Need to get a grip!!!

rc12345

So update on yesterday: usual excess hot water in flask, reused tea bag, no product on hair the day before so was ok tied up for a second day. Checked on petrol prices for the cheapest place to get petrol from as need to fill up and was a BP station near to work where I would never dream of filling up usually - but 1p a litre cheaper than everywhere else, will fill up on way to work this morning.


2 slice of ham in dd's sandwich instead of three, still getting eaten and doesn't even seem to be noticed. 3 tubs came home from school Wednesday night!!! no idea where they have been hiding and dd seems clueless on the matter also. Dropped dd off at friends house yesterday morning to take her to school, saving the cost of before school club - although still haven't plucked up courage to ask her if she would mind doing five days instead of two as seems a lot more and not sure if it is a big ask.


Still using backs of sheets of paper as lists, out of date porridge for lunch. Still filling up on biscuits at work and someone brought cakes in yesterday for a birthday - this is not doing the complexion any good, seem to have suddenly erupted in more spots than I have ever had in my life and still have 26lb to lose :eek:


Did go for a half hour walk in my lunch hour for the second day running - not sure that is going to make much of a difference though


Spent 49p on milk at co op near work, 8p more than asda - but still 21p/22p less than the local shops. Did have a look round co op whilst there but resisted temptation to buy anything even stuff on offer as don't need anything at the moment.


Really, really wanted to buy dd a treat when I was out at lunchtime, no idea why just felt like I wanted to treat her and kept seeing things in shop windows I could get her. Then decided to treat her with my time instead, she had said the night before that I hadn't done drawing with her for a long time (I said I had, but apparently it was before half term!). Not that I don't spend time with her, we read together every night - she reads her book from school to me and then I read a couple of chapters from her library book to her and if there is time we will play some games on the I-pad or recently she is into wordsearches - but doesn't seem a lot of time to sit and spend doing things together during the week. Anyway last night ensured I made time and we did collages - we both thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't cost anything compared to the treats I was looking at buying for her.


Took an empty kitchen roll tube home to add to the craft tub - she made a car for one of her toys from bits and bobs in there the other night. Took a sandwich bag home to reuse. Did get a text from landlord yesterday that he had provided the estate agent with written confirmation to get my deposit back - phew - just need to make sure estate agent gets it in my bank account before the 18th so I can pay the rent.


Cocktail sausage tub and strawberries tub washed out to reuse and some bubble wrap in craft tub. Still washing up in cold water, raisins are still getting eaten, but tub from yesterday didn't come home again. Managed to get dd from after school club before 5.30 again. Another thing I need to start doing is closing the door when I go to the garage to not let the cold air in - keep leaving it wide open. Also thought I could do with getting bread and the nights dinner out of the freezer in the morning to defrost and then it won't take as long to cook in the microwave using energy.


Running out of time this morning, better quickly check the budget...

rc12345

ok so current account £20, overdraft £347.12, emergency account £2.91, credit card £2.846.76 and purse £5.30. Better get ready for work

pennywisepoundstupid

Finges crossed the rent money comes in on time.

Well done with all the little things you are doing to save money, it will all start to add up.

Take care.x.

supersaver1000

Lovely, the time with your daughter is priceless. And yes the half hour walk will make a huge difference - keep it up. Slow and sure wins the race

rc12345

Thanks pennywise, estate agent confirmed by e-mail yesterday that they had received the confirmation from the landlord and asked for my bank details for this to be paid to. E-mailed back for confirmation when it would go into my account, but didn't get a response. Just checked my account and it is not in yet - have just sent another e-mail now.


