Struggling along as best I can

nannygladys

Hi everyone,
I have just been catching up on my banking and budgets and I am really fed up of getting to the same point of having very little for the last 6-10 days before I get my pension.
Don't get me wrong my bills are all paid and I have no debt and I only need to buy just a couple of bits of food (coffee!) But I'm getting increasingly frustrated about it. I was fine during the lockdown as none of us could really do anything but I would really like to be able to do more now.
Just a bit of history - I have been in debt, I haven't saved, I bought dds up as a single parent and didn't earn any large salaries so haven't a private pension. I do get a state pension but that's it, and up to now have managed quite well. Oh and I do own my own house, which is where the bulk of money went, but it was worth it!!!!
So the reason for this diary is to be accountable for everything I spend and hopefully able to have some spare cash to have a life!!!
PS I do live quite frugally already - well try anyway.
Nannyg

nannygladys

Ok, I have emptied my purse £2.09 and in the bank I have £26.34, I also have a penny jar and a small emergency cash amount that I definitely won't be touching. So that's plenty really and a lot more than a many people have. So it's a matter of eating out of the cupboards and freezer. Just to be transparent I do have an allotment, that has started to produce veggies, so as long I keep eating the kale, cucumbers, courgettes and peas I will be fine lol. 
I look after dgc some days of the week, but I don't supply them with food, they bring lunch boxes and the other one I go to their house for the day and I have enough fuel in the car for that.
Oh dear it shouldn't be a struggle really but it is getting me down a bit, anyway onwards and upwards.
I think budgets will have to be altered when I get paid.
Nannyg

CRANKY40

Hello and welcome. I write my budget out for the following month usually the last week of the month before and included in it is weekly "spends" - money that covers a pub lunch or a Maccies for my son - that kind of thing. I remember once saying to my aunty that I couldn't go somewhere because I had no money. What I actually meant was that we'd spent that weeks pocket money and there was nothing until next week. My aunty who is further in debt than most people in these diaries was shocked that I wouldn't borrow the money from the next weeks spends but we all know what that leads to don't we? 

Anyway, what I'm trying to say in my long winded way is maybe that kind of approach would be helpful to you? 

Brie

Nannyg - your mention of courgettes makes me smile.  They are one thing I love and completely cannot grow.  But I do know that once they start producing they will come on a storm!!!  I saw a great recipe for courgette pasta on the vegetarian website - made me drool!

https://vegsoc.org/recipes/courgette-linguini-with-bean-and-tomato-sauce/

Good luck with your budgetting and I hope it doesn't continue to be too much of a struggle.

kazwookie

Can you get a small part time job to help you out?

Are you sure you are on the cheapest gas / elect etc

warby68

Could your children maybe pay/gift you a small amount for childcare? On a very tight budget a small amount can make a big difference yet be only a tiny fraction of what professional childcare would cost. Hopefully the parents have offered at some point.

Brie

warby68 said:

Could your children maybe pay/gift you a small amount for childcare? On a very tight budget a small amount can make a big difference yet be only a tiny fraction of what professional childcare would cost. Hopefully the parents have offered at some point.

Or even provide you with lunch on days the kids come to yours?

nannygladys

Thanks for the kind welcomes and suggestions.
Kazwookie : I have changed my gas and electric, house and contents ins and the biggest change was my car insurance - it was under half of what I had been paying and it included breakdown cover this year, with the help of dd. So I have saved quite a lot this year, I also pay up front each year for quite a few bills so I put quite a bit away each pay period for annual bills etc.
Brie:  I write a budget out each month,and find it hard to stick to, so that's my biggest fail!!! I must try harder and stop spending on fripperies!!!! I always take out money for direct debits, annual bills etc but I'm afraid it's what's left that goes awry!
Warby:  both daughters have offered but I have declined, as long as they provide their food I'm OK with that. I do enjoy having them and its not 5 days a week

I think I need to pull my big girls knickers up and buckle down to it and stop making excuses to myself, but I'm open to any more suggestions.I will post daily what I have been up to and hopefully it'll stop any mindless spending and the robbing Peter to pay Paul will stop. 
Thanks again everyone
Nannyg

nannygladys

Hi everyone, 
I have joined the August grocery challenge and just realised that the £100 each month has got to include everything bar fuel. So I will have to be careful if I want enough for Xmas treat food - thinking about it there's only me so I only need a couple of bits, but I will treat it as a challenge to see how much I can accumulate.
Nannyg

MatyMoo

In January & February each year I challenge myself to spend no more than £10 a week on food shopping, could you try something like that? It may help you to build up a bit of a reserve 😉

I am allowed anything from the cupboards or freezer during the challenge!

nannygladys

Hi Matymoo
I am going to have a go at that until pay day and see how I get on. I should be able to do it as I have done a bit of an inventory and have quite a bit in. I have 11 days until pay day so I will allow £15. I will draw £15 out of my bank on Monday and put the change from my purse in the change jars and hide my debit card!!!

Right bedtime 
Nannyg