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I am such an idiot! When will I learn?
Comments
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Judi - Being paid early doesn't need to be a problem - just put it into YNAB as being money for January so it isn't available until then. That's how I plan on dealing with my DH getting paid early.
It doesn't make any difference to my money as I get paid 30th of month every month.
Denise
Thanks Denise - thats a good idea! I will need to sepnd some time reconciling my budgets and YNAB over the weekend - they have been neglected a little due to assignments!0 -
Greensalad - Thanks for your post - My 21 year old occsiionally does a wash but usually when she needs something - as for my younger 2 they are 12 and 10 so I might wait a little while. I would like to get them cooking a bit - againg the 21 year old will occasionally make something on her days off but she often doesnt like what I have planned so messes up my meal plan! I will need to involve her in the meal planning if she is going to cook more so but that is hard work with her work shifts!
The younger 2 could help a little more i guess - I am going to create a chores list for them I think for in the new year - I am just sick of clearing up thier mess!
I have a bit of a Christmas gift dialema - some of my staff at work are working on Christmas day - over the 24 hrs from Christmas eve to the end of Christmas day there are 20 people working - I am thinking about whether to give them all a little gift to say thankyou - I obviously don't want to speand too much but want to give something to show my appreciation for them working over Christmas - What do people think?0 -
Hi Judi
You can't afford to buy 20 people a gift - so a personal thank you note should be enough. If you wanted to do more you could make some homemade cakes/ mince pies for them to enjoy on this shift and if you were able to pop in yourself for half an hour to take them, I think that would go down really well (but obviously depends how far away they are and what other commitments you have)0 -
Greensalad - Thanks for your post - My 21 year old occsiionally does a wash but usually when she needs something - as for my younger 2 they are 12 and 10 so I might wait a little while. I would like to get them cooking a bit - againg the 21 year old will occasionally make something on her days off but she often doesnt like what I have planned so messes up my meal plan! I will need to involve her in the meal planning if she is going to cook more so but that is hard work with her work shifts!
The younger 2 could help a little more i guess - I am going to create a chores list for them I think for in the new year - I am just sick of clearing up thier mess!
I have a bit of a Christmas gift dialema - some of my staff at work are working on Christmas day - over the 24 hrs from Christmas eve to the end of Christmas day there are 20 people working - I am thinking about whether to give them all a little gift to say thankyou - I obviously don't want to speand too much but want to give something to show my appreciation for them working over Christmas - What do people think?
Chore list sounds good. Though I find it crazy your 21 year old does hardly any washing of her own! Wow. I'm 23 and I can't imagine myself just a few years ago still having my mother do my washing! In fact, I'd go a step further and say 21 year old should do ALL household washing. She can recruit her siblings to help. She already sounds like she's getting a good deal. And she has work but so do you. Make that her job, something she can keep running in the house and "own" as a role in the home.
When I went to university so many people would save up all their washing for their mummies. I always thought that was appalling. I guess I did a lot around the home (90% of cooking from age 15. All grocery shopping from age 17) for my Mum and it made me a much better person. Also made me much better at grocery budgeting as I only had the money my Mum gave me for the shopping and had to make it last all week. An important lesson when you're 17!0 -
I have a bit of a Christmas gift dialema - some of my staff at work are working on Christmas day - over the 24 hrs from Christmas eve to the end of Christmas day there are 20 people working - I am thinking about whether to give them all a little gift to say thankyou - I obviously don't want to speand too much but want to give something to show my appreciation for them working over Christmas - What do people think?
That's a nice thought but something you really can't afford to do - gifts for 20 people doesn't come cheap (unless of course you have already budgeted something for this in YNAB - but suspect not as you say you have a dilemma!). However, I think you're right that something to say thank you would be nice so how about buying a tin of celebrations, heros or similar (£4 a tin in Mr Ts, I think)? They could all share those - it would be particularly nice if you were able to pop in with them personally Christmas morning (if you don't live too far away) or you could just leave them with a thank you note to them all in a communal area such as a kitchen.
Denise0 -
I think Busy Mee has the right idea, cakes or mince pies or something else homebaked to show appreciation.
*wanders back off into lurkdom*Mortgage at 12/07/2022 = £175,000
Mortgage today = £161,690.76
300 271 payments to go.House buyout fund £21,000/£40,000
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If you have a coop near you they have cute wee Cadbury chocolate santa's at 3 for a quid so 7 quid & one for you
, or a Christmas scratch card in a card?
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One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.0 -
Hello!
Didn't read whole thread but didn't want to read and run. I wanted to recommend you try a free trial of YNAB if it hasn't already been suggested.
Looking at the first few pages, you look a lot like me. It's not really that you don't have enough money - on paper you could clear your debts quite quickly. But I too had trouble controlling spending.
YNAB changed things for me. You take your money when you get it and give it all jobs. It becomes a bit like a game, and I've found it's much easier to say no to a takeaway/night out/pair of shoes when I haven't got anything saved for it, and I can immediately see the effect it will have on my finances if I spend money that I had planned to put towards something else.
Best of luck x0 -
Just caught up on this thread after not reading it for a while - lots going on!! and really pleased to see you have paid off 18.6% of your unsecured debt in less than 3 months! Wow, that is really impressive and do hope you meet your target of clearing it by the end of next year. Well done.
Christmas payday dates always seem to mess up budgeting and I will do as I have done for the last few years and even though I get paid on 19th, hubby on 20th both at least a week early I pretend it doesn't go into the account until the usual payday and use my spending tracker app as usual. I have just done a food shop today and plan one more for next Friday then last fresh food shop on 23rd as normal. We normally tend to live off freezer and leftovers between Christmas and New Year.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free Wannabe, Budgeting and Banking and Savings and Investment boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
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Also I agree with other comments about your staff working on Christmas day. Buying gifts for 20 people would be expensive unless you have budgeted for it. A big box or tin of chocolates or a home baked cake/mince pies and clotted cream would be a way of showing your appreciating without busting your budget.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free Wannabe, Budgeting and Banking and Savings and Investment boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
The 365 Day 1p Challenge 2025 #1 £667.95/£301.35
Save £12k in 2025 #1 £12000/£80000
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