Debt Free - am I

Aaleigha

OK so here is what I think I said

good news

found £1.01 near the ticket machine in the carpark
went to opticians and due to my new specs not being right - they have upgraded me to include reactions lenses something I didnt have due to cost
then when I went to contact lens bit due to a mix up on my direct debit they gave me a set of lenses free (great as the opticians had kept specs and I didnt have spare ones on me
did my banking

now for me who has trouble leaving the house on my own you have to realise how fantastic all of that is

bad news

I did treat myself to a drink in town - due to panic attack but went to small cafe not costa and had a cuppa - so free owing to the pound I found
the very bad news is - the panic attack was brought on by the fact I backed the car into a barrier (one of the lowish ones that looks like a flattened croquet hoop (about knee height)
so worried I cant even check the car to see what I have done
have talked to hubby who is going to look tonight - but its an expense I can do without but what is done is done

back to the good news as I dont want to linger on the bad
Hubby turned off all the lights again this morning - every little helps

dinner is cooked I am having creamy sausage and potato bake all of the items from the fridge or the larder and making enough for two days so we have a meal for Saturday when we get back from the prison

I will put in here what the damage is for my own record not anyone elses

did get some food shopping today so need to take it off my signature

twiggy86

Hi!

Well done on posting your SOA. I think we all deserve treats otherwise you just go crazy, so don't feel guilty about having a holiday!

I'm assuming you bumped your car on getting to town, in which case I imagine it was a big deal actually continuing with what you had planned i.e. opticians, so you deserve some to give yourself some credit there! I'm sure it isn't as bad as you imagine, and even if it is - so what?! It's only metal! If it's only cosmetic then it isn't urgent. I currently have a lovely white gouge down the side of my (black) car courtesy of someone else - it's driving me nuts but in the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter, my car still drives fine!

I would definitely try to cut down on your food bill - since trying to do this I've pretty much halved what I was spending! I make sure I write a meal plan, check what's in the cupboards and write a list (which I stick to!) So it hasn't really taken any effort to save money, just being aware of what I'm spending is making a big difference to me. I have an envelope in my bag with the food money in so I'm only allowed to spend what's in there (works for me as I do all our shopping). However I do cringe slightly getting this tatty old envelope out my bag at the checkout (and no I wont use a new envelope until the old one is falling apart!)!

I also shop at Lild, and utilise apps on my phone like shopitize, checkoutsmart etc where you get cashback for buying certain items and taking a photo of your receipt. So if I'm going to Tesco to pick up bits I cant get in Lidl, I check what offers are on there and may adapt my meal plan slightly (key is not to buy things you don't actually need!)

Oh and you should womble receipts! Asda do the price guarantee so you can put in the code and possibly get a voucher. My mum texted my a receipt number for one she found - £2.83 voucher! Or you can collect the clubcard points at Tesco - every little helps!

Hope that helps.

Aaleigha

TWIGGY!!!! I just subscribed to your diary havent posted yet due to not havind read it up to date but I will be

as for your suggestions I do meal plan - right after christmas I wrote EIGHT weeks worth - yes you did read that right - we do a BIG shop once a month for cleaning stuff loo rolls shampoos etc and what we need for the week BUT both of us add in STUFF could be an air freshener - dont really need as I have more scented candles than prices - or a couple of magazines - I dont really need them - I could go to the doctors to read them - save me heating my own house too - am I getting the hang of this:):) but I do hope that the bill will go down as I have put on there what I AM spending then will amend when we know what we can cut it down to and on payday we will get the cash out

now as for your old and tatty envelop I acquired a box full of them if you want some let me know but as you are shopping in cash with a list they will think you are so kind shopping for granny
I did womble one receipt and got 12p made my day that did
as for the phone apps will look into those once replacemnt phone is sorted thank you as I had never heard of them

next post update on car

Aaleigha

car update

right hubby is home

he has looked at car

well I think we all know how loud it can seem when you reverse into a bollard - well I do now as I have never done anything like this before - damage one cracked rear reflector - so I have spent the afternoon feeling so sick and its a bit of plastic - phew
so on the day with free upgrade lenses free contacts and a free month I am still quids in

Knitting_Nora

Gotta say, you sound chuffin brave and bloomin marvellous to me - not only did you actively leave the house, but you made it through a tough day and can find the good stuff. You're just a bit fabulous, you know.

Aaleigha wrote: »

I do meal plan - right after christmas I wrote EIGHT weeks worth - yes you did read that right

Can you come and do mine? I hate meal planning! I'm so anti-authoritarian that I don't like being told what to eat by a bit of paper.

now as for your old and tatty envelop I acquired a box full of them if you want some let me know but as you are shopping in cash with a list they will think you are so kind shopping for granny

What you actually need is a sensible sized coin purse. Not suggesting you shop for one (heaven forbid), but they're easy to make if you're crafty at all/know someone that is?

