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Time to wake up and smell the free work provided coffee...
Comments
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Right,
Pay day today. Last month was a disaster month, apart from my LBM. We ended up overdrawn.
However I could see that coming from a mile away, which is what got me thinking and then eventually posting up here.
But payday is upon us so it all starts officially today.
My wife thinks we should start from next payday, as it is Christmas, however I feel if we put it off we will never do it. Excuses are easy to make, so are changes with the right mind set!
Wish me luck! I think I may need it.0 -
This month may be tricky because the expenditure will be different from normal, however you do need to make sure you don't dig yourself into a bigger hole with Christmas.
Have you been able to work out how to balance your incomings/outgoings (if you don't take Christmas into account)? You need to work out where all your extra bits of money are going.
I would make that my primary aim this month, along with keeping the xmas expenditure as low as possible - have a look at the Old Style board / Xmas crafts board for ways to make Christmas magical without spending lots of money. For example, could the kids make some gifts for the relatives this Christmas? Perhaps they could make the Christmas cards at least?Mortgage when started: £330,995
“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” Arthur C. Clarke0 -
First of all, I think you are taking a huge step trying to get sorted.
My suggestion, for what it's worth, is to take a few small steps rather than trying to right everything in one go.
Get a small notebook for you and your wife so that you have it with you every day so you record everything, and I mean everything, down as you spend it. If nothing else, it will help you plan for Christmas 2014.
Perhaps you and your wife could agree that the real "money saving" starts next month but you both try to really understand what you spend on and why. A good compromise where you both feel you are working together.
Keep up to date with what you have in your cupboards and freezer so you can meal plan successfully. If you have time, plan an on line shop using any discount codes and vouchers you can.
Build in a few treats otherwise it will seem too difficult to sustain. Plan things that don't cost too much but don't cut out all the fun - the rule is, sustainability over a long time rather than burn out.
All these things are easy to see from outside, even inside, but much harder to put into practise. If you look back over your posts there are a few "yes, buts........."
Anyway, good luck for Christmas and beyond
PaulineDon't get it perfect - Get it goingBetter Than Before0 -
Thanks both,
We are making our own cards this year. My sister in law has taken a lovely picture of the girls and we are printing these off in multiples of 4 for the girls to cut out and stick to craft card.
They are "writing"(scribbling) their Christmas message in side the card and we are hand delivering all the cards that we can
The girls presents have all been purchased over the last few months in sales so we have saved a lot of money there and we have agreed to not spend on each other this year, but to promise to make sure we keep to our goals.
We went through our statement on the PC and plotted the info into a spreadsheet I keep for our guaranteed expenditure, direct debits etc, so we know roughly how and where the waste went and that it is really, really annoying when you look back at what was wasted last month.
Maybe you are right about trying to set it up from next month due to this being a particularly high outgoing month.
I am trying not to worry too much about the predictions for mortgage rises at the moment as we are in negative equity and on a low rate, base +1.25%.... A rise could put a decent dent in our potential extra repayments... but I need to be positive!!0 -
That sounds great re Christmas. Perhaps see if you can get through December without wasting any money?Mortgage when started: £330,995
“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” Arthur C. Clarke0 -
LannieDuck wrote: »That sounds great re Christmas. Perhaps see if you can get through December without wasting any money?
We are going to try!
Though I have to admit I have failed already... I went to the Blood donation centre at lunch to have a sample taken for platelet donation renewal and I had a peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks....
Feel guilty. Which is a positive thing, as before I would not have even thought that it was a waste of money....0 -
Well done on having the LBM before Christmas and for taking some control straight away.
I'm in a similar position, I had a LBM last week and have faced up too looking at where my money gets wasted. I said to my daughter over the weekend my new years resolution is to get it all in control next year and would start in Jan, she turned it around on me and challenged me to do it from payday (tomorrow) and that made me look at it again and realise if I did that not only could I afford Christmas but I have enough money to pay the balances on two big school trips due in January, I really thought I would be asking my parents to help with the school expenses when I visit them over the holiday. I feel so much better in myself for realising that I can sort it all & I just need to keep in control of it. I hope you feel better about it too.
Good luck with it all0 -
Well, as is typical in these situations the wifes car is having some major issues.
I just find myslef asking "Why me" all the time when it comes to cars.
this and the last car she had have been nothing but trouble! If Vauxhall don't find the right fault code then they will not fix the issue F.O.C and we will be looking at an ongoing bill to find out the real cause at our own mechanic friend.
Just what you need before Xmas!!0 -
Aargh! We all feel your pain and have been there before! Hopefully there will be a fix but maybe worth checking the vauxhall forums too as there is someone that has bound to have had the same issue before!
Love the Christmas ideas. Well done. You could box up your promises as a present! And don't be too hard on yourself for the odd coffee here and there.
All the best.0 -
There are LOADS of people with the issue...
I am amazed that VOSA did not order a recall to be honest...
Thanks for your kind words0
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