Curbing the ridiculous

Alchemilla

Alchemilla said:

What will you curb your new diary?

I meant "call your new diary".

[Deleted User]

BellaLasagna2018 said:

I binged watched Pieces of Her. I think Toni Colette is such a good actress. I’ll look forward to your opinion of the series. I won’t say anything yet though! 

I'm on episode 5 (just started it) - agree with you - I love anything she is in.  I am trying hard to watch it only when I am on my own and not distracted as I think it's really good.  But it's slow going with 2 kids around as I barely get any time and DH likes to watch other things.  He is out tomorrow night but I am FTming my best mate from school at 2030 so might sneak in an hour beforehand if the kids play ball with bedtime!

BellaLasagna2018

[Deleted User] said:

BellaLasagna2018 said:

I binged watched Pieces of Her. I think Toni Colette is such a good actress. I’ll look forward to your opinion of the series. I won’t say anything yet though! 

I'm on episode 5 (just started it) - agree with you - I love anything she is in.  I am trying hard to watch it only when I am on my own and not distracted as I think it's really good.  But it's slow going with 2 kids around as I barely get any time and DH likes to watch other things.  He is out tomorrow night but I am FTming my best mate from school at 2030 so might sneak in an hour beforehand if the kids play ball with bedtime!

My partner often works a couple of hours in the evening so that’s when I indulge in my Netflix addiction! 

[Deleted User]

Alchemilla said:

What will you curb your new diary?

I started typing one the other day but it just sounded rubbish so I need to have a think before I start.  I guess I just don't know what my goals are yet.

[Deleted User]

BellaLasagna2018 said:

[Deleted User] said:

BellaLasagna2018 said:

I binged watched Pieces of Her. I think Toni Colette is such a good actress. I’ll look forward to your opinion of the series. I won’t say anything yet though! 

I'm on episode 5 (just started it) - agree with you - I love anything she is in.  I am trying hard to watch it only when I am on my own and not distracted as I think it's really good.  But it's slow going with 2 kids around as I barely get any time and DH likes to watch other things.  He is out tomorrow night but I am FTming my best mate from school at 2030 so might sneak in an hour beforehand if the kids play ball with bedtime!

My partner often works a couple of hours in the evening so that’s when I indulge in my Netflix addiction! 

To be fair, I am normally in bed by 830pm!!

[Deleted User]

We always seem to start the month off so well then go downhill.  So, yesterday I spent another 7.20 on mail ordering bear paws for the kids - DH wondered if that would be cheaper than supermarket and it was so ordered some.  

Cat food never got delivered and we got a refund but have now had to get from vets - not sure how much it is but DH picking up tonight - expect it's over £40 though.

So I feel that we need to try to just be "better" during the month - I just don't know why it starts off so well then goes rubbish.

NOT looking forward to tomorrow at all.  DH is leaving house early for a breakfast out with his boss - I have the DC - think am going to try to get DC2 down mid-morning then play with DC1 outside.  Then MIL having DC1 in the afternoon for a bit.  DH is then out from 7pm.  So he will basically get 1.5 hours with the DC tomorrow.

Alternatively, I try to keep DC2 awake in the morning, play with them both outside (difficult) and then try to put DC2 down for a nap when MIL takes DC1 so that I get a couple of hours "off".

Lunch was beans and cheese on toast from stores.  Dinner will be goodlife (vegan) plus waffles from stores.  We could do with 1 milk(!)

astrocytic_kitten

I think it’s hard when you have a LOT on your plate and a lot of demands on your time, you and DH aren’t necessarily fully on the same page about spending, and you’re both high earners - it’s not like you’re getting into debt or living beyond your means in any way, you’re just not saving as much as you’d like. 

The situation is kind of tailor made to be as difficult as possible to get a grip on - especially when your local shops are the 2 most expensive supermarkets going and there’s not really any cheap option, and the DCs are at such a demanding age, it all makes it much much harder to make the sort of changes you want to. 

I don’t have anything to suggest to make this better 😂 but you’re very hard on yourself and doing the best you can.

Alchemilla

I feel you on things going awry. Maybe it would help to check in once a week and re jig the budget until it starts working better?
Maybe there is too much unforeseen spending (which is natural given you've just moved).

[Deleted User]

astrocytic_kitten said:

I think it’s hard when you have a LOT on your plate and a lot of demands on your time, you and DH aren’t necessarily fully on the same page about spending, and you’re both high earners - it’s not like you’re getting into debt or living beyond your means in any way, you’re just not saving as much as you’d like. 

The situation is kind of tailor made to be as difficult as possible to get a grip on - especially when your local shops are the 2 most expensive supermarkets going and there’s not really any cheap option, and the DCs are at such a demanding age, it all makes it much much harder to make the sort of changes you want to. 

I don’t have anything to suggest to make this better 😂 but you’re very hard on yourself and doing the best you can.

Yes, this sums it up perfectly.  We are definitely not living beyond our (current) means and no debt other than mortgage but it's the saving for the future which concerns me, esp as our savings will be needed for the works (whenever we do them).  It will definitely get easier from Sept when we get some free hours for DC1, then he starts school Sept 2023 so we only have DC2 in nursery and I will go back FT - once we have no nursery fees then that will free up a lot of cash to save.

[Deleted User]

Alchemilla said:

I feel you on things going awry. Maybe it would help to check in once a week and re jig the budget until it starts working better?
Maybe there is too much unforeseen spending (which is natural given you've just moved).

Yes, I've started writing down in my diary (which I look at every day to check what appointments we have/reminders to collect things etc) where we are up to budget wise - will try to keep DH in check as he is drifting into spending on his card rather than the joint (his joint card wasn't working the other day, I think because he's not updated it with new address despite nagging) which means I then don't have as much visibility on what we've spent.