NST: October Turtle Triathlon

speakingofart

No check in yesterday, but lost a NSD day as bought a costa after work and before uni. Was a very nice treat though, 3 hour seminars after a day at work are a bit of a killer. Have taken today off to batch cook, clean and get on with uni work, so have sausage casserole in oven, and chili on stove. Tomorrow will be a NSD, sunday I'll likely need to buy bagels etc for lunch next week.

NSDs: 10/16
Petrol (till 15th Nov) £40.61/£60
Groceries (till 15th Nov) £39.52/ £150
Exercise 12/ 20

thriftylass

traveller wrote: »

My daughters limo bus for her 18th neede a £100 deposit. It's 700.00

:eek::eek: Does she know how much this costs. What do you get for £700, what is included? Sorry just nosy.

Caeraugirl

No SFD yesterday, had to grab a get well card for neighbour but made it worse by buying lunch at work. Never mind, still on budget and SFD today - just did super speedy 5 mile round trip to library on my mountain bike, I had purse in my rucksack but resisted shopping (helps that bike route takes me to library before any shops!). Have couple of quid left for milk, which is all we should need til payday, and still have my money in envelopes for night out with girls tomorrow and petrol (think I will need to top up before payday).

Will sit down and sort out budgets and meal plans for next month over the weekend, sure probably have at least another week or two of makings for meals in the freezer, so can hopefully adjust food budget downwards accordingly. And it's almost the weekend, yippee!!

traveller

thriftylass wrote: »

:eek::eek: Does she know how much this costs. What do you get for £700, what is included? Sorry just nosy.

Hi Thrifty Yes she has had it rammed down her throat how much it costs many a time,lol. It is the only things I've ever gone big on Birthday parties However last year was my waking up year, so things were drastically cut. She opted for a cheap dinner for two (me and her) and a cinema trip for her 17th (with vouchers the whole thing actually was approx 30.00) in order to have her Limo party for her 18th.

For that sum she gets 16 people in it so they can have a club atmosophere in there (dancing, Karoke machine, Bubbly and soft drinks music and nibbles) for 4 hours. The kids coming are not the sort to get legless so I'm happy (and so are there parents!!!) for alcohol to be present-although not a lot! It drives them through central London ect for the time of hire.It has strobe lighting, large screens and stuff.

One thing though that has annoyed me recently, their father earns a lot more than me (we are not together) and has a different relationship with money!!! :mad: He lives a flashy lifestyle and of late, has sent out the wrong messages. For me, a birthday is something to celebrate so a treat. To him, a designer bag has been reduced from 300.00 to 260.00, you been good today, there you go for my daughter :mad: It makes it very hard for me to teach them (i have 4) to stay within their means, with that sort of carry on. Also, he got debt free a few years back, from a redundancy pay out. He is now a private contractor is doing very well for himself. I do have to remind him though, to be careful, not to fall into the grips of debt again. The response-stop being a kill joy :shocked:

Calling14

Yikes traveller - but nice for her to remember 18th in style.

Sat in work hungry as didn't realise cake I had brought in was mouldy. Had bit of soup I had left. Finish at 3pm so can wait till then.

Stewby don't be too hard on yourself at least you have all your little pots.

I just realised how bad I have been with my food budget this month and still have a week to go. Need eggs, milk, veg argh.

Next month going to have to manage food items better, no idea what is even in my cupboards, freezer, fridge. Lists and meal plans over the weekend to be worked out.

Out of next months budget need to find 175.00 to have new doors fitted as I need to close my bedroom doors now its getting chilly. Had new carpets but never got the old doors planed. Houses don't they ever stop costing money.?



Annoyed got 1.20 to pay short postage - now is it something I want or not?
Curious as to what it is, will have to collect tomorrow.
Determined not to lose a sfd today, yesterday dry hair cut 14 pounds.

stewby

So... in order to redeem myself, I made a lasagne yesterday and cut it into 6 portions.

Used nothing but what was already in the house and also made it healthy (no veggies as I don't like the taste but have replaced the red sauce with passata). Each lasagne portion contains 463 calories (according to the dietary site) which is pretty good for a meal I think.
:undecided

Had one last night fresh out of the oven and have one for tonight. The other four have gone into the freezer.


