I'm going to buy a ski lodge.......

daisystar

I know, I know!!! I did read some of the coverage of this, although I missed the programme. However, I'm preggers and they're still recommending folic acid and vit D throughout pregnancy, and the advice for under 5 still remains that they should be given vits.

For me, I will carry on taking them as I've not got long to go, and I feel like I should do as I took them with DS1 - I know that's a bit ridiculous but hormones have a lot to answer for!! For DS1, I think these will be the last lot I give him, as he eats so brilliantly. However, it's really hard to know what to do for the best sometimes, and guilt comes into it so much with children :o

I've been thinking about this for some time so it's funny that that's the bit you picked up on, maybe it's a sign it needs to change!!

Knit_Witch

Fair enough - I guess that is another of the "not in general" catagories

daisystar

A quick update - well and truly in the real world after all the festivities of the previous 2 weeks, but I'm very pleased to report we've spent hardly ANYTHING on feed since xmas and new year :j
This is amazing for us!! So the big challenge now is to do the least spendy shop of all time to maintain the frugal-ness. I really don't enjoy my time in the kitchen but I'm getting a certain sense of satisfaction from eking things out more and combining different things to avoid visiting the shops.


And, I'm loving baking with the boy, its the unpredictability of what he might do next that makes it so entertaining!!


I've started to stock up on toiletries and things I'll need for when the baby arrives as its really not too long now, eeek!!! I've taken advantage of points offers and giftcards and I'm now planning on buying one/two extra things any time I go to the shops for something. The danger is that when the baby is here we are both so exhausted that we lose focus on the money-saving, so by being as well stocked as we can be I'm hoping we'll be prepared.


In other news - WHEN WILL IT STOP RAINING??!!!!!!! Its driving me a little bit crazy!!! I'm happy to go out and take DS out in all weathers - normally - but at the moment its a bit off-putting as my waterproof jackets don't fit me so I'm getting really wet, and it is just soooooo soggy underfoot that its all a bit grim!! I feel very fortunate that we've not had any of the dreadful storms that have hit other areas of the country, I think I'm just going a little crazy today as we've not been out of the house, which does neither of us any good


So, if anyone has any super fun and creative ideas for what to do with toddlers please feel free to share!! Although we're back at DS's group things from tomorrow so life will be more sane - if a bit more soggy :0

daisystar

Right, back here after a little period of being poorly Not so great but DH has been marvellous at taking over and letting me have tons of rest


I'm feeling fighting fit now though and am pleased to report all good MSE things this week. Food shopping has almost remained in budget, our first 'big shop' yesterday took it slightly over the fortnightly budget but this is because we generally eat quite healthily, and in January everything that we would normally buy is always on offer!! So we've stocked up, and as I have joined the Frugal Challenge 2014 I now have annual budgets for everything, meaning that I can allow for overspends such as this week when its useful, and pull it back when I can.


I've had a lovely weekend thus far - on Friday night I caught up with an old uni friend who was in town, this was free as we met at her sisters house - I provided the cakes (free from DH's work) and they provided the pizza Heaven!! We then all met up yesterday for a lakeside walk with the kids in the glorious SUNSHINE!!!!!! What a mood booster it is to get some rays :j


Then last night me and DH went out for a very rare meal out together - my mum had bought us vouchers for our fave restaurant for Christmas so we spent these and had a lovely lovely night, it was brilliant So all in all its been a great few days after a tricky mid-week blip with the sickness.


The plan now is not to spend any more money until at least Thursday when - fingers crossed - the next rent comes in. I'm also going to transfer my spending diary onto the annual spreadsheet for the first time - very sadly I'm looking forward to this, sometimes its the smallest of actions that makes you feel like you're doing something!! Happy Sundays everyone

daisystar

I'm wondering if it is possible to have a 'furthering' of a LBM, as if it is I think I'm in the middle of it. I thought I couldn't have been more determined than when I started the diary in October, and as expected the energy has ebbed and flowed over the last few months. However the past couple of days have had me feeling even more determined and excited, as I have such a desire to be rid of this debt and all the things it brings with it. I feel like I'm so determined I don't know what to do with myself!!


