Working Hard Debt Diary - Here goes

hypno06

That is a very useful quidco payment - sounds like the MB is going according to plan.....I restarted last week and did quite nicely......but I will not do any more until I get back from holiday now.

As for school shoes - they only need to last a few weeks now we are down to the last term of the year, so yes - cheap is good! Actually, we have bought some excellent shoes from T or A for school over the years.

WorkingHardDFW

Thanks H - Holiday sounds lovely remind me where you are off too?

Def going for cheap school shoes for DS1 now. I'd rather replace termly at half the cost. He is exceptionally hard on shoes and in fact thinking about I don't think he has actually outgrown shoes for years - worn them out instead!!

beanielou

MY DS is the same so really grudge a lot of money for shoes or trainers.So can see where you are coming from.

WorkingHardDFW

Its the clothes fund they seem to be draining at present. DS1 needs school shoes as mentioned plus school shorts (I'm going to manage with one pair). and shirts, plus PJ's plus T-shirts for the summer

DD needs school shoes plus some tops.

DS2 needs trainers and some shorts (although I've yet to search through the put away clothes from DS1 and there will be some in there).

This is all just the basic's nothing fancy for any of them. The clothes fund to date is £80 which I think may just stretch if I shop very very wisely.

Gosh this debt busting and three growing kids is never easy is it?

Just managed to put 3 MB's on for tomorrow on a bet through offer. For a change the money was in the right place so I could do it quickly. Hopefully by the end of the week I should be able to claim the 2 free bet.

Spent most of the evening bring the spending diary upto date. We've been in free fall for a week or so. Birthdays, end of term etc etc. SO I've just entered everything upto date and moved my little pots of money around to square everything off nicely (well almost).

Another day off tomorrow, lets hope the sun is shinning again:cool:

Compingirl

Yes indeed this sunshine is lovely and very overdue!
I sympathise with the clothes budget, I feel ashamed of my 2 sometimes they look thread bare but they both had new for the wedding and i'm making sure they wear their clothes at every opportunity!

My DS2 has lots of hand me downs from DS1 but is getting to the age where he doesn't like it, and he is so much smaller than DS1 the clothes ive saved I have to sew eastic in or he can't wear them.

DS1 is very heavy on school clothes - his blazer was ripped by Ocober half term but I sewed it up and he can have a new one next term.

Its my DS2's birthday this month plus half term so it will be a quiet debt busting month for me this month as thats where the excess will be going. i shan't really get back into it until June after the holiday is paid for.

Your Quidco amount is amaxing! My last 2 attempts haven't tracked so i'm going to clear my cookies etc. before I try again. Hypno is going skiing lucky devil! cgx

WorkingHardDFW

Most of the Quidco payout was from the Conservatory sofa's we bought in January. The next payout is from MBing which will be nice. £40 validated and £50 tracking. Good to have but it does take an age to come through.

Wish I was off somewhere nice but needs must and H sure does work so very very hard. Just placed another 3 MB's. Money in the right place again for a change. 2 more and I get another Free bet. Hopewfully next month I'll be able to take some money out!

Compingirl

Wow, you keep at it, I don't think I can get my head around MBing but I enjoy reading other peoples successes doing it.

Have you got a summer holiday booked? cgx

WorkingHardDFW

I feel like I've been away - I wish that I had - but I've just been mega busy. I'm not sure with what but just stuff.

Still on track with the debt busting.

Still not got back on the wagon with ebaying - not sure why but maybe I just need a break from it . There still remains a pile of stuff in the garage to clear - it will be done!

MBing is still progressing slowly but surely. I'm now working only with MB funds now (the sources funds having been replaced:p) but I've still not taken any money out. I can see it being another month being any of this gets thrown at the debts.

I've not made much progress on the clothes front for the kids. Still got 2 pairs of school shoes to get for them plus some school uniform for DS1 plus some other bits. The list goes on. I've not braved having a sort through their clothes yet - it might scare me with what they've actually got left in the wardrobe.

I've not had much time off this Easter Holidays so the workign parent guilt complex has kicked in as it does:o. OH has the next three days off with the kids so makes me feel better and of course it keeps the childcare bills down. Unfortunately this takes priority and its balancing the cost of holiday childcare against taking time off. Needs must though. I've got the May half term covered its the Summer holidays which looms large cost wise. Although I budget for paying the holiday childcare it still good to reduce it as far as I can whilst having some time out with the kids.

Picked up a few MS's for later in the month and working a few extra hours which will all goes towards paying off the debt. Looking forward to getting the nil balance from one of our cards today and will then be writing to close the account !!!! :T What a nice feeling that will be.


All in all nothing too dramatic is happening with me at present just making ends meet until next payday and another whack is paid off our small bit of toxic debt.

WorkingHardDFW

OH forgot to add Compingirl - Holiday to France this year. Thankfully we had the sense (whilst running up huge debts ) to save monthly to pay our holiday even before our LBM. We got the bill for the balance of our holiday this week and its nice to know the money is in the account ready and waiting. Looking forward to it although it will be on a budget.

What about you guys?

lucielle

Holiday Cottage booked for August.
L