Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

DancingInTheRain

DH felt much better today and the forecasted rain held off so we decided to get a train to the big town near us and took the boys to the soft play there. They're both getting a bit tall for most soft play places but this one is massive, built in an old factory warehouse so they can run wild and burn off some energy without worrying too much about smaller children who have their own section at the other end of the site.

DH treated us to lunch at the local food hall, pizza for DS1 and me and Thai food for DH & DS2. The boys then got themselves an ice cream for pudding using their pocket money.

Went to Primani to pick up some basics, socks & make up for me, undies for the boys & DH picked up a lightweight jacket for a fiver, bargain! Total spend £33 but I need to transfer £14 from my personal spends for my make up.

Also picked up 4 cards for some upcoming birthdays from cardfact0ry they were on 4 for 3 so only £2.97 spent.

Bought us all a drink from £land to have on the train ride home then once we were back home DH did a top up shop for a few essentials in L!dl £23.19 spent, this will see us through the next couple of days.

Today's PAD = £1 to M&S CC & £1 to Savings

Debt total now £5303 (M&S card balance £593).

We're all showered, PJ's on and ready to watch BGT. Not a bad Saturday at all 🙂

DancingInTheRain

Productive evening on Pro!ific last night and this morning, managed to bag some AI surveys and have just cashed out £45.37. Kept £5.37 to add to my personal spends and sent £20 each to the CC and savings.

Up at a very early 6am this morning and have had a shower, washed and pegged out 2 loads of washing, unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher & cleaned the kitchen. I've also swept and mopped all the tiled/vinyl floors upstairs and downstairs Just need to dust and hoover the bedrooms (waiting for DH to surface, he's having an epic lie in 😲) and iron a few school/work shirts then the house and the humans who occupy it will all look presentable for a day or 2!

Had a late breakfast with the boys and, for once, they're currently playing nicely together in DS2's bedroom so I'm having a cuppa and catching up on here 🍵

Can see it being a pottering about kind of day. We need to visit MIL later as its her birthday tomorrow so will drop off her card and gift (tickets to a show she wants to see). DH hopefully has someone coming to pick up an old bit of tech he listed on FB so fingers crossed that will be an item decluttered and some £s coming in.

Today's PAD = £21 to M&S CC & £21 to Savings

Debt total now £5282 (M&S card balance £572).

DancingInTheRain

Monday again! Yesterday was indeed a pottering about day, it was good for us all to relax. Visited MIL and the tech item was collected, £30 made. We've decided to keep that as a float at home for those occasions when you need money at short notice as the ATMs near us are often out of service.

Day off for me today. After dropping the boys off at school this morning I took Mum to get some shopping and did a big shop for us ,£96 spent but included loo rolls washing powder & a bottle of wine for a friend's birthday.

DH is out for work so I'm enjoying the quiet 😉Having an hour to myself then heading back to Mums to do a few chores for her before the boys finish school.

No clubs/activities for any of us this evening so all being well we can have a calm start to the week, the middle of the week always seems to be really full on and hectic so it's good to be able to go at a gentler pace where possible.

Today's PAD = £1 to M&S CC & £1 to Savings

Debt total now £5281 (M&S card balance £571).

EssexHebridean

Welcome back DITR - glad to hear that your DH is doing better and that you feel sufficiently on an even keel to get back in the debt-busting game!

DancingInTheRain

Thanks EH, it's good to be back 😊

Managed to get the chores completed for Mum yesterday but then started feeling unwell it didn't develop into anything fully but I felt really drained and couldn't face eating so DH took over cooking duties for him and the boys while I sat on the sofa with a blanket and a hot water bottle feeling suitably sorry for myself before having an early night.

I kept my laptop open and bagged a few more AI surveys on Pro!ific. Just cashed out £29.36, kept £1.36 for me and split the £28 equally between savings and the CC again. The extra income is amazing but I struggle with maintaining enthusiasm/motivation for them, will keep off it today.