So I've been looking around and trying to think of ways I can channel this enthusiasm other than what I'm already doing, and I'm struggling!! Particularly at the moment, as its quite tough on the debt busting front right now what with boiler bills and invoices for work on the rental house, and the balance on the holiday to pay off, and the few baby bits to get. Eeeeeek!! I always knew this would be the hardest period of my personal challenge, and it certainly is that.


I've come to the conclusion that what I can concentrate on doing is NOT spending money, as I think I'm doing everything I can with the making money. This sounds quite obvious, but I've found it requires more thought, planning and effort than I had anticipated when I started this so I think it will be energy well channelled. Bring it

ALM2013

Your doing great, keep it up. It's such a slow month, but half way there already. Hope your keeping ok. When is the little one due?

daisystar

ALM2013 wrote: »

Your doing great, keep it up. It's such a slow month, but half way there already. Hope your keeping ok. When is the little one due?

Thanks ALM2013 - it is SUCH a slow month but I'm delighted we're halfway there!! I've just spotted your 365 in 365 challenge, it looks great, if its around next year I'm definitely in (as I'll defo still be here then!!)


I'm due late-ish March, so we've got a couple of months to get as sorted as possible, I'm so excited but a little bit apprehensive about coping with two littlies!!


So, I thought it would be a great idea to take advantage of the small window of sunshine this morning and take DS for a walk through the sheep field behind our house. Now, I hadn't realised but we haven't been in there since our dearly loved dog departed this earth a while back, and I also didn't realise the sheep were either VERY hormonal or VERY hungry - or if they are like me at the mo, both of those things - and after a few minutes they made their feelings towards us very clear.......we were straight out of there!! Toddler group after that seemed very tame


In MSE news, the rents in!! :j:j So now we can pay the boiler bill, and try to keep things as tight as possible for the next two weeks. DH needs new tyres for the car too which are essential so things are even tighter than we thought, but if this had happened last year it would all have been on the CC, so changes are definitely happening

daisystar

Eek :eek: I'm feeling very spendy at the moment, I'm not really sure whats going on :eek:

I'm feeling my strength wavering big style, although I haven't actually given in to it and I am determined not to. I've not been helping myself at all - I've been looking at (major) holidays for DH's (major) birthday next year, looking at cars as I'm really struggling to get about at the moment, and to top it all off yesterday i nearly bought a MAGAZINE!! :eek::rotfl:: But seriously, I've had such an iron grip on everything and I can't understand why the tempty devils are at me at the moment. All I can do is try to stay strong..........

brizzledfw

Don't do it daisy...step away from the spends!!!:)

Stay strong!!!

daisystar

brizzledfw wrote: »

Don't do it daisy...step away from the spends!!!:)

Stay strong!!!

I haven't!!! Struggling though, think its the loooooong month and the fact I've not been on here as much as I should have been, I shouldn't be away for too long as anything could happen! I also think the fact I haven't really been doing any active money making activities as I've just been sleeping(!!!) any moment I get so I've listed a few books on GM just to keep me ticking over during this lull month.


Me and DH have been meeting every week since New Year to try to sort different aspects of our finances which is going really well. Last might we dug out details of some PPI he didn't know he'd taken out and also some insurance on car finance that is worth looking into so next week we'll sort the claims out for those where we can. I've even got a list of subjects and areas to tackle over the next few weeks after that - I don't think he's loving it but fair play to him, he's participating!!


Have re-done sig, totals are coming down nicely, however the sobering fact is that from Dec-Jan when we didn't overpay at all, we serviced our debts with just over £1100 and yet only paid off £480 of actual debt - this means that over £600 per month is going out in interest - sobering indeed.