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

ampersand

Glad to see you posting, judi.

I hope a/c's peeps have had grace to apologise for what this has done to you and the undoubted carry-over into work and home. It should presage some change in their work practice, should any discrepancy be suspected in the future and I would be asking for this to be placed on record.
'Does this caring workplace wish to diminish effectiveness/ lose good people? This has been an example of how it happened, without intention.'

Do not let this sway or sidetrack you. Yes, easy for & to say from here, but your big silence recently felt like £££y-concern for this subscriber to your Thread, at least.

judi, the more you post, the better your debt-busting goes.
Your Thread acts as your sounding board - and we DO reply :-). [Try and stop us]
If you didn't have the credit capacity to throw at things for an easy fix, or quick-'cos-I'm late/cba/forgot...you would simply be HAVING to make do with less, in activities[family-wide].

CREDIT is NOT real money, judi.

Now sit back. &'s crimbo tale for you.

''Something was taken from that accounts grilling and it had its first try-out at home later that night.
It started along the lines of ''This year we're doing x, present limit £x. The only prizes are for imagination, cs, car-booty, diy - AND I'M DOING NOTHING'.
But days invisibly scurried on and suddenly there were too few, as too often, and judi was zonked.
&'s present, a Limited Edition SODDIT MOMENT[other moments are available]was inscribed and instagrammed, duly received.
'This is a declaration', clarioned judi, first after-work tipple in hand '....not up for discussion. Big Green Shop is out-of-bounds. I've entered us in the Western World Freezer Challenge until Feb payday 2-0-1-6.'

'Whaa-a-a-a-a-t? Mum, you can't' chorused the no-longer-helpless-babes.

'DEAL DONE!', smiled maman seraphically. 'Top a-me up, before you go-go.'

Strapping son, thus addressed, brought all his cadet experience to the fore and, in one smooth schooled movement, banked the bottle 45° alongside.

Newly-returned VSO dd1 had the absolute beans on making a lot less than a little go a very long way. She'd seen it, Senegal-style, on the ground and made sure everyone else knew. '1st world probs........' she declaimed from new wisdom and a very pleasurable glow of superiority.

'SHUT UP' everyone else unisoned, but smart administration of her homeward-travelled knobkierie soon had them crooning sweetly over each allotted task, as conducted by maman judi whose harmonic experience gave her the upper baton hand.

dd3 gave judi one of their special 'girls together' cuddles back. This one had been born in #623, on their day out in October. She'd been keeping it ready and warm and polished just for a day like today - and it was exactly right! Even better, it still fitted them both PERFECTLY:-))))))))))

dd2 reminded all [who didn't need more of this] that SHE would be doing the driving, having passed her test 1ST TIME, which[let's whisper it amongst ourselves] IS A NOTEWORTHY, UNDIMINISHABLE ACHIEVEMENT.

Miss dd2 was also keen on the £inventive/'lasticpenny crimbo, given that Big Sis's car was now relinquished. 'One wheel at a time. I'm up for 4, as soon as - and I'm the Big Wheel this year' is her refrain.

Trouble is, if anyone wants to get anywhere this Yuletide, they have to BE-have as maman's doing pfft-all.
ds is keeping maman in cadet-trained Officers' Mess state.
dd3 is squidging her with an onerous cuddle rehearsal schedule[yes - infants of judi, we KNOW she's hopeless at remembering her lines. That's why she started this Thread, après tout! That...and a bit of M.A.ing, with Merit.......] and anyway, only Rev. Mother is doing Cold Turkey this year, when she drops it off.

In fact, it will be but starting with her this way, following which everyone will be doing their lunch-y best to hot it up, then entering their Each Child's Use-up Recettes for the Award of that name, which maman judi, blissfully farctated, eventually employs as reason to Wind up her own vehicle, order them all on board and OUT they go, for H-m and DIY Things Dispersal Drive, every single one home-jarred, home-bottled, home-boxed, followed by TREAT-TIME, funded by all having stuck to budget and found £££appiness. THE [très mse] END.''
#

Just in case our true life heroine of this story[and she is], judi, needed reminding[as she sometimes does;)]
This year I have really scaled down the 'extras' and sticking to one or 2 main presents with some clothes for the younger two and some stocking fillers (mainly toiletries!!!) - the only other person I need to buy a proper present for is my mum - and hers is already bought! Other gifts will be home made bits (sweets and biscuits and hoping to make a batch of chutney!). Already bought a few food bits and stashed them in the freezer and the Reverend mother is buying the Turkey. Wow I sound a little bit organised!

judi - you have done great things this year and will do next year. Start now by doing absolutely nothing. That's a bossy...until & says otherwise. OK?

judi24

Thank you my dear friend & - I can always rely on you for that sense check and broom swishing back to reality!!! - couched in a very beautiful and thought provoking tale!!!


