DFB35 Diary

DFB35

mummytogirls wrote: »

Evening DFB,

Sorry to hear about the ring, thats not good breaking twice like that!

I dont blame you for letting your daughter go on the trip. We had a similar situation here a few weeks ago but our DD is only 8 so we decided there will be plenty of opportunity once she gets to secondary school. Plus this was £800 for skiing in Italy!!!

Happy Friday (for tomorrow!!) xx

Thank you mummytogirls! How on earth can they justify 800 for a skiing trip?! That is too much surely..

I know 500 is a lot but nearly 1000 for one person :eek: I would have done the same as you, especially as they only in primary school.

I'm still very tempted to just pawn the ring.. It seems to have bad luck!! I will take it to see how much they'll give along with some unwanted/ broken jewellery when I take the kids to London. Just so I know what's it's worth at least.

Xx

DFB35

I was out on a little jolly this evening

But now heading home ...

I have bought one small round for 12 quid and had a couple of drinks bought for me. So slightly merry DFB35

But still sensible and on my way home at 8pm..

After considering my budget figures I'm almost certain I will be able to make a further payment later on in the month and any money made through jewellery will go straight on to the loan.

Have a good evening everyone and an MSE weekend Xx

DFB35

I was thinking last night about how much I've changed in the last few months.. And also have been noticing a few things which I wanted to write down.. Maybe I'm becoming older and wiser?!! At the age 31 I should hope so lol

Ok, here are the things I've changed about myself and the way I think:

1. I have not accumulated any further debt since August! And I am finally dealing with my previous debt by making overpayments, having spend the last 10 years plus only making minimum payments.

2. I have come to a realisation that I don't need so many "things". I have decluttered my house, wardrobe and life

3. I have come to realise I don't need to go out and get completely smashed to have a good night. A couple of drinks and a quick catch up is enough.

4. I have learned to say "no" and not feel guilty. This is when asked to lend money and when friends asking me out at the times I cannot afford to. Also everyone at work were buying expensive tickets to horse racing and were really pressuring me to join them. But I said no and didn't even elaborate.. True that it might be making me a bit unpopular but that money is better spend elsewhere..

Along with these changes and realisations, I have come to learn that some people were in fact using me. This is a hard fact to accept, but I have noticed that since saying no more and not being flush with the cash I don't see some friends any longer. But that's good as I don't need this in my life..

Also when I had a hard time not lending family money, said no and my dad did lend them in the end , I later found out that in fact this money went on other non essential things and not food or rent!! That was a hard lesson to learn, as if I was the one who gave them this money to never see again, I would have been so upset to see that in fact they were lying and not on the breadline as they made out to be!!!

During a bit of people watching last night I noticed that lot of people are not so quick to offer or buy a drink. And these are people who I know are earning a decent salary... I'm not judging them as I have joined them now in not splashing the cash.. But again in the past they would be happy to accept a drink from me and not get one back (and I'd be too drunk to notice or care!)

So some life lessons there.. I don't want to be so cynical but these are the facts I have observed recently. Which for some reason were not obvious to me before..

I still have a long way to go, as I know that I still make unnecessary spends and there are areas I want to improve in. And also my big spend - holidays I don't think I would ever be happy to give them up, as for me it feels like it's memories and makes the daily working rat race worth while. But every other year sounds like a good compromise. I didn't go on holidays as a child so I do realise we are very lucky to be in a position to be able to afford it (as long as we save and still make overpayments on our debts!).

The bit in bold is going to be my number one rule!

DFB35

Just updating my signature, moving 300 earmarked for the loan overpayment. I won't actually make the payment until I'm 100% sure we can stretch to it but it will be sitting out of reach. This way I'm still on target to pay the loan off by christmas but have a safety net just in case.

Have a fab weekend everyone Xx

Aaleigha

HI honey
you sound like you have had a bit of a break through in the way you think about things - my dad always said that I was too young to be that cynical - I did once ask him how old I had to be but didnt get an answer

I think holidays are a very good idea and the way we are saving for them is by seeing what money is still in the bank on payday and sliding HALF of that over into a little used account - our holiday fund
the rest is either left in the bank account to build a buffer or emergency fund but we are lucky to have no debt at present
you could do something similar I also slide over all the odd amounts from the main account once a week so if the balance were to be 766.04
6.04 would go into holiday fun - not much but it soon builds up
I dont think you should give up your holidays - you work hard you need something to look forward to if you are living frugally

lcc86

Hi DFB35,

I've had similar realisations to you over the last few months. Although it feels tough sometimes, I'm glad I can now see the wood for the trees. If I want to do something, I will, but only if I can save for it. I have a lot of friends who rely on partners and parents for money and don't 'get' it, but I feel better about life for doing things this way.

