Need fresh eyes on my budget!

honeybee1234

@Spendless family birthdays definitely more often in the first three months of the year, then a fairly even spread through the rest of the months. All were told at the start of the year that they were getting the same amount each (£20) and my niece and nephew £10 as they're younger. I usually have a £30/40 balance at least, but last month and this month each had a birthday and I haven't topped it up. It's actually one of the least stressful pots for me which is good!

Ahhh yes, assisting the adult children takes random forms but it's an investment in different ways. I'd do the same if it meant one of them getting their deposit back.

I'm sat out in the garden with my budget looking at me so I really should work it out!

honeybee1234

Morning!

I had a blip last week, I felt quite low for a few days. Centred a lot round struggling more with going out atm and it being the summer holidays, the weight of guilt is heavy and it really got to me. I am now having some support with this through mental health services. I do believe I need support to deal with the root causes of this (I've been affected by people in my past who have been quite abusive) but dealing with controlling my anxiety will be beneficial for now.

As I've been a bit detached with making proactive decisions with my budget, what I did a few days ago was cancelled the standing orders to most of my pots except my 'Annual' pot for insurances. I have transferred 380.00 to my 'Groceries' pot - 20.00 less than I put in last month to start shaving off roughly 5.00 per week, for now. The only thing left now to do is allocate amounts to pots and my personal spends.

Focus is on having funds for summer holiday activities, although I am utilising low cost activities, and me and my other half have National Trust free passes to use as well. At this point I'm really taking the viewpoint of getting out of the house to do anything with them is a win!

Yesterday my other half and I went to Dunelm to return a couple of cushions so that's 30.00 back to the credit card. I'm pleased to report I didn't buy anything and we didn't go off plan to the café so I'm quite happy with that! He's offered to treat me to brunch next week as he says I've done really well with getting on with things which is really sweet - he's always really supportive - and I think by next week I'll be feeling even more calmer so town (where he wants to go) will be manageable I think!

honeybee1234

Hi all!

Am feeling much better than when I last posted. This week, I have managed to get out twice with the boys - Monday to a nice countryside café for brunch and a walk, then Tuesday we used a Meerkat Movies code to go and see The Odyssey. My brain is now in decompress mode so yesterday and today are at home. Today is earmarked for painting a 'feature' wall in the living room which OH is helping with. This means the living room will be practically finished, bar replacing doors (which can wait), and the sofa being reupholstered on one side - covered entirely by the insurance I thankfully took out when I bought it (wipes brow in relief!)

The budget is going well. I have divided up my surplus into pots, and am focusing on furnishing the most pressing, whilst leaving others for now, rather than dividing up the surplus into small amounts across everything.

I've also been through my outgoings and cancelled a small amount of payments to free up around 15.00. Then I called the water board on Monday enquiring as to how my water bill had increased by 300% 😱 Turned out it was a billing error on their part which I won't go into as it's terribly unexciting but the good news is after my September payment, it should drop by a good 20.00 all being well! I desperately need to replenish my emergency fund, so I will be concentrating on this come September.

I have been contemplating my very expensive hairdresser this last week (curly hair hairdresser, 110.00 for a full restyle plus 20.00 for the privilege of having long, thick hair 😱) She really is great, and very local which does help with my anxiety. I've decided I cannot justify paying that every three months, so I'll be trying out her (slightly!) less spendy option of a dry cut with the long hair add on. Every four months this would work out at 20.00 per month, or every three months this would be 27.00. I still think this is a lot, but I'm going to roll with it for the next year and then reassess.

Right! Painting is starting early today so I'm going to get cracking moving things and prepping walls soon. Take care all!

Blackcats

Nice to read that you are feeling better and have been able to get out.

foxgloves

You've done really well to have some outings, @honeybee1234. If you need the following day to let your anxiety levels fall back within range, then so be it. I don't think that matters if it an effective way to manage it.

I love a feature wall colour. It's just a pot of paint at the end of the day but it can make such a difference, can't it? It's also an affordable way of having a bit of a new look as a different colour with a few accent pieces such as a cushion, throw, vase or candle jar, etc, can look like a re-vamp without spending silly money. Moving furniture & smaller stuff around is useful for that too, I find.

F x

Catscoffeecake

Could you and kids come up with a list of free or low cost stuff you can do in area. Then put it in a jar and kids get to pull one out of it?

MayDogsandCoffee

Would your hairdresser still be adding the long hair surcharge if you aren't getting it dried? I have really thick hair and when it is long it takes forever for them to dry and that is the bit they try to charge for.

elsien

My hairdresser is stupidly expensive but I can’t face finding another one and then going through getting the colours as nice as they look at the moment. When I first went, I’d never been to a hairdresser, so it was very much “I have no clue what any of this means, please use words of one syllable or less”.🤣

Mine does let me use the hairdryer and dry it off myself though, so avoiding the surcharge. Otherwise, I’d probably just walk out of there with wet hair, which is not the best advert for of them. I’m very much your wash and go person at the best of times.

foxgloves

My hair is shoulder length & the salon I go to in town charges £13 for a dry cut. I wash my hair the day before & straighten it the morning of my appointment. Stylist then cuts it back to shape. I have long layers so it is quick to do & she says it's cheap because it isn't a full re-style & I don't require any heated appliances, hot water or products. I also colour it myself which saves a small fortune on what I used to pay back in the Spendy Years.

honeybee1234

So my hairdresser has a list of options, and the cheapest is a dry curly cut and even that is 60.00 😱 That's apart from a fringe trim which is 15.00. I was considering going to my old local hairdressers who used to cut mine and the kiddos' hair at budget prices which was completely acceptable for a trim for me on the fringe and longest layer. Maybe alternate the two? I shall contemplate this!

Sooo it's been fairly quiet here since I last posted. I'm continuing Project Summer Holidays which involves decluttering and tidying, and I've really made a dent in it! It's very cathartic. This week is quiet with the boys, although we are going out later in the week to see family, which is local and no spends. Lots of lovely family time and catching up which will be great!

The budget is going well. It's very satisfying to see the pots building up, and so good to have them to call on when needed. I wish it were going faster but alas, this is the nature of my budget and I will get there eventually! It's still the groceries budget that needs attention although things are improving:

• I'm much better at using up things in the fridge, either to put them in a different dish, or freezing them. I want to be 100% on this, so I'm giving this some attention until it becomes automatic
• I've been bulk buying offers to get a stock in of bargains that I use every week
• I've been really intentional about what I put in my trolley. I always do a shopping list and menu plan, and lately I've been leaving certain items that I'd usually buy that don't get used up (certain fruit I buy for us that the kids don't eat, for example)

Lunch items definitely cost me! I like to have things for sandwiches/wraps/etc for the boys, but I'm wondering if there's a cheaper way to do this 🤔 I buy ham, and packs of chicken pieces, which don't last long! Then bread and wraps/rolls, crisps, yogurts and fruit.

Today I have to go out in a bit to take DS2 to an appointment, which is very close by so low petrol costs. I need to pick up a prescription whilst out, and possibly a couple of extra bits for tea to accommodate DS2 depending on if he's staying later. Tea is soup, leftovers from yesterday with buttery toast for those who want it!

Have a good day!