Well and truly leaping back on the credit train

vasseur

As the title says. After almost 3 years of being debt free I have well and truly got myself back in it as I have had to buy a new car. Previous diary here:-

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4320091

However it doesn't feel as bad as when I was in debt with CCs. This time I have a fixed amount going out of my account every month rather than me deciding how much (or as more often the case how little ) to pay off so it's just another outgoing. I can over pay on this too if I want. And at least I have a nice car to show for it

Still, it is going to take at least 3 months until I am used to the extra chunk going out of my account. So, I will come on here every day to stay motivated. I am actually much better with my finances when I have less money sloshing around and in a sadistic way I quite enjoy seeing how far I can make my money go, where I can cut corners and how I can make extra money :cool::eek:

So I will:-

Use cashback sites wherever possible (home ins is due next week so that's my first opportunity to make a bit extra)
Continue eb@ying like crazy.
Continue meal planning and writing shopping lists.
Check out freebie sites.
Check bank account ever day and keep updating my cashbook with all my spends.
Keep an eye out for a YNAB deal - the system I use already follows the same principle but it might be better to actually have figures down in front of me on the laptop rather than in my rather messy scrawl.
Continue reading the inspiring diaries on here :T

Think that's it for now

vasseur

Good evening to anyone reading :wave:

Not a great start to my new frugal lifestyle. DD has had a couple of friends over today and we have been out for the day so activities and lunch have come to about £40 :eek: no matter they've had a nice time and I can balance it all out by being clever with the food budget this week.

Sold a small item on ebay so need to post that off. I have a few other bits I can list too. I have half a dozen or so things that are already on there.

Small DF things I have done:-

Joined Free Postcode Lottery - I like the element of hope it gives

Sent off for free seeds that were featured in Martin's newsletter this week. Really enjoy spending time in the garden. Gave the lawn a cut this week (it desperately needs reviving somehow), strimmed the edges and pulled up some weeds. It all looks much tidier out there now. I'm going to look into growing some veg in pots.

I've filled in the SOA to get my budget straight and might do a bit of tweaking there.

Food shop tomorrow so here is the meal plan
for next week.

Friday - I am out - DD at my mum's.
Saturday - potato and bacon hash
Sunday - lunch at my mum's - lamb I think
Monday - salmon pasta
Tuesday - pancetta pasta
Wednesday - chicken stir-fry and rice
Thursday - smoked salmon risotto

I can do most of this from things I already have in the freezer

pixiechick99

Helllooooo lovely...I'm joining you:beer:
Happy new diary.....looking forward to lots of organised-ness (think I've made up a word there;)) and money saving!

I'm with you on the garden excitement - I only have patio Andy stones not grass so just had loads of tubs of flowers last year plus some failed tomatoes in gro-bags:o I have lots of tiny pansies growing in the gravel/stones where the seeds last year have scattered so I've transplanted lots into tubs and they're gowin well....I'm so pleased!

Lovely you have a new car....needs must eh? Mine will be finished being paid for this summer...hooray:D I'll look forward to the extra £85 a month I save. I'm not using the car a lot now - in fact, I put £33 of petrol in on Jan 23rd and that lasted me until the end of March:T I did get out andabout a bit more in theEaster hols though so I need more in the car this weekend! Still...I'm saving loads. I walk to work, shopping is delivered and just have to drive eldest to work on Sunday mornings as she's in too early for a bus.

Hope dd is still being a little star:p Mine are growing up too fast...eldest 18 in 3 weeks and littlie got GCSEs very soon and is 16 next month...boo hoo;)

Bye for now:D

RosaBernicia

Happy shiny new diary Vasseur :beer:

I've subscribed so will be around to keep you company!

You haven't told us much about your new car though... is it wonderful and making you smile every time you drive it?


Rosa xx

vasseur

pixiechick99 wrote: »

Helllooooo lovely...I'm joining you:beer:
Happy new diary.....looking forward to lots of organised-ness (think I've made up a word there;)) and money saving!

I'm with you on the garden excitement - I only have patio Andy stones not grass so just had loads of tubs of flowers last year plus some failed tomatoes in gro-bags:o I have lots of tiny pansies growing in the gravel/stones where the seeds last year have scattered so I've transplanted lots into tubs and they're gowin well....I'm so pleased!

Lovely you have a new car....needs must eh? Mine will be finished being paid for this summer...hooray:D I'll look forward to the extra £85 a month I save. I'm not using the car a lot now - in fact, I put £33 of petrol in on Jan 23rd and that lasted me until the end of March:T I did get out andabout a bit more in theEaster hols though so I need more in the car this weekend! Still...I'm saving loads. I walk to work, shopping is delivered and just have to drive eldest to work on Sunday mornings as she's in too early for a bus.

Hope dd is still being a little star:p Mine are growing up too fast...eldest 18 in 3 weeks and littlie got GCSEs very soon and is 16 next month...boo hoo;)

Bye for now:D

Wellll hellloooo stranger!! Long time no see! Glad you are joining me. Yours was one of the first diaries I susbscribed too (if not the first) about 5 years ago - where has that time gone??? Your girlies really are all grown up now! Even mine is so different now to how she was a year ago. She spends more time in her room now (which if I'm honest I would have loved 5 years ago ) but now doesn't seem so important. She really is good company now and is working hard at school but my goodness those teenager type moods are starting to show already...

