The big NSTurtle March to sea!

Bobarella

Mothernerd - so agree on grumblers. Because I have a shop people often off load on me as part of the service. I have never understood the way some people can't just say 'fine' when asked if they are ok by strangers. But I make sympathetic noises and pour the coffee...

littleskintdragon

Still here.... Only buying what we really need, spending low amounts everyday, like on thurs where i spent £1 on butter, but lose a sfd.
Quite proud of how well I've done this month despite not totally following the rules, oops!

Bobarella

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Son is in his dance show today so husband and I have had a lovely day off. He had to be dropped off by 10.30 & will be there till 5.30. Husband is currently in watching the first performance & I have the 4.30 show. We've both really enjoyed the time today to bimble around, have had a few coffees (all free) browsed an hour away in a lovely bookshop & wandered round Deptford and Greenwich soaking in the atmosphere. Going to make a nice stew tonight as it's quite chilly & I just need to get hold of some meat. So all good here.
Had a really good days trade yesterday. Hit just under £200. Which is almost an average days takings from the good old days and I'd have been paying staff & suppliers back then whereas at the moment it's just me & I'm buying just enough to get through the week so no huge supply bills. Yes it's all a bit hand to mouth and not the way to build it up long term but I just want to see how long I can manage it myself. So happy with that.
My key areas to monitor for the April challenge are the overdraft. I am not happy that it's crept up by £150 since December.
I also want to try and push down on my credit cards as much as I can.
However we do have 8 days of childcare to pay for due to the easter break. But I have negotiated a great rate (20% off) so am hoping I can pay for that directly from the business. It is an allowable expense after all.
So steady & watchful are my buzz words for April.

Caeraugirl

Hi all,


Sorry for lack of posts (again!) - will try harder next month, honest - but have been keeping up with everyone's news. I won't comment on the updates I can remember, for fear of offending those I miss out:eek:, but have been cheering or commiserating from the sidelines for every post I've read, hugs to all who need one, there's been some very sad news on here of late too, hope the turtles who had their worlds rocked are back on a slightly more even keel.


I have completely bombed on all except my fuel budget this month, and that's only because DH put £20 in for me a couple of weeks ago as he was using my car more than his own (his is the clean, shiny, newer one, while mine is the skip on wheels that does football runs and other kid-related activities :rotfl:)


I think part of the problem this month is that I'm trying to get all the niggly needs sorted while I'm still earning (fitted sheets that actually fit the new, deeper mattress rather than pinging off halfway through each night, wood oil for our oak table, quilts for the boys that don't have most of the filling in the bottom third....). Plus DS2 had a hole in the sole of his school shoe AND the side of his astro trainers, and they're going through enough cereal and snacks to feed a small country lately.


I will work out more realistic targets for April AND STICK TO THEM! And post more regularly.....


Have a good weekend everyone, off to update my signature x

Fmess

The April challenge is up...




https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/68057407#Comment_68057407


Hope its ok

Fmess

Today has been a spendy day, but all from my April budget as I was paid during the week.


Lots of decluttering has happened today - the recycling bin is half full again, the charity shop box is full and the rubbish bin is filling up too. I feel better with each item that leaves.

mothernerd

Quiet SFD. Lots of relaxing, changed library books,not stopped raining long enough to be worth putting the washing out (it's going out tomorrow whether it rains or not), put a few more bits in the green bin, washed up, ate lots more salad bits (and some rocky road bites I bought for DS3 - 10p a box, would have been rude to leave them). best of all, have put up the rail under the cabinets and hung all the steamer bits and the kitchen utensils, so more drawer space. Sewing progressing nicely, stack of finished articles growing and discarded pattern pieces to paper bin.

Today I am grateful for entertaining films, for cheap salad and for the internet (had a minor problem with my internet banking so had to phone up but got lots of useful information at the same time - the cheque I paid in should be cleared by Thursday at the latest. Have paid water rates (first 1/4) and have enough in to cover the phone bill. Just need the other cheques to arrive and get on with a few other tasks (+ hope for a quick house sale).

Calling14

Yesterday night out and only spent £2.50 very pleased with myself. Real Ale festival was fairly quiet, looks busier tonight but it wee bit blustery to stand in a marquee tonight.

Had a good day, lie in never do that as my back usually plays up. So by the time I got up stopped raining washing then dried on line, went for hilly 5mile walk. It was warm and my doggie struggling bit she is 13 in August. I found it hard going got too many clothes on. Ironing done, soil moved in garden, house cleaning. Rain came back so slumped on couch and caught up on tv.
A Sfd and feeling pleased got a lot done. Wine and a curry tonight gorgeous.

traveller

Hi everyone, sorry for disappearing yet again . Felt quite low, so just needed to rejuvenate

Can I just say what a great bunch of resilient turtles you all are I have finally caught up.

Bob, huge congratulations! I have 4 children aged 22,18, 15 and 6 so no age gap there;) You will find baby Bob gets spoiled by your eldest. How exciting!
Stewby well done with your holiday!
Mothernerd, so happy for you winning against those rotten suppliers!
Lilt so sorry about that sad news.
FMess, it's fab that you tutor. I don't think you can truly know how much difference you make to those children's lives My daughter owes so much to hers, she only got chemistry because of him.
Tiptoe, well done to you!
Sizzle, good luck with uni and funding etc.

Well I have had no more than 5 spend days so far :T My best news though: MY DAUGHTER GOT A CONDITIONAL OFFER FROM BRIGHTON & SUSSEX to study medicine :j:)::TI am so happy. She needs to get 3 a grades again this year then she's in. I'm so proud of her.

Well I'm off most of the Easter break and very happy about that. A bit peeved I can't put more than 500.00 into the debt pot this month, but am grateful I can put 500.00 in

Fmess, loving and have signed up for the April challenge.

Well take care everyone:)

Fmess

Congratulations to your daughter traveller, that is a fantastic achievement! And I'm sure she'll get the required grades. Unfortunately all of our school's potential medics have had no offers so far for medicine, despite having straight As so far in their school lives. It seems super competitive this year so your daughter has done amazingly well

SFD number 18 today :j really proud of my total so far this month, although I know my budgets have gone over, at least it has been minimal overspends in most areas.

Just returned from a gym session followed by a long country walk so it's time to do a bit of pottering and decluttering and then feet up for the evening I love the holidays