NST; January Challenge- The Money Saving Game

cupcake-queen

Failed my budget


Groceries: £130/£100
Travel: £23.70/£50
SFD: 9/20


I budgeted assuming that OH would actually be paying for stuff this month but he hasn't. He usually pays for the electricity but so far I've put £20 on the meter, he usually pays for the dog food but that £12 I've spent, he usually buys the nappies another £12 for me. He's been in a foul mood and not easy to get a long with so I was in no frame of mind to argue. The only positive I think of is that we only need one nappy a day to get DS2 through the night and I bought about 2 and half months supply due them being on 2 big packets for £15 and then I had a £2.50 voucher which made them a great price.


Also feeling rubbish because most of my clothes are falling apart. I'm not even overexagerating! I ripped a belt loop from my favourite skinny jeans, my tops are full of holes and I'm not sure how I'm going to replace stuff. I'm starting to look like a tramp! At least my work clothes and boots are issued safety clothing so I blend in with the team there and I can hide for the rest of the week.


Dry January is starting to get boring.


Sorry all very negative.

thriftylass

cupcake-queen wrote: »

Failed my budget


Groceries: £130/£100
Travel: £23.70/£50
SFD: 9/20


I budgeted assuming that OH would actually be paying for stuff this month but he hasn't. He usually pays for the electricity but so far I've put £20 on the meter, he usually pays for the dog food but that £12 I've spent, he usually buys the nappies another £12 for me. He's been in a foul mood and not easy to get a long with so I was in no frame of mind to argue. The only positive I think of is that we only need one nappy a day to get DS2 through the night and I bought about 2 and half months supply due them being on 2 big packets for £15 and then I had a £2.50 voucher which made them a great price.


Also feeling rubbish because most of my clothes are falling apart. I'm not even overexagerating! I ripped a belt loop from my favourite skinny jeans, my tops are full of holes and I'm not sure how I'm going to replace stuff. I'm starting to look like a tramp! At least my work clothes and boots are issued safety clothing so I blend in with the team there and I can hide for the rest of the week.


Dry January is starting to get boring.


Sorry all very negative.

Hugs, all rings a bell. You've not failed the budgets, OH has. Take the stuff away that OH should have paid you're still within. Make him take over other bills once he's in a better mood and explain why, to make up for it.

Can you fix the jeans? I usually hide my tatty tops under a cardi.
Took a t-shirt off at night recently and ripped it in half as the fabric was so threadbare.

I had my first Dry January wobble last Friday. Nearly caved in. But now I made it 3!!! weekends I want to keep going. Plus feeling a bit smug because OH said he'd do it but failed on January 1st! Keep going and good luck with OH.

liltdiddylilt

Hi guys

Back a bit better
Jelly a bit better
Listening to some good music whilst talking to my YNAB
About to go and make a tomato, lentil and red pepper soup, put the washing out to dry & put a new load in.
Dinner is defrosting - lamb stew leftover from Christmas lamb Will make some dumplings with it and it can last a couple of dinners.

SFD #12 for me so far. May need to get milk but hope not. Bought my mum a beautiful bluebell window hanger which is being made for me by a very talented stained glass maker - hoping it will keep her smiling whenever the sun shines through it.

Yesterday I found out that two local homeless men who have helped me carry the pram up stairs etc in the past both died of exposure, together, overnight a couple of nights ago. It has hit me rather hard and the rest of the local community as enough money was raised to keep rooms open in a local hotel for a few night for several other homeless people in the area.

My tattoo artists 10 month old daughter is in the hospital in London and has been diagnosed with a life threatening condition causing very bad seizures which keep hospitalising her for a long time. As he is self employed he can't leave his job to be with his family in London, so locals have been raising money to allow him to cover costs to go up there, and then the remainder of the money raised is being put towards a sensory room for her once she can come home and have the seizures treated by her mum and dad hopefully. (Sidetone: my tattoo is just a line of writing inside my arm that means a lot to me)

Today I am grateful for:
Everything that I have and take for granted. Hot water, light, heating, a roof and a warm bed for myself, and everything that Jelly needs and a lot of things she does not.
My daughters continuing growth and health, and that of the children of all of my friends
The money to be able to give to others who need it more

liltdiddylilt

cupcake-queen you haven't failed sweetheart. You have been failed by OH. I know what you mean about not wanting to fight and the foul mood thing. One more sarcastic comment from Him, when he pitches in for a £10 top up shop once a month and acts like I should grovel and thank him and I might punch him.

Like thrifty says, take your OH's expenditure off, and you are still within budget. Hugs! xx

cupcake-queen

thriftylass wrote: »

Hugs, all rings a bell. You've not failed the budgets, OH has. Take the stuff away that OH should have paid you're still within. Make him take over other bills once he's in a better mood and explain why, to make up for it.

Can you fix the jeans? I usually hide my tatty tops under a cardi.
Took a t-shirt off at night recently and ripped it in half as the fabric was so threadbare.

