Mandz road to financial freedom,happiness and weightloss

mandz1

So here I am again. Starting a new diary to keep me on track and take responsibility for my life.

So a bit about me.
29, single mum of 3, a bit of debt and a lot overweight.
This diary is mainly going to be about helping me to budget, meal plan and debt busting.

I have already tried to sort out my budget for September, but I still don't know when I will be getting paid as I finished my maternity leave at work and decided not to go back as it was going to cost too much in childcare. I am looking for another job that will be better for me working hours wise, so I don't have to spend so much on childcare, but finances are all over the place at the minute.

Meal plan for dinners is done, using up what we already have in and just buying a few little bits later to make up the meals. When my two eldest go back to school, I will also save on lunches. Loads of breakfast cereal already in the house so will use it up before we buy anymore.

Weight wise, I need to lose around six stone to be truly happy. Exercise will have to be incorporated into daily life, think this will be easier when ds1 and ds2 go back to school so I can just put dd in buggy and go for long walks. Already have a Fitbit blaze to count my steps.

So plan is to cut down or stop unwanted spending. My kids have already been told to stop asking for toys and to save up and do chores if they want anything. My kids are spoilt, my fault but they know money is tight.
I'm quitting the dreaded cigarettes. Lots of saving to be made there.
Food needs to be cut down to essentials only, no more buying treats(will help my waistline). Meal plan should help me stop buying things I don't need.

Dd birthday end of October, so need to look into deals and bargains for her, not sure what to get her though.

Ok that's all for now as dd is trying to take iPad of me and wants my attention. Ttfn

Poor_Single_lady

Hello and welcome. I think we all spend too much on food. You're in good company here! Hope you find posting helpful. Wishing you well.

nextyeartina

Good luck with your diary. No matter how hard I try, I can't control my food budget either




Tina x

mandz1

Thanks guys, I've had diaries before but they've always dried up. Determined now to cut down on excessive spending (which will be easier when kids are back at school) and live frugally again.
Had a NSD yesterday and today have nipped to morrisons to get a few bits needed for dinners. Homemade pitta pizzas tonight, already had pitta bread, cheese and pur!e so just needed some toppings. Also got some pop, mince, potatoes, bread and a few treats for today while watching the F1. Made the kids buy supermarket own brand though to keep costs down. Shouldn't need any more food this week, may need to top up on pop at some point. But that's it.

Off to do my PAD now

mandz1

So I've just had an email, to join rosemary Conley online for £1 for a month. Bargain, signed up and will cancel before it renews. Hopefully get some decent recipes for helping me lose weight.

Haven't brought any cigarettes today so tomorrow will be my first day quitting. Having second thoughts as the kids are stressing me out bringing their mates round every day to play. Always my house they come to, never go in their mates houses. But I will try tomorrow and see how it goes.

Have paid a bit off one of the credit cards today. I don't count my credit cards or very account as debt as they are active accounts and not something I am owing or defaulted on.

Off to ikea tomorrow, I can have a look around and the sons can play in the play area for free. So should be a free trip as I am not looking to buy anything.

Due to kids having their friends in, I am already low on pop so will need to get some more, should be lsd tomorrow

mandz1

Payment today of £10 to Christmas savings account.


been out today for a look around ikea, printed off my £5 voucher they gave me for my birthday, brought 4 packs of batteries, 1 for my mum who is giving me the money back as it came to £6 kids got a free milkshake each for doing a treasure hunt, looking for letters around the store. I brought us all a hot dog


Last night I got all the kids school clothes out to make sure we had everything, we didn't. I brought new tops for ds1 at beginning of school hols and then realised it was ds2 that needed tops. both kids trousers needed replacing as they had paint down them (even though schools are supposed to use washable paint). and both needed new PE t shirts. Spent £38 in asda £30 on school items £8 on bits and bobs.


haven't had a cigarette all day.

mandz1

ok hello diary.
been out with kids today spent some money but didn't go over budget I set. they went to the park and paddling pool and had a go on a few paid for items and had an ice cream each. couldn't tempt them to a mcflurry though that would have cost me less.


I have sent a letter to one of my debts as they sent me one saying I may have overpaid. will see how that goes.
1st of the month tomorrow and my bank account will shrink considerably, tv licence, virgin and car insurance out. Will need to see whats left in the morning but I know it wont be much. still don't know when my payment days are, just playing it by ear for now.


tomorrow there is a free festival funday near us. will take some money with me because nothing is ever free. sure they will have something the kids will want me to pay for. Will take picnic and drinks with us to keep costs down.


really really cant wait till school starts again. counting down the days. 6 to go

mandz1

money has all gone. 1st of month all big bills have come out. luckily I get my tax credits in tomorrow.


my dd has her review in the morning, shouldn't take long, and I need to ring doctors for my ds1 as he has spots/rash over his back. been there for a few days and want it sorted out before back to school.
also need to pop to e-cig shop as my ecig seems to be over heating a bit and doesn't taste right, hopefully cheap fix, or may have to get a new one. we shall see.


still doing surveys to try and earn some vouchers/cash for treats.

mandz1

Still chipping away little payments to the cc. Think my CB hits on Tuesday, so that will go off clearing the rent arrears, paying a bit off bank of mum and a bit of Christmas fund I think. May all change, still not made my mind up.

Dd review went very well, no concerns, growing well and progressing excellently for her age. Ds1 has psoriasis, got some gel to put on once a day to clear it.
Ecig fix was cheap, just needed a new coil.

Tomorrow I need to get some shopping in, running low on meals and nappies. Small shop until kids go back to school then can sort a proper meal plan out. Will stay away from clothing aisle and kids will not get any toys.

I've topped up gas and electric. Petrol in car.

Plan is to keep chipping away at credit cards, get them cleared and get 2 of them cancelled and just keep 1 for emergencies. My mum already has the cards for the two I will be getting rid of.

mandz1

Ok so been shopping this morning. grand total £42.09
which is a lot but includes nappies and baby milk.
Just sitting watching F1 and doing some surveys. chilled sunday.


Decided to take back my wii off the kids and bring it back downstairs so when they are back at school and dd is having a nap, I can get some exercise done. Didn't lose anything this week. I have been the exact same weight for about 2 months now, no gain, no loss. will be kicking my butt into gear as soon as the boys are back to school. lots of walking and dancing on the wii

mandz1

The kids went back to school today (just ds1 and ds2) so me and dd took them to school this morning and then went for a walk, get some exercise in. was lovely just the two of us after 6 weeks of moaning from the boys about going out where they don't wanna and having to spend money to keep them entertained.
we then came home and tidied the boys bedroom, looks so much better now which I know wont last long.
went for another walk just before school run as I had to get some new coils and liquid for my e-cig. I also picked up a few bits and bobs and got dd her birthday cards.


This morning before the kids woke, I managed to pay off one of my credit cards, which will be cancelled soon. I also paid my mum some money off what I owe her on her argos card and paid some off the Christmas savings.


Tomorrow morning I have my niece for a couple of hours, so the plan is to drop the boys off at school and then do another walk. mym mum will pick my niece up at lunch time and then I could either clean the house or go for another walk.


decisions decisions