“Debt is normal. Be weird.”

beanielou

Better 2 claims than none

Sarahwithlove

I’d give it a few days because you don’t want there to be two claims and end up with the wrong amount of money. I can’t remember if mine said that it was sent or not but I think it took about a week to get a decision and with the deadline for self assessment being the 31st there’s a good chance there’s a back log

browneyed_girl

Thanks for the advice! I went as if it to submit another tax reclaim and the website announced that it knew all about my previous claim . Hoping I’ll hear something back soon about what I may be owed. Also identified some other professional subscriptions and examinations that I should be able to make a claim for, though looks to be a bit more complex and so will wait until next weekend when my accountant brother comes to stay!

Accidental money-saving win of the day has been managing without putting the heating on. Both DH and I thought the other had turned it on, and since we were already making use of blankets and hot drinks, we didn’t notice it remained off until it was too late to bother! Just the right time for this to happen though as need to send a meter reading tomorrow and I’m dreading what it will say after a few months of being liberal with the radiators...:(

Another bonus has been a free voucher for a meal deal from Mr T as a result of Vodafone rewards :j. Due to do a top up shop later in the week so will pick it up then - love a free lunch!!

browneyed_girl

Wow...this new format is weird.  I’m not the biggest fan of change at anytime, but when it’s anything tech-related it usually does not bode well.  Fingers crossed this post goes as planned...

An interesting few days here.  DD2 and DS have joined the ranks of the chickenpox brigade and are officially miserable.  It’s a good thing my medicine cabinet is always well-stocked and that I had the insight to shop for ice cream this week - it’s been a necessity to soothe the accompanying sore throats! 

Money-wise, still being extremely careful with every penny.  DH wanted something for his car which was £16 and we decided we could make this a Valentine’s present.  I’ve asked DH for a new bedside unit from !kea at around £20 as my gift, which has been something I’ve needed for a while.  That means we both get what we need for a combined cost that is less than a meal out .

DH popped to Mr T for a top-up shop today.  Good news is that I found I had enough on an old survey site to get a £10 voucher which, combined with the £3 voucher from Vodafone, meant we didn’t actually spend anything extra out of our budget!  We have about £27 left for the week and shouldn’t need to buy anything else, so can put this towards Very (still have £254 to clear by the end of the month).

Not much else to report, but keeping motivated through the little things.  Had to re-thread the drawstring that DD3 pulled out of one of her ballet shoes yesterday.  Took at least half an hour with a lot of cursing and needle-stick injuries - it was the thought of wasting money on a new pair only 3 weeks into lessons that kept me going! 

Baileys_Babe

That is great news about having £27 remaining of the shopping budget, that is more than 10% of the Very debt 

browneyed_girl

Baileys_Babe said:

That is great news about having £27 remaining of the shopping budget, that is more than 10% of the Very debt 

I hadn’t thought of it that way!  Sounds brilliant when you put it like that!  

Posting late because DS is keeping me up.  Think he’s just feeling generally rubbish because of the chickenpox, but as he’s only 19 months the best way for him to express it is by screaming, crying, being generally irritable and also fantastically clingy.  Wish I could go through it for him - seeing him so upset just about breaks my heart  .

Anyway, trying to get some positives from being awake still.  Have been trawling through the Old Style Money Saving boards and the take home message for me is that I need to start making soup.  No idea why I don’t do it already!  Has the added bonus of being relatively low calorie, so good for my diet also.  On that topic, since October I have managed to lose 17lbs (even with Xmas trying to tempt me!), but still have 12lbs to go until I hit my target.  Is it too much to ask to start the new tax year at my goal weight?!  Well, I’ve said it now and I’m not one to shy away from a challenge! 

browneyed_girl

Well, DS and I are now snuggled on the sofa watching The Gruffalo.  Poor boy - he was being driven mad by the itching .  He’s now covered in cream, has a fresh set of pyjamas and is very much enjoying dedicated mummy time.  Just hoping this doesn’t become a habit - I love my sleep!!

So, thought I’d make some plans for the day while I’m here...

DH will be taking DD3 to ballet this morning and then to MIL for a few hours, giving us a bit of a break from having the four of them at home.  Love them all to pieces of course, but the chickenpox situation has left DH and I feeling more drained than usual!  DD3 will have a lovely time though - FIL has over the years built a swing set, sandpit and treehouse for the kids, so she won’t be short of things to do!  

I’m going to make the most of an early start to make a batch of soup.  I’ve seen a recipe for a Moroccan chickpea soup which looks yum and I have all the ingredients in the cupboards.  Hopefully, this will make enough for lunches for everyone over the weekend, though if the kids aren’t keen I’ll just portion it up for me to take to work during the week.   Not sure I’m going to have the focus to achieve much more than this today, but I have noticed the kitchen table has recently become a dumping ground for all manner of things.  Part of that is my fault (a mending pile that needs some attention), but it’s mostly toys, books, letters etc. that have a home elsewhere.  I know that clearing this clutter will be good for my mood, so I’m endeavouring to get it sorted today (though I have been saying the same thing to myself every day for the past three weeks ).

Hope everyone is getting a more relaxing start to the weekend!

Chrystal

Hope you can manage to get some cat naps in today, and that the DC start to feel better soon. X

browneyed_girl

Well...I have to admit to being a bit of a failure today  .  Started off with good intentions - made the soup as planned (substituted cumin in the recipe for some rose harissa paste I found whilst clearing the spice cupboard - really yum!); cleared one bag of stuff from the mountain of ‘stuff’ on the kitchen table; and even made a start on my mending pile (DD2 now has a working zip on her onesie).  Then the exhaustion kicked in...

I know I don’t make the best decisions when I’m tired.  It’s as though the rational part of my brain just shuts down (DH would argue it was never there in the first place - don’t you just love a comedian? And where is the eye-rolling emoji when you need it?!).  Anyway, skip ahead a few steps and there I am agreeing with DH that we definitely do need a mountain of junk food this evening.  My brain is clearly calling out for sugar in expectation of another sleepless night, methinks .  Supported by the fact that after sleeping for (at most) 4 hours last night, DS only had his usual length nap during the day.  He is honestly starting to look like death warmed up, poor little thing

So, looks like the £27 I hoped to have left of this week’s budget will actually be more like £10.  Oh well, at least it’s something.  And I’m not going to let this one stupid evening dictate any other choices.  I’m going to accept it for what it is - a silly (but ultimately delicious) decision during a very low and tired moment.  Back on the wagon tomorrow though - pinky swear!!

Isitdoable

Just discovered your diary and working through it!  Really impressed with what you have cleared, and by your grocery budget!  Don't beat yourself up for the misery spends....it is so tempting, and it is VERY VERY draining when kiddies are ill.  I have a poorly little one at the moment, and it is both emotionally and physically draining.  I've just eaten a ton of chocolate and pasta to try and make myself feel better!