Spend Nowt, Buy Nowt, Owe Nowt

XSpender

Internet banking checked and YNAB updated.

Things to do today:

Submit meter readings to new energy company
Submit same to old energy company just in case
Email to DS swimming club to cancel lessons
Finish document for work
Finish report for work
Work emails
Grain free day
Sugar free day
Walk the dog (for longer than his usual afternoon jaunt)
Meal plan and shopping list
Food shop

The trip to Aldi may be later tonight as tomorrow DH is cycling in the morning and then out in the early evening and I would rather not drag DS shopping if I can help it! If I get most of my work done this morning I may nip out at lunchtime and take the dog out later.

I don't know if I mentioned it but we have started to strip the hall/stairs/landing of paper (2 layers of it!) so the place is a mess. This will need to be completed this weekend so we can get DH friend round to quote for plastering over the aertex ceilings next week. I have the money set aside for this as we budget £100/month for work in the house and have added to this from my bonus this month.

XSpender

Hmmm, I didn't get very far yesterday..

Things to do yesterday:

Submit meter readings to new energy company
Submit same to old energy company just in case
[STRIKE]Email to DS swimming club to cancel lessons[/STRIKE]
Finish document for work
[STRIKE]Finish report for work[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Work emails[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Grain free day[/STRIKE]
Sugar free day
Walk the dog (for longer than his usual afternoon jaunt)
[STRIKE]Meal plan and shopping list[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Food shop[/STRIKE]

DH is not out on his bike this morning which means we may make some headway with stripping the walls. He is currently stripping his PS4 so it may be a while before we start

DH and DS had bacon sandwiches for breakfast after the bacon I bought for a treat for tomorrow was spotted. I have had a smoothie bowl and a piece of bacon :A

I did well on no grain yesterday but failed on no sugar. I need to have some sugar free treats made to grab so will rustle up so lemon and cranberry biscotti and some coconut macaroons this afternoon.

It is a beautiful day today so we will take the dog out for a good hour as he didn't get a long walk yesterday. He is currently sun bathing in the patches of sun coming through the dining room window. :heart2:

Aldi have their camping specials starting tomorrow and as we are planning on taking DS camping for a couple of nights in August we are going to buy some of the items we need i.e. cool box, chairs and cooker. I thought I had missed this promotion but I haven't :j The money for this will be taken from the extra I had added to the house pot for the work in the hall. There will still be enough in there for the plastering and it will be a while before we need the paint as there is a lot of preparation to do to the woodwork which had layer upon layer of paint on it.

Today's list is:

Spend no money - FAIL!!
[STRIKE]Submit meter readings [/STRIKE]DONE
Sort out, iron and put away clean laundry
Get up to date with washing (only a couple of loads) - more than I thought!
Check what fresh stuff is left in fridge and use it up -
[STRIKE]Make sugar free treats [/STRIKE] DONE, made lemon and cranberry biscuits
[STRIKE]Grain free day[/STRIKE] DONE
Sugar free day FAIL (salad cream, almond magnum, sweetened coconut)
Long dog walk - too hot for my old boy
Clean kitchen and conservatory - kitchen done
Hoover our bedroom
Change bedding on all beds
[STRIKE]Plant the hostas we bought last week[/STRIKE] DONE

XSpender

I'm a bit tired this morning but it serves me right for staying up and watching TV. DH was out and I always end up staying up later when he is out plus I started watching Falling Skies on Netflix and 2 hours later I was still watching it!! I don't watch a lot of TV but I enjoyed this; it's a cross between walking dead (which I find too scary ) and independence day.

We did spend yesterday. £15 worth of tools and thermal stuff which fixed DHs playstation and £9.45 in lidl on carrots, a small sack of potatoes and some ice creams.

I made cranberry and lemon grain free cookies yesterday. They can be double baked into biscotti but I couldn't get the dough to hold together into a log shape so did the single bake cookie option instead which is still yummy. I also made a double batch of flaxseed rolls and froze half. The recipe should have made 12 but I made them a bit bigger and got 9 out of it.

