Learning to say no..

Arthurs_Rose

Outstanding Debt
Payplan £1350.64 (£176.67 paid)
Mum £1200.00

Total owed £2550.64

can almost see the finish line now:)

Arthurs_Rose

Set myself a bit of challenge on the food shopping front, just £15 for this week. I have cereal and porridge for brekki, bit of frozen veg and some sweet potatoes, store cupboard rice, noodles, a couple of packet mixes and spices but not much else.
Popped into Aldi with just my £15 and my meal plan and spent £9.76! so £5.24 left to get me through to next Friday.

enthusiasticsaver

Looks like you are doing well. I would suggest you just take out cash for week so you can't overspend. You have perfect excuse for not paying out for anyone else as you have your holiday to pay for. They can't have what you don't have.

I would be a bit narked with your OH expecting you to feed him for nothing because he can't sort his finances out. He would have to find the money for food if he didn't have you as his safety net. Make sure he pays you back.

Arthurs_Rose

That's a really good idea thanks. taking just the cash really made me think about what i was buying. so can only be a good thing.

Arthurs_Rose

At work today (2nd job) and have rota for August but have this morning had confirmed that there will be no more shifts after this. Been expecting it since April and am grateful it has dragged out until now meaning i have at least been able to pay for the holiday. work a month in advance so last pay date will be September. Have been doing this for almost 3 years so will be nice to have my weekends back as my normal 9 - 5 job can be quite intense and i wont really miss the money as i've never had it to spend as its all gone towards the debt. Does mean that i really need to keep an eye on the budget and not let the fluid things like food and transport run away with me.

Cherryfudge

It will be lovely for you to have your weekends back! I suppose that means less money and more opportunity to spend it but more time for yourself means it's easier to do home cooking, Ebaying and other things that MS people do to extend their income.

Arthurs_Rose

True .... also means i will get to see a bit more of my DDs and the :eek: 3 GC that have appeared in the last couple of years - not so MSE, though they have reassured me that thats it now and DS says he's never having any

Arthurs_Rose

Saturday

NSD -
At work for 10 hours
took lunch from home and pinch a couple of biscuits from the tin instead of buying crisps.
tea at home for me and OH from shopping bought Friday (OH bought some bacon to go with).

Sunday

a very spendy day - but all budgeted for.

Trip to see DS at uni
DS birthday money/card
Bridge Fee
Meal and drinks for four (DS paid the tip)
OH paid for petrol
(17.20 - under budget)
need bread and bought a banana (60p from food budget)

I still have 4.66 from my £15 food budget for this week and apart from an onion for the chilli i shall be making tonight, everything for my meal plan has been bought.

I accompanied OH on his food shop but added nothing to the trolley and as I only had the remainder of my food budget money with me, couldn't have offered to pay even if i wanted too - really think this leaving my cards at home is the way forward.
a. i cant offer/feel obliged to pay all the time.
b. makes me much more aware of what i'm spending.

Cherryfudge

It certainly seems to be helping you. I hope your DS enjoyed his birthday and you both enjoyed spending time with him!

Arthurs_Rose

Cherryfudge wrote: »

It certainly seems to be helping you. I hope your DS enjoyed his birthday and you both enjoyed spending time with him!

It was lovely thank you, despite the rain. Really glad i wasn't the one driving!