Happier Nat's debt free diary

Parkyp

Well done with the extra cash and putting it to good use. I’ve never gave it a thought how much More electricity the oven uses Compared to the hob good that it’s saving you money. 

Baileys_Babe

Pleased the budgeting error was in your favour.
I don't know what dishwasher tablets you usually use, we buy ours from Aldi
 or Lidl 50 tablets for £2.49 along with dishwasher salt, instead of rinse aid we use malt vinegar (white or brown).

natlie

Thanks @Baileys_Babe we usually use Aldi too, we don’t have to use rinse aid as we are in a soft water area. I don’t think I’ve used the Lidl ones will have a try of them 

natlie

Morning, and what a glorious morning!

Yesterday was pay day so I have done all my budgeting, had a moment of panic when i double counted my rent and couldn't work out why I had no money left to buy food, petrol etc after my bills so that was a relief when I worked it out. 
This month we have been ting to live off a £20 a month food budget for the 4 of us, well we didn't manage that it was £38 a month which i think is good! I have set aside £40 a month this month and I am just about to do our greengrocers shop. 
I am collecting some rolls, bagels and bread up for free later via the OLIO app

I am putting washing out on the line today which is exciting!

Today my plan is to get over to the allotment and to clear a square of about 8m2, thats do-able, the plot is 250m2 so will take a while to clear it all. We also need to take down and rebuild 2 fences at some point. 

Have a lovely day everyone
Nat

natlie

Morning. 
Monday again boo! - the weekend feels like a long lunch break these days. 

Since my last post we've been spending time clearing our allotment. Its been great, we dug out a base for our combost bin, moved both our water busts into a better location and found some tyres to stack for growing. We have cut back loads of brambles uncovering both a good fence and a very bad fence. All of our raised pallet boxes and ready for planting potatoes. Yesterday I dug a huge piece of black plastic sheeting out of a corner of the plot and this has now covered a large area so I don't have to buy the weed fabric. We also dug out loads of tiles for edging and two of our compost bins are now full for next year. I've posted some photos too. 

Money wise I am hoping this month to pay off some debt to NEXT that I accrued over Christmas (not included in DMP) its the only debt I have with interest so clearing it is important. I will be able to clear my other overdraft next month too which is in my DMP. 

I had a really busy weekend on top of the allotment I managed to get a lot done at home so feeling good!

Nat 

Bluegreen143

Just caught up with your diary - great pictures! Is your food budget for this month really only £40?! I’m in awe! Even if I’ve got that wrong and it’s £40 per week that’s still amazing! I thought I’d done well the last two weeks with £65 p/w and we’re only feeding two adults and two really little kids. Might try to squeeze our budget a bit more!

Parkyp

Hi Nat,  looks like your allotment is coming along . That must keep you busy maintaining it. Fingers crossed you get your next bill paid off. 

Have a nice weekend x

natlie

Hi All

I haven't been on here for a while as we've been spending every free moment at the allotment. Its been great and we feel so organised this year! loads of different beans, Corgettes, celery and celeriac at home and radishes, onions, kale, chard, potatoes, broad beans, herbs and soft fruit at the allotment. We acquired a free compost bin from a neighbour and so far we've managed to do everything at a really low cost. 



Debt wise things are as usual, still making the payment to SC and no word or changed from any creditors. 

I found out last month that I need £700 worth of dental work and surgery, I couldn't get an NHS Dentist I had to sign up for a private one (I haven't been to the dentist for 10 years due to affordability) My mum is lending me the £450 for the root canal and crown  

In better news a local hair salon were looking for models to have their haircut, so I am having my haircut for free, that's a £50-70 saving!

Today:
Helping my daughter clear out her junk filled, disorganised bedroom, we are going to decorate it with some money her great-gran gave her for Easter
I need to put washing out 
Pop over the the allotment to do some more tidying
Wash and store used jars for summer preserving 
Add some items to Eb*y I just found out that i don't need Payp*l to use Eb*y anymore hooray! this will help with paying for dental stuff
Pack some books for music magpie
Clean the bathroom and kitchen

Nat

natlie

Hello,

Got through quite a lot of stiffen the weekend, putting out all the recycling bags felt good this morning.

I sold a couple of shelf units and my father in law gave us £30 so I currently have £70 in my dentist saving pot and Ive made about £8 in eb*y bids so far. 

I have a questions thats been keeping me awake!

I have just been through my performance review at work, I did some really great things at work last year, one of them has been shortlisted for an award, but I didn't meet all of the objectives that I set for myself, now I scored myself as having approached my objectives (1 is not attempted, 2 is approached, 3 is achieved and 4 is exceeded) my boss agreed but then came back later and changed in to achieved based on other work that I did. I don't agree but this is pay rise related, I could do with the raise but I feel like a fraud. What would you do?

Nat 

joedenise

Your boss has said it so just accept it.  As you say it's a pay rise which you need.  You've obviously exceeded on one of your objectives for it to be shortlisted for an award so although you didn't achieve all you set yourself it all averages out as a 3.

I don't think you need to feel a fraud for accepting it.