2018 New year, new focus and new mission

Choccygirl123

Woke up at 5:00 with horrendous nightmare and can't get back to sleep. Have sorted moving my money about and trying to balance the books. I've moved the cash back into EF that I'd used to avoid going into it and rounded my account to so extra 41p sat in there now £1000.65. Going to try abd tidy the account every day and squirrel the pence.

This morning I've transfer kids £40 packet money (20 each) they buy all own presents, treats magazines etc out of this. They do so much around the house that abd it's my way of saying thank you. They used to get £12 and their phones, but we now pay for phones.

Transfered £41.27 to the school lunch accounts. So both have £20 credit. They take soup, pasta and sandwiches but they enjoy one school meal a week with their friends.

So account has a feztravsactions to catch up as balance showing £557.06 but available balance £337. Need to spend bit of time doing new budget.

Choccygirl123

Today should be 4/7 NSD.

What's left this month - £337
£40 car mot (incs free retest) fingers crossed
£56 cleaner
£117.18 Food /£200 budget
£70 Fuel / £100 budget
£50 to clear youngest school trip

Balance £3.82

It's going to be tight! Hopefully to make some savings on fuel if we can although my old car nearly empty and that's the one needing the mot, so that'll be £15 in that. That leaves £55 in the budget for hubby's car which will hopefully be enough.

I'm not going pay the balance of school trip until further into the month just in case.

Our child benefit pays again before hubby's pay day and my sick pay should be in around 27th. Trying not to touch these until 31st.

Aaleigha

I think it's great that your children are totally responsible for there money
That's great teaching do you ask them to save any if not do you have a natural saver, my brother was. Not he of course or I would not ve here now.

Don't over do it just because you are own today

teafor2

Totally agree with Aaleigha about children and money. Having to handle it themselves and being aware of the cost of things can only be a positive. Your children really do sound a credit to you and your husband Choccygirl

Tight is fine and sometimes even going over a teeny bit can't be helped but as long as you've got a grasp of the figures that's the main thing.

Have you anything nice planned for today? Did you order your felting kit? x

Aaleigha

Oh yes I forgot about the felting

I bet she is on you tube now

Choccygirl123

Morning my two favourite msers, how you both diddling?

The children are brilliant and I wish I had their money wavy technique. Both buy Christmas and birthday presents for our family unit and all their friends. They budget, shop together and make use of 3for2. They must have picked a littke money saving from me at some point. I do remind them money doesn't babe you happy but debt will make you miserable. I put it down to the fact they have no bills

What did I do yesterday? Well it was an exciting tidying / reorganisation type of day. Did a little, rested then did some more. It got to 2pm and I was shattered and in a lot of pain, so watched a film on Netflix. First time in weeks have been able to concentrate, but think it's more out of exhaustion than anything else.

Felt rough last night, didn't sleep abd had three nightmares and have woken up with really heavy cold which explains yesterday feeling rubbish. I missed the delivery driver yesterday, so have wool but not the tools in starter kit. They should arrive today so might give it a go. Am going to invest some time today and carry on watching you tube :j

I'm not setting myself any jobs today and will just see what happens. Will do usual kitchen worktop routine when go downstairs Abd hang up the load of washing hubs put on this morning. Anything extra will be a bonus. lEasy dinner planned of chicken and fresh veg stir fry noodles so not prep needed until throw it in the pan.

Money wise yesterday was 4/7, but today won't be as hubby needs fuel. Getting annoyed with first direct as it takes ages for account to catch up. I paid £41.13 into lunch accounts days ago via PayPal and it's still not reduced balance.

Trying to keep spending on a stop (apart from hubs fuel) abd £337 as still 23 days until his pay day. Mine will be around 29th but trying not to touch mine until 31st too.

The child benefit is due to pay before then (bonus two payments in jan) but don't want to touch that as it belongs in febs budget.im waffling on again, but find it really helped keep me on track.

Balance £378.13 / £337.00

teafor2

Hello there I am even more impressed with your children now. Working together to get deals is fantastic :T

Listening to your body is really important and knowing when to stop will benefit you in the long run I'm sure. Frustrating though, isn't it.

I know you're very strict with your NSD's and that's the way you want to do it, but I bet if you didn't include shopping, fuel, bills etc. you'd have quite a few by now. I know I've said this before but I really do think seeing figures written down is so helpful and gives us something to work to. Did the felting tools arrived? x

Choccygirl123

What a day! Spent all but 1hour in bed from 8-4 so full of cold and feeling Blurgh. The felting tools arrived so now proud owner of a stack of wool and tools, but guess which doughnut didn't realise there was no mat? Quick £9.99 later on eBay (out my pennies) and should be here by Friday. It just means more you tube time before I can start!

About my nsd I know I'm really strict, hubby tells me often when I say nooooo wait until tomorrow. I've tried different ways, but we're an all or nothing family. Doing a nothing nsd helps as hubby woukd sneak choccy or crisps on fuel shop. We only spent £55 on fuel today so budget still in tact. Another week in receipt hog, but he left it in the car. Total is 1038.

I did get a nice surprise email about a water bottle I'd bought from tk maax. The handle broke after couple of uses. they've sent me the £5.99 back which would appear in bank in 3-5 days. The bottle works fine, so will make a longer handle to keep the youngest happy.

Choccygirl123

Today will be nsd 5/9 and meal planning is going really well. I've planned until 18th jan with two meat free days a week. We're having a jar of pasta bake, with stack of steamed veg and a garlic bread tonight.

The children have no activities after school, although eldest won't be home until 5:30pm due to her additional gcse sge's taking in her own time. Nice family snuggly night will see if they have time for some games of cards after homework.

First direct account is really odd and I can't work out why it takes so long to update grrrr!

Balance £347.07 / available £333.01

teafor2

Morning Hope you're feeling better today. Colds make you feel lousy. It irritates me when schools say 'it's only a cold' and children are expected to work through them. A full blown one makes you feel rotten.

People tackle things differently with money and challenges. Only you will know what works best for you and your family.

Great news on the water bottle refund, especially if it still works.

Have a great day and don't be over-doing things! x