On the positive side, I'm enjoying seeing the slight widening of the gap between savings and debt, it's been quite a while since savings were the bigger amount, it's quite a novelty!

Work today, just having a late lunch after a hectic morning so it'll be a short afternoon until finishing at 5. DH is WFH today so logged on early to give himself an earlier finish to pick the boys up from school and start tea.

DS1 has club tonight, DH and I will share taxi duties and DS2 will enjoy a bit of peace from his brother 😂

Today's PAD = £15 to M&S CC & £15 to Savings

Debt total now £5266 (M&S card balance £556).

DancingInTheRain

Another day another post 🤣 Both DH & I were out for work today immediately followed by taking the boys for their swimming lesson then home for an easy evening meal of soup and sandwiches, too tired to contour up much else but we all enjoyed it.

I spotted a deal on a FB group yesterday & have bought an oversized hooded blanket (Oodie style) for £5 to put away for a future gift for DH. His current one is dropping to bits as it's been worn so much! It definitely helps keeping the heating usage down. Got it delivered to work today and it's decent enough for the price, very cosy ☺️

Also managed to pick up a couple of raincoats for the boys from V!nted, fingers crossed they'll be a good fit when they arrive as both boys have significantly outgrown their existing ones (which have been added to the pile of stuff I want to list on V!nted once I find a bit of motivation). Just under £12 for both jackets including fees and P&P.

The jacket I got for DS1 is still retailing for £24.99 so a potential bargain there.

Also reached cash out on VYPR for the first time in a while, that's £5 winging it's way to me in the next few days. I do enjoy these little wins and during my long absence from here I have kept up with habits like this, I've been saving cashed out vouchers from the likes of Sh0pp!X and Micr0$oft rewards to keep towards Xmas gifts, £55 earned so far this year.

Thinking about it I should really do the same with any value in my supermarket rewards apps, all the little bits really do add up and, as much as I remember to scan the apps, other than the Lid! App I don't really keep an eye on the totals as they seem to add up really slowly. A job for the weekend perhaps.

Today's PAD = £1 to M&S CC & £1 to Savings

Debt total now £5265 (M&S card balance £555).

DancingInTheRain

VYPR payout just arrived so kept £1 for personal spends and sent £2 each to the CC and savings.

Finishing work shortly, been a very busy and long day but the end is in sight! Need to pick the kids up, quick bite to eat (slow cooker chicken casserole - yum!), drop DS2 at club at 6 then head back out myself at 645 as I'm out with friends to watch an am-dram show, looking forward to switching off and being entertained for a couple of hours.

DH will pick DS2 up from club then I think they're planning a boys movie night with DS1 (i.e. a film I have zero interest in 😆) while I'm out.

Today's PAD = £3 to M&S CC & £3 to Savings

Debt total now £5262 (M&S card balance £552).

savingholmes

Sorry to hear about your DH's struggles. Glad you are back and things are going your way more often.

DancingInTheRain

Hi SH and thank you, I'm trying to keep focused and motivated, helps me feel more in control as I'm well aware health is precious and DH, although much better, still has his struggles so getting the finances back on track will be one less stress trigger for him and for us as a couple.

The show last night was fantastic, we all really enjoyed it and I'm always amazed by how talented people are and the fact they can fit all the rehearsals and performance around their day to day lives, very inspiring. Felt quite overstimulated by the time it was finished and it took ages for me to wind down afterwards, was still awake at 1am 😐️

We've all finished school and work for the weekend, having a chilled evening tonight as we're all feeling pretty tired so taking time to recharge our batteries.

It is also pay day for me today and thanks to picking up some extra shifts I had a decent overtime payment. We've set some aside to cover the upcoming half term as we're hoping to have a couple of outings, depending on the weather.

The remainder has been sent to round down the CC's to the next £100.

Today's PAD = £52 to M&S CC, £75 to Barc!aycard, £35 to T£sco CC & £1 to Savings

Debt total now £5100 (M&S card balance £500).

beanielou

Debt soon be in the £4’s. Good going.