopped there (driven through many times!) it was lovely and super busy at the house today as there was a race going on! We took a picnic and managed a NSD :T

I won't comment on the budget for this month!!

You should have stopped in at mine when you were passing!!

I have been to Ickworth House a few times, it is lovely. I went on a school trip once and DH and I went to a civil partnership.

I love the place especially the rotunda - it's so different to all other NT homes!

Glad ou had a good day.

PinotGrigio41

DFW, just catching up and seen the budget for this month ! Ho Hum, these things happen , don't you just wish the children would stop growing though ?!

Hope you manage to sort the car out, I remember well the problems you have had with it, we were both in the same boat with our old cars ! The car we bought Cash last summer at the auctions was a great buy. The plan to sell it on after two months and make a profit didnt happen due to family stuff, so we still have it. Its Four years old and still nice and shiny, so much better than the old car with mould growing inside it ! Hope you manage to get something sorted xx

debtfreewannabe321

Two days to payday.....not that i'm counting down or anything *taps fingers impatiently* I've done the banking and there is £75 cash in there with nothing pending, this was for the NT membership but isn't needed now as they are taking it out in May. I've moved it back to emergency funds so that now sits at £450 so not quite as bad as it was yesterday I will try and work the NT money into next month's budget if I can but if not then I'll borrow from emergency funds again. Pots are so handy, but I do get myself in a pickle getting muddled with which bank account owes who what

I went to the Dr's this morning thanks to my bad shoulder which has progressively been getting worse over the month I had shooting pains into my chest and down my arms so thought i'd best get it seen even though G00gle had already told me what was wrong with me As I thought I've damaged the rotar cuff in my shoulder and have tendonitis. Have to do some exercises for the next couple of weeks and if no better then some physio might help. I've got some strong drugs too to help with the pain so the hour and half wait to see him wasn't too bad!!!

I've got a hundred and one chores to do but can't be bothered at all, i've walked the dog for an hour and a half and am shattered now so will do the minimum I think to make it look like i've done something :rotfl:. Already put a wash on and cleaned kitchen sides and swept floor so i think a quick hoover downstairs and plumping cushions will do in the living room :rotfl: and put the dishwasher on also....do you think that is enough

Although I went over budget on clothing I am indeed enjoying having my own jumper to wear for cooler days. I was wearing DH's cast-off ones which nearly reach my knees (probably because he is a foot taller than me lol) so was forever pulling it up :eek: It's nice to have one that fits :T I also bought a new coat for Spring/Autumn as I didn't have one and I love it, all I had before was my big winter coat or a really thin raincoat (screw-up-in-a-pouch-type). I've decided I would like some walking shoes/boots now too so might have a scout for those for next month's budget ... having neglected my wardrobe because I had 3 kids to buy for instead and debts to pay means I have very little stuff left and what I do have I wear to death, and some of it has died, long ago :rotfl:....I will however try to stick within my budget this time

debtfreewannabe321

In utter shock at the moment, my dad has been diagnosed with cancer this afternoon and I just don't know what to think. Dh went off to play rugby which I thought was slightly insensitive, I've had interviews with ds1 this afternoon and a survey lady so have had to act happy even though I'm not feeling it. I don't want to tell the kids as ds1 will worry and he has his exam in a few weeks.

what an utterly sh1te afternoon! !!