Currently clueless...aiming for awareness

[Deleted User]

Yes it is, reduction in spending is gradual but keep going. Xxx

katsu

It's slow progress as your debt went on slowly too.  You didn't get in this much debt in one go so it will take time to get the changes all in place and working. 

You and the OH and the kids will all end up in a much better place as you get the budgets working for you

canvascamper

So all the bills have gone out today and I'm on -£350. I get paid in 2 weeks. I still have to pay -
Gas and electric £262
Cleaner £30
Milkman £12.60
Phone/internet £58
Gymnastics £20
Karate £13

So if nothing else comes out of my account I will be around -£760, which is another £100 shaved off my overdraft, plus the council tax rebate should land this week so that will help too.

I went into Aldi today. I only needed fabric conditioner but spent £11, mostly on fruit for the kids. I was going to pop in and out on my way to play group but went in with another mum friend who was doing a big shop so of course I dawdled with her and put more in my basket. Even as I was doing it I was thinking "put it back". 

WinterWarrior

Will you have food to add to that total or is it all accounted for? The CT rebate should knock it back down nicely. I don’t use fabric conditioner at all now, I found I can manage quite well without it. Is it worth a try? 

canvascamper

I've got £22 left in my Monzo for food/tram/anything else until payday on 16th. It will be tight but doable, I think. 

I've tried without fabric conditioner, I don't use it on our (as in, adult) clothes but 7yo has real sensory issues with clothes so the softer the better for her. I don't use much at all because I find the perfume too much, so a bottle lasts a couple of months. 

greenbee

I’m with you on the smell of fabric conditioner! Can’t stand it - or the smell of detergent generally. Have you tried white vinegar? I’ve been using it for years and don’t have an problems with softness, although line-drying when there’s no wind can leave things a little rigid - but they seem to recover after a bit of time in the airing cupboard.

canvascamper

Happy hump day! 

@greenbeeNot tried vinegar in the wash although I use it for cleaning. Will give it a go on 3yo clothes and see if it might pass the 7yo test! Thank you.

Low spend day today, just the tram to work and I was starving on the way home so bought a banana for 80p. Was very impressed that I avoided the junk selections in all the shops! 

Nearly hit the next £5 payout on surveys, which is all going into the kids' birthday pots. 

Baby steps! 

canvascamper

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Managed a no spend day today, actually it was a "no leaving the house except to vote for 5 minutes" day so very boring, just loads of working. I did managed to cook a huge lentil chilli for lunches/freezer so my future me will thank me.

Loads of my seedlings are ready for potting on but I realised I've no more compost and my raised bed is only half full. I have a compost bin but it's not ready yet. Wondering if I need 2 compost bins really, one for filling and one for leaving for a year to rot, then swap. It's what we used to do when we had an allotment. Anyway I'm going to have to buy some compost at the weekend so will need to research where I can get the cheapest option. I'm thinking maybe The Range or Aldi. 

canvascamper

Friyay! Another minimal spend day today, only my team fare for work. Took a packed lunch and didn't leave the office as I didn't need anything from the shops.

Feeling like I'm slowly changing my mindset. I used up my last scented candle this week and normally I would consider new ones an absolute essential but I've got loads of scented oils and 2 diffusers so I'm using up the oils before I buy any more candles. 

WinterWarrior

Well done. Candles are such sneaky things and candle shops are like sweet shops, you need one of each flavour 😣 Your diffusers will smell just as good.