The Ups and Downs of my Emergency Fund

millymolly22

Rainy day here up north.  Managed to paint five large fence panels yesterday so fingers crossed for a dry day tomorrow to get more done.  Then that's another job off our list.  Booked a night away for my birthday which DH and DC are paying for.  Something to look forward too.  Not seen the sea yet this year.  Mr T delivered and I am approx a tenner under my weekly budget.  Even managed to get a dozen eggs with the shop which is a miracle.  Also got the flowers for the cemetery in the shop delivery so definitely saved some money this week.  Just need to watch the top up shops this week don't get out of hand.  Looking forward to another lie in in the morning before the return to work.

millymolly22

So today hasn't been the best spending wise.  Like the title of my diary it's "the ups and downs".  Saved £10 on my food shop but my hairdryer came to the end of its very long life so can't live without one so that was £18 to replace.  Bought one from A**a and using their new points system I gained £1 voucher so always a silver lining !!!  Treated my GC to a meal deal at Mr T who I am minding because of the school strikes but using my T clubcard points was a no spend.  At the moment anything is a bonus.  Free coffee with my insurance app for May is available so will save that for a work morning.  Spending diary updated and am still ok for the rest of the month.  Need to buy a present for my friend for her birthday but saw some nice plants for her patio in A**a which I will buy next week.  Painted some more of my fence panels yesterday so just a few more to do next weekend pending weather. I have a pile of ironing waiting so when my GC is collected that's my job for later.  Looking forward to another long weekend.  This one has seemed so go on forever so no complaints 😁

millymolly22

Not the best day today.  Ended up with a takeaway for tea and now I feel rubbish. One cos I spent money on a takeaway and two cos my body is telling me I have just eaten junk food.  I have been in work so as the weather was good for a change DH decided to finish the fences and gates so I came home and painted the shed.  On the positive side that's a couple of jobs done and dusted as the weekend weather still doesn't seem any better and we can relax, watch a bit of the Coronation and celebrate DD and GDD birthdays without having DIY hanging over us.  Anyway tomorrow is another day...but there is only me in as support staff.at work so that should be a fun day...not.  

millymolly22

Had an up and down weekend for both money and mood.  Not really spent to much except on a friend's birthday gift and a top up shop.  We don't normally buy gifts for each other.  Moved to buying for our children then just our grandchildren but it's a big birthday for her so wanted to buy her something.  Not been in the best of moods.  A mix of mithering about money, May being the month I lost both my parents and children who I just feel sometimes take take take and don't appreciate how lucky they are.  Don't get me wrong I have three good DC but sometimes I wish they would appreciate what they do have.  We have never been a high income family but two of them mix with people who have money to splash and mine think they can live like that but then come to me and my non existent money tree when they have over spent.  Maybe I have taught them wrong especially seeing me abuse credit when they were young.   Lately I have clamped down with my bailing out here and there.  Yes it's caused tension but they will never learn if I carry on.  So another short week at work but this week I am glad to get back in a routine.  Think it lifts my mood being in a routine and in control.   Just wish we could get some sunshine.  Still feels like winter up north.

millymolly22

Another week done.  Can't believe we are getting near to the end of May.  Hoping for sunshine this weekend and have saved a lot of washing to line dry instead of using the tumble dryer.  Love line dried bedding.  Can't beat the fresh smell when it goes back on the beds.  Not spent very much this week.  Mr T shop last Sunday and then bread and milk top ups have been my only spend.  Next week is pension day for DH and payday for me so some payments will be made to the card debts.  After reading a few diaries I have been trying free spins the last couple of days so I am going to see how that goes.  Also signed up to a cashback site.  I have been on a survey site for a couple of years but don't earn much money from it but every little helps.   Although we have CC debt its too easy to blame our lack of disposable funds on debt only when really the cost of living rises have reduced our spends significantly.  So hoping for another no spend weekend and fingers crossed we can sit in the garden and enjoy the sun.  

