The 'I'm less money-idiot more money-savvy' Diary

judi24

Well & I wouldn't want to make you redundant!!!! So I will keep trying to rush ahead of myself and you can keep swishing your broom at me to slow me back to a sensible pace! Do we have a deal?:D


Having a very slow and lazy day - although have lots to do! I have done next weeks menu plan, written my shopping list, made bottom of the fridge soup, done a wash and hung it out, cleaned the downstairs loo and helped DD3 clean out the bunnies! (soup smells scrummy but not quite ready!)


DD1 is home for the weekend but she stayed at a friends last night - looking forward to a proper catch up today - going to walk the Doodle later with her - a free and simple pleasure!

judi24

Well had a completely lazy day - didn't even manage to walk the Doodle!!! I did get to Al*I though and spent £53!!!! I had a list too - but still managed to buy a few other bits!!! (Did buy flowers for the Rev mother for babysitting last night - but only £3!)


The one thing I have learned today is my kids are crazy!!!! I have no idea what we were laughing about this evening and I was trying to get the younger 2 to bed but they just couldn't stop laughing - I then couldn't keep a straight face either!


MSE things today - managed to fix toilet seat again!!! Really need a new one but while I can keep fixing it I am not buying one! Found out DS has a Cadet camp in the summer when I was thinking about going away - ( I only have kids 3 weeks out of the summer hols - 1 week at the start and 2 at the end to suit their dads work!) camp is during my 2 weeks for 10 days - he is so excited and its only £60!!! So not going to have a holiday with them (was going to go a camping trip)- but that's ok - it saves money and we already have lots happening over the year! so the money saved will be put in the pot for when my friend comes over from America later in the year. I would love to be debt free by then but I know that's pushing it!!! (would be a month earlier than planned so would need to pay of an extra £150 a month!) I currently budget £300 a month on food shopping - if I could drop that by £50 that would help and the other £100 would need to come from entertainment, trips and kids expenses! - or may be I should get my act together and start ebaying!!!


Oh dear - racing off again - no idea why I can't just accept that the pace is already good so why try to speed it up!

tellmeitsfriday

Stick to your plan... and if you have unexpected cash inflows throw that at it too

Then you might pay if off a little early and you can celebrate - or you will pay it off as per your plan and you can also celebrate Infact we will all celebrate with you!!! x

judi24

Yes you are right tellmeitsfriday - I will stick to my plan and any spare funds will be put in a stash and paid off the debt if and when I can! I have no doubt other things will come a long to derail me - (at least it won't be the boiler!!! ). I just wish I had some patience (No idea how I managed to have a career as a nurse when I have no patience!!!)


Its not like I am not enjoying the journey - I am! I love trying to do things cheaply and constantly challenging myself to do more with less! I just need to get over the urge to want to do everything at warp speed!

judi24

Finally managed to drag DS and DD3 out (with much protesting from DD3) and walked the Doodle - grey and misty but dry! Had nice walk to my favourite spot on a hill on the woods with a good view across the river (even though you couldn't see anything cos of the mist) - Its a spot I used to use to contemplate the issues that have caused me angst and distress over the last few years - and it was nice to be there with no internal distress - just positivity!:o


Spent £10 at the pub on chips and a drink. Kids and I had a proper giggle chatty about life! (we have decided that we need to buy a hippy bus and travel around the hippy festivals selling candyfloss balls that don't make you fingers sticky!!!!:rotfl:)


Naughty Doodle managed to cover herself in something un mentionable!!! :mad: so has had to be showered but now smells lovely!!!


Off to make dinner with DD3 - she picked tonight's menu of sweet and sour chicken from her kids cook book! - can't believe how quickly the weekend flies by!!!

ampersand

It's been a good one chez judi, hasn't it just? Positives on all fronts - good to read.

Despite any bumps in the road, your target is absolute[deadline can be flexi-] and it's not for rocking this time.

Bon ap. ce soir - s+s chickie is yum:-) Fingers crossed for assignment comments and marks. Are you keeping a notebook with you for ANY Diss. thoughts - however/whenever they come? Being up in your special place is just the sort of time and place, head emptied/stress-switch off, that Things drift in.

We all want the bus;-) a.k.a.the veedub campervan[size of travelling party-dependent] I don't want split-screen though, so that's the[only] mse part.

takingcontrolatlast

Sounds you and your family had a lovely day

I'm enjoying reading your progress and positivity

Dansmam

Hey Judi, yay to hippy bus. That is absolutely DD plan. Tour Euro festivals with girl pal in June. Chucking ft job and all. She's angsty, I'm terrified, she and gpal still not passed test, so can't drive. Am amazed how happy that makes me!
Thanks for dropping in at mine. I am contemplating...
DM

judi24

Yes it has been a day of positives - dinner was lovely and had a proper giggle with the desert of melted chocolate (Al*I 30p stuff) with strawberries and bananas dipped in! Lets just say not all the chocolate ended up in peoples mouths!!!


Not done much thinking yet about dissertation - I have an action learning set this week so will catch up with tutor and fellow students so that should get ideas flowing better - always good to bounce ideas off each other. Work diary is planned with study days and extra leave days booked in to allow time to get writing done so feel ok about it at the moment.


Yes hippy bus would definitely be a VW van - not MSE at all really but would definitely be fun!!! I'm afraid my little eco car filled to the rafters with camping gear will have to suffice for our story telling festival later in the year!


My DD1 has gone back - she is out of sorts as she has a desperate urge to do off travelling again but her sensible head keeps pulling her back to her career - I just hope she works things out soon! If she has the urge to go off travelling I think she should! She has her qualification so she will be able to pick up her career anytime! but she also need to get some savings under her belt and not do it on credit!!! I am hoping she's not as daft as her mother!!!

judi24

New MBNA card arrived - so after some mulling over balances I have done a few transfers and have a plan for next months debt repayments:


Transferred £3k from Barclay card to MBNA - leaving a balance of £3123 - I will pay £1123 this month and £1000 next 2 months getting rid completely whilst still on 0% (1st may)
Transferred £3k from nationwide to MBNA - leaving £305 to pay this month


So Febs payments will be £1428 (higher thanks to mr tax man's little surprise!)


Leaving me with:


£6000 on MBNA plus the transfer fees of £178 = £6178 (going to try and pay the £178 too! - I like round numbers) - 0% for 14 months
£2000 on Barclaycard on 0% until May
£3954 on the loan


So debt total will be - £11954 (plus £500 smile OD but I think I will just forget about this as its up and down- currently in credit balance but may be in OD by the end of the month) - happy with that!!! :j


And NSD day today - so 5 so far for February:T