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

judi24

Well the Reverend mother has decided to take the rental flat and has give notice to her land lord - she has a moving date of the 15th Feb - which is the first day of my week off for half term - I guess I have my week off planned! I am really pleased for her - she seems very happy with the decision!


Job thing has been rolling around my head today but I think I have accepted its not the right thing once and for all - I love working in the hospice and want to develop my skills and expertise in this area - there may not be any immediate development opportunities and nice pay rises however something will come up somewhere at some point! I did have a lovely chat with a university lecturer about a PhD opportunity today (part time) - I would love to do this but again I am really not sure it is the right time to commit to a 5 year program!


DS has got himself a paper round!!! He put his name down the minute he turned 13 last August and I really didn't think he would get one so wasn't too worried! But he has to go tomorrow at7 to talk to them about it! I have reminded him that he goes to his Dads 2 weekends a month and some holidays and he assures me he will talk to them about it - I fear this may be the start of 'I'm not going to Dads' - I have been expecting this - as they are never that pleased to go - but seem to be ok once there! Selfishly I really look forward my weekends 'off' - but I guess it was going to happen eventually!!!


NSD today - simply due to the fact that my alarm must have been switched off and we were late - so I had to do the double school run (schools in opposite directions!) and I forgot my purse in the rush! Still not done a food shop either and no one has complained that they are eating gruel yet!!! Just made bottom of the fridge soup for work for the rest of the week and stew ready to go in slow cooker for dinner tomorrow (didn't even know I had any stewing steak in freezer!) Amazing what I can come up with to avoid the joys of food shopping!!!

kdalwayskint

Ha ha Judi, I hate food shopping too

kdalwayskint

Just read back to see you've got a Sun holiday booked, fab! I've had a couple of those in the past

Good news about your mum's flat and great that she'll still have a bit of independance too.

Feeling a bit fed up with work, no chance of anywhere to progress to and very limited training opportunities

Take care xx

judi24

Well pleased to report that there is food in the house!! Made to Al*I yesterday so all stocked up again!


Had a lovely Burns Supper last night with DS and DD3, The Reverend Mother and a friend - Al*I haggis as ok - maybe not as nice as a proper one from Scotland - but everyone seemed to enjoy it! Desert was home made pavlova with Crème Fraiche and raspberries - delicious!!!


Poor DS went to learn the route of the paper round on Sat - he was absolutely shattered after it! It is definitely not an easy route - very rural and lots of hills! But he was so pleased with himself until shop rang to say that they couldn't give him the round because he goes to his dads 2 weekends a month and they wouldn't be able to find cover - he did tell them this before he started - so he is extremely disappointed and I felt terrible about it!!! He seems ok today though! I guess we will just have to try to find him some other way of making his millions!!! (secretly I was a little worried about him having £120 disposable income with his history of managing to buy things he's not allowed!!)


Paid a chunk off my CC today - feels good - I am still saying 5 months to be debt free as there are 5 payments of my loan left! If I am feeling flush in month 4 I may be able to pay it early but I have a lot going on in the next few months with the Devon break and the Mull music festival! so not pushing it! What's another month after 29 years (got my first Credit card at 18!!!!) My birthday is on my June pay day so my last loan payment will come out just after that!!! What a birthday present though!!!

judi24

kdalwayskint wrote: »

Just read back to see you've got a Sun holiday booked, fab! I've had a couple of those in the past

Good news about your mum's flat and great that she'll still have a bit of independance too.

Feeling a bit fed up with work, no chance of anywhere to progress to and very limited training opportunities

Take care xx

Thanks Kd - sorry that your job is getting you down! Time of a change maybe? Its frustrating if there is no opportunity to develop!

kdalwayskint

Thanks Judi, I've been there 6 years in Feb! Sometimes it's great and other times it gets on my nerves! I'm thinking I could do with a change, I work some of the school holidays and it's good that the majority if staff are away and we have more relaxed hours then too.

Currently thinking about my son's 18th birthday and wondering what to do, anyone got any ideas?

judi24

Ah Kd - it hard when you are not happy in work - can you seek out any development opportunities? As for your sons 18th - a trip to the pub is definitely in order - but as far as gifts are concerned I guess it totally depends on what you want to spend? If he's into music what about gig tickets to go and see a favourite band?


Not got much to report really - except managing to reduce my tv/phone/broadband package from £64 to £44 a month - every penny counts! and getting my house insurance down to £130 from £240 a years and paid it in full! I will do a Gas and electricity switch after the 31st as it seems I could get a much better deal but will wait until the switch event that's coming up to see what that brings. Also opened an M&S current account - with £220 on a M&S card if I stick with it for a year - just have to work out how I can switch some but not all direct debits. I do get a little anxious changing bank accounts - silly I know- maybe I should just move everything to M&S account and close nationwide accounts - I have 2 current accounts and an unused creditcard - I guess having all these accounts open and not used will affect my credit score when trying to remortgage!


Going to do a new SOA as part of my MFW thread(will be interesting to see if it has changed much since last time) - hoping the clever folks over there will be as helpful as my DFW friends! I know I'm not quite there but it will help motivate me and stop me just thinking I can spend every penny when I am not paying my debt!!!

kdalwayskint

Hey Judi how did you manage to open the M&S account without switching already?

Well done on reducing your insurance and TV package

I've got £30 to pay out on top cash, that's from remembering to click through when getting insurance and a bit of online Christmas shopping

I'll catch you again properly later x

judi24

Hi Kd - I said I would switch but not straight away - they said once I got the paper work I could switch then - I got pack on Sat but not read it yet - hoping I can just switch some of my DD and not all of them - but I'll let you know when I work it all out! I may just switch the lot for ease!


Was pleased with reduction in TV package and insurance - hoping to get Gas and electric down too! But need to get a grip of my day to day spends again!!! Food shopping was expensive this week - I did buy a £6 top (half price) and a new hand mixer that was £10 - my old one died before Christmas - but even so It was way too expensive!! Half of my months food budget gone in 1 week!!! Need to get creative but its hard as I'm buying lots of fruit and veg to try and get everyone eating healthily - but its expensive!!! Need to stay away for As*a for the rest of the month!!!


Not been using YNAB for a few months - so need to re do all my budgets on there as it does help me keep track! A job for this week I think!


Feb is an expensive month with DD2's birthday and half term coming up - need to remain focussed!!!!

judi24

Well not had a great day - still feeling under the weather - I just can't shake this cold and I'm so tired!!!


Took the day off and have done nothing really - vacuumed, did a wash, made scotch broth soup for lunches the rest of the week and a Slimmingworld lasagne - which went down a treat! Apart from that I just slept but feel like I could sleep for a week!!!


2 weeks in work then I'm off for a week - I can't wait but I am also very aware of how much I have to do in work by then! Will it always be this hard?


DS has parents evening this Wed but DD3 has a try dive with scouts on the same day - didn't even realise they clashed and I have no idea how I will be able to do both!!!


Also DD3 is having problems on the school bus with a friends son - they seem to be constantly arguing and bickering. He is a year older than her but his younger brother is DD3's year and her friend - I tell her just to keep away frim him on the bus but she also won't back down when he starts teasing her and saying she has a mental brother! Its really getting me down! His mum is a good friend too which kind of makes it harder! I have said I will start takingDD3 and asking my mum to pick her up - but DD3 doesn't want that and to be honest it will be an absolute nightmare if we have to do the school run every day!


Nothing to report on the money front except a NSD - first of the month!!! Hopefully a few more to follow!