Every debt this debt will go down

jwil

Have a good day   We haven't seen any rain for ages other than a very light drizzle.

NeverendingDMP

Activity with the kids went well. Night time club cancelled and it poured it down all night. Still warm though. We have a garden with lots of plants in that I really struggle to control and it's the sort of garden that you fill a wheely bin full of garden waste look back to see the rewards of all your hard work but when you look you can't see the difference. The rain will have done it lots of good and all the weeds will be back out in force by next week. I want to put some gravel and matting down in a few areas around the plants to help me but DH says no. He doesn't do gardening though so I might save up for it anyway. Only small areas to help me a bit. Still keeping it green just need a bit of help to manage it.
No d debits today so accounts already rounded up. Trip out with the two youngest later. Pre paid (fiver) just need parking and some snacks as a treat. DH supposed to be taking eldest out at same time. Hopefully it will all work out well

NeverendingDMP

So managed to take youngest two out. Bus film and treats for under fifteen pounds. Eldest want didn't fancy the film so he did something else. And I've done some exercise so a good day all round. 

NeverendingDMP

Just to update about my conversations with octopus about getting a smart meter monitor. It turns out my actual meter is no longer linked online so I can't do much with it. And there is a shortage of computer chips for making the gadgets with that show you your spend. They did recommend some apps to link to your meter yourself to display hourly spends etc. I'm not linked up to the network so they don't work for me but one of them was called Hugo and seemed user friendly when I downloaded it to try. It was free so whether it will display ads or anything I'm not sure. Worth a try if anyone needs any ideas.

joedenise

@NeverendingDMP - I would definitely start putting some money away for Christmas to help smooth out the spends.  Do you buy stuff throughout the year towards it or all in one go?  I find it helps to buy things as I see them although I only spend on immediate family and not the wider family and then only small sums.  We only budget £20 per person, although couples sometimes get a joint present costing between £30-£40 so occasionally it's a bit less than the budget £20.  If there's anything left after Christmas then it is Tilly Tidied to one of the holiday pots for the following year!

NeverendingDMP

joedenise said:

@NeverendingDMP - I would definitely start putting some money away for Christmas to help smooth out the spends.  Do you buy stuff throughout the year towards it or all in one go?  I find it helps to buy things as I see them although I only spend on immediate family and not the wider family and then only small sums.  We only budget £20 per person, although couples sometimes get a joint present costing between £30-£40 so occasionally it's a bit less than the budget £20.  If there's anything left after Christmas then it is Tilly Tidied to one of the holiday pots for the following year!

Yes joedenise I need to pull my finger out. I normally put 100 a month away whilst picking bits up along the way. I budget about 20 for adults, but with three kids at 200 ish each the cost adds up. I had a look in the cupboards yesterday and I've got a handful of little presents for the younger two, jigsaws, toiletries, diary things etc but my Xmas fund as yet only has the grand total of one hundred pounds in it and it's August. I only transferred that yesterday and am not convinced I won't need to borrow it back.  I think though this year father Xmas will bring a lot of needs i.e clothes, big jumpers as well as some in house activities. 

NeverendingDMP

Is anyone else finding the news making them anxious. It's all financial doom and gloom isn't it. Our mortgage is fixed for two more years so at least that's okay but the estimate for what my gas and electricity will be is unreal. I'm paying 220 a month at moment so should be about 3 or 400 in credit by October but it won't last long will it.  And food still seems to be creeping up.

I asked school at end of summer term would wraparound care stay same price/go up. They said the price doesn't change without the governors  going through a process and that didn't happen last term so price remains the same at least until Xmas. I would assume that means it's going up in Jan. I can't imagine having a new mortgage, young babies, basic pension etc. I may need to stop reading the news 🤣

vampirotoothus

I have stopped listening to the news, as it's just scare mongering.
Ask the people that matter to you how they are doing and help them if you can. Maybe take it in turns with a friend to cook tea later in the year on a couple of nights, so one of you is always saving on cooking (the idea is it's not fancy, just what you'd normally be having with the bonus of a quick catch up and you don't need to take anything except yourselves). The added bonus is one of you will also have the heating off for the evening. Little things like this will save us money and bring us closer to those who matter. That's my plan anyway. Keep going V x

NeverendingDMP

vampirotoothus said:

I have stopped listening to the news, as it's just scare mongering.
Ask the people that matter to you how they are doing and help them if you can. Maybe take it in turns with a friend to cook tea later in the year on a couple of nights, so one of you is always saving on cooking (the idea is it's not fancy, just what you'd normally be having with the bonus of a quick catch up and you don't need to take anything except yourselves). The added bonus is one of you will also have the heating off for the evening. Little things like this will save us money and bring us closer to those who matter. That's my plan anyway. Keep going V x

Thankyou. That's the straight talking reality check I needed. As in pennies make pounds so  little changes will make savings. Tea swapping sounds like a lovely idea. And a nice thing for when the weather isn't so good as well !

jwil

It is really worrying isn't it.  I'm kind of sticking my head in the sand other than trying to work out how much it will all cost.  I can't change it, so I will prepare best I can, and then just deal as it happens.  We've got some flex so can hopefully absorb the worst.