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

judi24

Yes Very deep Cwtchie! but thank you for your wise words - I had a chat with my current PA today and we agreed some ways she could support me - she was lovely and we are going to spend some time planning a complex piece of work that her help would be really useful with - we have also started talking about how to induct the new PA and develop her role which is good!


Not a bad day today - work was busy but productive I think - even got one of most challenging staff members to lead on a project that will be really good - she will need lots of support but she has good ideas! :T


Tonight lots of running around, cadets with DS (I had to do drop off and pick up as friend wasn't going!) then drop of cake making bits to cake making friend - nice catch up and planning next cake project!!! (DD3 birthday) - so was after 10 before I sat down!:eek:


NSD though which was good:j (making 8 in total for this month - not great!!) but tomorrow I am meeting a couple of friends for a birthday - so will spend a bit but should be quite cheap! Caching up with another friends on Saturday but that should be reasonably cheap too - we are going to pub to watch the rugby I think! :beer:


This weekend is my only weekend with no kids for a while so going to make the most of it!:D

kdalwayskint

Hi Judi hope you're keeping well.

I haven't kept on top of my NSD this month, I just seem to be poorly all the time

OH is out in the garden, I feel like I should be out there too sorting out my veg patch but I ache, my face hurts OH laughed and said I've got face ache!:(

Catch you soon hun x

judi24

Sorry to hear you have been unwell kdalwayskint - hope you are on the mend - but I must confess the comment about face ache made me
giggle!


Friday night was fun - met up with a couple of friends, went for tea then went to a 40th birthday party - total cost £20 which is not too bad - Saturday was a NSD (making 9 for the month so far!) - met up with another friend. We went to watch the rugby at the pub but he kindly paid for 2 beers. Then I cooked at his but he had bought the ingredients. Very pleasant evening was had!


Today I needed some shopping and went to As*a with DD2 and then ended up in a new home store. there was so much I wanted to get but I just need to be patient!!!

kdalwayskint

Yeah, face ache made me giggle too!

judi24

Not much to report today - but payday tomorrow so will be paying off some debt!!! Funny how this has become such a pleasure!! Can't wait until pay day is a pleasure because it's all mine and not owed!


Feels like a long way away at the moment - I think its the spring - although I love the brighter weather it makes me realise how much needs doing in the house and garden! and then there is the holidays and wanting to go somewhere - anywhere!!! The kids are desperate to go on a canal holiday but the cheapest I can find is £800 for the week I can go!!! My sensible head say don't but my other head says do it! Kids are only kids for a few years and I don't want to miss out! If I do it will prolong my debt free date by a month so my aim of being debt free by the end of the year will not happen - but I won't be paying more as my debt will be almost all on 0% interest - decisions decisions!


Not quite a NSD as I bought 2 soups in work today as my fellow student is on a gluten free diet and couldn't have the sandwiches I had ordered for lunch! but £3 for 2 very delicious home made soup isn't too bad - and its the first lunch I have bought in work this month! And won't be buying any more either!!!

beanielou

At the risk of sounding non MSE I would say go for the holiday if it is only going to delay your debt free date by one month.
As you say the kids are only kids for such a short time.
Go for it

judi24

Thanks Beannie - I think I can do it without delaying anything - I am going to play with my figures tonight but I think that if I am very careful over the next few months I might be able to pay for the actual boat hire from my weekly spends budget but it will involves some even more careful shopping and spending pots managing - and more careful meal planning!


I agree - kids are only kids for such a short time and I want to make the most of that - but without breaking the bank! the spends would be kept low as it would be mostly self catering too


Oh and payday today and a NSD!!! (10 for March so far!)

Moneywhizz

You seem to be very good at manipulating your budget to cover the things you need/want. Remember how well you did o pay off the boiler. I say go for the holiday too. Your kids will be grown before you know it. As long as it isn't going to cost you in interest. x

Keeping_Motivated

Is there anything you can ebay to recover the cost of the holiday or part of it?

judi24

Thanks Moneywhizz and Keeping Motivated - my aim over my Easter break (10 days off!!!) is to de clutter and sort the house so I might find some bits to ebay - I have never done that but have said for ages that I need to so maybe this will give me the incentive to do it!


I have £1100 a month to live on after all bills are paid - that is to cover food, fuel, kids expenses, bus fares, pets, clothes, presents, social life and anything else that pops up that needs paying that isn't a standing order/DD or debt repayment


My DD3 is going on a school residential that I am paying for in instalments (still got £180 to pay) so my budgeted amounts look like this:


Food - £300
Fuel - £50
Kids expenses - £150 (includes bus fares, cadet subs, pocket money, clothes & shoes, hair cuts, school trips)
General spends and treats - £150


Total = 650


Leaving me with £450 spare


My plan had been to start and emergency fund and save for birthdays and Christmas but I haven't managed to do that with boiler purchase. So now I need to think about what to do with that £450 - I was thinking I could put £200 into my savings account as an emergency fund and put £250 towards the summer holiday and after that towards my American friends visit in November and Christmas


Birthdays would need to come from the £150 general spends and treats


Will also have to think about putting something away for school uniforms and both DD3 and DS will need a full kit out in August


I can then continue with my current debt repayment plan paying £1100 off my CC's and £246 off the loan. I will have paid all CC debt by end of October and only have the loan which will leave me £1730 of the loan left to pay off in November and December - it sounds possible! As long as I don't have any major disasters!


The only down side to this plan is I cannot spend anything on the house/garden unless it comes from the £150 general spends or emergency fund! unless I can ebay of course!


Do you think this is achievable?