MrsS is getting serious!

debtfreeoneday

Also which nappies do you use? I have twins and we did reusables for the first year which saved us loads.. but after going back to work it was just too much to keep on top on it so we went to disposables.. we used Lidl's ones and they were great.. in fact I still use one a day now as I have one twin who isn't dry at night.. just a thought

MrsSave

Thank you debtfreeoneday.

We currently use either aldi or other supermarket own brand if they are on offer. We usually bulk buy when there is an offer on. Well done on using reusables, especially with twins.

MrsSave

At last, the accounts are looking healthy, ready for tomorrow morning, when the pennies go flying all around the internet into their allotted accounts. It has been tight this month. We knew it would be, as I got minimum pay at the end of September due to being a supply teacher and not working August/only a bit of work in September. This meant that we had no spare pennies to go into our different pots for October. But, we've survived. Almost every account is empty now (other than emergency fund, savings and car pot). We have £3 left for food and petrol and that is it.

November looks like it will be healthier. I have already made an overpayment to Next and Barclaycard. I have increased the amount going into our day-to-day/entertainment pots from £30 each to £50 each. I figured that if my son needed new shoes, the £30 would disappear there and then so increasing it a little would be sensible. I've also increased the amount going into our personal accounts from £20 each to £25. So, our accounts are going to be looking like this tomorrow:

Emergency fund: £201
Savings: £100
Celebrations: £75
Day to day: £50
Entertainment: £50
Mrs S personal funds: £25
Mr S personal funds: £25
Bills account: £1500
Car/life insurance: £118
Food and petrol: £280
Holiday: £50

After all that happens, there will still be £18 left in our wages account and I'll have £10 in cash at home from second job. Trying to decide where that's going to be going. I think it is worth keeping the £10 at home as an emergency £10. The other £18 is either going to add to the emergency fund, the savings fund or off the M&S card. Decisions, decisions!! I may split it between the emergency fund and the M&S card.

Anyway, we're ready for November and the Christmas spends that come with it. I aim that we will have more money to our names on the 30th of November than we do today £265.95

MrsSave

Well today was one of the most expensive days we've had for a while. All for good reasons and within budget, though! We've picked up our alcohol for the month (4 bottles of Aldi wine and 20 cans of lager for £10). If we want anything else we buy it out of our personal money. Also bought a box of nappies from Aldi as well as a few groceries that wee going to on our home delivery from tesco next week but were cheaper. Spent around £50 for everything, which also included a few bits for a little picnic today (crisps, pasties and a big bottle of drink for £1.73). Worked out how much our aldi shop would have cost in tesco, and saved around £7 not including the alcohol and the nappies. Happy there!

We've not got around £120 left for groceries for the rest of the month. That should be plenty. We only shop every other week, the in between week is just for milk and fruit so we budget £10 for that. Leaves £45 for each 'big' shop.

The barclaycard should be completely paid off on Monday, that's the second debt cleared. M&S card next. £320. Would love to clear it by Christmas. Not 100% sure we will manage, but will make a good effort!

Currently watching X Factor. Now it's November 1st, there are loads of Christmas adverts! Christmas countdown begins. I'm a big kid at Christmas

MrsSave

If every day was like today, we'd be debt free in no time!

Quite a few items of clothing finished on ebay today. I've made £82ish from the ones that have already paid. Waiting for around another £15-£20 to come through again. Also made a crafting sale this afternoon, as well as one last night.

I've listed a few other items on ebay this evening, so will hopefully have a few more pennies to add to the pot next weekend. This will then be split equally between the emergency fund and the debt at the end of the month. As soon as the emergency fund is up to £1000 I can add to the 'new baby fund' if we have any extra money left over. There is currently £50 a month going in to it, but at that I'll be old enough to be a great grandmother before we can think about our next child!

I popped to a Tesco earlier. Managed to get 3 packs of yellow sticker mince meat. We eat a lot of meat, but with the amount currently in the freezer I don't think we will need to buy any more this year!! Also got some Halloween cakes reduced and crumpets down to 22p.

Other than that it was a low spend day. Went out for a walk this afternoon with dh and ds. It was lovely, even though it started raining as we were at the furthest point away from the house! Hoods up and splashing in puddles time!

Back to work after a week off now. Though, I do have tomorrow off so can beat the Monday morning blues!

Had a major talk with dh last night about our debt. He knows we owe a lot, and knows roughly how much, but he completely buries his head in the sand and is happy for me to deal with it. I am not sleeping well at the moment and spend so much of the day thinking about paying off our debts and making extra money that I need a little more support. I've not been feeling 100% the last few days and think my body is fighting something off. Thought I had a bad throat starting up, but that disappeared, then today it feels like I'm at the start of an urine infection. Very mild, though, at the moment. I hope I manage to fight things off, but waking at 5 every morning is certainly not helping.

Anyway, enough of me whinging, need to work out next how to pay off the whole M&S card and increase emergency fund to £400 by Christmas! I'm sure it is possible!