DS has written DH card and made an envelope for the card he made at school. We haven't done mothers day/fathers day presents this year but DS has made DH a model (I'm not quite sure of what :rotfl:) as a present.

Our friends want us to join them in a celebration meal next week. This will cost approximately £50. There is £20 still in the family fun budget and a little unallocated money still to budget which should cover this. I am also going to add another £20 to the EF.

I am planning to finish yesterday's list and a few extras today:

Sort out, iron and put away clean laundry (or as much as I can cope with as there is a lot!)
Get up to date with washing - 2 small loads to do
Check what fresh stuff is left in fridge and use it up
Grain free day
Sugar free day
Long dog walk when it has cooled down a bit
Clean kitchen floor
Clean Conservatory
Clear and clean breakfast room dresser
Hoover our bedroom
Change bedding on all beds
Wash our duvet (conveniently splits into 2 which just fit in washer)
Finish mowing all the lawns
Trim the 2 hedges at the front
Fill green bin with garden waste
Finish stripping wallpaper from stairs and landing
If stripping finished contact plasterer and arrange quote
Submit receipts to S&S -first time ever!
Cook the chicken (goes OOD today and was planning a roast but maybe too hot)
DS homework

jelly_head

Hello XSpender, just thought I would pop in and say that I currently have a debt total close to yourself and you are giving me inspiration to get my down and cleared as soon as possible. The problem I have is that I expect it all cleared straight away and unfortunately that wont be the case for a few years yet (not got a debt free date yet)
I will be making a diary on here soon so please keep a look out for it and give me some tips on the way.
Keep up the good work

XSpender

jelly_head wrote: »

Hello XSpender, just thought I would pop in and say that I currently have a debt total close to yourself and you are giving me inspiration to get my down and cleared as soon as possible. The problem I have is that I expect it all cleared straight away and unfortunately that wont be the case for a few years yet (not got a debt free date yet)
I will be making a diary on here soon so please keep a look out for it and give me some tips on the way.
Keep up the good work

Hi jelly head

I understand where you are coming from with wanting the debt paid off quicker, I paid an extra £200 this month and it hasn't made much difference at all to the big picture but every little bit gets us closer to being debt free.

I will keep a look out for your diary.


Impromptu Barbie at friends for a couple of hours this afternoon put a dent in our time in the garden but was lovely and the jobs will get done later.

To Do List Update

Sort out, iron and put away clean laundry (or as much as I can cope with as there is a lot!)DMIL has offered to help with this
[STRIKE]Get up to date with washing -[/STRIKE] 2 half loads left
Check what fresh stuff is left in fridge and use it up DONE
[STRIKE]Grain free day [/STRIKE] DONE
Sugar free day - Really struggling with this
[STRIKE]Long dog walk when it has cooled down a bit[/STRIKE]DONE at 7pm
Clean kitchen floor - Swept but not mopped
[STRIKE]Clean Conservatory[/STRIKE] DONE except steam mop floor
[STRIKE]Clear and clean breakfast room dresser [/STRIKE] DONE
Hoover our bedroom NOT DONE
Change bedding on all beds NOT DONE
[STRIKE]Wash our duvet (conveniently splits into 2 which just fit in washer)[/STRIKE]DONE
Finish mowing all the lawns Front done, half of back
[STRIKE]Trim the 2 hedges at the front[/STRIKE]DONE
[STRIKE]Fill green bin with garden waste[/STRIKE]DONE
Finish stripping wallpaper from stairs and landingNOT DONE
If stripping finished contact plasterer and arrange quote NOT DONE
Submit receipts to S&S -first time ever! NOT DONE
Cook the chicken (goes OOD today and was planning a roast but maybe too hot) NOT DONE
DS homework NOT DONE but not due til Friday

We have been to Aldee today and bought the camping equipment we needed and have bought a sander for the miles of woodwork in this house. I tried sanding the top of the porch today with sandpaper and it just didn't cut it. Too many layers of old flaky paint and too many years of neglect by the previous owners.

