£50,000 in 3 years diary. Can I do it???

RoxieW

Well, I havent said anything to him. just hoping he'll forget! bless him, its not fair but thats life. Cant risk him having anything else to worry about. He's got bad eczema, asmha (sp??), dog allergy, food allergies and a colon problem - poor little mite. He's never had a reaction around our friends cats but just cant take the risk he could develop one. he takes after me unfortunately.

RoxieW

Ahhhh..... feels so nice to have those nice clean fresh budgets for Jan. Like December was nothing but a bad dream. Well, not quite but am feeling quite optimistic. I know we can last until next week meals wise - up to the 7th so that'll give me a head start on the food. We also are packed to the rafters with chocolate and alcohol.
Although - I'm quite proud of myself in that I've sort of fallen onto the wagon, wine wise. If there's such an expression! I've always (well, in adulthood!) adored red wine and got into the very bad habit of having a couple of glasses (those massive Ikea ones!) most evenings, but for the past couple of months I've just kind of fallen out of the habit. It wasn't even a conscious thing - it was one thing I thought I could never give up as so didnt consider trying! I've just found myself drinking it less and less and have only drank recently if we've been out to dinner or had friends around. Still, no bad thing for my liver, waistline or wallet! In honesty i was buying nearly a box a week ie £15 eeek! However thinking about it now I do miss that aaaahh feeling of snuggling down with a nice glass of red and unwinding on the sofa, getting slightly tiddly. oh no, i'm quite fancying a glass now - better go make a cuppa t quick!

RoxieW

thats better - have tea to hand now to get rid of wine craving. hopefully i might lose some weight just by cutting out the vino - although tea and choccie tends to go hand in hand for me

am sooo looking forward to my spa weekend with dawn. will be nice to relax and have a girly w/end and its all bought on paid for so that makes it much nicer! have £200 in the pot from xmas money to pay for dinner, clubbing, petrol etc so woohoo!

NickiM

Sounds like you're doing fantastically

Tustastic

Hello Roxie, have just read your thread and I think you are doing well, honestly. You've got a plan and you are learning a lot about what makes you spend, which is bound to help you control it and make headway towards your goal, so well done you.
You obviously love buying presents for your nearest and dearest so Xmas and birthdays are always going to big spends for you. How about setting yourself a goal of 'earning' the money for the presents through eBaying, comps, surveys etc?
Have a lovely time in Bath - I'm going there for a weekend soon so I'll be interested to see what you enjoy there.
Happy New Year!

RoxieW

Hi Tustastic - thanks for reading and your kind words. TBH I know I've done rubbish in Dec. I just didnt have the willpower - or the inclination if I'm honest, to stick to budget. Its amazing how the 'oh sod it' attitude starts to take hold. For example, I bought a jar of expensive mustard when i did the xmas shop - to have a tiny amount on ham sandwiches after xmas - it'll never get used! But I'm feeling far more positive about Jan.
I have been doing the £10 a day challenge. I made it in Nov and almost got there in Dec but I think I've hit a wall there. I've ebayed everything to ebay and done all the free cash clicks on quidco. I do need to get back on it but I just cant see the ways to make more. I'm pinning my hopes on AQA although I was rejected once already. If not then I may look at a part time job - evenings or something.
Spent some time last night working out a meal plan and am going to try to get through the end of next week spending no more than £30! It sounds like madness but when I did a list it looked managable?!?

RoxieW

Well, I went to Sainos and bought enough basics to take us up to this time next week and I only spent £15!! Thats including shamp and conditioner. I also had to get dale some razor heads which was another £10 eeek, but was still well chuffed. I'm gonna aim to spend no more than another £10 topping up milk and bread so all being well I'll be a third way through jan having only spent £35.
I only took £40 in cash and no cards which was really scary! I knew I was unliely to spend that much - I didn't want or need to spend that much but my heart was pounding when she was putting things through on the till. I was soooo relieved when she said £25!
It was strange just shopping for what I absolutely needed. Normally a basic shop would mean buying tons of apple jiuce (the good stuff), yogurts, biscuits, several bread products ie crumpets, pancakes, muffins. I'd also buy tons of fruit where half gets wasted. But these aren't necessities. The kids wont die if they dont get apple juice for a week, we've got yogurts in the fridge, they can make do with just toast or cereal rather then a 'menu' of different breakfast items available for their perusal each morning, and theres a fruit bowl full of oranges - plus they get free fruit every day at school. It was kind of freeing in a way. I even said no to the cakes - when I take the kids shopping they normally get to choose a cake for being good :rolleyes:, but we've a house crammed full of sweets and biscuits from xmas so why fork out £3 or whatever for cakes just because its a habit? they didn't cause a fuss - I just said no and they didnt really care.

have been battling with moda in pelle today over a pair of jewelled sandals that I bought for £50 and the jewels fell off first wear. I'd lost the receipt so they said that all they can do is send them for repair - but I'm hacked off. Surely its unreasonable for shoes to need repairing after the first wear and I should have been refunded. You can tell by looking at the soles that they've hardly had wear. Couldn't be bothered to argue in the store as I had the boys with me but have emailed customer services to see what they say. £50 is a lot for a pair of sandals at the end of the day. Bits shouldn't just fall off them!

Just packing for my little trip tomorrow - v excited. Although I always miss the kids even when away for just one day. Cant believe how I managed to get through it when I had to work in London 5 days a week. I was really sad I'm much happier now I'm home all the time leading a far less glamorous lifestyle!

pavlovs_dog

hey roxie, just wanted to say really enjoying your diary so far :j

this really caught my eye...

RoxieW wrote: »

TBH I know I've done rubbish in Dec. I just didnt have the willpower - or the inclination if I'm honest, to stick to budget. Its amazing how the 'oh sod it' attitude starts to take hold. For example, I bought a jar of expensive mustard when i did the xmas shop - to have a tiny amount on ham sandwiches after xmas - it'll never get used! But I'm feeling far more positive about Jan.

no point stressing about the past - you cant change it. all you can do is learn from it :beer:

RoxieW

hey pavlovs - glad you're enjoying reading!

yeah, I know. I did go through a wobbly few days where I felt like crap and very nearly didn't post on here again, but i feel fine about it now. Onwards and upwards. I'm determined that I'll be good in Jan! Jan will be a super duper frugal month.

RoxieW

pavlovs - just noticing your sig - your savings look great and for the same goal as us - how long has it taken to get to that stage? any tips? do you have a diary/thread I can look through?

doodledo - just looked back at my SOA and noticed your comment on SIL - yes she is an absolute nightmare spoilt little madam. unfortunately, at 18 she can play the daddy's little girl card and i think that will stand until she's 80 tbh! I did make an effort to talk to her at the dinner for atmospheres sake, just trivial stuff, but she just takes the biscuit how she sits, eats her food and then declares no money for the bill. Well, she didn't even declare, Dale had to ask her. And Dales parents guilt trip us because of the 'feud'! Well, excuse me but it was quite hurtful to have a close family member/friend/bridemaid stomp out of the wedding halfway through without
so much as a 'congrats'! Maybe if she apologised but I'm definately not happy to subsidise her any more. Still, saved us £50 on her xmas pressie, lol