Lucifa goes all in on 2019

Lucifa73

Morning everyone!

Time for an end of month round up (idea blatantly stolen from other diaries )

There have been a few money wins -

• shifted almost £3k from T MC to an interest free 'loan' from Hubs, saving about £50 in interest this month alone.

• Cleared and removed my £500 OD.

• Kept groceries and household under £60/wk for 4 weeks

I have also stuck to TOMM for a week. It is really making a difference and with Hubs on board it looks likely to become the routine

I have been less successful at packing lunch for work and at exercising (other than Pilates which I LOVE).

Aims for March:

• Continue TOMM

• Find £100 extra to pay off debt over and above £570 scheduled payment
• Take lunch to work 4 days from 5 each week
• 15 NSDs
• Get back to completing surveys
• Look into herbs/veg for growing (inspired by Foxgloves)

Second last pay day of this job is a week on Friday. This will be the first pay in I don't know how long where a chunk isn't immediately swallowed by the OD which makes me very happy.

I think that is all. Oh yes - Mum is still not talking to me. Sigh. This too shall pass.

Lucx

Lucifa73

Had a lovely day out on Saturday at SCROPS and all well within budget. There was loads to do - travelator, cycling tracks, climbing wall, sprint track and Segways. Nobody selling fitness trackers though which is what NJ wanted for his 10th b'day so Amazon it was for that. Again, all in budget. Quite nervous about him wearing it to school but apparently his buddies wear apple watches (:eek:) so need to just let it go. He is VERY clear that if it gets broken or lost he will have to pay for repairs/replacement himself. Is that harsh do you think?

I'm kind of in limbo waiting to get paid so I can get my fix and allocate £s in YNAB. This will be my second last pay in this job. I have done some very conservative modelling in YNAB and I can definitely manage finances over the transition from 4-weekly pay to monthly pay. In April I should get paid on the 5th (old job) and 26th (new job) then it is the long wait until 26th May before I see my first full pay and settle into the standard cycle. I have often moaned about 4-weekly pay but I suspect I will miss it once I switch. Definitely looking forward to my pay rise, the effect of which will be compounded by that shift from 13 pays per year to 12 pays per year.

Last week I got £80 back to re-budget (happy days - extra YNAB time!) as I had (deliberately) overestimated childcare and for some reason the electricity DD was lower than anticipated. Not sure what that is about - not had anything to communicate a reduction so shall continue to budget higher amount for now even thought the app reflects the lower amount. SGas have messed us around so many times I have little faith left. Fixed until October then we shall look to move away. Apparently we are £206 in credit. Not sure whether to let that sit or ask for it back... May I also say their app is keech!

I haven't meal planned this week - it would be a waste of effort as I am not home to eat most nights and Hubs will likely survive on eggs in various forms with veg and bacon added. I have just made sure there are 2 dozen eggs in the house and a chunk of bacon (we use the off cut packs from MrT as it is cheap and perfectly good for adding to omelettes and the like) and spinach, peppers and mushrooms. The frying pan will take a beating this week for sure...:rotfl:

Anyway, that is enough waffle from me. Will be lurking about when I can but this week is VERY intense at work so maybe not as much as I would like.
Lucx

[Deleted User]

It's amazing what kids take to school these days isn't it?! OH's little girl (8) has a kids garmin and boy (12) has a fancy fitbit, and that was all at the request of their school friends having similar things!

[Deleted User]

Hi Luc,

Yay to money back, even if it is as a result of over estimating.

Congratulations on the new job, onwards and upwards xx

beanielou

Apple watches at that age :eek:

[Deleted User]

Wow I would love an Apple watch at this age, want to adopt me

Dxxx

Mnd

I would ask for the credit back on your fuel bill, it's going in to warmer weather now

Lucifa73

For clarity Beanie and Dolly he did NOT get an apple watch - we got him a basic Garmin. It suits his needs much better and is MUCH more budget friendly. It was also his only gift - we don't go in for piles of birthday gifts - it seems like some kids get a second Xmas :eek: I am making the assumption that the kids with apple watches have got first or second generation ones after parents have upgraded but who knows - some people really are that crazy

As for the electricity credit Mnd - I think I will wait a month or two and see how the new DD works out. If it is the same or higher come the end of April I will look for a refund. I really have no faith in ScGas's billing department.

[Deleted User]

Ahhhh right, I've seen those Garmin watches they look pretty good.

Dxxx

redofromstart

Our school doesn't let them have gadget watches which I think is a good thing. Just another area of pressure for parents.