Thrifty Gifty Santas Challenge 2014

DundeeDoll

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

morning all
done the new year finance check then this morning get an email from DS2 drum teacher asking for money guess what i forgot to add in:o

Same here. Drew up monthly budget, checked carefully i'd included every direct debit and standing order, set monthly grocery target then this morning remembered the dog walker:eek: back to the spreadsheet...

Anglea

Hi all

Glad you back is better Mrs M.

Your comments about budgets Mrs M and Dundee Doll reminded me that I really ought to take a look at my finances in that way I used to when I 'had to' for the solicitor during my marathon legal saga with ex but since then I have no idea what is going on I forgot all about it with Christmas in the way.

I know I was supposed to contact the electric company to take ex's name off the bills that I've been paying for the last upteen years but there is always a wait of 45 mins + on the phone and I just give up.

I didn't go out last couple of days and working on my goals - updating old skills, interests, excercise, house etc.

Just got text from male friend who set a resolution to avoid pubs all month - he wants to meet up in the pub, lol I'm not going anywhere until I find out if the 'lodger' is coming round or not apart from that I'm not in the mood for socialising I have an urge to get my new diary out and start updating.

How is Miss Hoodie?

I'm also going to look back over the December challenge as can't recall what that was.

Sorry Susan that your 2nd Christmas meal didn't work out.

Re all the school trips. I don't recall any when DS1 was in seniors, just a geography field trip in juniors. Maybe I just have a very bad memory. There was a prom, that's all I recall.

Good luck everyone with the weight loss goal. Since I stopped using MFP I put on but I found it too time consuming to try and find all my meals. Now I'm too scared to get on the scales again

Anglea

December Challenge -

I plan on updating new diaries this month and start a much better notebook for Christmas - I got very muddled with my cards list last year as well as losing the ones I'd written for a few weeks.

Long ago I used to write down what happened with the family over 12 months (so could be used in letters or anecdotes in cards) as well as any health issues which may be important to record and add it to the notebook, I lapsed with all that in recent years.

Mum2one - you are very thorough with your Mother Hen list - eg being safe at the cashpoint, elect meter payments etc.

You asked about anything new we planned on doing this year -

I am returning to many of my old hobbies eg playing the piano as that has got very rusty but I do want to try something completely different also this month, not sure what yet. Either a new hobby, food, going somewhere or even finding a different man to the usual complicated strange ones lol

elysia2003

Evening all - well I think I beat last years effort and have done three posts now

Good to see you again Anglea, Bunbun and Susan. I'm chuffed to bits that you're all still here. It'll be like old times again.

Mum2one - thanks for the challenges. I'll have to look back and see what I've not done yet. I've started off my spreadsheet for money earned and gifts but that only usually lasts until the end of January so I'm hoping to be more organised and keep it going this year.

DundeeDoll/Miss Moneypenny - there's always something isn't there?

Susan - I've just remembered you asked about Rufus. I know she's having a few troubles at the moment but I'm sure she'll be here as soon as she can. If I see her around, I'll tell her that you were asking after her.

Hi - Sarahlouisexo - It's a lovely thread. I'm sure you'll be very happy here. I love that it's not all about money making or getting organised, it's just a big group of friends having a get together too. Thanks for the info on the No More Socks App - I'll look into that. It'll be really handy to keep track of ideas.

Hi Azjh77 - When's your Mum's birthday? Have you got any ideas what you're getting her yet?

Thanks for the Wilko's info KatieHound - I don't go into our's very often. I'll have to have a look. I've stocked up with about three or four years worth of wrapping paper already though. I'm not paying full charge prices.

I've subscribed to the thread too but not getting emails. ??? I'll probably be about but if I'm not have a lovely weekend everyone.

mum2one

Anglea wrote: »

December Challenge -

I plan on updating new diaries this month and start a much better notebook for Christmas - I got very muddled with my cards list last year as well as losing the ones I'd written for a few weeks.

Long ago I used to write down what happened with the family over 12 months (so could be used in letters or anecdotes in cards) as well as any health issues which may be important to record and add it to the notebook, I lapsed with all that in recent years.

Mum2one - you are very thorough with your Mother Hen list - eg being safe at the cashpoint, elect meter payments etc.