DFB35

One week of school holidays down one to go! Friday Saturday Sunday and Monday we are planning NSD :A

Apart from the food shop coming tomorrow, but it's in £60 budget and I have turkey crown, gammon, fish, bacon and chicken to have lovely family roasts and dinners to last us all week

Will be having some family over and I didn't get kids Easter eggs as they'll be getting it from family... A bit cheeky I know but so much better than last year. I remember going to shop specifically for Easter eggs/treats for friends and family and Bits for Easter egg hunt and spending ... Wait for it....... £80!!!!! £80 on Easter eggs!! :eek: This year I got two 1.50 eggs for niece and nephew and that's it..

i wish I still had that £80 receipt to see exactly what I bought.... The only reason I remember it is because I was shocked at how much it was at the time.. But still went ahead and bought it, it included Lindt chocolate bunnies, big eggs and lots and lots of eggs for the hunt, and eggs for friends kids.

We also went to butlins last Easter which was pricey, how times change

But even though we are cutting back I'm sure we will have a lovely family weekend and perhaps healthier without so much chocolate haha

I have plans for my week off but have changed my mind about taking the kids to the Shard, it's too expensive.. I will still take them to London and do the Shaun the sheep trail (free) and maybe something else.. Will have a think. With husband they have been bowling and cinema so already had treats

I have calculated and allocated money until payday and have managed to stash away another 100! :j

Everything is on track to be rid of loan 1 by Christmas or before if possible, very positive and happy today.

Have a great Easter everyone! Xx

DFB35

Since I am at home next week (and will have time to post etc..) I decided to put a few things on eBay and 3 sold already! And lady is coming to pick two up so won't even have to post it wahey

It was special fee free offer weekend so I should have 90 from the sale, I will add on that extra 10 and take 100 of my total :money:

DFB35

Fab fab day so 3 of my ebay things sold, lady came and took bag and purse = 40 and no postage fees

Posted another bag this morning =50 - 6.something postage and PayPal took 1.98 when I transfereed the money? That's strange...

Anyhow about 80'quid in! So happy with that :money:

I don't really have anymore things to sell, as I went through everything when I did my spring cleaning a few months ago.

So that my MSE bits...... Now onto the spendy part

Had a brilliant day out in London with the kids! I'm afraid it wasnt very MSE but it was fantastic, we went to St Paul's, crossed the millennium bridge, then along the river all the way to the London eye. Spotting Shaun the Sheeps along the way! Weather was amazing we even went down to the actual river bank for a bit and looked around in the stones.. Surprisingly clean

Crossed the jubilee bridge to the Trafalgar Square and then the M&M world. It was all fabulous apart from the M&M world! It made me want to go lie down in a dark room.. Kids filled up the pick and mix and when we weighted them they were coming to almost 20 each! Whoa! Put it back In the end I did allow them a cheaper treat each and all in all our trip was about 50, including travel etc...

When we got home I asked kids what was their favourite part and guess what the M&M world haha! I loved everything apart from that definitely getting old... :rotfl:

I will try to do little spends for the rest of the week now. No more than another 20. Still with the weather being so nice we can do lots of free things!

So in a way the bags have paid for my week off kids entertainment! I have still put the money aside to pay off the loan closer to payday (just in case of anything unexpected meanwhile).. But even if I end up using it I'm pretty chuffed !

Another big progress, hubby agreed to sell his old phone so we should have another 100ish coming our way :money:

Aaleigha

Fantastic day out I love london but hubby doesnt - so I usually go with a gay friend of mine and we take in a show meeting several of his friends - I have a great time
Used to go up quite often to take the kids to science museum and natural history - my son used to count the animals on the pillars - they both loved it we also went and took in the Tutankhamen exhibition

as for the rest of the week I dont know how old they are but why not take them on a walk in the country (I go along the cycle track with friends children) and get them looking under stones and things for bugs - you can always photo them then you can spend time on another day for them to try to findout what they are called
when offered a day out with anything they wanted to do as a treat that is what my friends children wanted to do - so we took a picnic and water to wash hands with - they held the food in a serviette so they could keep the germs off