NSK;The Tortoise and The Mad MARCH Hare!!!

mooomin

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

Moomin how did you come back with half your spending money??.. So sorry about the job AND the degree course. Things happen for a reason. I have my fingers crossed for a better job who pays for your further education - what is it you want to do!

I went with the equivilant of £740ish and came back with just over £300 I was in Oman where my brother lives and so didn't have to pay for a hotel (just one night when we went to a wildlife resort place) or for any breakfasts. We ended up at his friend's houses for dinner twice and twice his boss paid for our dinner and wouldn't take no for an answer!

As I prefer to come home with memories and photos rather than expensive/tacky souvenirs, I only really spent a lot on food which is why I managed to do so well

I want to change career completely. I work in financial services at the moment and was looking to do something totally unrelated.

My current job finishes next week as I'm on a short term contract, so it's back to job hunting I go...!

Siouxsie32

Afternoon all, it seems a lovely sunny day outside I've not ventured past the door yet so can't be sure! Off to work shortly so today will be another SFD-hurrah!!

I just got back last night from a mini-break to the emerald isle My niece is about to have a baby (she's due a little after you thrifty ) so I had a few days with her, chilling out, catching up, chatting and planning our activities around where the public toilets were I managed to pay for all our food and buy her some PJs for her night feeds and STILL come home with a few Euros to spare! I got so annoyed when I was putting her on the train home though - it was full and not one person offered her a seat! So I took her to first class, plonked her down and asked the nice guard if I could upgrade her ticket. He took one look at her and waived the fee Aw, it was lovely to spend a few days with her. The trip wasn't planned, but it didn't cost a lot and we'll both remember it fondly!

So, back to work for me this afternoon...

thriftylass

Hello,
Guess what, still no baby, lol. Never had a real nickname. been calling her by the name I had planned for her from the start (or let's say the name I wanted if it would be a girl).


Got some lovely messages from the girls in my office. I'll actually be looking fwd to going back to work eventually. I changed carriers when I had DS. Was a postdoc but my contract had run out and stepped down onto technical level. Love my job, plus as a postdoc I wouldn't have a work life balance. Now it's strictly 9-5, really nice people, amazing boss when it comes to doctors appointments or kids being sick or being on here during work hours , as long as the work is done well.

Not sure what my numbers are for this month, kind off lost track. Not locking too bad though I think. Will be fully on board again next month.

SarahB1989_2

Feeling rather middle class today as my MyWaitrose and MyJL cards arrived - free tea every day and free cake every month!!

Kat - I would definitely accidentally buy a Macbook Was going to use my student discount to get one but can no longer afford it, so waiting for their 0% finance deal to start in November so I can get one then. I know credit deals are bad news but at 0% I really can't resist...

karmachilovething

Checking in, sorry it's been a while, but I have been reading.

Some SFDs and a spendy day on Tuesday. Bought a set of 6 vintage (charity shop!) coffee cups for a friend's birthday. She'll love them and they're worth more than the £10 I paid :money: Then another charity shop for a fancy dress costume for a hen do I'm going on this weekend.

I'm off to Scotland for the hen do tonight. Catching the sleeper up and regular train down, all bought in advance with money saved for the purpose. Hopefully won't be much cost tot he weekend as all paid in a lump sum in advance, so just some petrol for travel.

mothernerd

Updated my signature-blown the food budget £127.65. Managed to do nearly everything I wanted to get done yesterday but was really struggling by the end. Took painkillers before I went in Tessimos but started sweating before I finished. Was glad of the (small) trolley as I needed something to hold onto.

Spent too much. What my stomach wants is apples, bananas, raw broccoli and cauliflower (ended up with 5 lots -some mixed in with other veg -but ate through 1 and a 1/2 last night so may be gone by end of week) and watercress (bought some Monday, only persuaded myself against buying more by reminding myself how quickly it can reduce to dark green slime).

Eleven out of 19 items were reduced. Dearer items were 2 x 2l bottles of dand and burd for little stair fixer and medicinal items - I wasn't going back to town if I could help it. Bit too much to carry but I made it. DS2 arrived 5 minutes after I finished unpacking (DS3 asleep,I tried shouting -couldn't get upstairs).

