2014 - New Rules to Live By

Pennydropped

Ouch. January has been quite expensive. New washing machine (on sale, thank goodness!). A friend and her husband gave me a lift over to pick it up and bring it back to my house (bigger boot on their car!). Her husband installed it and took the old one to the tip. Thanks to them, it cost me £40 less (no delivery, installation fee or fee to take the old one away). Very lovely friends that wanted nothing (except a cuppa) in return.


Car repairs. MOT just done and passed. But will still need some work done on car, including service, and some minor engine work. The tax on the car also needs to be paid this week.


So yes, finances are rather strained right now. I don't foresee them getting much better over the next 30 days, but then (fingers crossed) things will improve again.


Until then it's clamp down mode on expenditures, just to make sure. Pull back on electric, gas, groceries, and petrol as much as possible (as they are the few fluctuating expenses). This probably wouldn't be such a hit if the washing machine hadn't decided to do a nose dive this month. I knew it was going south, but was hoping for just one more month out of it. These things happen, just have to move on.

Pennydropped

Well, unfortunately - best laid plans and all - I've gone over my budget for groceries this month. I had £160 actually put aside for it, but was hoping to keep it to £120. I think it was a bit overambitious, but that's alright. I'll have to be more realistic next month and look at just shaving £10-20 off. So I'll look for £150 I guess.


I've started Slimming World this week. It's an expense, yes, but I think a worthwhile one. I've had some health problems which will only be improved by losing some weight. It's actually not a huge change foodwise, except for a few items. Less dairy and less carbs, but that's okay. So no change in the food budget, thank goodness.


I've started two lists. One of major jobs around the house, the car, and the garden that I need to budget for. And one for smaller jobs and purchases that I need to take care of as and when. I can just cross them off as I get them taken care of. One thing already crossed off - I needed a small rug or mat on the floor of the downstairs bathroom, and found a perfect one in poundland!! It's not very big, so I've purchased two. One in front of the toilet and one in front of the sink. Matches brilliantly, and only £2! Very happy with that.

Pennydropped

Ouch. So this week brings £150+ for the tax on the car, and next week is another £160 on the first portion of the repairs on it. It's the highest priority repair. The one after that is also approximately £160. Then a general service for £70+. Whew. I will be glad when that's all sorted!!


I've paid a little extra on my electric and gas meters, so I should have enough to last me an extra week. That will help towards paying for the car repair, as will using the groceries I have in the house for the most part. I will have to buy fresh fruit and veg, but I have bread in the freezer, eggs good for another week or so, and if I run too low of milk, I have a small stash of UHT milk in the cupboard (for just such an occasion!). The only thing I can't really cut back on at the moment is petrol - other than walking as much as possible instead of driving. Unfortunately due to location, I have to drive to school runs. That's where most of the petrol goes.


I've revamped my budget to reflect these savings, so make sure I can pay for everything I need to within the next month, and it all looks good to go.


Today is a declutter day. I've made a start already going through the kitchen cupboards. We have dishes for very young children (babies) in the cupboard that the boys do not need now. So those will go out to the rubbish. They're pretty beat up, so can't go to charity shop. I'm hoping to completely clear out one cupboard full of "stuff" so that I can organise the cupboards a bit better. I'm one of those people that likes all the labels facing frontwards and things lined up nicely, so that I can FIND things. I hate things all over in the cupboards as things get lost.


More to do, but have to run for an appointment.

Pennydropped

Car repair done today. Ouch! £163 out the window (or more accurately thrown at the engine!). But one down, 2 to go. Some money into petrol and approximately £9 on fruit and vegetables, school fees for activities of £7 (which I'll need to pay by Wednesday), and that's it for spending for the week, hopefully.


Relationship issues this week with my STBX, which I won't go into (for which I'm sure everyone is grateful LOL), but it has meant extra stress and difficulty focusing on much. Hopefully it will settle down now, and life can get back to normal.


My friend has helped me sort out (finally!!!) the colour scheme I'm looking at and how I want to paint my living room. I've been debating it for over a year, off and on. It's the main delay in getting it done (for fairly obvious reasons). But finally - decision made. So while this month I'll be focusing on doing some redecorating in the DCs rooms, next month is finally time to do the living room.


