NST August - AB's Amazingly Aware August Challenge

Bobarella

Good morning Turtles

It's grey and blustery here..have my son coming to work with me but that's the last day this summer holidays now. He will then have thursday Friday at home with his dad whilst he WFH, then my husband is booked off till next Friday so they can do some nice things like going swimming etc. I'm not going to lie it hasn't been the sort of summer holiday I envisaged giving him but needs must.
My mum didn't work for my entire childhood and we were often bored to tears as she couldn't drive and we'd spend the whole 6 weeks in our small market town with maybe 1 week away. So I have mixed feelings about the joys of SAHM parenting as well. But it's trying to find that elusive work life balance isn't it which I clearly haven't this year. 1 to work on!

Nanny - Glad your tooth is sorted! It still sounds very uncomfortable however. Enjoy your peace now the grandkids have gone.

Well my milestone has been achieved. Have now got 100% of my remaining debt onto a 0% card. :j

Need to work out what the plan of attack is for September now.

Enjoy your Wednesday everyone. If you are doing day trips hope you don't get blown away

Bob

dolly84

Bobarella wrote: »

Good morning Turtles

It's grey and blustery here..have my son coming to work with me but that's the last day this summer holidays now. He will then have thursday Friday at home with his dad whilst he WFH, then my husband is booked off till next Friday so they can do some nice things like going swimming etc. I'm not going to lie it hasn't been the sort of summer holiday I envisaged giving him but needs must.
My mum didn't work for my entire childhood and we were often bored to tears as she couldn't drive and we'd spend the whole 6 weeks in our small market town with maybe 1 week away. So I have mixed feelings about the joys of SAHM parenting as well. But it's trying to find that elusive work life balance isn't it which I clearly haven't this year. 1 to work on!

Nanny - Glad your tooth is sorted! It still sounds very uncomfortable however. Enjoy your peace now the grandkids have gone.

Well my milestone has been achieved. Have now got 100% of my remaining debt onto a 0% card. :j

Need to work out what the plan of attack is for September now.

Enjoy your Wednesday everyone. If you are doing day trips hope you don't get blown away

Bob

I'm pretty much a SAHM (I work part time from home), I drive so we get out and about quite a bit even if it's just to the woods or local country park with the dog. My mum didn't work when I was little and she didn't drive but all the local kids played out in the fields together from a really young age so she didn't have to entertain me and that just doesn't happen now.

Bob - yes I do run regularly, I used to run a lot years ago then stopped, last year I set a target to lose 6 stone from January 1st to December 31st so I started running again and also cycling. I did lose the weight and run now for fitness, I cycle about 50-100 miles a week and it is very, very hilly round these parts so that really helps.

Calling - hugs to you, hope you are feeling OK.

TOG - well done at the car boot.

Nannygladys - hope your tooth settles down quickly.

Today is payday so I will check in later with what has gone where.

dolly84

Ok, I have done my online banking now, I have transferred everything to where it needs to be - ah the joy of technology. I had one non debt bill due from Septembers money and that was the water bill so that has been paid and all September budgets have been done. I have transferred £103 to my Christmas/Birthday account, £137 to my emergency fund and £400 to the debt.

I am going to the bank this afternoon to withdraw cash for the kids clubs, kids spending money and our entertainment money, also the bank account owes DH £10.

I'm always a week ahead with payday being 26th, so my budgets start today for September.

apple_muncher

Dolly - we have a 'green' in fron of our house, between our row of houses and the blockof flats opposite (only 3 flats high so not high rise!), and no road there. Also, behind our tiny garden there is another 'green' between the back of us and other rows of houses set at different angles, leading to a U-shape of houses. Dd has little friends both in the flats opposite and the houses behind, so they can all play out together. I grew up playing in the street, so am well happy she can have this freedom to simply go outside and play.

I've been working on the September challenge and that'll be up in the next few days.

The_Only_Girl

Bobarella wrote: »

Calling -

TheOnlyGirl - We missed you! Great decluttering there!

I made a PAD of £1.01 today to the personal CC & £4.20 to the business. I used my wombling total to do the personal one, although if I'd waited I could have paid off more as I got a great womble by finding a reciept with Schwartz spices on it which gave me 75p on COS when I uploaded it. Too speedy for my own good

Had the midwife straight after work. She has given me the MAT B1 paperwork, so I can see if Im eligable for maternity allowance. I really hope so...
Bob

Thanks Bob. Great wombling there as ever, to find a discarded receipt with a good cashback value for a specific item on offer. I've convinced my hubby of the joys of wombling. He came home twice with some receipts he picked up from shops. Every little helps! Good luck on your maternity allowance. Crossing fingers for you. And congrats on your milestone! Your DFD is getting nearer and nearer in sight. Excited for you!

The_Only_Girl

WelshKitty85 wrote: »

Hi everyone!

Day off again today so walked little ones to the library to finish the summer reading challenge and collect their medals. The heavens opened on the way home so we got drenched!

Finally had refund from insurance company (a whopping £12!) so have put half to savings and half to credit card. Just waiting for the compensation cheque to arrive now.

Have had some more interest in the business so hopefully can secure a few more bookings

Yay to the insurance refund! And :T:T:T for transferring the amount to the savings and credit card straight away! I find that it's the best way to secure refunds/gifts/bonuses. If you just leave it in the account with the intention of putting it towards a fund at a later date, it's easily forgotten and or just eaten away by unexpected or impulse buys. That's my experience anyway.

Good luck on your bookings. Here's hoping for more!

The_Only_Girl

dolly84 wrote: »

Ok, I have done my online banking now, I have transferred everything to where it needs to be - ah the joy of technology. I had one non debt bill due from Septembers money and that was the water bill so that has been paid and all September budgets have been done. I have transferred £103 to my Christmas/Birthday account, £137 to my emergency fund and £400 to the debt.

I am going to the bank this afternoon to withdraw cash for the kids clubs, kids spending money and our entertainment money, also the bank account owes DH £10.

I'm always a week ahead with payday being 26th, so my budgets start today for September.

Good going there dolly! What an achievement with your emergency funds, savings and of course debt repayment! Picking up my jaw from the floor, can I just say I'm in awe after reading how much weight you've lost. I've always have battles with weight ever since I turned 30 and had kids. My weight have been yo yo-ing for the last 10 yrs, my heaviest at almost 14 stones and I'm only 5foot. Not a very healthy BMI. I managed to lose 2 stones with WW about 3 yrs ago, nearly hitting my initial target of 11stones and then I relapsed and gained again, lost again and I'm not very slowly getting to my heaviest weight again. With the "gazelle intensity" we've been focusing on our finances, and the stress of my new job, I seem to be unable to focus on weight loss at the same time. I am hoping that with the DFD almost within arms reach, I can regain my focus on the weight loss via sensible eating and increased exercise (which currently is zilch). Thanks for rekindling my interest.

dolly84

applemuncher - it is lovely that your daughter can play safely, the problem we have here is nearly all the people living on our street have stayed in their houses after their families have grown up and the few new people have much younger children. My kids have recently started going further afield to meet their friends so they are getting out and about and finding their way around.

TOG - I hope you can get going with the weight loss again, I know from personal experience that your mindset has to be just so to succeed. I avoided any diets at all and just ate normal family meals but cut right down on the things we all know we should avoid but I did have one day a week where I ate anything and everything. For me the exercise was key, I started off slowly and built it up over the year.

academiablues

Good morning everyone! Dolly, well done on adding to your various pots WelshKitty, that £12 is better off in your pocket than in theirs. Bob, fingers crossed for maternity allowance for you, I know that would be a big help for you. Calling, your grandson sounds so sweet TOG, that extra £200 sounds like it will be a great help for you. Nannygladys, hope your tooth is feeling better today. Apple, looking forward to seeing the September challenge!
Well the dentist yesterday was fine, just had to pay for the check-up, then went straight to get my free hot drink - caramel hot chocolate! Not sure the dentist would have been impressed! heading off to Wales until Friday now, was paid for a while ago out of the holiday budget (me and OH put some extra money in the joint account each month to pay for things like this) - OH wants to go on the steam railway, but I think £20 each is a bit much! Will have to see if I can convince him that cheaper is the way to go have a nice Wednesday turtles, weather is lovely here but I doubt it will last!

The_Only_Girl

Hi academia have a lovely holiday! Enjoy.