I had my first Dry January wobble last Friday. Nearly caved in. But now I made it 3!!! weekends I want to keep going. Plus feeling a bit smug because OH said he'd do it but failed on January 1st! Keep going and good luck with OH.

Thanks for your reply.


I can hear the electricity meter beeping at me so it's going to me who credits again as he's at work.


I don't think I can fix the jeans, I can't fix clothes but I guess I could always ask MIL as she's very handy with a needle and thread and I'm sure she would help as she's the kind of lady who likes to be useful! All my tops have little holes in, they are exhausted. A lot of them I bought after I gave birth to DS1 who is now 5 and they have been worn to death.


You should feel smug, good for you! Failing on the first day is a poor show! There's no way I'm going to cave this far in, I've resisted through so many situations I would be letting myself down. I don't think OH thought I could do it, he's drinking every night like I used to, he waved his JD and coke under my nose last night and I asked him to make me a cuppa. I don't drink JD anyway, horrible stuff. Looking forward to a glass of rose I have to admit but the end is near.


eBay sales are going well, going to get some more stuff up today as its the last day of free listing.

cupcake-queen

liltdiddylilt wrote: »

cupcake-queen you haven't failed sweetheart. You have been failed by OH. I know what you mean about not wanting to fight and the foul mood thing. One more sarcastic comment from Him, when he pitches in for a £10 top up shop once a month and acts like I should grovel and thank him and I might punch him.

Like thrifty says, take your OH's expenditure off, and you are still within budget. Hugs! xx

I know exactly what you mean about the £10 thing!!!


It angers me because he has mountains of debt and I have less than £3000 that I want to shift by the end of the year and to be honest if it wasn't for his irresponsibility then I wouldn't have to bust a gut to earn a matter of pennies. He has a go at me for spending ages filling in surveys and doing crazy tasks on swagbucks but I am desperately trying to put enough vouchers together for a new laptop when actually I want to blow the lot on clothes!!!


I work 2 days a week at a department store and spend 2 hours on each of those days travelling. I then also work from home having set up my own business last year which means late nights and a lot of stress at times. He earns so much more than me but seems to think that things should be split 50/50 and it's because of this attitude that I've gotten myself into debt, it wasn't until a couple of years ago that he accepted that I simply couldn't afford to pay half of everything.

thriftylass

cupcake-queen wrote: »

He earns so much more than me but seems to think that things should be split 50/50 and it's because of this attitude that I've gotten myself into debt, it wasn't until a couple of years ago that he accepted that I simply couldn't afford to pay half of everything.

Glad that got changed. Especially if you'r part-time and earn less because you look after the kids, or just in general if one earns less I think bills should be split according to income. We need to reassess our situation too.

Bobarella

Cupcake Queen - I hear you on the clothes front loud and clear. I got my first 2 new tops in god knows how long yesterday, only because my MIL had given my a jumper I didnt fit into, so I took it back and they let me exchange. I bought the most beautiful light denim looking shirt & a basic black tee. You know what? I wore it to clean in today. Idiot woman. And have now got a mark on it already. I could cry. I suspect bleach.
I think when you have cut back to the nth degree & you cant afford to make yourself feel attractive, that is horrible. So I really hope you can find a way to get some new threads on the cheap.

That said, it is very sobering indeed to read your message Lilt & realise, for my own part a spoilt shirt is bs compared to what some people face today. How very sad indeed about the homeless men. We shouldnt have any full stop. Also sorry to hear about your tattoo artist friend. But warming to hear of the community action on his behalf.

blubella

Afternoon Turtles

Just checking in with 14 SFD...surviving by not taking purse out and making do with what's in the freezer! It takes a bit of practice and definitely mind over matter avoiding the temptations of daily living. I wonder why it is that my mind is telling me I need to go to the shops and spend? It's only for things like a loaf of bread or a jar of mustard. I feel like I am having an internal battle on a daily basis... I hope it gets easier?!


I started a happiness jar this week after being inspired by Liz Gilbert' :A Facebook page and wanted to share, as this is something the turtles have been doing for the last week or so...

'The simplest thing in the world. You get yourself a jar (or a box, or a vessel of any kind) and every day, at the end of the day, you grab a slip of paper and write down on it the happiest moment of the day.

Even on lousy days, you do this. Because even on lousy days, there is one best moment (or at least, one least-worst moment.)

You stick that little piece of paper in the jar.

Over the years, you have a record of your happiness.

On bad days, I will thrust my fist in that jar and go fishing — pulling up a handful of great moments that I would have utterly forgotten, had I not documented them'.

Over the years, my Happiness Jar has taught me much. What continually amazes me is what ends up on the slip of paper every day. Not awesome events, not huge achievements — usually just a small and tiny thing, a moment of awareness...that moment when you step outside and between the house and the car you get hit on the top of the head with a beam of sunlight, and suddenly feel awash with gratitude simply for being alive, and you think, "Yes. This is it."


What a great idea don't you think?

Today I am grateful for:

My hot water bottle.
Today being the first day I felt well enough to attend yoga this year.
Food in my belly.

apple_muncher

Lilt and cupcake-queen - sending you lovely people lots of hugs xx