If you have any other tips for me they are gratefully received I did start reading the Great ways to cut back hunt last night and loads of tips on there - so many I don't know where to start. Had a look at a local college as my hair will need colouring next month and if I go there looks like it would cost me half of what I usually pay - just doesn't say online what their opening hours are as I could only go on an evening or weekend. Also, made a start on a menu plan for next month. Tried to find out how to start a strawberry plant, without actually buying a strawberry plant to start with...need to do some further research into this...

rc12345

Thanks supersaver, dd does like 'stuff' but really enjoyed the time we spent together doing the collages - I need to make sure I spend more quality time with her like this before she gets too old to want to do things with me - life just gets in the way sometimes


I'm glad you think the walk will make a difference as it is the only exercise I seem to be getting at the moment and it is easy to fit in my day...I don't think I am a slow and steady person, I want everything now...need to work on this

rc12345

Yesterday, I only put minimum water in kettle to boil, excess hot water in the flask, reused the tea bag, washed up in cold water, bought petrol from the cheaper petrol station (1p a litre cheaper and one I pass on way to work, so not out of my way to get there), I did pay for this on the credit card though - was a bit of an impulse decision as worried something will come up before I get paid (still have over a week until pay day) and I will have no money - I'm not sure it was a good decision but I do feel better having that extra money in my account just in case. No contacts, no perfume, hair tied up. Could do with some concealer for spots, have added to list. Also, need some more udo oil - just had a look on e-bay and £18.04, I paid £20.49 last time from a local shop :eek:


I entered a competition to win an I-pad air, don't usually bother with things like that - but figure someone is going to win it, so could be me.


Still using backs of sheets of paper for lists, took empty toilet roll holder home to go into dd's craft tub, out of date porridge for lunch again, another free cream cake at work in the morning for someone's birthday then another in the afternoon someone else brought in on top of biscuits - need to put a stop to eating all this unhealthy stuff, can't be good for me. Took the cake box home to wash for dd to decorate.


Went to co op to get some more strawberries, but they didn't have any and then went to Sainsbury's and they were charging £2 for a small pack and their apples were expensive too - so decided to go to asda again after taking dd swimming at the gym last night - however didn't make it to the swimming or therefore asda and will need to go this morning now.


Did remember to close the door when went into the garage last night and not let the cold air in and got tonight's dinner out and bread for dd's sandwich today. Let the bread defrost on top of the microwave instead of defrosting it in the microwave separately and using more energy. Tonight's dinner will not take as long to cook if it is defrosted. Had a curry batch cooked in the freezer for dinner last night. Washed out jam jar to reuse. Didn't have butter on my bread last night and didn't even notice it.


Made dd a packed lunch for today to take with us, so won't be caught out and her being hungry and end up buying something. Still putting 2 slices of ham on her sandwich and still not noticed and being eaten. Unfortunately, 2 tubs did not come home in her lunch box yesterday - of course she is clueless as to their whereabouts!!!


I think that is it for yesterday, will have a quick look at budget now then time to get on with my day...

rc12345

Some good news finally!!!! Just had a letter through from the council tax and they have adjusted my bill. Had accounted £56.57 for November, which they are not taking now and then going forward it was going to be £52 a month. It's now going to be £37.39 in December and £38 going forward. This gives me an extra £56.57 for this month on top of the £62 petrol I had accounted for, but paid on the credit card. So I now have £138.57 in current account


and I have lost 1lb - not sure how, but not complaining - therefore 24lb to lose


£347.12 overdraft, £2,846.76 on credit card, £2.91 in emergency account and £5.30 in purse. Petrol obviously not showing on the credit card yet...

pennywisepoundstupid

rc12345, just wanted to say you are doing such a fab job, are you collecting nectar points at BP garage, as you can use them against your shopping in sainsburys.

supersaver1000

Hi RC. Have you thought about taking the cake home for DD?

I quite often say do you mind if I take one but have it later. Stick it in a box in your drawer then, oops forgot to eat it again I'll have it at home. My DD was always ravenous after school so it usually didn't make it home anyway

Yes definitely keep up with the walk. I used to park 10 mins from work and the walk in and back had a great effect - I had lovely strong legs. At the moment there nowhere 10 mins away to park so I am joining you in your lunch break walk.

Ps. Know what you mean, I want everything now, but 6 months later I'll be thinking 'why didn't I just start walking every lunch time and I'd be a bit further on the way now '. It's incredible how much further you can walk every day (or quicker). You can get pedometers or apps on phone to measure distance. Xx