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

ampersand

The Gal's on top of her game:-)

judi, can't help but notice that even your £sy postings re: cards/shifts/tfr/balances etc. are all now much more tightly written and thought, direct and succinct.

I'll join you on an nsd today[npd too], but both are another story....

judi24

Thanks Ampersand - feeling quite organised and happy with the debt payments now that I have all the CC debt on 0%. Just need to keep plodding on with the payments - but getting there I think!:D


Not a NSD today so total remains at 5! DD3 wanted to get a disposable camera before her London trip today - so went to As*a at 8am - she got the camera with her money but I bought dog food, cat food and a few bits that DD2 had requested as she is full of cold and wanted comfort foods - also bought some dishwasher tablets as the cheap ones I bought last week keep sticking in the machine and stopping it cleaning properly - got a good buy though thanks to the link you posted last week & - £6 for 45 I think - should have been £12!


I hope buying better DW tablets works to fix the problem as I also am having a problem with the washing machine - its not draining properly so I need to look at it (wish I knew what I was doing though!) I could do without buying a new washing machine right now! Might need to youtube it!!!


DS also lost his PE kit on the bus on Monday but only told me today - so both kits (rugby kit and PE kit!) now lost!!!! It makes me so mad! I will ring bus company but not hopeful! I will now need to get 2 new kits!!!!:mad:

beanielou

££££'s looking good but boo to PE kits.

ampersand

judi - it's that cobbled path, as per posts passim:-)... but forward, onward you are still going and soundly.

Washing machine - try one[2, if you can bear thinking of cost] super-hot wash empty run, with a cup of washing soda. Always worth keeping a bag on hand for all sorts of things like this.
A dose in stained Thermos flask, filled to brim with boiling water and left till cold before good brush/scour, is another goodie.

re: lost kit. Does school not run a recycling/2nd-hand shop?
If so, but DS bucks at this, you holding firm can see he accepts the justice of it despite grumbling. If he's fine about it, cost drops.
Was everything named, including bag? I'd suggest DS is gently 'fined' - regular stoppage[it could go back later as a school hols surprise if the idea feels bad to you]. It will help, esp. as Cadet Camp is something he's so keen on. He's bright enough to make the link from this at home to much heavier sanctions that would follow in Cadets and beyond, were kit/equipment 'mislaid'/forgotten.
Would saying this be an approach to try?
Or sums together, if loss is definite: 'Let's work out how many hours I'm going to have to work to put your kit together again.'

Take care. All is still well.

Cwtchie

When you look at how much you've paid off from September last year, it's brilliant!!!

judi24

Having come home to bag of dog food still dumped at the door when I flew past on the way from shops to work this morning and dd2 groaning on the couch feeling sorry for herself - too sick to put dog food away but not too sick to eat and drink and leave dishes everywhere, discovered washing machine not draining - dd2 had hung sopping - and I mean sopping washing out! I was feeling proper sorry for myself :mad:(its so hard on your own! wish someone would share the work! I cant fix anything! money doesn't grow on trees! no one looks after 'stuff' in this house! you get my drift!!!! ):(


I thought I should take the task in hand and get a grip!!! Literally! Got the tools out! dismantled washing machine and cleaned filters, drawers etc and ran a vinegar wash (as per de clogging thread on OS) and stripped spraying arms and cleaned clogged bits on dishwasher - used pliers and grippers to help turn bits I couldn't budge and watched youtube vids of spraying arm removal! Put all back together and all working well!!!! Feeling much happier with myself!!!:j


DS's kit is another story - I will ring bus company tomorrow but not holding out much hope! Great idea about asking school about second hand - I know they have lots of lost property they get rid of regularly so even if I could get the tops the rest is not so bad! Will definitely investigate! (DS was very apologetic and had even got the bus company phone number for me!) He did ask me for advance in on pocket money/Easter money/birthday money to buy something he wants (£60!!!) which I firmly declined - said if he still wants it when he has the money he can buy it!!! Not impressed but accepted with some grace when I reminded him how much new kit will cost and how much he has had/needs for cadets!


So normal positivity resumed - saw this today and thought it was very apt

Dansmam

Yay to the machine repairing superwoman, and double yay to being super strong superwoman and refusing the £60. How many times have I failed on that one - and missed the chance to help kids see why it can't be done. May not have felt like a super day all day to you, but looks like one from here!

ampersand

Dansmam - that's worth repeating:-)

' May not have felt like a super day all day to you, but looks like one from here!'

judi24

Dansmam and Ampersand - thank you both for you kind words - feel much more positive tonight! Its funny how little things added together make things seem so bad! Need to learn from what makes me feel low and helpless (not feeling in control or being able to do something!) and how easily I can change that with a few simple actions!!!


Onward and upward!!!!

betsycat

Wow, can you come and do that to my washing machine?? :rotfl:

Sounds brilliant, well done!

And well done for holding firm with DS – sounds like he does understand how expensive it is, bless him. You're raising some good ones there Judi

If DS2 is well enough to make a mess, she's well enough to get her own cold stuff from the shop next time

And I agree with the other lovelies on your thread. All looking great from here! Would old Judi have just called in a washing-machine-fixer/bought a new machine without trying to fix it? If so, think how much ££ you've just saved yourself