So good news bad news.

1) DS2 is having severe muscle spasms which were attacking his stomach, doctor given him muscle relaxants and he will get better.

Bad news this week and next two he will have enough money for food but no rent - budget that at the beginning of the month was not enough to cover bills and standing orders with nothing for food, is now £300 worse. Am owed about £360 in rebates from energy supplier but automated response to my first e-mail says they may take 10 days to get round to reading it - fought to get the money from them last year so didn't assume it would arrive on time this year hence gloomy budget.

Good news -DS2 had come to use my phone for an interview. Only has an interview with his new boss and area manager and he should get his promotion to assistant manager (has been doing the job but not getting paid for it). New manager seems very supportive and clued up - the one foisted on them a month before Christmas (3 years younger than DS2) is now history. DS2 thinks he is looking at training him up to take over as manager in 2 years.

So no jam today or tomorrow but prospect of jam in a month or two. I know he was feeling trapped in a low paid insecure job with uncertain hours (couldn't save enough to switch to a better monthly paid job) and probably resenting me because I said not to quit when he got his degree until he had something else (one of his cousins was still unemployed 2 years after graduating).

2) Mum phoned to ask how DS2 was so general updating on both sides. The cables and electrical stuff has gone to the tip for recycling (I sorted it 4 weeks ago, but she kept forgetting to ask her OH's DS2 to take it away). Mum did the shredding of her OH's paperwork (over 12 hours - he still had every holiday request he ever made),couldn't move the day after and his DS3 knew where the important paperwork was. Feel guilty (I was going to offer but would have needed someone to pick me up and drop me back home).

Difficult situation all round - her OH is getting money to pay for help (he has dementia) but on bad days he will not hand over any money (they have always split the bills 50/50). She wants to apply for the money in her own right but I don't know if she will qualify, have told her we will try but didn't want her to get her hopes up. She needs to vent when he is being 'mean' -both senses of the word.

Have cut short the post here as I don't know if this thread is the appropriate place for it -you are all lovely and very supportive but I'm just writing down what's going on in my head. I was intending to start my own diary and should probably do so.

3) I am comfortable today (very cosy at the moment). I ached when I woke up -arms and upper body from pulling/levering myself up so many times yesterday.

House is a tip. Had to go downstairs for a missed call (they rang off before I managed to get off the bed - rescheduling an appointment). Collected more food and the post while I was down there. Washed up for the 3 minutes waiting for 1/2 meal to warm (did shout down to DS3 last night but apparently 'do the washing-up' translates into boy as 'just wash your own bowl and fork so you can carry on eating').

Put clothes I threw downstairs last night into washing machine. Strange smell in the hall (I checked the mop bucket) appears to be DS3's underpants which have been hanging around in the bathroom standing in for the bathmat (I have told/shown him where the bathmats live) so were wet and musty.

Cut my hair last night, mostly without a mirror. It's a mess but not a disaster. I brushed it for ages but paint and other bits had to be cut out (spent most of the last six weeks tied/bundled up). Then I cut off the excess. Had a bath this morning and managed to kneel to wash it. The last few tangles have come out (thought I might have to cut more off). So it's chin length (was way past my shoulders) and I have a fringe which I'm finger combing to the side. Not much style but it's manageable, not too weird (people won't stare in the street) and if I can scrape some money together mum's hairdresser can do something in a few weeks.

Don't know how to approach this one but I'm thinking about throwing some food out. I don't feel like cooking. I cooked last Wednesday (mostly use it or chuck it out stuff, semi-experimental). For various reasons it never got put away in the freezer and I really don't want to eat it (not ready to eat it/not sure about it/not sure I can stand up long enough to portion/pot/freeze it). I hate wasting food and I worked so hard to use every scrap of it but at the moment I want to put everything I'm not sure about in a bin and throw it away. My sense of smell is heightened and every time I open the fridge -it doesn't smell bad it's just over-whelming. I feel so guilty. Help anyone? Absolution?

