tightening my belt and battening down the hatches

shinner

Coat sounds like a bargain. I am struggling for ideas for xmas presents. Haven't got any yet.

Nelly11

shinner wrote: »

Coat sounds like a bargain. I am struggling for ideas for xmas presents. Haven't got any yet.

Everyone I know is finding christmas a struggle, I've been making hampers full of essentials for the kids, like Razors, shampoo, socks, shower gel etc when its on offer,I now have a full hamper for each of them and Ive not felt the pinch too badly as ive been doing it with my normal shop, maed a cupcake hamper for one of the girls, everything she'll need included some Selfidges sprinkle reduce fro 1.99 to 19p

Nelly11

Im not feeling to great today, I managed to botch my medication this morning, I was counting how many I had left and went into auto pilot and took two, they make me so sleepy so today at 3pm I had had enough, just couldnt keep my eyes open and I feel really really down now, since getting in from work I've eaten 5 choccy bics, 2 bars of thorntons chocs, now feel guilty. Dinner tonight is from the freezer, meatballs and mash, I just need a really early night:(
Things to do before bed }

• Tidy the living room
• Packed lunch for tomorrow
• Empty dishwasher
• Look at budget to see where I may have gone wrong
• See if I have a NSD tomorrow
• List some items Ebay
• Wrap some xmas gifts {always puts me in a better mood}
• Crochet some more squares for a baby blanket

Hope I complete some of these if not all, I think I need to post on here everyday in order that I keep motivated.
Did manage to pop into town today and swapped all son3's old xbox games for a new one which then just cost him 4.79 instead of 47.99, he's pleased and I felt I'd done a good deed.

Nelly11

Nelly11 wrote: »

Im not feeling to great today, I managed to botch my medication this morning, I was counting how many I had left and went into auto pilot and took two, they make me so sleepy so today at 3pm I had had enough, just couldnt keep my eyes open and I feel really really down now, since getting in from work I've eaten 5 choccy bics, 2 bars of thorntons chocs, now feel guilty. Dinner tonight is from the freezer, meatballs and mash, I just need a really early night:(

Things to do before bed }

• Tidy the living room
• Packed lunch for tomorrow
• Empty dishwasher
• Look at budget to see where I may have gone wrong
• See if I have a NSD tomorrow
• List some items Ebay
• Wrap some xmas gifts {always puts me in a better mood}
• Crochet some more squares for a baby blanket

• Living room tidy
• NSD tomorrow sorted
• Listed 3 things on eBay
• Wrapped some gifts
• Emptied the dish washer

Just need to go through the budget now

Nelly11

Well today my little sister is coming to visit along with my 2 nephews, I'm really looking forward to seeing them.
I managed to crochet 2 more squares for the baby blanket last night, tomorrow is tax credit day so I'll have a quick scan over the budget to see whats achievable. I really want to knock the debt on the head by the time I'm 50, it would be the best birthday gift to myself ever.

See you later:D

Muser1

Saw your post on Froggys diary so thought I would pop by and say hello! Good luck on your journey. x

Nelly11

Muser1 wrote: »

Saw your post on Froggys diary so thought I would pop by and say hello! Good luck on your journey. x

*Hello Muser*

Managed to make a tiny payment of 7.14 off the outstanding mortgage today, also payed the full monthly payment, my link payment and the council tax payment and arrears, now I have 90.00 left to last two weeks!:eek:
This breaks down into
25.00 shopping
40.00 Fuel
20.00 for 2 weeks of school lunches
this leave 5.00 in the kitty for emergencies

I've made a tim up with envelopes marked for each payment in weekly intervals i.e. 40.00 Fuel week 1 which will hopefully keep me on track, I have 1 weeks payments already in the tin in their little envelopes so the payments I put in today will cover the next two weeks until I have a CSA payment coming in.
I'm also going to try the make 10.00 a day in November Challenge, Im only going to aim for a fiver a day though, its more acheivable for me.

Tasks today

• Post letter to Black Horse with my payment offer
• Break lunch moneys down into pound coins
• sort out food for next two days to take over to OH's
• Make some cakes with Nephews
• Lable Chutney and Sloe gin
• Give my little sis her xmas pressies to take home, this will save on postage

Happy Saturday everyone:)

Nelly11

£10.00 money card through the post from Mr T as I hadnt recieved a DTD reciept, I'll use this for shopping so Ive added it to my make £5 a day in Nov and payed it straight off the mortgage payment.
Also my woodburner has sold so that is £275.00 in the kitty, £250 of that is accounted for but the other £25.00 can go straight off the mortgage.
As soon as its collected I'll update my signature.

lynnejk

Saw your post and thought I'd pop over to have a look.

First thing I have to say is that you CAN do it. Lots of people on these threads, including myself, have managed to do it and have got the badge and it's down to making your mind up and staying positive.

Little steps means you're going forward and eventually you'll reach the summit. Seems that you have made a good start though and are definitely going in the right direction. :A

When you have a chance - have a look at everything you spend and see if you can save a penny here and there.

? Could you lift-share to work for example.
Get a bank account like Sant 123 that pays interest and cash back on direct debits.
Are you on the lowest electricity rate you can get.
Shop at Ic*land, F.Foods, pound shops, charity shops for clothes and avoid the SMs.
Carry a small bottle of water so you don't have to go for a coffee.
NEVER throw anything away, re-use, recycle, reduce waste

I wish you all the luck in the world and if you want advice there's an abundance of it on this site - wish I had been able to source it when I needed it - you only have to ask
L.

Nelly11

lynnejk wrote: »

I wish you all the luck in the world and if you want advice there's an abundance of it on this site - wish I had been able to source it when I needed it - you only have to ask
L.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write that post to me, it really did mean alot, I am determined this time to crack the debt cycle, you gave useful advice