millymolly22

Payday today and DH pension came in yesterday.   I had paid a deposit for a family holiday next year on one card (our share of the holiday the balance being paid by other family members) so I expected my balances to be higher at the end of the month but fortunately they aren't as high as expected.  By next month's payments they should be back to where they were last month so I am taking it as a positive especially as our share of a long weekend is now paid for.  Been to the garden centre for my summer bedding plants so that's a job for this weekend.  Finishing work at lunchtime tomorrow so will do the monthly diesel fill up of the car then hopefully there will be only my haircut this month to pay out.   Car is due it's MOT this month but that's DHs job and he pays for it together with new filters etc.  Out car is DHs baby so the less I have to do with it the better lol
Looking forward to a lovely sunny bank holiday weekend.  

millymolly22

Not posted in a while but taking a day to chill relax and enjoy the sun.  Been working on our bathroom update which has cost a little more than expected but it's the last house job on the list for this year so when my June payday comes round I can definitely look at starting putting more into my EF.  Am hoping for a bonus from work at the end of this month which should pay one of my CCs off at least so going to throw more money onto the card with interest on and keep the payment to the 0% the same.  I will be glad when the jobs on the house are done so I can make a real effort to save.  Think the thunder is on its way to the north west now.  Can definitely hear some rumbling 🌞⚡☔

millymolly22

This week I also checked my British Gas and they advised a reduction in my monthly payments of £30 from July so I was buzzing about that.  Although our food bills are still through the roof 🙄 Transferred a balance of £10 from free spins as well.  Hopefully if I get another survey from YLive this month I should get a £50 pay out next month so that will definitely go in my EF.

millymolly22

Been a while since I last posted and pay day has been and gone.  Good news is a bonus paid one CC off.  So now I am down to two.   One CC is 0% to September or October.  £500 is owing on that and am paying £50 a month and fingers crossed I can get a BT when interest free comes to an end.  My other CC I have paid off with this month's pay but have decided to use that for weekly food shops and then pay off in full on each payday.  I know it's a risk for spending but I have allocated more in my budget than I plan spending on food so at the moment it's the plan I am going with.  Any top up shops during the week will be paid out of balance left in my bank account.  Paid 50 into each EF Christmas/Birthday and holiday account which is a start.  Let's hope it's all still there at the end of the month.
Then as per usual I get straight with funds and new budget sorted and something comes along to spoil everything !!!
Checked bank account this morning to find my broadband DD had practically doubled !!!!!  Can't believe I have missed this so it's not been a good start to the week.   Did a web chat before 8am and the increase is now £15 a month more which is much more doable.  We do spend a lot on broadband.  My son likes his gaming but he is working and pays keep so he does pay towards it but doubling our DD when we don't have a debit balance is madness.  Feel like every company is playing on price increases and definitely need to keep on top any increases they implement. 
Car filled for the month today and nice to see price of diesel coming down.
So planning lots of NSDs this month.  It's my birthday at the end of the month so hoping for some cash as I do need some new clothes and trainers but don't want to use my own money lol. 
Eyes tested today.  Going to claim back my eye test fee from employer.  Something I haven't done in a long time.  DS is paying for my new glasses for my birthday.  So win win
Money from eBay sales due in bank tomorrow.
Need to do more regular posts so then I don't have a long rant like this one lol

millymolly22

Friday again.   Where are these weeks going?? Been an up and down week both financially and mentally.  Employers refused to pay for my eye test even though I use a screen for six hours a day! I thought this was a health and safety thing but obviously not in my employers eyes (no pun intended).  The worst thing was the decision was influenced by our accounts department (a so called work friend) who told my employer that the company has never paid this out before.   I and other members of staff have had eye tests paid for previously so I am not sure why she said it and I argued the point but got no where.  The person involved works close to me and I heard the phone call she had with boss.   I have been struggling with my work recently and the office politics. Worked in a group of six pre COVID who were reduced to two after.  I have worked here over twenty years and am late 50s but I just feel like decisions made recently are as if they are trying to push me out.  Redundancies could happen at any time and I would get the highest redundancy payment so I feel like they are trying to get me to leave of my own accord.  But I'm a tough northern bird who is stubborn lol
So £25 down on an eye test and it's been one top up shop too many.  Can't believe how much bread has been eaten in our house this week
Mr T is coming tomorrow to fill up the fridge freezer and cupboards then off out to look for some trainers for me.  DH is buying them for my birthday so will spend a bit more than I would usually do 😂
All bedding is out on the line today and up to date with washing and ironing so that's a win.
Happy weekend 🎉