2018 New year, new focus and new mission

Choccygirl123

Today was supposed to be a NSD, but things never go to plan! They always say things come in 3's1

- Eldestchoccy kid was running late and had panic no time to make lunch....£5 added to the lunch again.

-Hubby had a dentist check up (which I'd forgetten in the budget) and he need a bit of work. He's paid today so it's out the way £59.10

-It's one of best friend's birthday big next month and our social group all agreed to chip in to buy her a larger present. The spend was planned next month at £50, but my other friend got a deal and it worked out at £36 each. Have paid other friend as know she's skint! £36.00

TOTAL unbudgeted spends £100.10 OUCH! This will impact the balance at the end of the month so going to try and claw back some savings for rest of spends this month

Choccygirl123

Definitely on a posting streak...day 8!

House tidying / cleaning / chilling day for the kids and I. Hubby on course for work so hopefully 1 day closer to the £150 refund.

Hubby going to fill car up and grab some odds and ends on his way home. Freezer surprise of homemade steak pie filling made into filo pastry parcels to use pastry from Christmas.

Going to print amazon stuff now (have been lazy and still not done) hubby said will drop off on Monday.

Have checked my clear score report and I've gone from 507 to 509! Nothing changed just not using overdraft! Not sure if that's reflected that quickly, but love the fact it's better.

Choccygirl123

Finally got the amazon returns print off so will get hubby to post them tomorrow.

The weather is horrendous and I've got cabin fever! With being off work and stuck home alone I'm feeling really down. I've feel like I've lost all my independence and not being able to jump in the car to do shopping it's pants. It's not great for my budget either. Hubby has been popping to shops like yesterday for fruit and eill cond back with hugs back of fizzy pop, chocolate and crap spending £6/7 extra! We had a chat last night because we're stacking the weight on. I know he knows I'm frustrated because he didn't give me the receipts. I can't update the budget until it shows in the bank now.....grrrrr! I'm just in a foul mood and should go back up bed.

Choccygirl123

Another very windy day and the choccy family all back to school abd work after a busy weekend.

Hubby and I went to Aldi yesterday and spent a monster £111. I stocked up on loads of meat for freezer, loo rolls, dog treats and the bits you don't buy every week. Hubby picked up a box of hobgoblin £12.99 which is what tipped me over my £100 target. I always bought. Lot of fruit in preparation for making the Christmas cakes!

I still need to look st our budgets, but hubby's spends haven't shown in account yet. I know food is going to be over, but with fuel less that will help.

The unexpected early contribution for friend's birthday treat and dentist hasn't helped! Hubby had a £28 professional fee come out of account today that's on yearly auto renewal.

According to bank the amount available (without OD) is £216.52 �� My returns will be posted today £42 amazon / £20 bio oil and hopefully they'll hit the account within few days.

Spending for rest of month

flowers for family member birthday £40
top upfood £30
rugby boots 75
half term treats 50
Foreign friends Xmas present £35

It's now damage limitation and trying to keep hubby from spending! I am looking at Christmas presents and need to be organised for our friends in Germany. Like to be organised so will have a look for theirs this month so can post start of Nov to ensure it's there in plenty of time using cheapest postal service.

Choccygirl123

Have ordered the flowers for the family member, I had £40 budget! Spent £37.98 for large bouquet inc delivery £3.99, because found a 15% discount code. Popped it through Quidco and should get 6% tracked.

Not much of a saving from the budget pot, but I think I've got good value for money. She's amazing and had done a lot for us, so want to make sure they're lovely.

I'm looking at idea for our friend's Christmas now. Seem to be spending a lot, but it's great knowing the money is in the account and we're not adding to the debt.

Choccygirl123

Half way through the month and day hill to pay day thankfully. Hubby's spending still not detailed on the account, so can't update our spending but budget has been shot with unexpected spending on dentist and trying to be organised! It's the little things that add up like new kitchen scissors and glue £8 on amazon!

I've ordered the Christmas present for our friends overseas. We normally spend £35 plus the postage which can be £13/£15. I found something in the sale which is perfect and seller will post directly to them for £46.50. It means we're skint and the budget is blown. I could have waited but item Was half price and didn't want to risk no stock. However, I'm looking st the positive that it's another thing sorted and will free up more cash next month.

Our account is currently showing £83.94 available after all transactions are clear.

Cash due in
- amazon refund £42 posted yesterday
-bio oil refund £23 posted yesterday
-Quidco payment £28 requested today
-change £15 old notes into new at bank
-£150 hubby course refund - no sign!

Moving forward for rest of month I think the oil refund will be a cheque and no sign of hubby's course clAim so not including these in the new budget. Without these there's approx £165 until I get paid around 27th.

Budget
Cinema/swim half term (no milkshakes)£38
Food £52
Rugby boots £75 (hopefully less)

Should scrap through but need to keep hubby out the shops!

Choccygirl123

Another day another post! Have been lurking around a lot but never post on other dairies and finding great tips and posts. Now in good place and feeling organised going to try and stop the waffle and summarise daily

In brief
-1/2 refund amazon arrived £35.22
- balance available to £112.17
-opened ref saver 5% and moved £300 from EF account
-NSD

Lucifa73

Just read all of your diary - well done on managing a challenging year. I hope you are on the mend though!

I love your long posts - makes me feel better about my own waffle!

I have subscribed so I can keep up with your successes

Choccygirl123

Thank you Lucifa 😊 I love a waffle! I find it good therapy and looking back how the progress is /isn't going. We've got more debt slightly than when I started this diary, but chuffed all works to house and holiday hace been saved and we've now got 1k in the EF. It's weird I treat it as my confession.

Regular saver didn't open as tried to move from savings account and computer said no! Need to contact them.

Today's Update now the bank finally caught up with spending, budget shot but we're still hanging in there!

- joint Balance - £121.69 in credit
- my balance £124.60 saving my monthly pocket money for hubby birthday & Xmas pressies
- EF £1000, going to sort regular saver out and use £300
-no overdrafts in use 😁
-all payments upto date
-credit score gone from 507 to 509 on clear score

Cash due
-Amazon refund 1 £35.22 recd and in balance
-Amazon refund 2 £7.99 outstanding due soon
-Bio oil £20 + p&p outstanding due ???
-Hubby course £150 outstanding due ???
-£15 in old notes still to change, need hubs to do soon!

NSD today - although school pics came home so signed my life away for £17.99 this will come out near pay day fingers crossed :eek: still not didn't it today so bit counting it!

Using store cupboard and freezer supplies, made chicken soup from leftovers from last night's dinner. Normally would have made curry but bird was teeny!

Crossing off the fats until pay day! I still need to sort our budget on my worksheeet, but I have worked out I'll received about £300 sick pay. That's £400 down so need to keep the focus.

Choccygirl123

Hubbies car insurance renewal arrived today so spebt 15mins on phone looking at best options.

My insurance is £397 a year and his £303 and we pay by direct debit as never had cash! Have arranged a multi car policy and it's now £705 inc direct debit interest. Chuffed to bits that £5 a month saving 😁

Hubby and I did chat about using the EF to pay it In one go. It would save stack of interest this year, but decided to go down monthly route to ensure got EF just in case. It's not very MSE, but with my drop to SSP we like that security net.

The swap in policies has meant cancelling one so will need to pay £34 in 7 days to cover adjustments on cover. 😬 I think it'll push us into the OF so will see how it goes and borrow it back out the EF.

The new policy payments start 2nd dec and will be £58 something. My plan is start a car insurance account and get organised for next year!