Missy’s Surviving the storm so we can dance in the rain.

RelievedSheff

I think the benefits of a PAYE job are often very much underestimated. 

We have friends who are self employed and even when we are away on holiday they are still working. They never seem to have a day off.

We leave work and that is it. It isn't thought about until we next go back. Our holidays are paid annual leave, we get sick pay and we get pension contributions from our employers and we know when and what we are getting paid each month.

Don't get me wrong it isn't for everyone but I do think in your situation you should give it some serious thought. 

Good going with the meal planning  

missymoo81

Thanks @RelievedSheff I really am appreciative of your comments. The cogs in our heads are still turning. We had some meetings yesterday and there are some things we can do to make it more profitable. So we will try those first. But also making a plan for a long term goal which would involve an exit strategy. I guess why it’s so hard is that I actually want a career at whatever I do next. So it needs to be meaningful. 

So money saving wise. Never have I been so on top of using everything up Foodwise and making things stretch. I think it’s the first time ever I have used all of an uncut loaf! I just toasted in when it got a bit stale. I froze the wraps and bread and have stretched those out for everyone’s lunches. I made stew yesterday for about 6 dinners with about 400g of chicken. The spinach bag usually goes bad before I can use it. But I picked through it all and used pretty much all of the bag apart from a few leaves that were too far gone. I’m thinking about what I’m eating more. Instead of just eating the crisps or chocolate bars with my lunch. I’ll have a couple of rich tea biscuits so that OH who needs to eat more can have them. I’m bulking meals out with veg that would usually go bad or with a cheap carb like rice or potatoes. I should be eating more protein but I’m hoping it won’t affect my workout performance too much. 

I’ve spent very little money this week. Have friends staying this weekend though, and their children. So need to get food in for them which will be an expense! 4 extra mouths to feed! Hoping they’ll pay for a takeaway on Saturday night. 

Chrystal

You could cook things like Chilli or bolognaise, augmented with Salad and Garlic Bread for when your guests are there, pre cook so that you have some spare time for them. Cheap, filling and tasty... especially with a glass of wine

missymoo81

Hi Chrystal thanks for the ideas! We’ve settled on a bbq, Easy and simple, we’ll just have burgers and sausages and I’ll make potato salad and a salad. They’re going to bring their own alcohol. I’ll just make sure I get beer. It is going to be expensive to feed them. I’ve made a list of what I need to get and it’s a lot. But they’re our guests. I’ll try and minimise it where I can but I can only do so much. I’m def going to go to Lidl’s for the majority. 

I’ve done lots of sums and I’m £100 short for everything I want to pay for. This is only my side of things not OH’s. I have until 7th May to find this. This sounds worse than it is, as every so often I have random payments or memberships come through. And I have 2 memberships that should all being well come through before then. Alternatively, I am doing surveys which are helping and if I come in under budget on groceries or planned expenditure that can come off the total too. 

Have a rare day with OH today as children are going to ex MILs until tomorrow. 

We’re going to jump on a bike and ride to the coast. Very much looking forward to it! 

jwil

Have a good day

Chrystal

You do seem to make things hard for yourself.  Take care. XX

missymoo81

Managed to lose some posts! That’s what I get for letting May have free reign on my phone!!! God knows what else has been deleted!

so long story short, I booked a course and coaching which when money is short is maybe not the best idea but it should help the business in the long term, for me to be seen to be better at things etc. still waiting for the recruitment to open up for the PAYE job. 

So with the extra expenditure I need to find £291, it like to find it by the 7th but that may be tight. But I already have a membership of £48 that has come through and someone else has just signed up for a plan for £95. So it’s now down to: £148. Someone else should be signing up for 2 memberships on Monday for £100, but I won’t count that until it happens. 

All of this was to include the car insurance which is due next month to pay it in full, but they seem to offer discounts to pay it monthly 🤷🏻‍♀️. If I can make it so it’s the same amount, I will pay it monthly and save the £400 for maybe a holiday or if we need it to get by etc.

Need to spend £16 more at lidl to get the £10 off.
So that will be next weeks shopping budget £26. The children are only here half of the time so should be doable! 

missymoo81

So things are looking up, I’ve had another membership for £48. So that’s just £100 I need to find by the 7th.

I think I’ve managed to figure out a way to manage my money. I’ve managed to separate things so that most things can be paid with 2 incomes and the dribs and drabs that come in through the month from memberships can go into a different account for emergencies etc.

Bluegreen143

That sounds like a good idea @missymoo81. It’s taken me lots of trial and error to find the best way to manage things but I managed to get a month ahead by using some savings. So now money which comes in through the month isn’t budgeting til the start of the next month. Means you always know exactly what you have to play with. 

My other little random thing I do is put child benefit into a pot, I do take their pocket money from it and the rest sits there til I need to pay for clothes, activities etc for them. Really helpful as they tend to outgrow all their clothes at once then not need any for a while.

missymoo81

Hey @Bluegreen143 how are you? I really need to catch up with your diary! Thank you! I’ve now managed to open separate bank accounts on my app, unfortunately I can’t name them but I’m going to divvy up all incoming money to manage exactly as you say, clothes, pocket money etc.

my break down per month is:

100 birthdays & Xmas

45 May dancing and Roo piano

40 Car insurance & tax

40 clothes and shoes

50 holidays

200 spends

850 mortgage and bills

19 work insurance

18 phone

3 Apple storage 

450 loan

120 coaching

20 cat food

120 food

48 Childrens swimming

This is from income for my PT’s, my monthly payments from small coaching business, child maint from ex and child benefit. Anything that comes in around that for adhoc work or non monthly memberships, will go into a separate pot for emergencies or mostly to pay tax! I’m not taking any money from the big business in the hope it can maintain itself and OH. 

Need to do my tax return asap and give it to the accountant to see if I need to pay the huge amount for July as It was on projected income and I’ve earned about half of what I did last year, so I’m hoping to bring it right down.

Feel more in control of things, which is always good. Have a super busy week next week but going to try and not get stressed about it.