diary of strugglin working mum

BartGirl

Thanks everyone for the Freecycle tip.
Yes I have joined them and am on the lookout for the stuff that I need. Altho i have 2 probs at the moment:
1. I feel awful not being able to get brand-new for my 1 and only child..I guess i need to learn how to deal with that..
2. My OH kicks up a fuss when he hears that i've got stuff thats not new. We were struggling anyway when DS came along - OH was unemployed so alot of what we had was not new anyway but I always thought I'd be in a better position 2 years down the line. I usually lie and not say where it really came from (eg.car boot, ebay etc).anywayy I dont wanna get all depressing..

So I went to the market and spent just under a fiver on potatoes, onions, aubergines,mushrooms,lettuce and carrots.
Then went to aldi and spent £5.61 on cereal,oil,fish f's,mozarella and a few cans of sweetcorn,peas etc. I used my debit card for aldi, so the fiver i have left in my purse I'll use towards meat etc for the week. I'm in the process of doing a meal plan, but shall focus on what we already have in the house.

For tomorrow lunch, I'll have todays leftovers.
Mon dinner: lamb chops which guests didnt eat on Fri (cos didnt turn up!)
Tues: I shant be in - working late - OH's decision
Wed: fish of some sort
Thurs: shall get some chicken legs in i think, cos got york puds in freezer, and enough veg at home to prepare decent meal..at least i can get the legs at good price from local asian shops..

Shall keep u posted!!

Off to put more on ebay now..

GeorgeUK

Bartgirl - i hope you've done your snowball.

From what i've heard of vanquis, your APR will be over 30%
you really need to get shot of this asap.

mae

Do you still need a pushchair? If so there is one on the Grabbit Board reduced to £49 and it includes a car seat and bag which you could maybe ebay then the pushchair will have ended up costing you less than the £49.

Just a thought.

Been reading your diary and you sound like you are very determined once you set your mind to something (even with husband not on board) so I am sure you will do very well.

Good luck.

TheAble

With regard to the AA, have you considered using the RAC instead? A basic policy costs £29.99 per year, and if you go through Quidco you can get a £21 discount on this.

Could you apply for council tax benefit?

Perhaps also you could explain to your family that you can't afford to send £100 home each month right now.

Good luck

dearbarbie

you're really tackling this head and and are doing so well! maybe you can try and get the hubby involved and more into paying his debts - that way the money can be freed up for other things sooner!

BartGirl

Barbie:I no longer interfere in OH's income etc cos he doesnt help / contribute towards mine, so I'm focusing on ME for a change!

Today I made my MSE meal - which was a success - chops,rice,veg. Went down a treat :j

Also had good day at work - I didnt spend any money - just ate what I'd taken in with me..

Altho didnt have a nsd either..:mad: spent on youghurt for DS for the week,and also 80p lettuce for home.

Got the coupon for Ladybird Book for DS and collected that today - so am pleased with myself.

Here's to another MSE day tomorrow...goodnight folks and thanks for all the advice / support...

MissKJ

Bartgirl, you are doing well with the budgetting, but you could save a whole lot more by following the advice about your SOA? Also, have you seen the MSE old style board, i reckon you are a contender for enjoying that one.

keep it up! And why pamper to your OH wanting bottled water? Why not keep the bottles and fill them with tap water. bet he wouldn't notice if it was cold in fridge.

BartGirl

I am following advice re:my SOA.
But i posted most of that on my separate SOA thread, not on here..

Certain things I cannot do. Like refuse to send my family £100. They are in a much worse situation where they are, in comparison to where I am here in the UK. I dont wanna go on and on but if any of you have been to africa - even on holiday - then you'll know there are parts of the continent where 'struggling to make ends meet' is putting it mildly...

In any case - I have a day Off on Thurs so shall try and tackle my elec issue then, as well as my huge water billl that landed on the mat yesterday

I'd planned for a nsd today, but realised that have 2 items to send from my ebay sales, plus in terms of tonights food I've got mince, but cant make spag bol cos we had that on Sun lunch.
I'll still use the mince though, and make a sauce with cream instead. I'll need cheese,cream, parsley, mushrooms and tagliatelle. I have everything except the cream and tagliatelle so i've decided i'll pop into lidl for that on my way into work.I'm hoping to get both for £1-ish total?? shall post once i get into work...
I'll make some sarnies for my lunch today - plus got cereal bar,banana to take too...I'm determined not to spend anyth at work - which i would do on a daily basis in the past...
Wish me luck folks...oh and listen to this!..

Last night i told my OH I'd signed up for mystery shopping. He immediately jumped down my throat, and started rambling on-and-on about how it was a 'waste of time and a waste of money'..even tough I tried to explain it to him in the most favourable light possible.Something about 'big companies using people to their own advantage'...he's so irritating sometimes..guess i'll have to resort to doing them on the sly then..since i dont have his approval..

BartGirl

Went to Lidl. Got the cream and tagliatelle for £1.40 - only had £1.50 in purse so that was good..
Picked up my prescritpion from GP..
eating my packed sarnies as i type !!!
i'm feeling cravings for a choccie bar, but since only got 10p in purse i'll use my Boots points cos got loads of those avail...

poorbabe

Hi Bartgirl

I've been following your post since I came across it last week (does that make me an online stalker? :rotfl: ) Anyway, as much as I like to encourage people to work at their relationships, I am really, really struggling to see any value at all in having your husband living with you.

Sorry to have to say that, but I do admire you for your MSE efforts. Actually you put me to shame and I've only got myself to look after .

Keep going. You doing great :T