From Nightmares to Dreams come true!

MeandThe2

To do -
Check online banking and update spreadsheet - Done, by the looks of things I will be in my overdraft by the end of the month...will try best not to be

Plan trip Fri/Sat (Harry Potter studios, little miss 8th b'day gift)
- done
Budget sorted (from a savings tin I have been putting away in)
Petrol £20 (plus full tank from yesterday)
Food £50 (5 meals - breakfast x 2, lunch x 2 & dinner, will be taking water/juice/snack from home)
Spending Money £20 (me only as little miss has £40 b'day money)
Souvenir photo £15

Total £105

Tickets and Air B&B booked as b'day gift

Order ink for printer
struggling as the proper type are £45 ish but cheaper ones are £20 ish but mixed reviews
Drink lots of water and then drink some more - 2l so far plus
Go to bed by 10 - was nearly 12 last night, feel ok today but lack of sleep soon catches up with me!

lessonlearned

Hello Me.....thought I'd pop over and get to know you.

I didn't read the early stuff just from where you have started writing again recently.

Just a few comments......well you know me. I can't resist. :rotfl:

First well done on your positive attitude and can do approach. It will pay off. Just keep at it. You will go much further than the "negative nellies" who just moan and whinge and do naff all to help themselves.

Yes you will have setbacks but remember it's not how often you fall that matters. What counts is that you get back up and keep trying.

Re the Physio.......yes I have this issue. It costs a small fortune but like you, it reduces my pain and keeps me mobile. Without regular Physio I would be in a sorry state so I find the money. If you need it then don't worry about the cost, just cut back somewhere else if you have to.

That expenditure on bottled water could be slashed. Do you have a water filter. I have a brittas jug one. Saves a small fortune on bottled water.

During this heatwave I have been buying Sainsbury's basics sparkling mineral water. 28p a litre. It's lovely with a couple of ice cubes and a slice of lemon or lime.

The spending diary is a great idea, it will help you track your spending and show you where you can tweak your budget and stop the leaks.

Definitely work on the sleep, although it's not easy in this heat, but yes things are always better after a good sleep.

Your child care costs are astronomical aren't they, but they won't be that high forever, and then you will start to make a bit more progress.

Your debts are actually not bad at all, especially as the car loan is on zero interest.

Try not to worry. It looks like you are doing just fine. Concentrate on your health and your children. If the house is a bit of a tip sometimes, then it's no big deal. Remember one day your children will fly the nest and be gone ......your house will be immaculate but empty. Just enjoy.

Having said that, if the house is badly cluttered and full of "stuff" then perhaps you could make things easier by having a good clear out and selling the things that are no longer used or needed. Less clutter would make cleaning easier and you might raise enough cash for a few nice treats for you and/or the kids.

Good luck. I'll drop by again.

MeandThe2

Thanks LL, sound advice as always

Bit of a spend day today, went to the designer outlet off the A38 as I couldn't put off getting new shoes any longer! I'm not a typical women with loads of shoes, not that I wouldn't mind it but the kids come first and they need shoes every few months. I tend to by quality shoes (in the sale!) that will be multi purpose and last (my winter boots have just seen there 3rd year!)

Total Spend -
Coffee shop £5.50
Kids ride around car (like a trolley) £5
Clarks, sandals £25 - sale price (Regular price £59.99, Outlet price £35)
Next, Nike trainers £29 - sale price (Retail for £79.99 elsewhere) not normally a designer/brand person but these were the cheapest
Lunch £8
M&S had a really good final clearance section that I took advantage off, some of the stuff is not needed now but will be this year and I try to get bargains when I can
Work shoes £7 (£29.99)
Fleece £2.49 (£15) this will be part of mums Xmas gift
Pants for little miss £5 (£14)
Winter school coat for rat pants £7 (£29.99)
2 x basic T-shirts £9 (£16)
The Works, 3 books for £5 one for rat pants for being so good and the other 2 for a B'day gift (we have had 14 party invitations form school/nursery friends this year so far...it cost so much to keep up so I try to get good gifts in the sale for £5 or under.

Big shopping trips like this are very few and far between, I am a charity shop queen most of the time and I never ever pay full price. I pick up good deals as I see them that I know we will need i.e get next years winter coats in the Jan sales, next years Halloween outfit reduced just after (this years were £4 & £5 reduced form £12 & £16), and school uniform in the sale/25% off sainsburry's event/school nearly new sale. I pick up Xmas & Birthday gift as/when. Last year both children had around £200 worth of gifts that I paid £120 & £95.

Also had to pay little miss's swim lessons £64.50 every 5 weeks, this will stop in September as she will go with school in y4

Off to Harry Potter studios tomorrow and I am so excited!

MeandThe2

What a weekend!

Trip to Harry Potter Studio - Amazing, can't put into words how fab it was. Had the best time with Little Miss

Budged/Actual
Petrol £20/10
Food £50/54.94
Spending Money £20/53.95 :eek:
Souvenir photo £15/21

Total £105/139.89 - slightly over budget as I decided to get rat pants a wooden train £23 (he didn't come with us) and I got 2 Xmas gifts £10

When we got back yesterday Little miss had a CVS Episode. CVS (cyclical vomiting syndrome) is a rare chronic disorder. Little Miss has an episode at least once a month lasting for 12h to a few days where she is sick 2-8 time an hour on average and experiences pain/tiredness/fever/disorientation/dehydration/hypoglycemia. Thankfully this was a short 12h episode but still took it's toll on her and me.