I must admit I am rather jealous about your low petrol costs. This new car (a N1ssan Jook ) is costing me more already. It is a larger engine and seems quite thirsty although perhaps this week is not really the best week to gauge the petrol usage as we have been out and about more. I've allocated more to the car account each month anyway.

Have you got a new diary on here?

vasseur

Happy shiny new diary Vasseur :beer:

I've subscribed so will be around to keep you company!

Welcome Rosa :beer:

You haven't told us much about your new car though... is it wonderful and making you smile every time you drive it?

It makes me smile every time I look out of the window It is wonderful to drive and I was worried that it was too big for me (always had small cars before - never even had FOUR doors before!) but it is surprisingly light to drive. I looked at 3 year old fiestas and they were only £500 cheaper!! I've always been so sensible with cars and I just fancied something fabby for a change. And of course DD loves it

Keep up with your inspiring posts - I need the encouragement now...

vasseur

We are going out to the coast today. We will take lunch with us though in true MSE style It's a lovely town that we go to with really nice shops along the hight street and also really decent charity shops - fortunately DD shares my passion for rooting round them

Need to do food shop first though. I've done a list and it is pleasingly short.

DFW things I have done:-

Cut fringe and coloured hair myself.
Checked bank accounts and shuffled money around.

Have a nice day everyone

vasseur

Food shop came in at a pleasing £25.65 but I have rethunk some of the meal plan already. Tonight we are having fish pie as the fish pie mix was only £2.69 :T Haven't had that for ages, dd loves it and I enjoy cooking it so a winner all round. Also bought some pulled pork from sainsbugs for the extra 120 nectar points (£6)

We had a great day at the coast. Had a lovely long but extremely windy walk along the coast and through the town. Didn't spend too much either but we did have an icecream from the traditional icecream shop and they even did GF cones :T was most pleased about that as i usually end up with icecream in a tub

Bought a thermometer for my fridge (£6) as it has been alternately freezing up at the back then dripping with water but I'm never too sure of the correct position on the dial Anyway it seems to be at the correct temperature and at least I have something to gauge it with now.

Filled the car up with petrol (£34.30 + 10 x nectar points) so actually a more spendy day than I anticipated but I didn't end up going out last night in the end as my friend had a migraine so that saved a bit of money.

Also while we were out yesterday I received my favourite text of the month - from the CSA - and 4 weeks money should hit my account by Wednesday. This is a bit of a relief as it was 2 weeks short last month and I was starting to wonder if the stupid s0d had lost his job or something. I was bracing myself for weekly phonecalls to the CSA but fortunately it hasn't come to that.

Child benefit is also due on Tuesday so I shall be in quite a decent position going into payday on Friday

Jobs for today include hoovering all through, changing the beds and getting the ironing done. I'm doing a 30 mile charity cycle ride tomorrow and I'm certainly not going to feel like doing it tomorrow evening. Besides I want to give Poldark my full attention

This afternoon we are going to Greenwich to pick up some pots that we painted a couple of weeks ago.

vasseur

Had a lovely day in Greenwich. Spent £7 in the pottery cafe on drinks and snacks then we had a wander round the market (the food smells were amazing) and looked round the Royal Naval College - lots of interactive displays which DD loved.

Came home and managed to get 2 lots of bedding washed and on the line for a blow around. Changed beds and hoovered all through and made the biggest fish pie ever - still it was delicious and I need the carbs for today anyway

Right - must get ready for my bike ride Back later...

pixiechick99

Hellooooo!
What a lovely busy weekend you're having:)

I haven't got a new diary on here, no....goodness knows the last time I posted on my old one:o I wouldn't want to admit this week's spends anyway...as its eldests birthday in 3 weeks I've gone and bought her a double bed:p She will love me, she's been asking for ages and I kept saying no. It'll be a fab surprise:) They're away with their dad and his family this weekend at CenterP's so I thought it a perfect time to get the bed, set it up and sort her room...it looks fab:j

So, I had to buy a mattress and duvet too, bedding and new pillows. But it does look good. When she goes off to uni next year then dd2 has already announced she'll be straight in the new bed;)

Just ironing the bedding and I'm done. Going to go make some iced party rings from my new cookbook too soon....I feel so domesticated this weekend!

vasseur

pixiechick99 wrote: »

Hellooooo!
What a lovely busy weekend you're having:)

I haven't got a new diary on here, no....goodness knows the last time I posted on my old one:o I wouldn't want to admit this week's spends anyway...as its eldests birthday in 3 weeks I've gone and bought her a double bed:p She will love me, she's been asking for ages and I kept saying no. It'll be a fab surprise:) They're away with their dad and his family this weekend at CenterP's so I thought it a perfect time to get the bed, set it up and sort her room...it looks fab:j

So, I had to buy a mattress and duvet too, bedding and new pillows. But it does look good. When she goes off to uni next year then dd2 has already announced she'll be straight in the new bed;)

Just ironing the bedding and I'm done. Going to go make some iced party rings from my new cookbook too soon....I feel so domesticated this weekend!

What a lovely surprise for your eldest!! I would have struggled to keep it a secret!

Hope your party rings turned out nice