Yes I do believe I have let things slide a little!!! on the posting and the spending!!! Stress at work impacts on home and organisation - lack of sleep compounds everything! But back on it ahead of the new year!! Told my self in my last job that I would never let this happen again but this time my worry was about not being able to understand the budget deficit and the feeling of huge responsibility of wasting peoples hard earned donations with nothing to show for it was overwhelming!!! - I only stopped myself resigning because I went to our annual lights event - and realised that I really wanted to be part of it - and also knew deep down I had not overspent and needed to find the cause!!! - maybe MSE is ingrained in my work thinking too!!! - similarly to my personal spending I don't ever have a surprise when I look in at my bank accounts these days - I may overspend on occasion still but I don't try to ignore it or pretend the debt is not there like I used to!!!


3 days off this week and badly needed - today was shopping day - spent it with older girls - but that's my last trip out! Pottering at home til Thursday! Can't wait!!!!

ampersand

Great to read, judi.

You ARE a marvel and a marvellous Mother and daughter [what else would issue from the Reverend Mother?] and an inspired, inspiring, driven employee and loyal friend and uniquely judi.........that's the one who's been short-changed lately.

Revel in today and tomorrow, luverley luverley whatever you want time.

:xmastree:Blessings:santa2: to the whole judi family

judi24

Thank you & for your kindness and blessings - sending same to you and yours


Had a nice lie in today - very unusual but much appreciated followed by a beach walk with DD1 and the Dolly dog - a bit chilly bit lovely to chat with DD1 - how grownup she has become!!! Then had a coffee with the Reverend mother and my 3 girls - I paid - but was worth it!!!


I returned shoes I bought for a Christmas night out but decided I didn't need them! In the past I would have just kept them - they were 'only £20'after all - but £20 paid for our coffees with change which was better then a pair of shoes that hurt my feet and I wear once!!!!


Chilled evening with a Christmas scented candle lit and a good film (the Holiday! one of my favourite soppy romantic films!) - lovely!!!

ampersand

'I returned shoes I bought for a Christmas night out but decided I didn't need them! In the past I would have just kept them - they were 'only £20'after all - but £20 paid for our coffees with change which was better then a pair of shoes that hurt my feet and I wear once!!!! '

:T:j:DEVEN BETTER:D:j:T

Fizzy11

Happy Christmas Judi. I can not begin to imagine the stress the accounts people have caused you however it proves how amazing & MSE you are because you realised how wrong they were. The place you work does incredible work & has such a good reputation which in part is down to you.

How lucky we are to have our kids regardless of how we can't necessarily provide all their wants. All we can do is the best we can. You do that.

beanielou

Have a lovely time when it comes.

judi24

Fizzy - thank you your comment is so kind! I am very proud to be part of a great team.


Thank you Beanie we had a great day yesterday - quite chilled with my mum and my DD1 and 2 until 6pm when DD3 and DS arrived home and normal chaos resumed! - I hope you had a good day?


I got very spoiled by my family - lots of lovely gifts! But now need to get my head back into MSE mode and get this blasted debt gone for good!!! Going to spend tomorrow doing a full over hall of my finances and make sure plans are drawn and achievable - I shouldn't need any food for a few weeks though!I only bought a small turkey - but still have enough left overs to feed a small army (bones are cooking to make stock as I type)!!! - Turkey Curry anyone??


Enjoy boxing day everyone

Butti

I love turkey curry.

judi24

Turkey and ham pie and turkey broth made today - rest of turkey and ham is in the freezer for curry later in the week I think!


Been playing with my bank accounts and I will be debt free in 5 months!!! I really wanted to make it by the end of 2015 but I guess a new boiler and a new driveway where unexpected big purchases that prevented this so I shouldn't beat myself up about it! (but I will!!!)


Now I need to play with my spends budget to make sure I plan for big expenses without affecting my debt repayment! I had no life for 4 months I could probably shave a month off the 5 months! Food for thought!!! I would need to save £250 off my monthly spends budget plus save the 2 months council tax break - it might be do able with a bit of planning!!!!