We also spent on a small contribution to our friends BBQ.

DH and I have been considering getting a cleaner again for a few weeks now. I know I will get some flack for this but I feel it is important to balance quality time with my family against the cost. I have reduced our outgoings by about £700 since April with cutting back on overspending and by reducing/cancelling our bills. The cleaner will be about £100 a month.

I am fed up of trying to balance the hours I work, frequent nights away or very long travelling days with work with trying to do all the work in the house. DH works long hours too. I spend my weekends trying to catch up with chores and don't fell like I spend enough time with DS at the weekend. DH often works 6 days a week so the day off he does have at a weekend he wants to spend as a family or potter in the again.

We have a lot of cosmetic work/maintenance that needs doing in the house which is taking longer than it should because if I have a couple of hours I try and do housework first.

If it means my DFD slips back a few months I can live with it if it means I can stop stressing about trying to be superwoman and do everything.

XSpender

Life has got in the way this week. Lots on with work. Had good news that DB has not got the big C but found out today that BF has. She is OK if a bit numb, the prognosis is good with what we know so far. Also found out today that a colleague has been diagnosed with a serious illness and is a young mum with 2 pre-schoolers. I am feeling upset and am pleased I am working from home today as have been a bit teary.

Not much money news. There is not much in the bank account but all bills are paid and we have food in the house. I cant see us needing to spend much between now and pay day on the 30th so I will probably split what is left between savings and debt to end up on £2000 paid off since 4th May and £350 in the EF.

I am hoping for another £1000 cleared in July as I have signed up for Frugalwoods Uber Frugal challenge. I am not expecting any big expenses in July. It is my birthday and I don't really need anything except a pair of jeans and I am not buying any until I shift at least half a stone. I am saving up for a winter coat so will put any birthday money towards this.

I went for a run yesterday, the first time in weeks and decided that if I want to exercise during the week I am going to have to go before DH leaves for work at 6.30am. This morning I was up at 5.40am and out the door in ten minutes for a half hour run:eek:

My plan is to be up at 5.30am and exercise every morning when I can and to exercise every day.

DH and I also start our 8 week sugar free journey today. I bought the books 2nd hand and can't wait to try some of the delicious recipes. I have been grain free apart from 3 meals over the last 3 weeks and haven't missed it at all. DH is thinking about going gluten free as well but I will need to take into account his nut allergy as many of the sugar and grain free recipes I have tried recently have been made with ground almonds.

I got on the scales this morning and have put on another pound :mad: Another 4 pound and I will be in the overweight section on a weight chart. The last time I weighed this much was when I went back to work after mat leave! Something needs to change, and it needs to be me!

We picked up our refurbished bench on Saturday and I am over the moon with it. He has done an amazing job, it looks better than I expected. He had it sat outside his workshop on Saturday and he said 14!:eek: people enquired about it and that he would have no problem selling it for over £700!!! Not bad for something shoved behind the shed and left by the previous owners who couldn't be bothered to get rid of it.

DS has been doing well at school and got an award on Friday. We have completed the form to move him to a more local school but it is unlikely we will get a place (all outstanding, all over subscribed).

We washed the bedroom curtains the previous owners left us. They were very dusty and not to our taste so we thought if we ruin them we will go and sleep in the other room that has clean curtains :rotfl: We have washed them and they have come up great but only one is up so I must hang the other one tonight

We are still working on the prep ready to decorate our hall, landing and stairs. This is likely to take weeks due to the amount of woodwork with 80 years worth of paint and varnish on it. We have the tools so it is cheap if time consuming;)

DH is away for 2 nights on a course this week and I have a busy week with work so my to do list is short and sweet this week:

1) Strip wallpaper off the landing (where I can reach with the step ladder)
2) Strip paint off more of the banister (attempt to do up to the first return)
3) Grain free every day 1/7
4) Complete week 1 of the no sugar plan 1/7
5) Batch cook 2 meals and snacks to keep us on track this week and prep for next week
6) Run everyday 1/7
7) Do some ironing
8) Spray our bedroom with the dust mite spray
9) Hang other curtain in our room
10) Change sheets in 2 rooms - 1 done
11) Nag DH until he gets the number of next doors cleaner and contacts her about cleaning for us

glass_half_full

Hi XSpender,

I too am following Frugalwoods in July - she is hardcore though. I last followed it in January, but there are a few areas where I can't quite agree with her. Good luck with the 5.30 starts - respect!