Aaleigha wrote: »

car update

right hubby is home

he has looked at car

well I think we all know how loud it can seem when you reverse into a bollard - well I do now as I have never done anything like this before - damage one cracked rear reflector - so I have spent the afternoon feeling so sick and its a bit of plastic - phew
so on the day with free upgrade lenses free contacts and a free month I am still quids in

Yay!! :T Oo, well, not to the feeling sick bit, obviously!

in_need_of_direction

Hi. Hope you don't mind me popping in. It seems you're off to a good start. Well done on standing firm re your son. It's the hardest thing in the world but sometimes the only option. While my circs were entirely different, it was only when I told my son that he needed to fund his choices himself that he took responsibility and made a go of things but I know how many nights I cried about it.

One question though is there any reason why you aren't claiming disability benefits?

Aaleigha

Knitting_Nora wrote: »

Gotta say, you sound chuffin brave and bloomin marvellous to me - not only did you actively leave the house, but you made it through a tough day and can find the good stuff. You're just a bit fabulous, you know.



Can you come and do mine? I hate meal planning! I'm so anti-authoritarian that I don't like being told what to eat by a bit of paper.

What you actually need is a sensible sized coin purse. Not suggesting you shop for one (heaven forbid), but they're easy to make if you're crafty at all/know someone that is?


Yay!! :T Oo, well, not to the feeling sick bit, obviously!

Nora the first paragraph was so uplifting this morning so thank you so much-it was a harder day than I can explain and Ishould feel really proud of myself and recognise what I did - but I sort of live in fear of the next one - might try for it monday I have lots of odd coins I can bag up and bank so that could be the next day I attempt town and I will NOt be frightened of the carpark that will NOT beat me - but will most likely park in a different bit

as for meal planning if it wont be frowned upon by the powers that be let me know and I will attach them on here


OH and realy nice to know you dont cheer when people are sick -
Hx

Aaleigha

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Hi. Hope you don't mind me popping in. It seems you're off to a good start. Well done on standing firm re your son. It's the hardest thing in the world but sometimes the only option. While my circs were entirely different, it was only when I told my son that he needed to fund his choices himself that he took responsibility and made a go of things but I know how many nights I cried about it.

One question though is there any reason why you aren't claiming disability benefits?

mind you popping in of course not always a cuppa or coffee to be had here -evenings will be hotchocolate

as for my son tomorrow is the visit day and I will tell him then - I could of course email or write to him but I want him to KNOW I mean it he is 35 and needs to see the full consequenses of his actions - and the fact that a quick loan at that age is fine but not giving him money every week/month I HAVE to set the boundaries as he will have whatever he can get

Benefits - the reason I have not applied is because I really cannot face the form filling - want to do it for me and being told I dont get anything and then having to appeal - to be honest just thinkiing about the whole process now has me near tears of frustration - The doc said she would do me as many fit notes as it takes - so I have the full backing of my gp

right off to post now about my day - counsellor today and news on the lost phone

Aaleigha

so today

woke up about 10.30 had a long bath then got up and had late breakfast/lunch - which was homemade bread toasted with peanut butter and a banana
then I got ready for counselling
try to the pattern she has a cuppa and a glass of water ready for me
we talk over anything that has happened with thinking since last sessoin and what is happening this week and near future - so told her about money and son did not tell her about car
she has as always helped me clarified thoughts and that will make comming to descions easy - I have to say that this is an expense I could well do without and I am not saying I would not at some stage I would not be seeing her but it would not be now so that expense could be added to sons account and he will be told - he wont find it easy but daughter and I are going again monday - she can only go when its half term or weekends but she is busy this weekend

I have spent some of today (this morning) registering my new sim and getting my phone up together then I get a phone call from asda and they have found my phone its been in lost property but someone brought in a charger and found the home phone and phoned me so I have literally just had a new one on insurance and now its been found - I am hoping I can get my contacts off it but then I will have to send it back as they have said that I would have - shame I just cant keep it and put a payg sim in then I would ditch the contract at the first opportunity - oh well I bet they have locked the phone so will know if I try to use it
so off to get that tonight
might as well make the list and shop for next week while I am there

Aaleigha

OK got phone will sit in car tomorrow and try to get my numbers off

got my shopping for the comming week in asda (and picked up two receipts to check online tomorrow) and 50% of my trolley was fresh stuff 48% frozen veg and fruit and the one other thing I bought asda baked beans I want to know if I can eat them and not turn my nose up as I am a heinz girl at heart
very pleased with my 20.15 spent can add four pound to that as in the change I had 2 x £2 coins for the pot so less to use for shopping now as the shopping money is now in cash so what I have is all I can spend till next pay day (26th) dont think I will need to top up at all for the next week

I chose to buy frozen veg as I think it might be more economical if I want three cauli florrets I can have three not a whole cauli - I will see if taste and texture are acceptable - if they are horrible and wont get eaten I will go back to fresh

so off to change the siggy then bed me thinks

night all - for late night visitors hot chocolate is on the stand in the corner help yourself