November is the month of learning to bulk cook. Going to investigate different recipes, see how healthy they are and then batch make them. Hoping to use the slow cooker a lot more too.


I have been thinking about the limo thing for a wee while now and I think it is a wonderful present. I can understand people's shock as it is a lot of money.
However, would you rather add an extra bit on to your debt now but give your daughter an amazing 18th birthday or save now and give her treats once you are debt free.
I think it will mean more to her now than later. In my opinion anyways.


I will be honest... in ten years time, will your daughter sit and reminise about the handbag her dad gave her as a random present or will she still be excitedly chatting about her limo ride she got for her 18th even though she knew that you were in financial difficulties at the time.
Hugs.

Currently in the middle of wii-fit so feel like I am trying to put it off a bit by writing on here. Bad stewby.


Not got any plans for the weekend (did have one but it's gone now) so thinking about maybe tidying out the house a bit. Tempted to try my hand at a car boot sale sometime. I have a heap of video tapes which are a bit pointless seeing as no-one in my family has a VCR anymore... Hmmm, decluttering might be the way to go.

mothernerd

traveller your ex sounds rather like mine, though perhaps not quite so extreme. He had a reasonable job (in a town where many were out of work or surviving on poverty wages (pre minimum wage) when we met and after he was made redundant he went contracting. He gambled most of his earnings away and when I divorced him (lost my job in our small business) he refused to pay maintenance (denied that working in the same building as the Child Support mainframe was nothing to do with it). He once suggested that I have s*x with him in order to get some maintenance.

He loved to play at being generous daddy, buying a 'big' Christmas present whilst I bought the present from me, as well as dealing with the present Father Christmas brought and the things in their stockings. He was also able to take them away on holiday whereas I only took them once, when my mother rented a cottage in the Lake District and paid for our train fares. I kept us all going for many years doing multiple cleaning jobs (and if you saw my house you would know what a joke that is) working on up to 11 different contracts in a year and up to 70 hour weeks on occasion. Never earned more than £13,000 in wages and in work benefits.

I had one job where I worked with 4 other women and when he had upset me yet again, they consoled me by saying that when the boys were older they would see through him and this has turned out to be true - DS1 and DS3 barely speak to him and I no longer bother to cajole, bribe or blackmail them to do so.

His contracting work dried up and he was forced to take a 'normal' job working for Arg*s. he did nothing but complain about how poor he was (could not afford to come and visit the boys, saw them 3 times in two years, but continued to smoke and drink) and how depressed. Even on minimum wage he was probably getting as much or more than me and I continued to support the boys through to university level. The job didn't last long, he got some compensation for an accident, went to his parents home to look after them (even though they both ended up in care and he was only minding the house), made money from selling records on eb*y and has been getting multiple sums of money himself from his illnesses (smoking related, he's still denying the drinking had anything to do with it).

He hasn't really changed much. I spent about £1,000 on DS2's 21st (room hire, buffet, lots of family and friends) only to be patronised as usual by him and his brother (they really think they are important and they are so chavvy) and when DS3 was approaching 21 he phoned to ask about that party. DS3 didn't want a party but no offer to contribute in any way.

He is dying now (well he's been announcing it for the past 7 years but it is imminent now) and I really don't want to hate someone who's dying but I really have no desire to see him (or blackmail DS3 into seeing him). He may have enough money to bury him (I spent the first two years after his announcement worrying about having to find this money - legally it's the boys responsibility but they don't have the money) but there won't be anything 'over' for the boys. He's gone through his parents money, complained through DS2's graduation about the cost of everything without once putting his hand in his pocket - sorry he bought me an orange juice.

I attended both his parents funerals (we had to spend years being nice to him 'because his dad was dying', meanwhile I lost 2 uncles, an aunt, my father and my brother) and on the way I instructed the boys to 'leave the fighting to Daddy's family (they regularly have punch ups after weddings and funerals, so classy). For his funeral (I was expecting to help the boys with sorting things out as they haven't done it before) I have made an exception and told DS3 if Uncle G says anything that makes me want to hit him (not my normal behaviour) he should feel free to back me up.

