WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

Hantsman

WTBSE noooooooo don't spend! I know exactly what you mean but resist and it will pass.

Personally I've worked really hard recently to try and separate shopping (or even browsing online) from curing boredom or unhappiness. Try to focus on something else, go for a walk (without your wallet!) and see how you feel when you come back. I use the same tactic when I crave something I shouldn’t be eating (as well as not having any in the house!) and I find 9 times out of 10 the craving/ need to buy things passes.

I don't want to sound preachy but reading through your posts you've done well, and I know how easy it is to shave a few quid of your bills and scrape a little extra money here and there only to blow it in minutes on things you realise later you didn't REALLY need.

Anyway good luck and I hope everyone is having a good day

WantToBeSE

Hi Everyone

I had an email from work today, saying that Fridays client has cancelled, so I have 3 days off Fri, Sat, Sun)!! Yay! Looking forward to that, especially with the weather being incredibly hot and lovely.
Beach here we come

Those who read Cathys thread will see that I mentioned my mum not being well- she has a grapefruit sized cyst on attached to her ovary or fallopian tube. I am just awaiting an update to let me know how she is, I hope she is OK. They aren't sure what has cause it, or if its anything more sinister than just a cyst..we'll see.

I haven't spent any money...although I still have the urge. Maybe I should do the food shopping whilst I feel like this I have to write my list first though, as well as my meal plan.

Making the most of the lovely weather by putting as much washing on the line as possible!

JoJoC

Great words of advice there Hantsman

I wish I could take your advice- unfortunately, all our recent spending has been required. Just spent another £35 today on clothes for my little boy, although that should be him now until later in the year/ Christmas time. We'll try to eek it out a bit because his birthday is 12 days before Christmas and he often gets clothes for both. We also bought him new shoes last week which set us back £35 it all comes at once!

Cathy, my son loved it, although there wasn't much he could do. He watched while I made the jelly, then he mixed the eggs, flour and sugar and ate quite a lot of the kiwi that I was supposed to be putting through it! Just as well I had extra. He also helped me pour the mix into the baking tin and sprinkled more kiwi on too. I think it was a hit!

Another few months and I think he'll be able to do a lot more but he just loves being involved.

I think tomorrow I'm going to make Easter crispy cakes. I have loads of Aldi rice crispies and some chocolate in the cupboard so as long as I pick up some mini eggs tomorrow, we can do that too. We're going visiting on Easter Sunday so will be nice to take something along for the kids. Xx

Hantsman

Wantstobe I really hope its turns out ok with mum, it must be horrible waiting for the results. You have lots of people wishing you well though.

JoJoC it sounds like you have a future Bake Off winner on your hands! I'm sure my own parents letting me loose in the kitchen from a young age went towards me enjoying cooking so much now, when I think of the mess and disasters I made though!

WantToBeSE

Morning All

just a quick one before I head off to work. Have transferred some money to my account this morning, so new total = £1050 Nice to be back into the 4 digit numbers again!

Am going food shopping straight after work, no doubt it'll be manic!

JoJoC

Just a quick note WTBSE- I must've missed your post yesterday about your mum. So sorry to hear that she's poorly, hope she gets better soon.

WantToBeSE

Get me, I have actually done the food shopping!!! I know, I can hardly believe it either! Good job you were sitting down

Thanks for the well wishes for my mum. We still aren't sure what to think really. The scan she had shows that it is very large (20cm) across. They are sending her to a smaller hospital that specialises in Gynacological cancer...I don't know what to think to that...I presume that means they must suspect it to be cancerous...cant really think of that right now

I had a letter from capital one today, telling me that they are going to raise my credit limit on my CC. It made me grin to myself a bit. CC debt was always my 'biggie' when I wasn't DF. I used to think of it as 'free money' so when I got a letter like this one, I would spend it almost instantly!
Not so this time! At the moment I only have a £100 limit, as it was significantly reduced when I got into trouble. Its been at £100 for about a year now, so the fact that they are raising it gives me hope that my credit score may be improving. No spending on it for me though, unless its to pay back in full every month (which is what I do at the moment, I use it to pay for £50 worth of petrol a month, then pay in full).

How times (and my attitude) have changed!

organic_wanabe

WTBSE - Fingers crossed that all is well with your mum. Well done on your savings - though you have still to update your signature. Good to hear that your credit limit is being raised (especially since you are well aware of the downsides and have no intention of being tempted!). Have a great holiday weekend.

WantToBeSE

Morning All

thanks organic wanabe You are right, I need to update my savings, thanks for reminding me. Will do that in a sec.

So, I have no work now until Monday! Yay! I am planning on having a mini spring clean of my house, so today I have been washing nets, voiles and curtains. Oh the fun.
I have to hoover the whole house and actually venture into the childrens rooms to sort and tidy...eek! That'll take a whole day I should imagine.

I also need to sort through my wardrobe and get rid of some stuff that no longer fits me. But that means buying stuff that does fit me, which unfortunately means spending money...hmmm, I don't like the thought of that.

WantToBeSE

Dinner tonight is vegan chilli. I was going to make my own wholemeal bread to go with it, but didn't realise the time..so we are having the remainder of the prawn crackers from the other nights curry.

Its one of my favourite meals, although the kids aren't keen! I use up any leftover veggies, as well as any tinned beans in the cupboard.
Today I had courgettes and peppers (as per the recipe) but instead of red kidney beans, we are using cannellini beans. I have used this recipe so many times over and over with alterations and its always tasted lovely!
http://chillisageandlemon.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/vegetable-chilli/

Have stocked up on AF drinks and lots of fruit and veggies and am now planning a NSD until at least Tuesday. We'll see!

The housework hasn't been completed, but I have done the big job of sorting out the recycling and taking it to the recycling point at Tesco. I always have a lot of recycling, but I HATE taking it to the recycling point. But its done now

Have also washed all of the downstairs nets, voiles and curtains and did the lounge dusting. I am feeling quite virtuous.

I will sit down and make a meal plan tonight or tomorrow. I am going to attempt Pulled Pork, attempt II The 1 that I tried was a disaster last time, so I have bought another pork shoulder and am going to be using a different recipe. I'll do it on Wednesday I think, since I finished work early (12.15).

How is everyone else doing today? Enjoying the sunny weather?