Missy’s family of 4, paying off debts, saving for a house and just trying to survive!

missymoo81

Thanks BlueGreen. I really appreciate you stopping by.

So this morning I am sat outside looking at the lovely welsh hills, drinking some tea. Am craving coffee so May go and put the kettle on. Money saving news, I have just done a prolific survey, only 85p but all good. I’ve been looking for children’s coats but can’t seem to find them cheap enough, so will keep looking. 

Just looking at my nails. I had them done a couple of weeks ago, and it really is a waste of money. I love the way they look, as I’m a serial nail biter. But I really should be able to control myself and not bite them then I can paint them myself. I only like them for the first 10 days too. After that they look really shoddy on my hands, so it’s not like I can string it out between sets. Going to take them off soon and see if I can grow them myself. I struggle at the gym with long nails too and the amount of times I’ve bent my nails back 🤢. So watch this space. 

My hair I think I’ve sorted. Between me and OH we can dye it, I might get him to cut it too, but it seems to be ok. I just can’t afford the £65 for a colour and the £100 for a colour and a 5 minute cut! And I need it colouring every 8 weeks! So by my calculations. I have saved myself around £450 a year!!!! That’s a massive saving! And with my nails, if I were to have them done every 2-3 weeks (I’ve never done this but was contemplating it) it would cost me Over £500 a year too!!! So I absolutely won’t be doing that either!!!!

Kakiste

Great savings! I can't wrap my head around the cost of some treatments. £100 for a colour seems so steep! 

I had a lovely surprise this year in that my new TA was a spa manager for a decade before coming to our school and she now regularly does my nails as part of our 'enrichment activities' we put on for the kids. (She does a pamper/nail painting group twice a week)
I love having them done and being pamperered but the only time I've ever gone to a salon to have them done, I sat there feeling really guilty thinking "well there goes the equivalent of a week's worth of food" It's amazing to have the option to get them done for free. 

MagicCat

Enjoy the Welsh hills @missymoo81!

I'm another one who is always amazed at how much beauty and hair stuff costs, I don't know how anyone affords it! It's great if you can find alternatives.

missymoo81

Oh Kakiste, that sounds amazing. The girl who does my nails is also a friend so it’s so nice to chat to her too, but argh the cost is crazy. And MagicCat, I know, beauty treatments are so expensive. My sister has eyelash extensions and gel nails and hair highlighted with lots of expensive conditioning treatments as well as fillers and Botox. I can’t Imagine how much it must cost a month!! She also drinks a bottle of wine a night so a very expensive lifestyle. Yet the live in a tiny house with 6 kids between them.....

I used to pay less for my hair and have only been going for about 18 months but she put her prices up by 25% because of COVID and it just tipped it to a level that wasn’t doable. I used to love the 2 hours of me time the rare chance to stop and drink a hot coffee someone else had made! I may need to spend a little bit more time dying my hair, put my hair up yesterday and me and OH had missed quite a bit!!!! Will need to just touch up those bits as it’s very obvious! With regards to nails. I’m going to have a look at how much a peach polish would be as I have my nails ombré and How much a cuticle cutter would be as both would make my nails look so much better! 

So woken up to the most horrendous wind and rain here in Wales. We’re not doing anything today though. Just drinking tea and reading, it’s OH’s birthday tomorrow and we’re going camping in the hills 😳. Please let the storm pass! Have never done camping in hills with no campsite, apart from when I was in the military. We have all the equipment from when OH was younger and he’s very good with things like this but wow I’m a bit scared. But it’s his birthday. If that’s what he wants to do.... 

It’s  my birthday a week Saturday, OH has already got me a hoody and has paid for someone to work that day so we can spend  the day together with the littlies, so he’s already spent quite a bit of money. So I don’t know what else to ask for...... can’t think what I NEED? 

On other money saving matters. I managed to get both children’s coats on eBay for £27! Both have only been worn once or twice so very happy with that! And I ordered Roo’s T-shirts and Mays tights and we’re ready for school to start. Really hoping their PE tops fit as didn’t order new ones! 

Ok I’m quite hungry this morning. I hope OH wakes up soon. We have home made bread and jam for breakfast!

jwil

Have a lovely time camping, I think the worst of the storm is today so should be better tomorrow.

missymoo81

Okay so doing my budgeting and accounts is normal on holiday isn’t it?! 😁

So OH is having a lovely time sorting out the camping stuff. Apparently we’re still going tomorrow, despite the storm..... and I’m sat here budgeting! I do actually enjoy it.