Sorry this was meant to be a supportive message for traveller and it's turned into a rant.

DS1 has been, digging has been finished, stair rail is back on, lovely boy is coming back on Monday. Thinks I should give Ds2 a deadline or his stuff goes in the back (I was a bit weepy). Have had a bath, raw veg and dip and have spent money as I asked DS1 to go for chocolate and a diet drink (spent between £3- £3.50, he had a drink too and I put the change in my purse without counting). Will do cleaning later.

PheoniX

Hi folks :wave:

Traveller I went full steam ahead in the final few months of debt busting, battoning down every single hatch to get rid of that big bloomin debt! was glad to see the back of it..

Quick check in. Been juggling figures and due to the increase in debt from recent purchases, I decided to cash in one of my savings schemes Eww couldnt Bear being up in the 3k mark again so Ive cleared my overdraft and paid money off the CC so new debt balance is just over 1k Thought I would have learnt the first time around! I think I was over ambitious opening 2 savings accounts and not leaving enough left over each month for other needs

Going to get a couple of hours kip before going in for night shifts. I Cant Bear nights either! Dont know which Id prefer- being in debt or working nights! Laters

:wave:

traveller

Hi, all :)Well I'm glad it's Friday :T Mothernerd-I heard every word of your post-thanks for posting I could identify with a LOT of what you wrote Stewby, my 350.00 for my daughters party is coming from my pot (the 365 in 365 days I think you've done great with yours by the way and that's what I set it up for, so I'm happy for her to have it now. More so because it's in cash. If it was taking me off target, I really wouldn't do it. But I'm still on course. I will confess that it's been a LONG time since such a purchase was in cash-and it feels good! The handbag was an example of his behavior, he didn't buy it as she chose a festival instead :eek: But I do understand people seeing it as a lot of money, as it is. Will she remember it in 10 years time -probably not. Does she appreciate now-yes, so I'm happy to do it Work have decided to have two works events :mad: One is a team lunch. Am I the only one that sees this as a complete waste of time and money??? Why I feel the need to go to some expensive lunch to eat with people I'd usually avoid I don't know. Then, as if that's not enough, they are having a bring a dish to work day for an office lunch :mad: How many lunches are necessary? Although I've made it clear what they can do regarding the christmas lunch!:rotfl: Phoenix-thanks for your insight, I am going to see how I this month and may well decide to go in all guns blazing and see if I can be DF a couple of months earlier

mothernerd

Well, had an interesting phone call from the occupational therapist. Was worried about me being between houses and suggested I phone admissions and try to get op put back by a few weeks (4/ a month).

This sounds like a good idea. I know I need the op but a few weeks breathing space gives me more time to sort possible benefits, get DS2 to shift his stuff, get rid of cigarette smell, have new boiler installed, move in with DS3, get this house up for sale and re-stock the freezer so I don't starve (or be fed pizza every night). Having things sorted and handed over to other people would put me in a much stronger place for having the op and coping with afterwards. However no-one in admissions was picking up the phone (one number was just an automated line) so will have to try again.

Spent some time putting away DS3's clothes - no I shouldn't have to but DS1 put some things in the shed and I can actually stand up in DS3's room now. Wondering if I can get the house in 'photo order' before he comes back and before he has the chance to mess it up again. Feel like starting on packing but need it to be organised - there are a couple of places to hide boxes but know in my head I need to know exactly what is in each box - may not have time to unpack/ re-pack.

Have been drawing a plan of where things are to go at the old house - need to double check measurements next time I am there but basically want everything in the van in the right order and people to slot them into the agreed place as shown on the plan, no arguments.

Starting to believe the boys are right about my not having anything of value - very little response to my adverts. May start to list as free, particularly anything that came from the old house and hasn't been used much here. But may keep small set of drawers and table - both old and battered but would probably work either side of the bed (I am getting the big bedroom, DS3's choice) so laptop and other things can be handy after the op (no bending for things).

The few things DS1 has moved to the shed have improved DS3's room and the dining room greatly so that may be the way to go. Odd bits that still need doing (door handle, grouting in a corner, curtain rail back up) won't show up in a photo and DS1 will carry on fixing meanwhile.

Have a great weekend turtles.