No Rain, No Rainbow

teafor2

Yes, I'm often the first one to put my hand in my pocket MWM. As you say it's not about being mean but mindful. Plus we deserve to be treated sometimes as well.

Great news about the comp win. Hope you enjoyed the meal out. I've had a few 5 year diaries in my life, never filled one yet :rotfl: I'm sure you'll be more disciplined than me though.

Your friend sounds a good one to have. It't not often you can really just be yourself with somebody. x

YORKSHIRELASS

Teafor2 I know exactly what you mean, I am trying to do this with my kids too - at the end of the day its good for them too. My kids never ask for anything from me, which makes me more likely to help them.

DSs car was £64, phew. And I sold some nice makeup that I cant use for £10 on ebay, it all helps.

DH and I went to the beach today and did a brisk 3 mile walk. We did have fish and chips and a cup of tea (£15) but had it as a takeaway to make it cheaper! We both agree that we need to start doing this kind of thing more often, but maybe be organised enough to take sandwiches and a flask next time. We have pledged to get out and about on a weekend more (anything but shopping) and cut down on screen time - might make me sleep better too.

MWM I have kept a diary for years, I do my own version of a bullet journal. I have a lovely filofax that I use for work too - I am a bit old fashioned like that.

Mum.Wife.Me.

Didn't get chance to post yesterday, had abit of a wobble (again!) I have realised where I have gone 'wrong' so to speak. I had an unrealistic hope that the new year would bring new begninngs, like when the clock struck 12 it turned a magic switch that made everything better. I set myself a plan from then and its just not going to work, I am trying to rectify my bank balance after xmas before I have even been paid again which is just impossible. Decided I will ride the waves through the next couple of weeks and then when we have 2 full wages in the bank at the end of the month then I can really start tackling things head on! Although I have made a payment on one of the credit cards today which is the usual monthly payment so I will update my signature to reflect that.

Was thinking of ways to save money, on a Monday I have to park in pay and display car park for work, was thinking of where I could park nearby for free when it dawned on me that if I did this I would have to walk further to get to my car which would add time on to my day meaning I would get home later, which ordinarily I wouldn't mind but my girls are at the childminders and she charges me by the quarter so the money saved from parking would end up being spent on childcare so no point really Lol

Also trying a new night time / morning regime. Currently go to bed stupidly late (around midnight) and really struggle in a morning so my new year promise to myself is to set a bed time. I woke up early today (5.30am) and was really productive actually, but gosh I am flagging now, hoping to crawl into bed around 9.30pm - just battling with my children to go to sleep!

All in all feeling ok today, as I said I had a wobble yesterday but i've had a rethink and changed my focus slightly so hoping that helps.

Will hopefully catch up on other people's diaries soon!

teafor2

The thing is MWM, although you had a wobble and you know you've set yourself an unrealistic plan, you've not thought B****r it. You're here and you're posting, you're thinking ahead and you're preparing to start again. Just think of your time on here so far as a learning curve on what's going to work for you and your family and what isn't. A time to get all your ducks in a row, so to speak.

I sympathise with trying to get children to sleep. Me and the DC's are naturally night owls. I gave up struggling with getting them to bed years ago and let them go to bed later than most parents would think is acceptable But it suits them better and they still get up in the morning which is the main thing.

Glad you're feeling better today. x

Mum.Wife.Me.

Hi, sorry not had the chance to get on for the past couple of days. I've introduced a new routine which means I am going to bed a lot earlier than usual and its not left me much time to get on my laptop but I am here and still determined!

We took the dog to the vets again today and thankfully not further treatment is required so we walked away with no bill - phew! We also got tax credits yesterday, we don't get a lot but it has let us breathe slightly over the next few days, we still have 2 weeks to wait until pay day! I am going to do the 1p challenge to try and save for next January so we don't feel like this again!

