From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Filled out the withdrawal form for the EF account (postal) to take out the cost of the tyres that I hadn't budgeted for, plus the sudden essentials of new school trousers needed to 2 of the children who are growing rapidly it seems. Hoping to hear by the end of the week and try to get my budget and spending back on track.

Got lots done today - 2 or 3 loads of washing done and dried on the line. Spent a little time de-nettle- ing the garden. The toddler is really enjoying time spent outdoors and can now reach the handle of the back door and open it, so wanted to make sure that the garden was nettle free so that he doesn't get stung.
I've potted on some nasturtium seedlings and planted out some calendulas. The greenhouse at the allotment is filling up nicely. The tomatoes are potted on in to 9cm pots, the runner beans are growing away so I must get them planted outside this weekend. I had a mini disaster with the sunflowers! I took them from the allotment greenhouse, back home to pot on some to sell and to grow some on for the allotment. I put the seed tray on top of the wheelie bin to keep it off the floor and so protect from the toddler and the dogs but didn't bargain on a football flying over in the direction of the seed tray. My 9 year old DD who rarely plays football had taken a kick! The tray fell on the floor unfortunately snapping the stems of quite a few. Managed to salvage 6 so will keep those for the allotment. I've decided to keep the cauliflower seedlings up at the allotment and plant on directly rather than risk another mishap!

Cherryfudge

What a shame! Better luck with the cauliflowers.

Honeysucklelou2

Need to factor in a couple more things to the budget. Friends are visiting at half term so will need to save as much as possible in the next 2 weeks. In about 6 weeks time my brother is visiting and has suggested a camping weekend. I was given a tent for my birthday and haven't used it yet so I'm hoping that I can get some valuable lessons from my brother!

Honeysucklelou2

Feeling a little exasperated with my budget or rather feeling like I keep getting it wrong. Paying for the tyres showed me that I do need a separate account for unforeseen car expenses. I pay for insurance and car tax regularly within the monthly budget but haven't been careful enough about extra motoring expenses. I paid for the tyres straight away which had a knock on effect as I had then spent the phone bill money. Am waiting to get money from the EF account so that will go straight to paying that bill.

I had gone through the last phone bill and adjusted it such as getting rid of the answering service and making the calls package a weekend and evening one rather than an all day one. I had hoped these changes would mean a decrease to my quarterly bill but unbelievably the bill has increased by £45 this time :mad::mad: I don't tend to use the phone a lot as I text on my mobile as a main form of quick communication. I chat to my parents by phone but this is at weekends or evenings so would be within the package.

These budgeting concerns then make me worried about budgeting for fun times such as friends and brother visiting. I haven't seen either of them for at least a year due to the distance so it's important to spend time with them...but don't want the already fragile budget to go even more wonky.

Sorry sounds a negative post. Some days I can potter happily along whereas other days I get so worried about it all and have no one I can chat it through with.

Honeysucklelou2

On the plus side I live in a coastal area so have places to go that is free fun, apart from the parking cost.

GeorgianaCavendish

Morning Lou, well done on budgeting for the unexpected expenses. It does feel crap when something like that comes along (like all your hard work is being undone) but just think how brilliant it is that you are able to jiggle things around and find the money to cover it without having to get into more debt. xxx

Cherryfudge

I don't have any useful advice to offer re the phone bill I'm afraid. Can you identify what caused the increase?

I'm assuming your parents aren't computer types who might use Skype or WhatsApp. Landline charges are not MS in my opinion... such a big part of the total cost from what I remember (I have to admit I haven't checked for ages as we've lost the login for our account. ).

I don't know if it's in your budget, or the sort of thing your visitors like, but did you see a couple of weeks ago on the MSE email about the May edition of Gardener's World magazine having a voucher in giving 2 for 1 entry to all sorts of gardens? The magazine is £4.95 I think, but we treated ourselves and the voucher has already given us effectively half price entry to a garden, thus paying for itself in one go. Not all gardens are included but there are around 400 participating and the voucher can be used as often as you like for a year. It might be a good way of reducing costs, though sadly doesn't cover plant buying impulses at the garden shop, or necessary coffees in the garden caf!.

Just thought that might reduce costs when you have visitors to entertain, that's if you can still find a copy (they were still on sale the other day). Hold on, found you the link: http://www.gardenersworld.com/2-for-1-gardens/about/

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you very much for the link Cherryfudge. My friends would appreciate a day out around gardens - I know I definitely will!!!;)

Thank you Georgiana...I hadn't thought of it like that and you're right. In the past I would have probably paid for the tyres on a CC but using the EF has helped or rather prevented sinking into more debt.

Feeling more positive tonight. The EF account paid the money into my current account so I was able to pay the phone bill. I did speak to the payment person at BT to ask why it has increased. The only thing that I can think of is when the phone is used to ring a mobile. The ex doesn't have a landline only a mobile and the children will sometimes ring him. I don't begrudge them ringing him at all but sometimes it's silly things like asking what time he's coming to collect them which they could do by text. Perhaps if I put a sign over the phone reminding the children not to use it until after 7pm, that might help to reduce any incidents of paying peak time call charges. I feel so much better now knowing that bill has been paid, I guess I had been worrying about that more than I realised.

Sold a couple of trays of plants at the gate so have £3 in the plant money pot. Interestingly the veg seedlings aren't going at all but the flower seedlings are. I spent an hour or so at the allotment weeding and planting out calendulas, nigella and annual chrysanthemums which should provide a good splash of colour. Hoping to get the sweet pea wigwam up over the weekend and get those planted out. Runner beans are growing away in the greenhouse so will need to get those in the ground too. The red currant bushes have flowered and the gooseberry bushes have tiny fruit on them:)

Off to meal plan for the week ahead. DD1 and DD2 are both working hard for exams and end of courses/ school. Will try and get them out for a bit of sea air at some point over the weekend to make sure they get a good break too.

Honeysucklelou2

Been very busy at work over the last couple of weeks. I have been trying to get in some free leisure time. Last weekend I cleared more of the beds at the allotment and got some snapdragons planted and a couple of courgettes. It's amazing how fast weeds can grow after a few days of rain! I've got lots of nettles to move at the allotment this weekend.

It was a family birthday last weekend so we made it to a local woods for a picnic. I enjoyed getting creative and making a birthday cake...a triple layer sponge! The children love these woods as there is a stream that has shallow beach like areas that are perfect for paddling in, even if it the water was on the icy cold side. The toddler loved it as did the dog! I really enjoy days like that when you can enjoy being with the family without worrying about the cost.

I did have a better weekend with selling plants at the garden gate. Having said the veg plants aren't selling, on Saturday I sold only veg plants. Sold £5 of plants which will go to make an extra cc payment.

Honeysucklelou2

I have been putting figures into the spending tracker this morning and still frustrated that the food spending has gone up:mad::mad: The more busy I am at work, the worse my food budget is. Well that and having 4 teenagers in the house!! Need to get a food plan done for the coming week as school holiday times are usually high in food costs too.

Feeling a little tired this morning. There was a huge and spectacular thunder and lightening storm overnight. I had a couple of frightened children for some of the night until it had calmed down.

A new budget consideration that has arisen is vet fees. My 13 year old lurcher has suddenly aged over the last few weeks and after a vet trip looks to need ongoing medication.