Soooo September is an OK month I need to earn around £850 from business on top of my normal wages fo break even. Which is definitely doable. Reading other people’s wonderful diaries has made me realise I need an extras budget, for things like coffees or trips out for the children etc. So I’ve made a budget of £100 a month, not a lot I know, but it’s better than the £0 it was before! The only thing with September is I’ve left the food budget a little short for the first shop, as it comes before I’ve been paid. But I can do this! So I will have £22 in my budget. I’ve signed up for the lidl app, so that’s £5, I have £13 in my purse which makes £40, I usually like at least £50 though...... So I’m going to have to be extra thoughtful and imaginative when it comes to meals and not at all wasteful! I’ll try and make the most of EVERYTHING. Trying to think If I have any more cash at home but I’m pretty sure I haven’t, Hmmmm need toiletries though which could be tricky...... But I do have about £2 in Tesco Vouchers on my phone. So could use those for tampons etc. So all that being said, I will do a meal plan soon! Need to compare prices in both Tesco and Lidl as they’re right next door to each other and 5 mins from work.

Have set up 2 more bank accounts but need to set up 2 more and I need to figure out how to rename them...... if anyone has any ideas how to rename bank accounts on the Lloyds app then I’d love to hear them, tried using the help but, but the auto message info was wrong! 

If there’s any extra money left over from business, I’m going to put it into the Xmas and birthday pot and possibly the emergency fund. I’m pretty sure my car needs new tyres and an MOT soon. So the emergency fund will be used up pretty quickly! 

I’ve looked at the budget for October and it’s much tighter. I’m hoping my extra work will cover it. I’m trying to save monthly for my tax bill too. I’ve got lots of pots so hope that will keep me on the straight and narrow. 

Would love around £400 in the Xmas/birthday fund as it’s Roo’s birthday November.....But who knows how much I can save with everything being so tight! I need to send those leggings back and 2 books I accidentally bought as duplicates but I need to replace May’s drum kit that broke with the book money, the leggings money was going to be coat money. But I’ve already paid for them so I need to pay it off my Credit card instead, it’s only £41 as I forgot my bank card on holiday and used it to other day to buy the fruit trees too. Don’t want to get in the habit of using that again after I spent so long paying it off!!

Also need to eBay stuff and to FB sell the children’s old uniform and coats etc.

Right so feel so much more in control now!  Next I need to come up with that food plan to make that £40 streeeeeetch!

WelshKitty85

Hi @missymoo81, we're in north wales and the weather has been horrendous here today, but tomorrow is forecast to be much better. Hope you have a lovely time camping.

Re your nails, I bought a uv gel kit a few years ago. It was about £20 I think for the lamp, 3 gel colours, and the base & top coats etc. The gel lasts quite well and helps my nails underneath to grow and strengthen. Maybe something to consider for your birthday?

missymoo81

Hey welsh kitty!
Thanks so much for posting, it’s a much better day today. I’m sat outside super warm in the sun! And I like the gel nail idea, I usually get some birthday money so I could always spend it on something like that. Will research! 

So today is OH’s birthday! I ordered him some bits and pieces that got delivered here, although some bits aren’t here still, but should be delivered later. But realised I didn’t have any wrapping paper.... and I wasn’t going to pay the extortionate Amazon prices. And the truck is too wide for me to drive down these tiny country lanes to go to the coop. So.... I improvised! Has anyone seen the Gavin and Stacey, where Smiffy wraps everyone’s gifts up in tin foil....... yep I did! And they look lovely 😁. So I’ve put those on the table along with the children’s handmade cards and the sweets they wanted to get him. I hope he likes them.... oh and I’ve made a Victoria sponge. I got up especially early to do it. Although I didn’t have any baking paper and getting the cakes out of the tin we’re somewhat trying, but I managed and they didn’t break!!! I’m waking OH up at 9 then we’re leaving at 1130. Wish me luck!

joedenise

Hope OH enjoys his birthday today.  I've wrapped presents in foil before when I haven't had any paper and forgot when I went shopping!  I think they look great and don't need any tape they just stay wrapped.  Well done of making the cake this morning and that it didn't break.  

Have a great day and enjoy the camping in the hills.

missymoo81

Ah thanks JoeDenise. It’s our one year anniversary tomorrow too! Haven’t got OH anything. Think I will write him a poem and draw him a book mark.
I’m rubbish at both but I think he’ll appreciate it! Not sure how happy he is at being 41 today though. He hates getting older! 

I was thinking, the children like to go to Tesco with OH and buy me some bits for my birthday. So I have decided on a new notepad and pen, some dairymilk and some fabric conditioner, OH looked at me as if I were mad when I told him. He said I was a fabric conditioner addict 😂.