This week

I have an MRI Monday, physio Tuesday and being admitted as a day case Wednesday for cognitive test. All ongoing health stuff form the meningitis. This will cost approx £45 parking and private physio cost

School Sports day £? buns for PTFA sale, green T-shirt for little miss (house color) why they can't just use their pe kid is beyond me :mad:

Uniform sale at school £? will pick up what I can for both

I have £30 cash and £120 left in the bank to cover all this plus food for the week and

CC 190
AA 28.64
TV 12.12
Netflix 5.99
Home Insurance £12.20
PC Cover 3

By Friday (month end) I should had £2.20 so not in my overdraft :j

MeandThe2

Aim –
Pay HB over payment £300 approx July - Just received and lost notice saying I was overpaid HB last year (differ council) this is a complete out of the blue thing as it dates back to April & Aug 2016 :mad:

Pay off CC 3449.56 by March 2018

Pay off Car Loan £3350 by Aug 2018

Save £2000 towards a new car by Dec 2018 (I do not need a new car yet, although mine is old it has been well looked after and passed MOT the 3 years I have had it, but anything can happen and I cannot be without a car. This amount should get me a second hand one or a deposit)

Total £9099.56 :eek:

I should have £650 a month Jul 2017 – Sep 2018 (£9750) with interest being added to the card I am hoping this will cover it, I will adjust as needed. All debt will be pad off before savings with a priority order of HB, CC, Loan, Savings (I say Sep 2018 and not Dec 2018 as my income will go down by £700-800 in Oct as below)

Budget –

It is difficult to budget as I get paid monthly (variable) and then benefits weekly so depends if it’s a 4 or 5 week month to what I have coming in. I have done the best I can to estimate my income over the next 18 months taking in to account changes I know will happen. I will post a monthly budget at the beginning of every month.

Changes –

Aug 2017 childcare will go down so TC & HB will change

Aug 2017 ex having another baby so child maintenance will go down

Oct 2018 DLA claim ends so I will lose DLA, CA & TC premium. I am hoping we can successfully claim again but I am going to plan on losing it all just in case as DLA claims are difficult and they keep rejecting more and more claims.

Savings (currently on track for this year)

General savings £160 per month (£1920 year)
Kids B’days £300
Xmas £500
Day Trips/Sch Holidays £220
Sch Uniforms £200
Yearly Holiday £500
Other £200

Emergency & Car £100 per month (1200 year)
Service £150
MOT £200
Insurance £300
Tax £150
Emergency £400

If there are any big changes ie loss of job, house move, big benefit changes due to the government then I will have to look at everything again and reassess….fingers crossed I don’t

beanielou

Hello!
Would you consider down grading your car to something slightly cheaper?
Could you colour your hair at home?

MeandThe2

I have an 04 reg fiesta so not really a big/expensive car. It was just under 3k second hand as it has good service low miles. Not sure I could down grade any further? Don't plan on getting anything it's a just in case saving as I can't so without.

I've gone form £100 colour/stylists appointments. To appointments with the apprentice but my hair is my thing and my visits to the salon are a big me time treat. As a single mum me time is very limited.

If my income goes down or my ability to manage my debts changes I'll look at these things again.

MeandThe2

Monday -
*Morrisons £2.66 - Little Miss Lunch & Snack (food shopping day is Monday and I forgot to make sure there was something in to send!)
*Co-op £14.66 - £10 petrol, £4.66 lunch...need to get my food shopping/meal planning/time management under control so these little spends on lunch stop happening!
*Hospital Parking £3.30
*Aldi £43.19 - Food shop, should last the week with a top up of milk/bread

Tuesday
*Tesco £16.87 - Top for sports day, leggings for me (both pairs of mine have been repaired twice already ) Cakes for school PTFA cake stand at sports day
* Sports day £2 - Tea & Cake!
*Second hand uniform sale £5
* Physio £30

Wednesday
*Co-op £17.84 - £15 petrol, these hospital trips are using more than I thought! £2.84 milk & bread
* Hospital Parking £3.30

Thursday - NSP

Friday
*Post Office £1.10 - Postage for TC Audit!

Chandelier.

Meandthe2, it sounds like you're doing really well given recent circumstances! And well done for having a clear current plan and back up plan. I always plan for the worse case scenario it anything did happen. The government cuts are just ridiculous and on a daily basis I see first hand.

Our hospital here has just scrapped free parking for blue badge holders. There's alot of anger over this, especially for people who have multiple appointments on a weekly basis. For between 0-2 hours it's £2.50... the rest of the prices are even more extortionate.

Glad you had a good time at Harry Potter studios.

MeandThe2

Balance = 111.74
In = 3501.86
Out = 3,513.02
Balance = 100.58

Bills
Rent 675.00
Water 23.23
Gas & Electric 70.00
AA 28.64
TV 12.12
PC Cover 3.00
Internet/Phone 38.00
Netflix 5.99
Home Insurance 12.20
Mobile 10.00
Childcare 640.00
Car Insurance 28.82

Other Payments
Swimming 64.50
OD Fee 12.00
Gardener 35.00
Unison 6.60

Spending Budgets
General/Entertainment 160.00
Food 220.00
Petrol 90.00
Physio 60.00
Kids 60.00
Me 30.00
House 30.00
Gifts 30.00

Debts
Car Loan 150.00
Council overpayment 207.92
CC 350.00 (£185 min plus over payment)

Savings
Emergency & Car 100.00
Savings 260.00
IOU 100.00

The IOU is to put money back into my holiday savings account that I have temperately transferred into my current account. After more number crunching I worked out I need £100 in my account at the end of the month to make sure I do not go into my overdraft the following month and get charged :mad: . It's not that I don't have enough money to cover everything, it's more a cash flow issue as I get money weekly, 4 weekly and monthly. I have worked my July budget out so I can put the £100 back and have £100 in the account at the end of the month.