Cherryfudge

You have so much on your plate! (Figuratively, not literally. Literally I expect you have a little less on your plate).

Good news re DB and DS . I'm sorry to hear about the people who aren't so well, though. What a strain for both them and you. Here's hoping for good news for both of them in the future.

Well done on the running! I can't manage a run every day (only started in March) but it's done me tons of good. I discovered my resting heart rate has dropped from the upper 60s to the upper 50s, and weight has been slowly going too (helped by calorie counting - though weight loss was slow to start, possibly due to improved muscles). I really take my hat off to anyone who gets up early to do something that matters to them.

I was amused about your curtains. How nice they came up great, but in a way it would have been nice if they had shredded in the wash! So either you have a freeby pair of good but unloved curtains or you 3bay them and put the money towards what you really want.

XSpender

glass_half_full - I wouldn't want to live like frugalwoods out in the sticks and never buying a thing but I am hoping some focus will help me achieve my £1000 debt pay off goal this month. I like her approach, Mr Money Moustache can be a bit OTT for me (I do like to wash everyday ) and in your face.

Cherryfudge - I have good intentions with the running this week but it is torrential rain here today and I am up to my neck in work deadlines (I've sneaked on here while I am eating my lunch. I don't know why I am sneaking I am working from home so no one to tell on me but the dog!) so it may be a dog walk later rather than a run

The curtains are sun bleached so no good to anyone else so I am stuck with them.:(

I am feeling a bit more upbeat after having a good chat to my BF yesterday and her news sinking in a bit.

I was worn out last night and with DH away I ended up having an early night and a lie in until 7am this morning. Helped by having DS in my bed last night :smileyhea

Stuck to the sugar free plan yesterday (I am allowed a little sugar in fruit and I had a small bit of 85% chocolate) and it's going OK today. I have made some cheese and bacon potato skins from one of the IQS books and they are delicious. Tonight I will finish the broccoli soup I made on Sunday with some flaxseed bread rolls (I need to make these tonight) and yogurt, apple and low sugar granola to finish. I burnt the batch of granola I made on Sunday so will attempt another small batch tonight.

I have 2 long travelling days Wednesday and Thursday so need to be prepared with lots of snacks packed to avoid temptation. I have made a half batch of crust less quiche Lorraine so far and will pack a salad to go with these. I have some potato skins left too. Tonight I will make some cheese crackers and a low sugar cookie recipe. I will eat my fruit in a smoothie in the morning but will take some extra veggie sticks, cheese and nuts for the long drive home and lots of water.

I have sent £25 over to the EF to round it up to £350 an have joined a £1000 EF challenge on the DF challenge board.

I'm hanging on to the last bit in our account to make a last payment to the debt on the 29th.

XSpender

I didn't run today but managed to get drenched taking the dog out.

Quick update on the week's to do list while I am dying my hair......

1) Strip wallpaper off the landing (where I can reach with the step ladder)
2) Strip paint off more of the banister (attempt to do up to the first return)
3) Grain free every day 2/7
4) Complete week 1 of the no sugar plan 2/7
5) Batch cook 2 meals and snacks to keep us on track this week and prep for next week - potato skins, egg muffins, cheese biscuits
6) Run everyday 1/7
7) Do some ironing
8) Spray our bedroom with the dust mite spray
9) [STRIKE]Hang other curtain in our room[/STRIKE] - done
10) Change sheets in 2 rooms - 1 done
11) Nag DH until he gets the number of next doors cleaner and contacts her about cleaning for us