A Ditherer's Diary (again)

Babybelles

My day seems to have gone like yours. I had a list of things I wanted to do but ended up watching Mulan with the kids 🙈 Oh well, it’s nice to have a break sometimes 🙂

Naomim

Babybelles said:

My day seems to have gone like yours. I had a list of things I wanted to do but ended up watching Mulan with the kids 🙈 Oh well, it’s nice to have a break sometimes 🙂

I seem to have more breaks than getting anything done! 😁  I did manage to get some more housework done yesterday. Not as much as I would like. I think I might have to be a bit flylady this week and try and do a bit during my lunch breaks.  I have however had NSD's as not been out the house!

Today I need to wrap and return an Amazon parcel. DD spent her Christmas money from the Grandparents on a gel blaster gun but it's not working.  She paid £27 for it so not to be sneezed at.  I have quite a lot of DVD's for sale on ebay but need to work out how to turn off automatic relisting. I don't mind things relisting once but they just seem to re-list again and again!

A week to go to payday. Not expecting much to come out of the bank account apart from this weeks shopping. Haven't done my meal plan or added to my list yet so not sure how much it will be.

I keep staring at my spreadsheet trying to work out my credit cards for when the 0% ends.  My first deal ends in August and that's the one I'm currently throwing all my overpayments at. I think I can have it reduced by about £1500 by August and I have an empty MBNA card currently that I'm usually offered 0% deals on. Fingers crossed they will still be offered by August. The next 0% deal expiry is Oct so should give me some time to shuffle and re-arrange payments and overpayments.

I've also shaved £2 off my sim only deal.  After my phone contract finished, I went onto Sim only with giffgaff on a month by month basis. I bought the £10 goody bag but I rarely use half the data in the allowance so I've knocked it down a level.  It's only £2 a month but every little helps.  I have £6.18 in my rounding pot on Monzo for overpayments. Unfortunately not much being added as not buying anything! Also still have £95 out of £140 in my petrol pot this month and I don't think MrM or I will need to add any more before payday so thinking I'll use half of it as an overpayment and leave half as a buffer.   I'll have a little further think on that this week.

Hope everyone is safe and well.

Naomim

lucielle

All sounding good.  
L

Naomim

Almost payday.  Just 4 more days.  Still dithering about YNAB and when is the best time to get it.  

MrM got a lovely Christmas bonus which I have squirrelled into a savings account. It's doubling as emergency and possible future holiday fund. However he has decided he wants a flipping hot tub! I really don't want one, think it's a waste of money but he is going on and on and it's starting to cause friction between us.  I've tried explaining we will need electricity supply in the garden, it will need regular cleaning and looking after - which would no doubt fall to me eventually, and the extra cost of heating etc. He just keeps saying he's spoken to friends who have them and it's not that much.  At the end of the day, it's his bonus and if this is what he wants to spend it on I can't really veto it.  I'm just annoyed as I'm working so hard to clear the debts and see this as such a frivolous spend.   

I think I mentioned I started Tilly Tidying my Monzo account. £9.36 this month so far. I've joined the official challenge to try and keep me on track.

This weeks shopping came in at £116.18 and the meal plan is:
Toad in the Hole
Shepherds Pie
Burritos
Sunday roast chicken
Spaghetti Carbonara
Hunters chicken
Fish & Parmentier potatoes.  

I think the shopping is so high at the moment as we are all home.  I'm trying to make sure I buy more fresh fruit for snacks. If I just buy for the meals I plan it's probably only about £50 but it's all the extras like drinks and snacks, usual's like bread and milk plus I buy all our toiletries alongside the food shop so there were soap, anti bac wipes and toothpaste added. 

The weekend is in sight and I really need to get my bum into gear and clean and tidy.  

Stay safe

Naomi

GeorgianaCavendish

Great news about your aunt's COVID vaccine. My dad is going for his next week, much quicker than we expected (I didn't realise they were on to the 70+ in his area) but I'm so pleased because he has other health conditions that need regular hospital visits so I've been really worried about him picking it up there. 
If MrM is really sold on the hot tub, is there a way to mitigate the spend at least (cash back, vouchers, discount codes etc)? I would maybe suggesting hiring one for a week to see how it goes - depending on the cost of hiring of course. I really like staying somewhere with a hot tub when we are on holiday but I've never had to deal with the upkeep so I don't know if I would want one in my garden. 

Naomim

Thanks @GeorgianaCavendish I'm not sure I could make enough in surveys etc to make up the cost!

My in laws also get their vaccines next week. They are both 71. 

Nothing spent here this week. Haven't left the house except to collect the shopping.  Meeting a friend at the park today for a distanced dog walk and I have to go and get dog food.

Still thinking I'm going to get YNAB. Worked out if I start it tomorrow I can get two months worth of salary for MrM and I in during the free trial as we get paid on different days and thankfully February is a short month.

One more cc payment to come out the bank this month then I'll make some overpayments although prolific stuck at £3.60 as I've just not had time to do many surveys as work is very busy.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend. 

Naomim 

Naomim

Forgot to mention my vet claim has gone through.  The bill was £1063 so I have just over £200 to pay.  £99 is the excess and the rest is because they have a limit on consultant fees. Theres £110 in the vets Monzo pot so I guess the money I haven't spent on petrol this month will go towards the balance instead of overpayment. C'est La Vie.

Willowtree222

Vet bills are always so expensive x

Naomim

They are and unfortunately my dog has a few conditions so prices are only going to go up 😥

Lookafterthepennies2020

I would Deffo cheer you on for ynab I got a year free as I signed up whilst doing my masters but it's something I think I'll keep paying for. 

Fab news about the vaccine, I'm also seeing the food bill go through the roof I usually do click and collect every Friday and I've had to order for collection tomorrow where so low lol. They do eat lots of fruit etc too so I can't complain too much. I'm also tilly tidying and have around 11 atm it really does add up doesn't it x