Making money make sense

Franalamadingdong

Thanks. The Xmas one I started in December and I just chuck £50 in each month. 
The boyfriend is still looking for work here and I have become his personal cover letter writer. Haha. It just takes time is all.
I'm thinking of setting up and regularly using a bills pot, water bill is quarterly and the cello hire and lessons are at the start of each term.

Sarahwithlove

Franalamadingdong said:

Thanks. The Xmas one I started in December and I just chuck £50 in each month. 
The boyfriend is still looking for work here and I have become his personal cover letter writer. Haha. It just takes time is all.
I'm thinking of setting up and regularly using a bills pot, water bill is quarterly and the cello hire and lessons are at the start of each term.

Yes do it. I have a seperate account for bills and pay in each month to it even if it doesn't come out monthly it means you don't get a bill suddenly you can't afford to pay

Franalamadingdong

Thanks Sarah. I do a budget each month for what's coming up that month, and leave a buffer because the best laid plans and all that, but I really think it's a good move. 
Nothing exciting happened over the weekend. I had a spend for the boyfriend who asked me to order something on @mazon and he'll pay me back. 
I'm probably going to the supermarket tomorrow. I had hoped to wait until Tuesday when we'd be near a l!DL and ald!, but the boyfriend hates food shopping and I can do without dragging him around! We had a break in the rain for a couple of hours earlier, but it's back now. Urgh. I'm so sick of rain!

Sarahwithlove

I find it often helps me stop spending on things I can't afford because I know what my actual  spends for the month is especially as I have a few odd direct debits that come out in the middle of the month and they are the worst as you are just sat waiting for them to come out to give you a true reflection. This way I can just leave my bills account to manage itself. 

Franalamadingdong

Sounds good Sarah! 

Never taking the boyfriend shopping again. Goodness that was expensive! That said we've had dog expenses. He keeps peeing inside, despite being taken out and having access outside. And so we're looking at a food that helps digestion. I'm wondering if it's a UTI or diabetes (he's drinking a lot too). So a lot of household expenses from this problem. Finally, after deducting the household, beauty, dog and boyfriend expenses (separate pots) the supermarket shop showing just food and drink went from £100+ to £70+ which gives a truer view. But the boyfriend does like to slip in the premium brands! 

Blackcats

The moment you lose focus or someone else joins in with the shopping the supermarket will weave its magic and extract more money from our purses than we intended.  The supermarket is not our friend.  However, still not too bad considering it's half term and there are 3 of you.  I went to the supermarket to buy the premium brand cat food that my cats insist on and £10 worth of bits and bobs magicked their way into my basket.  

Franalamadingdong

Yeah, it's ok.

My boy is now obsessed with labels like Gucci - which is so annoying. But I did manage to get him an Armani jumper at the charity shop yesterday for £10! I'm putting it away for his birthday! 
I also got the gift for my new niece at an antique store. It's a super pretty embroidered matinee jacket. 
I got a couple of new quilting rulers/templates and a vintage single duvet which will make a beautiful quilt back for a steal. 
I treated the boyfriend to a coffee and I had a chai latte too. Still plenty left in the fun budget.

Blackcats

Gucci and Armani!  Good job they don't sell designer labels where your son goes to buy the milk (and his own supply of treats). 😱
sounds like you got some good things when you were shopping.  I'm not a fan of chai tea or chai latte but it always sounds very sophisticated.  

Franalamadingdong

Oh I know. Trust me, if I hadn't have happened to find it in a charity shop he would not be getting it! I love a chai latte, I don't have it often, but it's nice to have now and then as I don't drink coffee.

Just had a number crunch of the budget. The boyfriend has been hammering my account a little bit recently - ordering this and that online for him. Then the dog costs... Especially the haircut! Anyway! If I follow the budget for the rest of the month I have £3 leftover. Not counting putting bill money aside for cello/water. The boyfriend has said about paying me back. And my parents have too. And I have the buffer in the account. I MIGHT move the bill money over now and start on a lower balance next month.
Anyway. Shepherd's pie is cooking and I portioned it into two dishes so it'll so the boy and I another meal. The boyfriend went home today.

Blackcats

It sounds like you had a good half term and despite the  spends on other people and dogs you've still got money left over.  Have you got a birthday party to organise for your son?