MrsSave

Feeling like a domestic goddess today. I made a lasagne. Without opening a single jar. I made it with only a small amount of mince, padded it out with lentils and veg and made enough for around 8 portions. Other than popping to pick up some milk for the sauce, it was made with ingredients that were in the store cupboard. :j Feeling very proud of myself here! :rotfl:

Anyway, Monday came and went. With it came a £10 debenhams voucher for beauty products with no minimum spend (thank you Mr Postie for delivering it!). I'm not 100% sure why I have it to be honest! think it is just for being a beauty card holder (which I signed up for ages ago and never use!). Will have a look to see what I can treat myself to (probably makeup remover wipes.....they're running low with me!!).

Monday also brought around £18 from people paying for ebay goods that ended yesterday.

It also came with the news from my dh that he will be getting a bonus in December, possibly around £400 (I'm thinking half towards debt, half towards emergency fund!!).

As Monday's go, today wasn't too bad! Though, I do still have this lingering sore throat that won't either disappear or develop into a full blown throat infection. Sorry for tmi, but I'm in the presence of a urine infection at the moment too. Almost called the doc for an appointment, but figured it will probably go in its own time.

Right, let's see what Tuesday brings......:cool:

MrsSave

Hello diary!

I've bought my son a new winter coat today (he had been given one, wore it to a fireworks display this evening and massive doesn't come close!! It will be a good fit next year!), some Elemis face wipes and Dead Sea Magik bath salts. I have paid £0. Eeeeek!! That makes me happy! I used tesco clubcard boost vouchers for the coat and a gift voucher for the beauty products. I've also chosen free store delivery for both as I will be in town at some point to collect

The fireworks display cost us £4 this evening, and was worth every penny! We had hot dogs at home before going so saved buying food there.

1 more day in work this week and then a long weekend! I can't wait.

MrsSave

Christmas is coming! I've bought our wreath (it was the one I wanted last year, but by the time I'd persuaded dh they had sold out!!). The Christmas adverts are starting on the tv 🎄🎅❄️⛄️ Eeeeeeek!

Sorry, moment over! Found a Halloween outfit today for my ds really for next year. It was down to £1.50 in the sale. Ordered it and then this evening I went to show dh and saw it had been reduced further, down to £1. Ordered the £1 one as well, will return the £1.50 one when I collect it!

Work is a little quiet at the moment, currently only have 1 day next week, which isn't enough. Last half term was v busy, so hoping this is just a quiet week. I do have quite a lot of crafting to do, so will use the time to complete Christmas orders and then will be able to work any days I'm required. Fingers crossed work comes in!

I've seen a couple of lovely jumpers today online. Nice Christmassy ones (sorry!!). I'm going to wait a couple of week. If I still really like one of them I will see whether I have enough money in my personal account and if so will treat myself for Christmas!

MrsSave

All good intentions and all that!

Ordered the coat for my ds with clubcard boost vouchers. Collected it yesterday and it is too small. They don't have it in a bigger size. Going to return it. I had a look at their other coats, and the nicer ones were £20 ish. That's the same price as ones from Next, so I've ordered one from there for £18, delivered to store tomorrow. Already have the money to one side so the bill will be paid immediately.

I've not been well this weekend Once I get ill, it takes ages to clear and is one thing after another. Ended up at the out of hours gp yesterday who has given me strong antibiotics and I have to make an appointment to see my regular gp in a week to see if they've worked.

I'm working tomorrow, but have decided to take the rest of the week off as I hadn't received booking yet (still time, though). Thought I could concentrate on getting as much of my crafting done as possible for Christmas orders in between relaxing and recuperating! Once the Christmas orders are done, I can concentrate on working as close to full time as possible between now and christmas.

Decided I need to make a list (I love lists!!) showing what we have an what we need (or rather, want!!) for Christmas food and drinks wise. Will have a decent idea of our budget then and whether we have enough!

Right, time to throw some clothes on.....going for a walk to watch the Remembrance Sunday parade with dh and ds x

MrsSave

I've been looking at my work diary for this month, and it is so quiet at the moment. I really need it to pick up so getting a little worried! September and October were busy, didn't expect this month to be quiet

Anyway, I've used this morning to work through all our accounts to make sure they're all balancing. The only one that isn't is my personal account. It's only around £1.50 put, so waiting to see what turns up on online banking! I've forgotten something!!

Just received a phone call to say I was due a refund on overpayment of ppi on a loan I'd taken out before 2011. Haha! I may have credit card debt, but I have never had a loan! They do try it on!

Treated ourselves to a supermarket Chinese last night. It was so disappointing. Wasn't very nice at all. I think we'd have been better off getting a proper Chinese.......next time! Currently also have £10 sitting in an envelope waiting for the next M&S dine in deal. Wonder when that will be.

Also, worked out a budget for the rest of the year's spends for Christmas and other entertainment things. It includes money for a wedding party and a Christmas Day trip for the 3 of us, a trip to see santa etc. Next month is going to cost more than the normal month, but will be working to a budget!