Choccy's last debt diary! Tme to stop messing and focus.

Choccygirl123

Back to work this afternoon and really not feeling the love. I'm sure it'll fine once I get there, but doesn't stop me being grumpy.

Yesterday was a NSD and I found my first 1p roadkill whilst taking the dog out. My daughter laughed and said it's only a 1p....but i've told her every penny counts.

Quidco cashback has cleared into the Xmas post boosting it by another £3.94 today. Takes my total to £65.54, which is great start to the new year. I aim to add £100 a month, but it's very much feast and famine. I've had a couple more little payments confirmed so have click withdraw on another £1.03 which should take a couple of days.

I need to get listing the junk again, but time is an issue. I think we're heading for a lockdown at work, so have promised myself I'll make the most of it.

Hot pot ready for go in the oven and still well stocked on fridge/ fruit bowl. Should have been a NSD, but hubby has hospital appointment later. I'm not sure if it's still free parking. Grrrr I hate having to pay, especially when that comes out of our misc budget. I'd rather spend £3/4 on a cheapie pizza night with the teenagers.

Choccygirl123

The car park was free, what a complete result! Saved us £3 so feels like definite win. Has to go back this week for another test.

On his way home hubby bought the teenagers a McDs on his way home. We live 20miles away abd their last one was the end of October. They've both been mega anxious about GCSEs and exams, so a lovely treat. I'm pleased he did, with the news from Bojo last night. Was £17.25 but money well spent from the misc budget. £34.22 spent / £200

Today is our 2nd NSD of January which feels great. Fridge is starting to look emptier. Have started a new shopping list but determined not to go until Saturday. All the DDs have gone out and account looking a bit empty. Have another payment due next week which will see you through to my pay day. 

I'm hoping with lockdown we won't need to fill either of the cars. Hubby had another trip to hospital and we need trips to supermarket so what's in the tank should be plenty. Will use mine until gets down to 100miles then pinch hubbies. If we don't that's a 'spare' £50 which I'll send over to my halifax loan. 

Choccygirl123

NSD - Another one taking our total to 3 out of 31 for Jan.

Xmas 2021 - My other little quidco payment cleared today £1.03 taking my total saved to £66.57

We've been forcast bad weather later in the week with snow due. Was planning on doing my big shop on Saturday, but we're out of cold meat, yogurts and only 2 pints of milk left. Having everyone working from home has hit the fridge hard. Rather than nip to the expensive coop to stock up, I'm moving my shop forward to tomorrow. Have meal planned and written a shopping list which is quite short. Hopefully it'll be under £48.05 as that's all that's left in our joint account until my last payment of the month arrives on the 13th. I do have £6 owed from Teso after I bought a gift set and overcharged, which customer services said I need to call back to the store. I also have a return to aldi for some chicken thighs bought that had gone off. I called customer services and they told me to keep the tray and receipt, so fingers crossed. That's another £3.49 owed.

Nothing much else to report. Girls busy online learning, hubby working from home until further notice, dog is asleep and i'm on standby at home to go to work. I don't think i'll be required for rest of this week. I'm on rota to work 2 mornings next week and have an online course to complete. Feels strange, house is full but everyone locked up in seperate rooms. I'm going to embrace the peace (scrap idea of doing course) and still a film on and finish my ironing.

beanielou

Keep plodding 

Choccygirl123

NSD Totals 3/31

Xmas 2021 - withdrew £6.62 from prolific surveys and moved to the saving pots. Takes total to £73.19 / £1000 target

I offically hate shopping! Too many people seem to be out with their partners and children have a trip out. !!!!!! we're in the middle of a pandemic Grrrrrrr i'm so cross. Any way i've done my shop this morning and tried out a new shopping list system which worked really well. I've typed up all the items we buy, split into veg, fruit, store, dairy, household etc and have empty boxes at the side to tick if the item is required. Saved so much time wrote on meal plan on side and then quickly ticked items we needed. Feel a lot more organised and in control. Hopefully will help keep to budget better.

My shopping budget today was very hopeful to keep it under £48.05 and it was a fail! Stocked up with all healthy fruit and veg that are slimming world friendly. Spent a total of £68.00 in Aldi and then returned the manky chicken back which was was a refund of £3.55. I spent £1.25 on pitta and nappy bags for poo bags in Tesco that I couldn't get in Aldi. Also got £5 back from the gift set. They said it was goodwill, which was annoying as it was £6.

Spent £69.25 - refunds £8.55 = Balance out of account £60.70 for this week's food.

The refunds will take a couple of days to be processed, so i've 'borrowed' £30 from one of my saving pots to ensure we don't hit the overdraft whilst they come back. Have more money due on Tuesday so will move the cash back to the pot.

The teenagers are slogging away online learning. So proud the way they've dealt with the lockdowns. The eldest was due to sit her exams this summer, so you can imagine it's been a worrying time. She's done so well in mocks and works hard so she should do really well, just hope they government make sure it's fair this year!

Sarahwithlove

Hopefully some of it will last into next week. But it's not cheap this eating healthy stuff is it? I'm not a fan of frozen fruit either so that doesn't help. 

Choccygirl123

Sarahwithlove said:

Hopefully some of it will last into next week. But it's not cheap this eating healthy stuff is it? I'm not a fan of frozen fruit either so that doesn't help. 

Hubby is doing slimming world too and he eats a lot! We both love fresh berries for brekkie with a yogurt but I can't justify paying for the out of season. The Aldi mixed berries is really nice, its tart but with a yogurt it softens the taste. It's a shame you're not keen because it's £2.39 for 1kg.

I'd lost 1stone 7lbs before Christmas. Had a few lbs gained and working on getting rid of those!

Choccygirl123

Another no spend day number 4 this month!

Meal planning is definitely working and I've managed to get the teenagers to eat more fruit snacks rather than biscuits and crisps. Had a quick fridge check and decided to make a lovely leek and potato soup. It's got rid of the 3 tired leeks with a carrot, spud, onion and stock cube then blitzed. Hubby really enjoyed it and I forgotten how filling and tasty a few veggies can be.

Nothung to report cash wise nothing else in or out. I've been pottering doing house things. Chopped up the Christmas cards to make tags god next year. Gutted 6 kitchen cupboards and had a good shuffle about. I'm up to date with my ironing with 2 loads of wash. Rather than get it washed and through it in the tumble drier I'm washing a load a day so it can dry overnight. 

Do have a to do list that needs looking at 
- tax return
- complete expense claim for solicitor 
- 3hours online course for work
-start listing on eBay again!

Choccygirl123

Today is a family day, no school, no work nothing but chilling out.

The teenagers are both frazzled after a full week of online learning and addiitonal homework, so they're happy to relax. We've been out with the dog for a couple of mile walk around the village. It's freezing and very foggy, but it felt good to get out. I've not been out the last couple of days as been feeling a bit blur.

We nipped into the coop and bought a treat each £3 on choccy for the girls and I and 2 tiger beers for hubby. £7 spent out the food budget. Hubby loved brew dog and they're doing a free 4 beers for just the p&p £1.95  leaving £212.96 until i get paid on 25th.

We've been looking at the switch remotes, as only have 1 pair of remotes. We've been spending more time as a family playing on it, so I think i'm tempted to order another out of the misc. There's £126.36 in the pot. It feels like an luxury, but I know we'll definitely get good value from them.

Nothing else to report, just some more surveys cleared in Prolific. Will need to get more to reach another £5 to withdraw them.

Rgib89

Just spent the last hour with a cuppa and reading through your diary. I've subscribed to follow your journey.

Well done with how far you have come and the meal planning. Will definitely be taking some tips from you. Xx