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

kdalwayskint

Hey Judi

I was thinking about &s post on Levi's diary, npd and wondered if it was something like 'no procrastinating day' putting something off just get and on do it day?

That woke me up in the middle of the night! :rotfl:

judi24

I think its no petrol day! not using car but using other means of getting around or staying home! - not 100% certain though! Funny thing to be thinking about on the middle of the night! I need someone to pop in and confirm - don't want to be responsible for your sleepless night! its bad enough being responsible for mine!:p

ampersand

Yup, possums - mais oui, c'est bien 'jour sans essence':-)and that's deliberately poorly translated.
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Quick bolt-on, judi[please take as a given abundant goody marks re: night out, non-casino, kiddy cuddles, cakes and cookies various and brekkie in bed loveliness. This is patently you at work in your children and yes, let yourself hear yourself say 'I must be doing something right':-)

LOUDER please, didn't quite hear...

Do you know what?

re: card swap>Mr T.
Until you bring this Thread to a happy conclusion, can you feel sure you would use it without any change in spending patterns?

Time enough to think later about ordinary spending bringing you extra points. Mr T's Loyalty Schemes - like all things Mr T atm - are under considerable pressure.
[Inside info.]

1 point per £2 or £4 spent is not such a pivotal Come Hither!

Will it swing your £Life around? or bring your D-F date forward? or make a huge difference to you? your customary spending? or your family treats?

Wouldn't want points to become a focus, rather than an auxilliary, a happy by-product of money, used as now, under the new mindset.

Wombling, of course, with a resident pack of highly-trained progeny[qtrly winner gets to choose?], can make up a few hundred points per month here and now. If I can do it, you all definitely can.

I have noticed MrT prices definitely dropping from lunatic silliness on some basics.
Wkly & staples from MrT are 500gm pots of unsweetened plain yogurt, nets of Market Value oranges, toilet rolls[even though the 4-roll dbl length pack is recently w/d]. When they beat w8r0s for good NZ apples[Kanzi, Braeburn, Rubens, Pink Lady, Jazz, Gala] I buy them. ALWAYS do catchweight sums.
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All else is excellent:T.

judi24

Thanks Ampersand - I agree the tescocc will make no difference at all to my DFD or anything else - I don't shop in Tesco often so would be using the card else where so points would be less too. I am still mulling this over but I no longer feel I would be even remotely out of control with a cc as I have been in the past.


The kids certainly seem to be showing some extra loveliness at the moment (bringing challenges too - but that will never change!) Today I left instructions for DD3 to tidy the family room (she is the only one that uses it since I got rid of the cable TV in there!) I came home to it lovely and tidy (not investigated where the stuff has gone yet! I'm hoping it just hasn't been moved to her bedroom) I am not exactly sure how much DD3 did and how much the Reverend Mother did while babysitting!!! But its done!


Not NSD again!!! Went to Al*I on the way to pick up DS from cadets and got the bits for DD2's birthday breakfast - total cost £11.49 - which is now to feed 7 as my 2 friends (50th birthday boy and wife) are coming for breakfast then to the zoo as he is an avid photographer and wants to come as a birthday treat to himself - so a fun day will be had no doubt! So my budget of £20 for breakfast has been almost halved!!!


Tomorrow is the trampoline place (paid for in Jan but not used!) so going to take a picnic to keep costs down -not sure a woman of my age with 4 kids should be allowed to partake in this activity though(less than perfect pelvic floor!!!) but I think we might have some laughs if nothing else!

Looking forward to 4 days off work (followed by a weekend with no kids) - and keeping spends down!

beanielou

Have a great time~~enjoy

kdalwayskint

Lol Judi, with you on the pelvic floor issue and I've only got DS! I love trampolining but I just can't do it these days :rotfl:

judi24

My pelvic floor coped remarkably well! and my dignity remained intact! Just! It was great fun!!! Every joint and muscle felt it though! I so need to get fitter! We took a picnic which we ate in the care so finally another NSD!!!! Making 6 in all for Feb!!!:j
Home and cupcakes made and iced for tomorrow, my bedding washed and dried outside and next load on the airer. Need to clean bathroom and sort picnic tonight then all ready for another busy day! I thought holidays were meant to be relaxing!!!!:rotfl:

I have contacted the water company and asked for a meter - if its not cheaper I can go back to normal water bills within a year so I need to give it a go - its probably the only thing I haven't reduced since trying to become DF.

