When things hit rock bottom the only answer is to fight the way back up...

Hiddenidenity

October goals

Money
£50 to council tax - £0/£50
£75 Groceries - £4.78/£75
£200 to other debt £40/£200

Extra income £50* -

Money outstanding to Mum now £575.

Plans
Two bigger smalls to keep 100% attendance Well DS had one day off with the sickness bug :cool:
Have a lovely week away at half term
DD attend birthday party - [STRIKE]Gift and Card needed[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Have a fab halloween - under £5[/STRIKE] Party dinner organised, all food stuffs needed are in. Will bake cakes and all things halloween themed. Cost Zero
Halloween costumes for school x 3 £30? Hopefully less


I need to catch up on ALL my bills I'm behind on (all have been spoken too and are okay).
V1rgin - first bill so two months nearly £89 (its a bit under this but rounded up)
TV license - £28
Rent - £113.07
Council tax £85
School - [STRIKE]£200 [/STRIKE] £130

List of things I need to sort in October.

3 x halloween costumes
Winter coats for smalls
Hats and gloves for smalls
[STRIKE]Youngest all in one suit for school[/STRIKE]. Ordered
DD's clothes - just basics but she really needs something Sorted T-shirts. Still need leggings/skirt/tights and jumpers.
Pj's and a book for youngest for school event

[STRIKE]School photos [/STRIKE] £44.25 :eek:

[STRIKE]Birthday card and gift for DD party invite[/STRIKE] Sorted thank you EH. £10 spent, art & craft items,
friendship bracelet, sweets and a card. DD very impressed

I've made my plans slightly smaller, removed the Xmas plans for now I won't be getting anything for Xmas until the bills are caught up. This isn't an issue I get a payment in Dec that will cover Xmas without pushing my budget too much.

Unbudgeted spends
School trousers DS £5

Hiddenidenity

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Aww sorry to hear that youngest is still struggling so much Hidden - great to hear that work are being so understanding about it though. The visit from the team sounds like a good step to try to sort things out too - fingers crossed they get somewhere with it.

Have you checked your GiffGaff deal is the current one - ie that you're getting as many minutes as you should be? I presume they would change you automatically is deals improve but might be worth a quick check - you never know! Otherwise are there any better SIM only deals out there that might give you a bit more for the same money? I know PlusNet have a £5 a month deal but not sure how it compares on calls - just that it includes plenty for the OH! (Changing will depend on your phone being unlocked as well, of course!)

Here's a thought for you - by cutting your washing down by just one load a day, you could make quite a reduction on your electricity bill. I know it's not *high* as such currently, but every little helps, right? Maybe time to challenge yourself to change beds a bit less often? (And yes, I KNOW we keep coming back to give you a gentle nag on this, but you know why, and that it's done with love, don't you). Of course it will also have the effect of saving you money on washing powder, softener etc as well...even more of a win?!

I've actually never looked into sim only deals etc I might investigate. My giffgaff just usually rolls over and 'tops up' £5 a month. Will check through this though. I think there probably is more with a sim only deal but I was happy not being in a contract. I think V!rgin had some good sim only deals for those with tv etc too. Will definitely check this out.

I think I'm going to cut the kids bedding down I agree you're right and the washing and ironing of it everyday is just making myself have less time for more important things like coffee :rotfl:

What is a 'normal' timescale of washing smalls bedding? They bath every night anyway so never go to be 'dirty'

EssexHebridean

Oh well done you on the bedding changing thing - that's such a big step for you I know! :T one approach you could take to start you off is maybe change one bed per day? so maybe today just change DS, Tomorrow DD, the day after Youngest (might need to do hers more often if she's actually poorly and it helps her settle perhaps?) and the day after, yours? Then call Sunday a proper "Day of rest" with no bedding being changed at all? over time you could look to reduce to only doing the beds once a week - but ease yourself in gently otherwise it's going to trigger anxiety that you don't need. The sort of phased approach idea though means you'll still feel as though you're doing things "normally for you" in a way.

I've no idea what other people do in relation to kids bedding but I change our bed once a fortnight, and never bother ironing any of it! :rotfl:

SO pleased that the gift bag idea worked for you! we've done these for the Niece & Nephews for a few years now and they LOVE them! :T

System

A quick lunchtime catch up .

Does your housing provider do cheap contents insurance ? If it’s the big one in Bolton they do but no life’s how much .

Water bill united utilities have a trust fund that you can apply to . Google it if you have time maybe you qualify for some help .

Sorry about DD hope she settles a bit today for you .

System

That should say no idea how much !

Hiddenidenity

Thank you EH, going to make myself a new set of lists. I think everything is just a bit too much currently and going to spread some things out rather than everyday.

DD loves the gift bag and wants one herself from Santa. While Xmas is planned I still have no idea what to get youngest as her 'want' she never really asks for anything! Doesn't have a favourite cartoon etc. Going to need to put thought into this. DS will more than likely get an Xbox game and DD want's a surprise kitty. Then they'll get an outfit each and a book. Stockings have toothpaste/toiletries and small useful things along with a piece of fruit and some chocolate coins. That's as far as Xmas gifts go I am going to cash out £20 gift card on VO for nephew. I don't buy for anyone else. We will make cards as one of the one activity a day through december.

Cumbria lass - bolton at home do have a house insurance policy thank you, all arranged and signed up for just over £5 a month can't grumble. Thank you x

DebtFreeDuo

I change my LO's bedding once a week/fortnight and do mine at the same time, I do have LO in with me quite often though, I love having him next to me and he gets to sleep so much quicker.

EssexHebridean

Aww that's some lovely Christmas plans there! Might some form of "goody bag" work for youngest as well? We've done them from age 3 upwards, and there are so many brilliant bits and bobs in the pound shops, Wilkos, HB, B & M etc particularly if you shop around a way ahead of time you can get some great bargains. Pretty hair bobbles and anything sparkly always went down well with DN when she was little, I seem to recall we shoved a Poundland feather boa in the top of her bag one year which we were sure would just disintegrate within days but apparently it lasted amazingly well, and everytime it shed feathers she stuck them on bits of paper next time she was crafting! :rotfl:

redofromstart

Weekly on the bedding. Even if you did it twice weekly its still a big reduction in your workload and costs.

and full points to your employer, I am very impressed with them.

Toni'sfriend

Hello Hidden
Hope the wee one is a bit better but that is really good of work to be so understanding. It's the way it should be but not every employer would be so helpful. Good for them - I am impressed.
That's a really good suggestion from EH re easing into cutting down on the washing and ironing of bedding. It would save you so much time and money but we don't want you getting stressed. I change ours once a week.
OH has a sim only with Virgin. £5.00 a month but he rarely uses his mobile so I don't know if that would suit you or not..
I'm glad you have made some sort of arrangement with your mother re the debt. I agree with the others that it might be a good idea to concentrate on paying her back so that you don't have it hanging over you but, at least you know that she won't be adding to it now.
Hope you have a nice evening.