Giblet's debt free journey

giblet1979

Thanks lovely lilty - all will be well and really appreciate the prayers

Well today has been a very busy one, so currently chilling with a bit of old 'kitchen nightmares' before sleep. The rest of the week is pretty packed too (catching up after recent events) but hoping that I can get most of it done in advance of my week off (12 days and counting......) so that I'll be able to properly relax then.

Top up Tesc@ shop tonight, and leftover bolognese sauce and pasta tranformed into pasta bake (gorgeous). A couple of treats did pop into our trolley, but the shopping came to just over £28 for the week (and shouldn't need more than a few bits) so happy with that. Also spent £68 on petrol, but that is unavoidable, and budgeted for.

DH only has a few more days left till freedom....the countdown is well and truly on

Not much else to report. Mum continues to feel ok in herself, although she is sad that I can't now spend all of each day with her (and I feel guilty for having to do other things). I'm sure we'll find a balance soon

Hope everyone else is doing well and night night x

liltdiddylilt

Oh Gib, you have to have your own life. Mum should know that. And she should know that the last couple of weeks have put an inordinate amount of pressure on you. She doesn't mean to be unfair I am sure, but the balance needs to rest with her being well and you being able to provide for yourself and hubby, even more so now! Juggling so many jobs... Well I couldn't do it even if I had zero life and no one in it! How you cope I never know! You are amazing

Impressed with the Tesc0 shop! I have never been able to do those kind of shops in big supermarkets. L!dl yes! dinner sounds lovely. I am having burger king as my kitchen has been dismantled by the boiler man. hahahaha!

Hope you slept well?? xx

giblet1979

Aww thanks lilt. Slept ok thanks - ready for the weekend tho!

I'd never normally manage to spend less than £50 minimum, especially in Tesc0s (I should be a shareholder the amount I've spent over the years) but we're really focusing atm, or trying to anyway. Really fancy a takeaway / meal tonight for DH's celebratory finish, but I've taken some turkey out of the freezer, so I have to use that now as I wouldn't waste it

Working week has continued to be busy, but tomorrow should just be paperwork, and I managed to avoid my usual Friday pm 100 mile plus round trip (due to cancellation) so that's good (despite lost income, a free couple of hours are much welcomed).

Nothing else much MSE to report. DH and I are going to go over the budget and update YNAB properly this weekend in anticipation for the reduced wage. We already have the general figures, but want to be able to feel confident, and know how much else I need to take on to ensure we can manage in the short term. Regardless, it's a good day

Hope everyone else is well

Gib x

misstara

Sounds like you and DH are well organised with your budgeting. I bet he can't wait to get out of work today.

Well done on resisting the takeaway. Have a lovely weekend

giblet1979

Hey - thanks misst Just spoken to him and he's laden with presents, so much so that he's having to get a lift home! I hope that'll make him feel more appreciated given what's happened (there's loads more that I daren't put on here in the interests of keeping anon etc). Apparently tho, most of it is alcohol, lol

Hope you have a great weekend yourself x

supersaver1000

Ah, now your other posts make sense. Laden with alcohol - nice. A new chapter begins. I'll check in regularly and we can share money saving meal tips.

Lilty, so sorry I posted a message on your wall to Gib and thought it was Gibs thread.

Here is a little message for you on Gibs wall and then I'll pop back to yours and catch up. :):) Hello Lilty :):) Goodbye SS :rotfl::rotfl:x

icontinuetodream

Really pleased that your dh has reached the finish line!! :j

It will make such a positive difference to your lives it will be worth any adjustments that you have to make - hope you both enjoy your first weekend of a much less stressful time!!

Hope all is well with your mum and make sure you take care of yourself too....the amount of support that you give to everyone is fab, but you won't be able to keep giving if you neglect your own needs and burn yourself out!! So endeth the lecture..... :rotfl:

giblet1979

Aww...thanks SS and IC2D. You're lovely DH has been great since finishing; spent most of yesterday evening giggling, and people have commented how much better he is looking i.e. bags under eyes gone etc. He's really looking forward to his new challenge too, and sorting out more in the house, but will be taking a few days just to chill and recover properly, and I for one think he deserves it! He's such a cutie :smileyhea

Now, for confession time

We haven't started as we've meant to go on. We had a meal out last night with a friend (£20 each) followed by breakfast out this morning (£10) and I bought a bag full of clothes (needed but £150!!!) and DH bought a few hobby items (£25).

Now most of this is budgeted for if I'm being honest, but it's the old budget, and not the one we need to keep to now. It is also very silly in some ways, as we didn't NEED to go out for food, and the clothes were quite expensive (although I am desperate for work clothes as mine are faded, bobbly and some have holes...)

I'm not really sure if I'm justifying it because I do think I needed the stuff, or if it's excuses. Anyhow - I'm going to keep them, and try to last until I need some new stuff in a smaller size (or can fit into my existing 'thinner' clothes).

Feeling a bit pants today. I've had a funny reaction following a blood test yesterday, and my arm looks like it has been burnt (I think it's from the tape securing the dressing). I'm also swollen up like a beach ball; my fingers look like I could 'pop' them, and this has become a common theme recently. Sorry to moan tho - it's easy to get fed up, but I know I have it so easy compared to some.

Ooh....one more purchase today, but bargainous one, was a copy of 'Delia's ultimate cookery course' for £2.50 in a charity shop :j. Already convinced it'll help me become a better frugal cook, and I'm cooking tonight for a friend from storecupboard / freezer ingredients so am tempted to make a little pud now as well

Right, better get on with some jobs; or catch up with diaries first. Priorities and all that.

Happy Saturday peeps xx

liltdiddylilt

Hey you!!!

I am one of those people who goes to work dressed in rags. So I know the guilty feelings and such that you are going through having spent £150. It is needed, but doesn't mean you have to like it!

Don't figure between old and new budgets just yet! And don't pile the pressure on. Rome was not built in a day. There is one thing between your old budget and new that you haven't really thought too hard about reducing... and that is the house fixing budget. So for now, every takeaway, food item, etc that you buy take it out of that. Don't reduce other things or look to fund those kind of purchases from more income, focus it directly at the *will we or won't we pay that plasterer, buy those tiles, carpets, etc etc etc.* - it will focus your mind. I think YNAB works best when you have to take money from one budget to fund another. It focuses my mind 150% more when I only shift money out of one category, to fund overspends in any other. It always comes out of my 'savings for Macbook' - I want the Macbook so bad that before I buy another takeaway I look at the money in my macbook fund and decide to make pasta n sauce.. Lol.

Lotsa huggles! you're doing great and I am so happy for hubby!!!

P.S Hi SS!!! lol xx

giblet1979

Thanks lilt - your advice, as always, is very much appreciated, and you're totally right. While the plasterer has been AWOL it's been easier to justify extra spends, but I REALLY want my house to be at least habitable (I'm not after a palace, but rubble everywhere is a bit much) so I do need to prioritise x