Learning to budget to make future adventures happen

Seasidegal58

crunch_time wrote: »

Thanks for your congrats. I'm feeling a bit pants about it tbh. We were about £2800 away from debtfreeness and then I stuffed it all up spending money making myself feel happier about work. And then the summer happened as well and I always seem to be really bad in the summer. Now we are £5700 approx in debt again and have lots of new expenses looming. I can't complain of course as there are lots of people in a worse situation. Just feeling very cross with myself.xx

I wouldn't feel too cross. It's a rollercoaster this debt business. Especially for families with children. There's always something popping up. You're on the right road - it may take a little longer but you'll get there.

crunch_time

Seasidegal58 wrote: »

I wouldn't feel too cross. It's a rollercoaster this debt business. Especially for families with children. There's always something popping up. You're on the right road - it may take a little longer but you'll get there.

Thanks seasidegal. It's just making me realise a lot of things about my life and my life style.

Working week done and it was hectic. New classroom, new children, new routines. Everyone seems to feel a lot better though - the atmosphere has improved.

Husband is going to be working away from home 4 days a week until the end of the November which means I'm going to have to find someone to care for the puppy 2 days a week at least. Must get started in that project.

I managed 3 full days of not going to the shop but will have to today for milk and butter but at least that is not too much.

Pay day is less than 2 weeks away now. Not much else to report other than husbands 0% credit card was £3 less than I thought it was! Ha ha!

If I do anything today it's going to be making a small payment on a credit card from somewhere and doing a meal plan using up things from stores.

Still haven't had time to catch up on diaries yet - the boards are so busy! Everyone seems to have that back to school feeling.

Anyway have a lovely day everyone!

Crunchy xx

crunch_time

I've made a small payment to husbands other credit card paying off an amazon purchase and bringing us down to £987 on there.

A drop in the ocean but signature updated.
Right must get on with cleaning and tidying whilst dd has a rare nap! Xx

Seasidegal58

So pleased that the atmosphere in work has improved crunchy. I know it was getting you down. Hopefully it will continue and everyone carries on the positivity for the new term! :T

SSG x

crunch_time

Afternoon diary

Spending 15 minutes on here whilst husband takes the children to get hair cuts. Had a bit of a spendy day today. DD's shoes were £36!!!!! The is more than i would pay for a pair for myself! She is only having one pair at a time from now on I swear. I also bought myself some black trousers for work that will last and some gifts for my friend who has just had a baby in Australia. Also some face cream and a magazine which was a £1 as it had some what looked like useful career advice.

We are planning a no spend weekend in terms of entertainment but might need to go through the shoe purchase trauma with DS as he has had his for over 6 months now and he has grown masses.

In house move stuff our mortgage has been approved!!! I'm happy of course but slightly scared at the prospect of having a mortgage of just over £300k and a monthly amount of £1120 for the next 28 years. That is what it takes to get a house of the size we require - a 3 bed detached with 2 reception rooms, a good but not massive garden and a driveway.

The stuff I have on flea bag has a few bids and due to finish at the weekend so hopefully some extra money to throw into the pot.

Right i had better get on with the tidying and dinner before they come back.

Crunchy xx

Seasidegal58

:T on the mortgage application but :eek: on the price of the childrens' shoes!

SSG x

crunch_time

Spent £60 ish in a l d I today and got loads and loads of food so should last as a while. Next weeks plan is to go as minimalist as possible for the last week in our month. Will be looking at veggie meals - for the husband and I anyway.

Had a chat with the husband last night about moving and money and feel loads better. I was stressing a lot about the unknown. However we know a lot more now because of mortgage offer and bill from conveyancers. We have mapped out our expenses for the next few months and decided on the following:

- nice frugal Christmas - no guests to impress this year so I have told him we are not doing lots of fancy food for him. He can choose two treats thats it.
- no nights out or meals out for the rest of the year. Meeting up with friends will be for tea and cake and dog walks only. Although I will take my parents out for a meal at some point but that might be next year.

I'm sure we will think of others but that is a great start. If we stick to this we should be able to afford all what is coming up, payboff some of the debt and afford a holiday next year.

Husband is working away from home 4 days a week at the moment and will be for the next few months so it's going to be hard work parenting and working by myself but it will be worth it in the long run.

The kids have been a nightmare today so currently enjoying some beers and some down time.

Crunchy xx

mummytogirls

Evening crunchy,

Great news on the mortgage etc, have you got a house offer going through?

My plan for the last week of the month is to have a couple of meals from earlier in the month frozen. So currently I have a curry and bolognaise frozen and will add some beef from tomorrows roast. My DH would never accept veggie :rotfl: good for you if you can get some veggie meals in there without any groaning though!!!

Made me laugh you talking about a frugal Christmas, reminded me of when he went out for the pizzas and spent £80 or whatever it was... good luck with that one :rotfl::D.

Have a great Sunday xx

crunch_time

mummytogirls wrote: »

Evening crunchy,

Great news on the mortgage etc, have you got a house offer going through?

My plan for the last week of the month is to have a couple of meals from earlier in the month frozen. So currently I have a curry and bolognaise frozen and will add some beef from tomorrows roast. My DH would never accept veggie :rotfl: good for you if you can get some veggie meals in there without any groaning though!!!

Made me laugh you talking about a frugal Christmas, reminded me of when he went out for the pizzas and spent £80 or whatever it was... good luck with that one :rotfl::D.

Have a great Sunday xx

Hi mtg!

That's a good idea! We haven't got a big freezer at the moment so couldn't do a lot of storing - a couple of meals perhaps.

Yes house move all going through!!

We have a few veggie meals up our sleeves - he usually puts toast on after dinner though - ha ha ha!

You made me chuckle with the curry memory - he can be terrible with special occasions and friends coming round. Thinks he's Jamie Oliver. Did I tell you about the goose from last years christmas - cost £100!!!! I wince as I type that! For 5 adults! It was massive and took ages to cook. Totally unnecessary. He loves cheese and biscuits too and one year before kids when he used to come shopping with me he had cheese and biscuits every week in December. Just like his mother - she likes to treat herself with food.

I'm determined to rein him this Christmas. wish me luck!!

Crunchy xx

mummytogirls

Oh Crunchy £100 on a goose :rotfl:... i will read eagerly to see how you guys are getting on in the run up to Christmas!!!

I just use a couple of those clip lock tupperware boxes for my leftover portions, I have some big ones and these are generally one meal for us bulked out with pasta, rice, garlic bread etc. My DH will sometimes have cereal or toast after tea too... pests!!!!

Have a lovely Sunday xx