Queen Bee fighting for her Hive!

gozaimasu

Maybe try usertesting.com? Pays $10 a time through Paypal (so £7-ish?). Heard about it through that Andy guy with the annoying voice's podcast "5 Easy Side Hustles" with panda lady or something.

I used to do loads of survey sites when I didn't have anything to do. If I was going to be sitting watching TV all night then I might as well be spending the same time on the computer trying to earn a few quid. Made a few hundred over the years I was doing it but I'm glad I'm not anymore!

Queen_of_the_Hive

gozaimasu said:

Maybe try usertesting.com? Pays $10 a time through Paypal (so £7-ish?). Heard about it through that Andy guy with the annoying voice's podcast "5 Easy Side Hustles" with panda lady or something.

I used to do loads of survey sites when I didn't have anything to do. If I was going to be sitting watching TV all night then I might as well be spending the same time on the computer trying to earn a few quid. Made a few hundred over the years I was doing it but I'm glad I'm not anymore!

Hi @gozaimasu, oooh will give it a look. thanks! 

Queen_of_the_Hive

HI diary, 

I must admit I haven't been so good at keeping my diary going in recent weeks. Life has become overwhelming both financially and emotionally. A good friend recently passed away and we had the funeral this week. This was an unexpected spend of nearly £200 on the back of an expensive summer and my partner going semi retired and its hit my personal pocket hard. Next week we have a few days off over half term and taking the kids back to visit family and friends in my home town. Again another large expense. 

I've gone full time at work, so that's good but my workload has gone through the roof, feeling stressed and feeling the pressure to keep on top of it. This is a particularly bad period at work and know it will ease but yeah just struggling with self confidence etc. 

OH knows I'm struggling so we went out for a walk, went to the pub and bought dinner. Really could have done with not spending on dinner but was nice to do so.   

On more brighter news - last Monday (13th) was monthly finances review. I'm now 70% paid off the debt and getting to the point  I could use some savings to pay it all off in full. Considering doing so in December to give me a fresh start in January. I won't get to 100% debt paid as I include my monthly credit card spends which is cleared every month in this figure to keep me on my toes. It will be nice to get to the point of having the last remaining balance transfer card paid off though. 

Another positive note - we sorted out Christmas holidays at work this week. Without realising it I have managed to bag a week off if you count the Christmas weekend so am really chuffed with that

Without wanting to, tomorrow I am going to log on and do more work as well as work on my own well being too. Have a good weekend. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello diary,

In a bid to change improve my mindset I got myself up and out of bed this morning and chucked on a fav yoga video. That completed, and inspired from watching some finance vids I've made a minor increase to my personal pension now that I am getting full time salary again. So two big ticks there.

Currently batch cooking a curry using chicken thighs and some veggies which were starting to turn. This will do me and OH for tonight and tomorrow night plus make one or two frozen meals too. Useful for OH for his two night shifts a week.

Needed a few groceries for the week - so been to Lidl and spent just under £19. This should last us most of the week. We will need more bread but that is good so far. Next weekend heading away for a few days over half term which will be nice but will cut another dent in the budget. We have the hotel to pay for, meals and any activities we do. Will try to be as frugal as is realistic, I want to enjoy my time away so getting the balance right is important so we will have some meals out and some I will buy from supermarket and make a picnic.

Workload at work is still bothering me but will log on after curry is made to make a start on it. Hopefully this will calm my nerves a bit for tomorrow.

Baileys_Babe

When ours were younger we often spent three nights every couple of weeks in a budget hotel. To save money we took breakfast with us things we had at various times included:
Cartons of juice
Cereal with milk (either UHT or I would buy a couple of pints the evening before or one of us would pop to the shop first thing)
Instant porridge - I used to have a recipe
Flapjack - homemade
Wraps with peanut butter or chocolate spread or yeast pate etc
Yoghurt
Fruit

We usually take a few bits with us to making picnics easier whether we are eating whilst out and about or in our room, plastic plates & bowls, sharp knife for chopping fruit or cheese etc, selection of cutlery (in our case from an old set and past on from family), refillable water bottles, we also have a small chopping board (the size of a paperback book).

Queen_of_the_Hive

Good Morning diary, 

We are back from our mini holiday and I have to admit I closed my eyes a bit to the budget and just enjoyed our time. @Baileys_Babe thanks for the tips on making breakfast we took our picnic set which worked a treat. Only bought 2 out of 4 breakfasts at the hotel. There was a decent corner shop a few minutes walk from where we were staying so bought some supplies from there. Have to admit our diet was full of the bad stuff and I am feeling it now. So much so I dug out some tinned soup this morning to have for lunch and planning to make some home made soup at the weekend. 

Yesterday was pay day and tbh my spending is off track although its the first month of getting full time wage. Its going to be a rocky end to the year with the finances and so will be looking at my spending & budget.... eugh. 

The mini holiday was super good though, we made the most of our time and packed in a lot of activities which in reality we don't do so much or spend so much so it was nice to loosen the purse strings for. Christmas I have got some money put aside and already bought some of the gifts etc so not worried about that side. I just need to get the money coming in to match when it goes out, which is most def does not currently. 

Baileys_Babe

I'm glad you enjoyed your holiday.

Drawingaline

Glad you had a good break. It feels good to let go once in a while.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Saturday, 

The kids are with dad this weekend so I get a chance for a bit of peace and time to catch up with admin. And I have to admit I have come back from the holidays feeling more motivated to sort out the spending. We've blown the budget so I really need to rein it in until the 13th Nov (monthly spend review). The fridge is bare and cupboards are pretty empty so I need to be a bit inventive for the next three weeks. Today as its just me and OH we will continue to cobble the bits together for random meals but tomorrow I will need to buy some groceries, so todays task is meal planning and writing a budget but family happy shopping list which is not an easy task. 

We are having a trip window shopping sofas as my OH will soon be taking the keys of his holiday let so we need to get it kitted out but in a wise way. So first off looking at sofas and to get an idea of what he likes, comfort etc and finding out what the lead times are on them too. 

Will post an update later. 

tunathe_cat

Queen_of_the_Hive said:

Hello Saturday, 

The kids are with dad this weekend so I get a chance for a bit of peace and time to catch up with admin. And I have to admit I have come back from the holidays feeling more motivated to sort out the spending. We've blown the budget so I really need to rein it in until the 13th Nov (monthly spend review). The fridge is bare and cupboards are pretty empty so I need to be a bit inventive for the next three weeks. Today as its just me and OH we will continue to cobble the bits together for random meals but tomorrow I will need to buy some groceries, so todays task is meal planning and writing a budget but family happy shopping list which is not an easy task. 

We are having a trip window shopping sofas as my OH will soon be taking the keys of his holiday let so we need to get it kitted out but in a wise way. So first off looking at sofas and to get an idea of what he likes, comfort etc and finding out what the lead times are on them too. 

Will post an update later. 

lost my post..... will try again.     John Pye auction have furniture (also auctions from Police seized items!)   To help with bare cupboards - have you Community Fridge you could pop to  Andrea