Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

DancingInTheRain

Happy Wednesday!

DH out for work today so the boys and I are having having a chill day as once I'm back in work tomorrow life will be pretty full on until the end of the summer holidays as my new rota/hours start and DH is travelling more for work to deliver a new project.

Amongst the chilling I've stripped, washed and remade the kids beds as well as giving their rooms a quick dust and hoover, will hold off giving these rooms a decent clean until they're back in school as they've got random toys, trading cards and other bits everywhere. As long as living spaces are tidy I can just about deal with messy bedrooms (as long as the doors stay closed 😂)

As free time is going to be limited these next few weeks, I've got a notepad and pen out to make a few lists of bits that need sorted - DS2's birthday next week, any bits of replacement uniform/shoes needed and checking what the boys need next week as they're attending a football camp for 4 days. We also need to get DH's car booked in the garage as it's MOT is due, along with a couple of minor repairs. So lots to cram in on any days off we have. Also need to source a new hairdresser as mine has decided to step back from work for a while to deal with some family issues so that's on the list too.

We'll be eating as soon as DH gets home and then heading out with DH's brother, sis-in-law & kids to try to see the eclipse. It's fairly cloudy here but, being by the coast, we should be able to observe some of it 🤞

In big money news, I had a lovely but very much unexpected gift from my Brother of £250 😯, to put this into context once you reach 18 in our family the gifts stop unless you get married or give birth 😂

Long story short, he's had an unexpected windfall and he wanted to treat me to say thanks for being there for him, especially the last few years since my sis-in-law passed away 💙

As we know on here, the best way to treat ourselves is to pay some money off debts 😂

As such, at DH's insistence, I've ring fenced £100 for me to actually treat myself but have sent the remaining £150 to the M&S card.

With today's PAD this left a balance of £17, our grocery spending has been under budget with being away and having a full freezer so I've thrown caution to the wind and moved £17 from the groceries budget and also sent this to M&S - balance now £0 🙌

I've taken great pleasure in cancelling the monthly S/O & daily PAD to this account and have increased the S/0 for Barc!aycard from 1 Sep & set the daily PAD to go here from tomorrow.

Today's PAD £169

Debt Total £3690 (V12 £0) (Barc!aycard £940)

Dakota_Rose

Great news. Well done in clearing that card and enjoy choosing a proper treat for yourself 😊

beanielou

What a lovely brother. Another debt down 🎉🎉

ohdearhowdidthathappen

How lovely of him ☺️

Fab to clear V12, but to also keep a bit back to spoil yourself. Any plans for it?

DancingInTheRain

Thanks all, it was really lovely of him.

There's nothing i 'need' or currently saving for so I think the plan for treating myself will be to book an appointment to get my hair cut & coloured as it's long overdue, my roots are terrible. My hairdresser also offers facials which are done while waiting for the dye to develop, I don't normally do these due to the extra cost so that sounds like a lovely way to be a bit self indulgent. I don't really get any pampering done apart from my hair so the facial really will be a treat, might see if they can book me in once the kids are back in school.

With the eclipse, I thought it was a lovely experience. We went to the local beach and there was LOADS of people there. We had the special glasses so it was lovely to watch through them, can appreciate it feeling like a letdown for those expecting more though. The kids loved it, I think they were relieved we didn't get the full blackout as they were a bit nervous bless them. My friend is on holiday in Spain at the moment and sent a fantastic video of the darkness descending, a real core memory for her children ❤️

In money news, I've somehow managed to send £10 to Barc!aycard twice earlier this month and not notice, I only found out when double checking the online statement last night and was utterly baffled. When I've checked the bills account it turns out I've sent a manual payment as well as the Standing Order - I blame being unwell and away on holiday when all the bills went out on the 3rd, at least it's an error in my favour 😂

So that has meant today's PAD is an accidental £12.

Debt Total £3678 (Barc!aycard £928)

beanielou

Cannot tell how much I loathe Barclaycard. Glad you have paid more to it.

DancingInTheRain

£1.60 from TCB rounded up and added to today's PAD

Today's PAD £4

Debt Total £3674 (Barc!aycard £924)  

DancingInTheRain

Extra post to note £5 from V!nted sent to BCard

Debt Total £3669 (BCard £919)

It is also my payday today but a banking glitch meant it didn't show in my account until this evening 🤨

Thankfully this didn't have any impact on us other than being annoying but, as we went out straight after work for a family event, I haven't had time to look at how we want to allocate the £s, will give this some attention tomorrow.

DancingInTheRain

Full on day today, it's DS2's birthday next Thursday and rather than a party, he wanted a get together with 2 of his friends and DS1. As both DS really enjoyed the free climbing wall/soft play session last weekend they were more than happy to return today, we used a discount code we received last week to get a decent deal for the 4 of them. We took drinks and snacks with us but they did so much running around they were still hungry 😮 so we managed to get them a kids meal deal each at a nearby cafe - lunch, ice cream and drink for £6.50 each which I didn't think was too bad. DH & I had a frothy coffee each and ate when we got home to keep costs down. After lunch they were happy enough to kick a football around for about 45 minutes before we all headed home.

Came home and made a quick lunch for DH and I while the boys played and then brought in and put away the laundry I'd pegged out this morning as well as cleaning and mopping the kitchen and utility.

DH has a gig tonight so left a couple of hours ago, me and the boys are showered and in PJ's and they're watching a film and having a calm end to the day. I'm keeping everything crossed that this translates into DS2 having a proper lie in as he's been up between 6.30 and 7 all week 😒

Have put my wages in a savings pot to cover extra spends this month - need a few items for holiday club next week, uniform items, DH's car needs MOT & Insured plus we're out for a meal with friends next weekend so rather than shuffling money around we'll use my wage and try to leave savings alone.

I couldn't resist sending something to the BCard though, £18 added to the daily PAD so the balance now starts with an 8 🤗

Today's PAD £20

Debt Total £3669 (BCard £899) 

beanielou

Woohoo 🎉🎉🎉