Pollgarter's plans to clear up her garden

Scottishmummy

Jealous of the physics tutor here. Eldest DS has his physics exam tomorrow. Here's hoping he does well.

Pollygarter

Yes, he got me through my physics and maths exams too, shame the mathematical gene didn't pass on to me though!

Am jolly happy this evening. Children home from their weekend away with their dad. Spent the princely sum of £4.50 this weekend and seen four separate groups of friend/s/family. Good company, and no expenditure. A kind lady on local freexycle gave me some moving boxes. She is just moved and emptying hers. She said as she empties them, I may have them so that should work perfectly on timing. Not that I am at exchange yet of course...can't wait!

Loads of things listed on eBay, though the uploading has been horrible slow. I think that must be because it's free listing weekend and the whole world is uploading. I don't think I will bother on the free weekend again. I know you save a little bit but really the bulk of the cost is the final fee percentage. And I wonder how prices will.compare if there is a glut of stuff going begging. That said, I've just had a bid for over a hundred quid on something I stuck a cheeky high price on...so let's hope the money does roll in.

If I do get to the glorious position of completely clearing the overdraft, I'm not quite sure what I should do with the cash before I have to pay the credit cards in Dec 2015. As there is no interest on them it seems daft just to pay them off in stages... Yet interest rates are so low I doubt I can make much on a smallish sum, yet growing over the next six months. Thinks.

Back to work for most tomorrow. Been a lovely break.

Pollygarter

Oh yes Scottishmum...all the best to your boy for tomorrow. Give him a good breakfast and tell him to go convert it into some fabulous theoretical physical thinking!

Pollygarter

My purse has had the cash falling out of it today. Because I had not bought more bread, daughter needed money to buy lunch, son no. 2 wanted a tenner for a haircut, son no 1 wanted a loan of £30 for train travel, son no. 2 needed some stationary for impending exams, daughter's piano teacher had £190 for a term plus next grade exam. I nought some lovely gerbera daisies for £1.99 reduced from £8. Did I need them? No. And yet for the pleasure they will bring...absolutely.

If I am too austere, it will get dull fast and then there is the risk I just abandon my efforts and go back to running debts up again. All those costs bar the travel loan are built into my budget just when irregular expenses hit, I can feel my bank account wince. I guess you build up a buffer for these things to keep enough in current account so as not to go overdrawn. I feel like such an eejit about money management. Just not done it for years. Awful to admit. Learning my lesson? Think so.

Wind has blown down a fence panel. Doh!

Scottishmummy

At that price I approve. I love gerberas. As for the rest of the spends needs must.

DS thinks the exam went well. He has a fabulous mathematical brain and all his teachers think he'll do well. The only thing he is not keen on is English but even there his teacher is expecting an A from him. Just have to wait and see now.

Pollygarter

Hope it's all going well for/your son's exams, Scottishmum. My lad has drama tomorrow and I get to see him! I have asked if I can sit n watch him do his physics and english lit too! How weird would that be.

Had a day of very mixed feelings today. The impact of my failure to budget in the past catching up with me with the balance of the holiday house needing to be paid soon. And nothing put aside for it. The extra expenses for a house move. So much to do to get sorted for that. Ach. I read Walden by Thoreau a few years ago. It was a 19th century experiment in simple living at the time the industrial revolution had made profound changes to the way we lived. One comment in it has always stuck in my mind. Paraphrasing, he said we spend our lives slowed down by dragging our barns behind us along the road, held down and fettered by the weight of possessions and stuff....to live simply makes us wake up. I just keep wanting to press snooze just one more time. This is rather painful. And necessary.

I did get a free lunch at work though. And the top up shop was £18. I know its ups and downs. I don't like downs. Ha, I know I know, its the way it is.

Pollygarter

Another expensive day. And house purchase looking wobbly. £1000 essential house repairs and £25 a day to son no. 1 for travel costs as he has not budgeted either and run out of cash and won't get paid for two weeks. Agghhhh

Bobarella

Polly - that book sounds really interesting and very relevant to modern life to. Baggage. We all have it to varying degrees. You are doing so well overall.

Scottishmummy

Ooh. Hope there is improvement on the house purchase.

I wonder how rich I would be if I had never bought stuff just for the sake of having it. I would certainly have a lot more space.

Scottishmummy

So far he is really pleased with the exams. He had drama last week. I don't think we are allowed to watch any of them here.