PheoniX

Hello peeps

Not long got in and thought I would do a quick check in before catching up with the thread and settling down for the night. Spend day as planned. Got up to use the loo at 6 a.m then found myself in Arseda (thankyou Mothernerd ) at 7! Got pretty much everything I need and will update my signature shortly.

I watched 'The Big Can't Pay Debate' last night and I found it quite stressful lol! It was all a bit rushed and shouty, people werent given the chance to speak or be heard properly and that gobby one just got on my pip! :mad: I managed to watch the programme through to the end which is a success considering I can't watch the Apprentice for more than 2 minutes before switching off as that stresses me out n all :rotfl:

I took the plunge today and applied for a 0% Te$co credit card so I can stick me choppers on it and repay over an 18 month period. I could outrightly pay for a new crown but seeing a huge sum of money disappear from my savings would be heartbreaking and since I wont be charged any interest with the credit card, I may as well take advantage of what is essentially an interest free loan. I was a little bit wary that I may not be granted enough credit to cover the whole cost of the intended work, which would have been pointless really and would have gone on my credit history. However, I was surprised to see that my limit was enough to cover the purchase of 2 golden tusks and a few toothbrushes thrown in for good measure should I have needed it :T Can't wait to see how many clubcard points £1k will get me! :cool:

Bagged a free coke zero today (not that I drink coke!) and a Waitrose latte. Have also received vouchers for a freebie 'tea n cake' courtesy of John Tomorrow I will bag free Burger King fries! I have a weakness for fries.. and freebie bargains

Right Im orf to tally my spends and will update in a bit!

Toodle~oo Torties :wave:

MrsGSR

Evening all,

Today I am feeling proud, I have donated to Cancer Research, Sport Relief AND I gave blood, was complimented on my veins. (Weirdest compliment I have ever received!)

It has ended up being a spend day however as I needed to get some flour for making some bread for the weekend however that means tomorrow will be spend free.

Second work night tonight, will wear my "I gave blood" sticker so everyone knows and I can go on light duties tonight (fingers crossed)

Tomorrow DD has to dress up in sporty clothes for Sport Relief for school, and we have to make a donation for the pleasure, I'm guessing donations don't count?

Not much else to share except for hugs and thoughts for those of you having a tough time of it at the moment and for ThiftyLass who must be feeling mighty fed up!

Fmess

Evening all,

Today was a spendy day as needed a top up of milk and bread, which I'm hoping will last until payday (Tuesday). I also got petrol and a card and present for my friend who had a baby last week and who I am visiting for the first time tomorrow.

Took lunch to work and also did some more tutoring today. I have had to use some of the money as I am over budget but looking forward to payday and paying off some more of the debt.

Hope you've all had a good day, I'm already looking forward to April!

SiannieLaz

Evening All,


I was MIA yesterday due to going for very long run during the day, then passing out on the sofa as soon as dd went to bed - I hate doing that, its such a waste of an evening Luckily I woke up in the early hours and remembered to set my alarm as was on an early today (get up at 5.30am).


Mothernerd - Don't beat yourself up too much about chucking food away, it's not as if it's something you do regularly. When you're working as hard as you are, things are bound to get forgotten now and then. Because I batch cook in the evening, I can't always put stuff in the freezer before I go to bed as it's still too hot, so the food has to sit in the fridge. Then I get up at silly o'clock to go to work, fall asleep when I get back and it's still there the next day. Luckily for me, my aunty lives opposite and I can call her to pop round and put things in the freezer. If I didn't have her, then I know I would be chucking stuff away.


Anyhoo, sfd for me today, I need milk tmrw but otherwise shouldn't be spending anything till at least Sunday as I'm at work for the next two days. Small spend yesterday on nappies only. Am going to venture to A*da on Sunday as they are currently doing cat food at the cheapest price, haven't been there for ages so I'll have to be very strict and not get stuff I don't really need just cos it's cheap.


So, totals are:
11/15 SFD's
£80.01/£100 groceries incl cat food
11/18 LTW
£20/£40 petrol
30/30 donations/declutter


Have a lovely evening/Friday everyone xxx