Not much else to add at the moment, just paying our bills as normal, can't wait till I can over pay a few bits! I still have a pile of clothes to sell from my daughers declutter, its just trying to find the motivation -donating feels more appealing at the moment.

Anyway I've cleaned the kitchen and now to do the living room before its time for the school run!

Happy Thursday Everyone x

teafor2

Brilliant news about the dog from his point of view and from your finances point of view.

I hardly sell anything because I also find it easier to donate things to the charity shop. For the bits I've got and the few £'s they'd bring, if that, I'd rather somebody else got some use of them.

Hope you continue to benefit from your new routine. x

Mum.Wife.Me.

Happy Saturday Everyone!

First full week back at work and school is over with, we made it:rotfl:

My girls stayed over at their Grandma's last night so nice quiet morning for me (DH is still in bed). We watched the film 'Tully' last night - never heard of it before but it was good.

I've paid £25 off Very this morning :T so feeling positive about that. If we don't use my account again, which we plan not too then it should be paid off by the beginning of July! Thankfully everything is on BNPL, and I have been pretty good at dividing it up each month to make sure things are getting paid off, at one time I would have put them at the back of mind until 'nearer the time' cue panic stations when the offer was going to end!

Picked up the dress I ordered yesterday and to my surprise it fit. I got it in the sale and although I did pay for it, my mum is giving me the money back for it as she offered to buy an outfit for my brothers wedding months ago. :j

Hoping to motivate myself to go out for a run later, another new years promise to myself although I haven't actually achieved this one yet! :rotfl:

We have friends visiting tonight so we're going to look at what we can cook to avoid takeaway! this to help with money and slimming world!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

teafor2

Morning MWM. Ooh a lie-in. That's an excellent start to any weekend. We used to have people round a lot for meals and that's the sort of cooking I like to do. Something a bit different and a notch or two up from the usual family meals.

I don't think I've run anywhere since I left school. I'm not sure I could do either although in an emergency I reckon I could manage a quick walk with bent knees but that would be about it. :rotfl:

How are the saving coming along for the holiday. Have you managed to put anything to one side.?

Have a lovely weekend with the family and enjoy your time with friends tonight. x

Mum.Wife.Me.

Good Evening,

Started to update my diary yesterday and then my computer died on me, problem is I can't remember what I wanted to say :rotfl:

Anyway, all in all it was a good weekend, I got out for my run, and tea with friends was nice, yesterday we had swimming lessons and a chill day and I took some photos of some bits and listed them on selling sites... although im yet to make a sale but fingers crossed. I won't try for too long as I hate the clutter so if no one is interested within the next few days then I will just gift them to someone.

Logged onto online banking yesterday and saw that you can have saving pots so I opened 3 (you can have 5) and labelled them Rainy Day Fund, Pet Care, and Kids Activities, and i'm going to try and pop some money in them each month - I am also thinking of having the other two for cars and occassions but didn't want to have too much going on too soon.

Recevied child benefit today so that will help us breathe a little over the next few days and I can finally say that I get paid next week - hooray!

Bough a new notepad today and I will be writing all our incoming and outgoings and hopefully I will set us budget. I've been doing well at saying no to things too, i've just explained that I am watching the pennies following Christmas and I also stopped my husband from and impulse purchase of a vaccum cleaner... we only got a new one about 5 months ago so I have told him he can call the manufacturer about it (as it doesnt work properly) before I will even consider buying anything else!

Off to bed soon as I'm pooped, hopefully i'll have some updates on debt repayments soon!

teafor2

Morning MWM. I can have on line savings pots in my bank but I'm not strict enough with myself and it was too easy to keep transferring money from one to another..... and then spend it So I've just got one that I round down pennies into which I'm keeping for extra CC payments. I'm better with cash in envelopes. It's a really handy tool to have though and it's nice to see the numbers going up in each pot.

Well done on saying No to things. It's not easy to start with but practice makes perfect

Have a good day. x