New year, New diary - New me!

soulmate19

Hello everyone 

I’m back, this is my second diary, my first was very short and self pitying. I am a full time working mum with 3 beautiful girls aged 15,12 and 5 and I have way too many pets (but I love them even though they cost a fortune and will have everything they need but I will not be adding anymore). Having had a lot of changes in the last 6 months (who hasn’t with the awful COVID situation?  ) I can honestly say I think my life’s changing for the better. My finances however are probably even worse than last years though!  Since Boxing Day I’ve felt very different about everything. I’ve changed my eating habits, my spending habits (they may not be great but I’m definitely more aware and thoughtful).  I’m going to use this diary to hold myself accountable and to change my life for the better!

Today (Payday)I have organised my money and left enough money in my main account to pay all of my direct debits and moved what is left over to my other account. What is left I have divided by 4 weeks and I’m going to have to live off this.  This month it works out at £100 per week.  Out of this I’m going to need to buy food (I have a lot here already so will only be buying fresh stuff this week) gas, electric, fuel and any other bits we need.  I’ve explained to the older girls we are going to be cutting back on things we don’t need - I really don’t need to be buying them snacks every day when there’s things in the house they can have.  Thanks for reading if anyone has made it to the end of it! 

caeler

Good luck. @soulmate19 I’ve got a similar budget for food and fuel. I find a meal plan helps to keep me on track. I carefully buy things against the meal plan. I also swapped to Aldi from Sainsbury’s in the last year and I’m sure I’m saving a fortune! 

soulmate19

Thank you for your reply caeler   

I was hoping for a NSD today but had to buy some toilet roll so spent £1.90, didn’t pick up anything else where as before I’d have bought things for the girls for breakfast despite things being at home already.  

My app is telling me I need to self isolate for 9 days as I’ve been in contact with some one who has coronavirus   not sure how this will affect my financial situation.  I’m not going to be able to do the over time I had signed up for but feel lucky that I will at least be paid my basic wage while I’m off work. I have booked a online shop for later in the week (currently £75 in my trolley as popped two bottles of champagne in just to secure the delivery slot and I will take them out and do it properly nearer the time ) but aside from that surely I must save money not being able to go anywhere? Am going to use the time off work to organise the house and try to find things I can sell once I am allowed to.  It’s a strange feeling not being allowed out at all.  

IzzyBee

Good luck you will save money if you can’t go out I’m another who recommends Aldi meal planning and a shopping list also helps 

caeler

I’ve been able to save quite a bit in lockdown and every other month I do the challenge of eating just from the freezer and cupboard, strangely it has kept me motivated. My car needs a new battery so I’m trying to be really frugal this month with everything else so I can pay for the battery in this months budget rather than pull it from somewhere else. 

soulmate19

Good afternoon   

Not has the most productive day so far! Have spent all morning reading diaries and getting ideas from them.  After reading one particular diary I am really impressed by the use of pots on the Monzo account so I have opened one. I only have two pots set up so far, one for Christmas and one for my car insurance but I’ll be adding to these to get more things covered long term.  I think the Monzo account will really work for me. I’ve also decided I would like to start giving DD(12) some monthly pocket money. 

One thing that has jumped out at me today is my grocery shopping. Being in isolation has meant I’ve had to make a meal plan for the week. I looked through the freezer and it was actually much lower stocked than I thought. I made a list and DD went off and did a food shop for us.  I only put on the list what we would need and she only bought what was on the list and it came to £38.30, usually I would end up buying bits daily and spending much more than this.  This is definitely something I will carry on with once we are out of isolation. Izzybee I can see why you would recommend it if it! 

Caeler my car is due it’s mot next month. It’s definitely going to fail and I currently have no idea how I will pay for it. 

I’m going to go and tackle the kitchen now. It looks like a bombs gone off out there as the girls have made their lunch! 

soulmate19

Forgot to add I have logged on to my credit card and changed my direct debit to a fixed one instead of minimum payment. It’s not a lot over the minimum but every little bit of over payment will help. The first payment of the new amount will come out on 6th February. 

IzzyBee

Might have a look at monzo might be an idea to separate things so I have a better idea of what I have left 

soulmate19

Not too much to report. NSD today and almost a NSD yesterday too but DD needed £1 to buy something at the shop.  Being in isolation is giving me plenty of time to reflect on where I’ve made mistakes in the past but instead of dwelling it’s making me excited to change my future.  I keep logging into my new Monzo account even though I only have £5 in there and looking at my pots I have set up. Am looking forward to building them up when I can.  

In other news my washing machine seems to have died  I’m undecided what’s best to do with regards to getting a new one. It was second hand when I got it and I’ve had it 2+ years. I don’t have an emergency fund yet and can’t afford to buy a new one.  I don’t have enough available credit to get one but I can safely say if I did I wouldn’t!!! Before I wouldn’t have thought twice about it.  So I’m not sure wether to try and find a cheap second hand one or just persevere using a laundrette or asking my partner if I can use his for now. Trouble is 3 DD can create quite a lot of washing! By the time we are out of isolation I will have mountains of it!  

Have spoken to work today and agreed to some overtime when I’m back at work next week - an extra 16 hours.  I originally wanted to ear mark all of it for over payments but it is one of DD birthdays so will have to use some of it for her.  She’s really good and doesn’t ever really ask for much so I know she won’t be expecting expensive things and will be happy with whatever I buy her but I’d like to get her something she wants and I don’t know what that is! 
Still trying to eat healthy but boredom is making me want to eat more.  

IzzyBee

Bad news about the washing machine I would ask partner to use his if you can give you chance to save up for one second hand if you can not something you can really do without for long throw every spare penny at it are you doing any exercise just something of you tube will fit some time in and take your mind of food good luck 

soulmate19

Well I don’t think I’ve ever been in such a mess before  . I’ve opened a letter to a repossession order on my house  I knew I had some arrears but have somehow missed a notice seeking possession and now it’s at The next stage.  I have no idea what to do now. The court date is in July. I need to find things to sell or maybe get a second job and drastically cut back on everything.  I think if I pay off the arrears then it doesn’t go ahead but I’ve not read the letter properly. I glanced, panicked and shoved it back in the envelope.