You asked about anything new we planned on doing this year -

I am returning to many of my old hobbies eg playing the piano as that has got very rusty but I do want to try something completely different also this month, not sure what yet. Either a new hobby, food, going somewhere or even finding a different man to the usual complicated strange ones lol

If you find a spare nice man you can always send him in my direction!!:rotfl:xx

mum2one

Miss Hoodie better, to be honest I think it was as much nerves as she had her 1st appointment today at allergy clinic at hospital, theres a concern that she could go into an anaphalitic (ex spelling), attack, cox of my medical history she got pushed ahead to the consultant.

They did some skin tests, good news shes not allergic to nuts, shell fish, latex or latex resin (that sounds so weird) but one of her attacks was after being at the dentist.

Had a treat McDonalds for dinner, then all good deeds undone nipped into Boots and spent £75 in sales (need to cover that over jan/feb), it make a good dent in the list.
x

Anglea

Hi all again

Elysia, I hope you do continue using our thread this year, thanks for saying you'll divert Rufus back to us if you see her.

Thank goodness Miss Hoodie is ok Mum2one. Wonder what set her off at the dentist, maybe it's the antiseptic or whatever that's used to clean the instruments or in the water used for rinsing the mouth, or maybe even the dentist's aftershave or perfume (not sure if it's a man or woman).

Today after I thought all my cleaning was in vain as the potential lodger said he didn't have time after all to come over, however I had an accidental meeting with him in the pub and he drove me back home to take a look around.

Seems he's got a load of furniture, sound systems etc that will somehow fit into mine (I don't have anything like that) but as we're friends as opposed to strangers, it could be nice to have a different type of lifestyle to what I have now. The idea is that we will go off and do things together - trips etc. Part of me is a bit concerned but it was my NY Resolution to change my life and I'm going to give it a go. I am so fed up of all the dramas within my circle and also fed up of all the unwanted attention from men I do not fancy!! There is one that literally never leaves me alone - and many others that are totally unsuitable eg in relationships or are pervy or there are the insecure ones or the latest I attempted to go out with which was a disaster and it was obvious it would be. So out of all of them the one moving in is the most normal but there are still some issues.......

So when he moves in - maybe early Feb - I will have to have a major de-clutter and move DS1's stuff into the garage and loft and I'm also thinking of having some stuff from MIL's house which is going on sale soon - how that is all going to fit into my house with lodger's stuff I have no idea lol

Mum is not pleased about the lodger idea, but she worries about everything. And he's a friend not stranger. And I've spent 4 days with him before on a trip we made years back.

I think I'm overthinking the new diaries, I always take months to update them, especially with Christmas ideas etc, and forget important lists of boiler repair dates etc

Anyone else got the Dairy Diary? This seems to have changed this year, added timeline calendar pages or maybe I never noticed them before, but the birthdays pages have gone.

mum2one

Angela - sounds a new chapter is starting and a positive one, maybe a new relationship in the pipeline???

The dentist - we've got a male dentist, female dental nurse, I think it was the mouthwash that triggered it off, shes had 3 attacks over the year, 1st was a fruit smoothie at school, 2nd the dentist, 3rd was some candy floss. She is like me doesn't do anything by half.

Haven't had the diary diary for years - I like the idea of a birthdays page, quite funny the biscuits Miss hoodie made b4 xmas were from our diary cookbook, (back from the 1970s).

Sounds like your trying to be super organised with the diaries, why not grab a couple of notebooks, - one for Christmas, one for birthday etc, then keep one for appointments..
x

susan42

Angela- best of luck with the lodger. I'm sure as long as you establish some ground rules you will be ok

Mum2one - good news about miss hoodie, wonder what it could be then.

Elysia - thank you for looking out for Rufus

I decided not to do budgets. I just have to spend less and pay debts off this year (hopefully) I really have to be more financially stable as everyone does I suppose. I cut back at Xmas and for the first year I have not borrowed money to make Xmas happen. But I still owe from the Xmas before. Hopefully I can finish these up in the next couple of months (interest free coming to an end) then work on paying the CC but these are 0% so have to get them done before they end and won't be buying anything with them as I put them safe ...and I'm not looking for them.

I have started a notebook of things I got in boots sale and hopefully I won't lose it.

Also cancelled all the subscriptions. RT and craft books. I only take them when they on offer.

Seems along way to pay day though. As I get paid monthly they paid me 24th dec. but next one is jan 31st !!!

susan42

Just got confused someone posted on the old thread so I'm bumping this one up lol