That gives me time to get the fireplace sorted. Last time I had a fire in the fireplace, I had smoke upstairs in my room (directly above the room the fireplace is in). It was so bad I had to open my window and air it out. Not good. So someone's coming out in a couple weeks to check it again - it's been checked twice in the past couple months, but obviously neither check was thorough enough. A bit annoying, but what can you do, right?

Pennydropped

Wow! What a windy day!! I was hoping the weather would cooperate so I could do some trimming on the shrubbery along the front pavement, but I guess that'll have to wait for another day. Friday's the only day this week that looks like it might be sunny. Fingers crossed!!


I almost lost my resolve this morning and popped up to the supermarket. I had to remind myself that we have plenty of stuff in to make meals for the next few days (probably a lot longer than that!!). No need for anything yet. I should be able to hold out until Monday or Tuesday.


I'm now having to add the cost of mediation and divorce to my budget. I cannot believe the fees involved! From what I can see it's £410 just to file the paperwork??? Plus fees for a solicitor?? That can't be right! As if the situation isn't stressful enough. And no legal aid available for low income unless domestic violence, which there was, but not reported to police, all the more stupid of me. So... I'll have to add up the fees and just deal with it. At least mediation services has told me that it's free due to low income. That's one expense I'm spared anyway.

Pennydropped

I love Lakeland. It is affectionately known as "kitchen !!!!!!" around here. I happily browse their catalogues, even though I don't spend a huge amount of money there. I marvel at the new gadgets they come up with, although admittedly I'm not in the market for an all-in-one soup cooker or a jam maker. But I enjoy looking, all the same.


My Lakeland toaster has finally been laid to rest. I believe there is a problem with the sensor, but after a few years, I suppose I can forgive it. It's worked very hard providing toast for 2 very fussy and exacting toast-masters, namely DS1 and DS2.


Lakeland's returns policy basically states "no questions." I like this. I felt a bit guilty initially - after all, I've used the toaster for awhile. But as I was previously told by their customer service - don't worry, that's what is expected. We stand by our product for an extended time.


So my toaster is being traded in for a newer model. As was my vacuum cleaner before it. I've been given credit (the amount that my old toaster cost in the catalogue) towards my new toaster purchase, which means my new toaster will be roughly £7. I can live with this.


I am, however, moving from a 4 slot toaster to a 2 slot toaster. So basically, I'm going from the family car to the sports car here. Does this signify anything? Is a toast-related midlife crisis on the horizon? Will I be wearing spandex next or trying to be-bop around like a teenager? Not likely. In fact, I think we can safely say that no spandex will be considered at all.


I am merely decluttering my kitchen counter tops (oh, how mundane!) and decided that making 2 lots of toast separately instead of both at once will not mean I am overly exerting myself.


But I am getting the bright red model with the black trim....

Pennydropped

First of all, I have my fancy new toaster and am loving it! Nothing like a bright red toaster to give the kitchen a cheery look!


I've been going over my grocery list for tomorrow and I've noticed that I'm mainly using 3 supermarkets - Aldi's, Sainsbury's, and Farmfoods. Sainsbury's for just a few particular items, the bulk of my shopping is at Aldi's, and then mainly toilet roll and frozen veg at Farmfoods as it is by far the cheapest for those items. Thankfully they're all on one route, so there is no running all over the place. I've found that I rarely go to Tesco or Asda - only if they have a stellar sale on an item I use regularly, otherwise it's just not worth the drive out of my way.


I do stop at Waitrose occasionally, but only if I'm going in the area, and usually just to have a look around and a free coffee.


School is off next week, so there's a scramble going on in my head to think of what activities I can do with the DCs that will be fun for them and inexpensive and relatively stress free for me. Going to big play places or any public activities means fighting a crowd, which is something that DS1 doesn't cope with very well. And it usually involves parking fees and entrance fees. So that kind of thing is out.


Outside play in the garden is pretty obvious - inexpensive, easy. Trampoline out there, so that's good. Bubble blowing still seems to be huge for both of them. And I think we have a skipping rope somewhere here in the house, so I'm hoping to teach them how to skip rope. With any luck, the weather will cooperate to some degree.


Baking will definitely be on the cards. I have a huge bag of bread flour that I am hoping to use, and the boys want to try making bread and bread rolls. So we're all looking forward to that. DS2 wants to make bread shaped like Mickey Mouse's head. This could be interesting. Plus I promised to let them help make chocolate cakes.