Other things to do this week in relation to money are: Close simplybe account, close abbeynational CC (never used it, it was part of a Santander package), close FD current account, pay off and close NW CC, close second NW current account (I have 2 from a joint account with my ex and only use 1).

I am hoping all this will make me more attractive when I am ready to re mortgage - I will then only have my 2 current accounts, the Barclaycard cc (which will be gone by May), the New MBNA card, and the Tesco card for emergencies - it feels like I am getting there! I just need to see those balances come down a bit now!!!

ampersand

That's a strong focussed post, judi.

Great day of happy family bouncies, yums from home, then right into lovely fresh bed, all outside airs+yellow thing.

Excellent that you can trial the water meter, bearing in mind that you won't be that full household for all time. REMEMBER to check for entitlement to annual Surface Water Drainage reduction. Here's the link again:
http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/nonhousehold/surfacewater/reducing/

Next, search those words on your local water company site. Should your property qualify, push hard for back-dating. & was successful in this.
Also,it's another little selling plus when that time comes.

re:Mr T CC, check these extra points sources which you maybe use already. If so, link that CC to them on a pay-in-full basis mthly.
http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/collect-points/

Thinking back to the casino birthday, several others sitting things out with you will also be a bulwark memory against any future 'feeling torn' situations. Actually, I see you as being past this now.

March at the end of next week! - February flies.

judi24

Yes I no longer feel 'torn' or persuaded by others - if I choose to do something AND I have budgeted for it I will - If not - its not happening!!! I have a general spends pot that I can use for social occasions or can save for other things but once its gone its gone! This month has a been a busy one so far and has gone so quickly! I can't believe next week sees the start of March!!! Having a spending budget definitely does help me focus on what I actually like to do and therefor what I am willing to spend my money on. The casino was a perfect case in point - in the past I am sure I would have just spent some money just to show face but I had decided that I was just not going to do it! I needed that money for other things I wanted to do more! Next month I have already turned down 2 events just because I really don't want to spend that amount on a trip I might not really enjoy!


Today started with a lovely breakfast at home of bagels, cream cheese and bacon as requested by DD2 followed by cupcakes and fresh coffee! Reverend Mother attended as did friend and wife. The Rev has got wind of my recent cake baking (the joys of the book of faces!!!) and has requested a cake for Church on Mothers day! Pink icing, yellow flowers and a clock face on the top - I didn't ask but I am guessing it relates to the story she will be telling. Discussion about mothers day got us talking and I joked that DD2 should take me out or cook for change and she agreed! Also disclosed that DD1 will be coming home on the Sat that weekend so will be looking forward to having the whole gang together!


Zoo trip was great - animals are so amusing! Only one minor strop by DS! Borrowed a wheelchair for Friends wife (she can only walk short distances without having pain) and somehow I became chief pusher as friend is an avid photographer and was otherwise engaged - so I feel like I have had a good work out!
Did have a giggle on the hills (both up and down!) - 'Let her go' - an adaptation of the film song became our theme song of the day.:D Friends wife was amused that we were able to burst into random songs at regular intervals! Took a picnic and offered friends a share but they chose to buy food at extortionate prices!!! They are in debt and she is not working any more -but seem quite happy to throw money around still! - shall I send them your way Ampersand? - your broom would come in handy I'm sure! :rotfl:

However I didn't have a NSD as we did venture into the gift shop (dangerous territory I know!) Kids had £5 each to spend- and took an age to work out the best buy!!! All happy with their purchases!

I have investigated surface water drainage and looks like I am not eligible for a rebate - but I hope my metred bill will be lower - calculation suggests it will! But nothing to loose really from trying!

Thanks Ampersand will definitely be looking at ways to increase MrT points as you suggest. I am going to try the Tescocc for a month - see how many points I earn through normal spending and check I am able to keep track and pay it off in full! Its an experiment to see whether my mind set has really changed!

Not much else to report - tomorrow is a stay at home day! Might have to nip out to get some bits for DS cadet camp (I have no plasters to make up a first aid kit!! Nurses are rubbish at things like that - not so much as a paracetamol in my medicines cupboard!!) - pound shop should suffice though! - but generally a lazy day is needed!:)

Kantankrus_Mare

Well done on being so focused.....you sound really positive!! :

Thought of you today when I got home from work to the washing machine not working.

OH has had it to bits and no joy so a repair man coming on Friday

Its about 8 years old.........but so hope it doesnt mean a new one!:eek: