Aiming for single, sorted and solvent

maggiesmummy

Woke up this morning with a far more positive attitude - and actually wrote a list of what needed to be paid for. All ready for Monday and payday. It's a busy day out with the kids today and a celebration so definitely not a NSD but one we will all enjoy.
Tomorrow will be a trip to spend some birthday money - it's burning a hole in DD's pocket but she wants to buy clothes which is great as it means I am not footing the bill.
Then into Vodafone to sort out a data disaster followed by a play date so low to no spend. And a treat on Tuesday as I have cashed in Clubcard vouchers for a trip to Pizza Express.
I've probably picked the wrong week to start this diary as school holidays are chaos but I could be a lot worse off if I don't try and budget this month!
Happy Sunday everyone.

maggiesmummy

Small MSE steps at the moment - life is becoming challenging outside MSE world and I am trying to keep my focus.
So yesterday's little MSE steps were:
Bag to Salvation Army - £2 credit through their Rebag scheme, picked up a pair of jeans for £3.49, a H&M dress for £1.99 and a t-shirt for the boy for £2.49.
Free sample of Drops of Youth serum from the Body Shop worth about a five.
£20 in Amazon vouchers from Bounts (finally)
Expired wowcher credit returned so £65 to go on summer activities
Club card vouchers paid for Pizza Express so bill for 4 was £20 - lovely catch up with friend.
Small stuff but it's all helping. Trying to keep today low spend - still need to sort out Vodafone even after shop visit yesterday so a call to them and a shop visit for milk.
Nails being done today which is a summer essential!

Dontletmeletyougo

Hi,

Ive been reading your diary and can totally relate to the single parent thing. I love my son more than words can obviously say but sometimes the sole responsibility feels so heavy and tiring.

My son does go to his dad's twice a week and he pays a minimal amount. However most of this time he's with grandparents and his dad never sees him much.

Instead his dad goes on holiday 4-5 times a year and does as he pleases. His social life still comes first. It's annoying.

However my son is aware of this and he's only 6. He'll see his dad for what he really is one day.

Well done on starting this debt free diary. I find they help so much. I regularly update mine even if it's just to write things down somewhere and I too have plenty of wobbles.

Have a nice day.

maggiesmummy

Busy week this week and a very spendy one so not at all MSE but I have had a great time with the kids so worth it.
I now need to plan for the next few weeks of childcare - next week is paid for but some juggling required for the next couple. I have to do before and after hours at the play scheme which costs a bomb. Just wondering how people budget for it - childcare vouchers aren't available through work, so I might need a pot in the future.
I have also agreed with the kids that we will save for a holiday abroad next year so that's a goal for all of us. It will be around £2000 which is money that could go against the mortgage or house renovations, but they are growing up so fast and it seems more important to make memories rather than have an immaculate house (and in this house it will be impossible anyway!)
So the pot currently stands at £9.51 so there is some work to do.
Ideas on a postcard please!

maggiesmummy

I started this diary 3 years ago - and then stopped. Not entirely sure that was a good idea.
Turns out raising three beautiful children is incredibly expensive -particularly if you spend as if you weren't on a limited income.
So here I am - back again, with a chunk of debt to pay off, some more animals, and even bigger (and more expensive) kids.
I'm starting again because I don't want to wake up with that 3am dread when I think about money. I don't want to spend everyhing on payday then start for 3 weeks (well not really starve just eat a lot of chick peas).
I've got the kids on board this time - and I've been really clear on why and when I will say no to requests for cash. Things are going to be lean for a while, but we need still to enjoy life.#
So much of my guilt has been at them missing out on stuff - but we won't be able to do any of the big stuff if we don't keep an eye on the little stuff.
So here we go again - single, sane and soon to be solvent - hopefully a little wiser too

maggiesmummy

What I have done so far:
Debts onto 0% where possible - I have a loan at 9% which is a killer and needs to go first.
Monzo account to keep track of spending - and pots already in place for a few expenses.
Christmas and Holiday terramundi pots in place via the local charity shop - but not much cash going into them this month thanks to being totally broke.
A plan - I have actually done some forecasting for the future - and would like a £1000 emmergency fund in place by this time next year. I got wiped out by some unexpected bills and I don't want that to happen again.
The urge to declutter - in many ways I am a spender on impulse and I've realised that the pursuit of the shiny doesn't work for me - I buy it then regret it. So no spending on impulse and a bit of clearing the decks.
Weekly budgets - £75 a week on food
An aim - all of this is about putting in place the foundations for my future and not living with quite so much uncertainity. But I also want to do what I say I am going to do for my kids and enjoy the time while they still have to hang out with me - so a holiday or two will also be in the plan.
So here we go.
Will post debts soon and SOA may follow - not feeling quite that brave today!

mark55man

welcome back - I agree with kids being able to dripfeed money away, and all it needs is a bit of focus to stop that.

try and keep posting even if you have nothing to say, it just helps keep your mind in the game

Dottles1

Welcome back Maggie'smummy. I've only just found your diary but it sounds like you are doing a great job. I too was divorced and a single mum (many years ago) and I can still remember the guilt I felt at not being able to buy things and provide Christmases like they were used to. However, years later when she was an adult, I was talking to my youngest daughter and telling her this and she said "but we had you". Brought tears to my eyes at the time (still does sometimes). Kids work it out for themselves eventually and they remember the fun times and the effort you put into their birthday parties, sleep overs etc. much more than the things you couldn't afford.
Keep doing what you are doing, you're doing ok.

maggiesmummy

Thanks both for the replies - and Dottles totally agree that children rarely remember the things they missed out on (hopefully!)
Rapidly approaching payday at the moment and in some miracle I have some money in the accounts - pennies mind you but here are the scores on the doors.

Monzo - £5.25
Car pot - £20 (MOT due next month)
Fitbit pot £2 - it could take a while to sort this one!
Holiday pot - £18.32
FD - £58.70 - already allocated to a bill next month

And for the debts...
Barclaycard - £5731 0%
Virgin - £1620 0%
Loan - 42 x £197 9%
La Redoubte - approx £125 - can't log onto to check at the mo.

I've got a couple of things on eBay, some Shopmium and Prolific cash pending and a big mountain to climb.

Was aiming for a NSD today but had to buy diesel - tomorrow I am going to have to buy cat food for the beasts - but on a positive note they have discovered they like ASDA own brand - and it doesn't make them projectile vomit at 3am which is a bonus!!!

Wednesday is the first day I will be paid and have a clear plan with a budget - £75 a week for food is going to be a challenge with teenage boys but there's always pasta.

mark55man

Always a bonus when the cats aren’t messing up the room

And we’ll done getting to end of the month in the black