Painting and art work will be a good bet as well. I've got loads of paper and a big box full of things they can use - scissors, glue, glitter, sequins, feathers, pipe cleaners. My dining room table may never be the same again, but at least they'll have fun.


I imagine there'll be some video games and films during the week. I've also got some games we can play. DS1 is interested in learning cribbage, and DS2 wants to learn go fish. So the playing cards will be out at some point, I'm certain. And I'm going to set up a big Lego build one day - we have a ton of them, so I think the DCs will enjoy that.


Unfortunately, some homework (reading and writing practice) will need to rear it's ugly head. But needs must.


A nice walk to the library, as well as visiting some friends locally with children. I think we can get that all in during the week. I'm hoping we can try making homemade pizza one day for lunch as well as I think the boys will really enjoy that, now that DS1 is finally starting to enjoy pizza a little bit.


Well, I think that's the week sorted. Inexpensive and fun. We have to keep the outdoor activities simple (and easily picked up and dropped) due to the weather - the report says loads of rain, so no point telling the boys we're going outside somewhere and having to disappoint them over and over. At least with playing outside, we can do a little every day, and even if it's raining they can go out, get wet, splash about a bit with their wellies and jackets on and then come back in and dry off and get warm again.

Pennydropped

I've done the "rearrange furniture" dance today. I needed a new tall cabinet in the upstairs bathroom, a new dresser in DS1's room, and then needed to relocate the 2 medium plastic drawers in the bathroom to somewhere else. All done. I have shuffled things about and decluttered somewhat by taking out of my dresser some items I'm not wearing - they will now be cleaning rags. My dresser was moved to DS1's room - he needed the larger dresser and I've put my things in the plastic drawers from the bathroom, now relocated into my room. The tall cabinet from DS1's room (that no longer has a door on the front) is perfect for storage (towels, shampoo, and so on) in the bathroom. All sorted.


Tonight I am finally putting together the radiator cabinet (flat pack) that I bought ages ago on sale. I was debating between a couple different rooms to use it in, but have decided to use it in the entry way as the radiator could do with a spruce up and this will cover that and the pipes under it. I'll fasten it so that it can be removed easily when I'm redoing the flooring in the entry/hallway. I think it will just add a nice touch to the entry way, rather than the sad looking old radiator and pipes. (and best of all - no current cost as I bought it ages ago - for half price!)

Pennydropped

It's been ages since I have put a post on here. It's been quite a busy two weeks, and some issues with my ex have made me quite stressed, so I avoided any posting so I didn't rant. What's the point, after all?


So now, I've picked up a few nice things - a lovely blue distressed triple photo frame (on clearance for £3 and using a £2.50 voucher meant it was actually 50p!!), a new toilet seat (£14 - I have had enough of the plastic hardware to last me a lifetime; this one has metal hardware - and it's bright blue! very nice!), and a shade for my light upstairs. The shade is one of those globe shapes, with a metal E-shaped hook on top for the cable, however, I'm a bit worried about bending the cable to fit through the E shape. I'm sure it's just me being paranoid, but I'll give it a try again on Monday when the boys are back in school.


I had coffee at a friend's house the other day (okay, 4 coffees as we chatted for a long time, and I was jittery from caffeine when I left), and she had done some DIY in her house. It was quite a revelation to see the different things she had done and how it had changed her house for the better. It just pushed me to get moving again on it.


I will have to watch the expenses on it, as I now have solicitor's fees I will have to pay for regarding the divorce. I've also redone my will, so that's £110 gone, but definitely an important thing. Updating insurance beneficiaries as well.

Pennydropped

The lovely person doing my will gave me a discount. What a lovely gesture! That's almost done now. Just need to then pay a small fee for it to be stored safely.


Both children are home ill from school, which ultimately means I'm not going to get a whole lot done. I've also taken the car in for repair, so I'm just waiting for the phone call to tell me how much it will cost to complete the repairs and service. Probably a big whopping OUCH!! We shall see.


Other than that, I'm just going over my monthly budget, doing some meal planning and organising my list for the next grocery shop.


Then it's back to decluttering - what I can get done around two children, anyway. I suppose there is something to be said for the children being home - no school run for a couple days at least saves a little petrol and means I'm not considering going anywhere that I'll spend money (not that I will probably have much left after the car repairs!!).