Cancer, cash and carrying on

DancingInTheRain

We also use a CC for points but pay off daily when I do a quick budget check first thing in a morning so it's more like a debit card. Helps to keep the spends account more accurate and keeps our spending more accountable when we see the account balance dwindling 😉

ohdearhowdidthathappen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82047973#Comment_82047973

Thanks… yes, I think it is a welcome distraction. Something I have some vague control over, unlike my health 🥴

ohdearhowdidthathappen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82048027#Comment_82048027

I wonder if paying it daily or weekly might be something to consider. I guess as long as we’re sticking to our weekly food budget, that’s the main thing.

DH did the online food order today and he always managed to spend too much. He’s a nightmare for buying sweet treats and beer! He only went £20 over, I’ll recoup it over the coming weeks 😁

maggiem

I check credit cards daily, partly because I worry about fraud. I also then transfer the cost of any purchases in Chase account where I have accounts set up for each card. I don’t earn a lot of interest doing this but some and every little helps. I then transfer into the current account the day before the direct debit is due. Would that help to make you feel better about cc food bills?

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thanks Maggiem…. I use the sn00p app daily that shows our accounts and CC all in one place, so I don’t really check the CC app regularly for fraud.

Today, I’ve changed our @mex gold card to a rewards one with them instead. There’s no annual fee and rewards looked a decent rate.

I was rechecking our budget and there are only a few areas that aren’t fixed.

Our current pots in M0nzo are for Christmas and holidays. I’ve started a few more for these variable expenses today. So our pots now are:

-Christmas £150 - we’ve done this several years and it works well.

-Gifts (Birthdays etc) £150 - our kids, each other, our parents

-Holidays £500 - we probably need to increase this once I’m out of treatment

-Entertainment £200 - this is very variable, some months it’s only a trip to cinema, but days out for 7 can be extortionate

-Kids Clothes £200 - we only buy for younger 3

-Car repairs £100 - fixed costs are in budget, this is for unexpected repairs

They seem fair amounts to start with, will monitor then and adjust as needed.

We only have 1 car and it’s 7 years old. When we bought it 3 years ago it was £15k and we’re hoping it lasts another 5 years. By then we won’t need a 7 seater. Should we be saving monthly towards a replacement ie £250pm for the 5 years? 🤔

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Family BBQ today and I’m going to have a mini whinge here about it.

We always host… because we’ve got 5 kids and a big house it’s always been expected. Both DH and I have a brother each and they do nothing. So if we don’t do it, the grandparents don’t see grandkids, our kids don’t see their cousins etc. They don’t even contribute, bring a pudding or whatever. Irritating.

I always used to just roll my eyes, make a few passive aggressive comments about it and kind of got on with it.

But I’m p£&sed off that despite undergoing chemo etc no one is taking the initiative to think that maybe someone else could host.

With my family, I’ve just been popping over to see my mum for a coffee and I’ve left it that my brother can organise something if he wants to see us.

My husband folded and has organised this BBQ. I’ve said fine, but I’m not doing anything to help. He said that was fine at the time, but he’s stressing now it’s today 😏. I’m sticking to my guns and hopefully he’ll think twice about doing it again while I’m having treatment!

liselle

Yes I was in the same position as you are, everyone expecting me to be the hostess.Unfortunately the only way I found round it was to go away on the expected, usual dates, and like you, visited my parents often.

ellenvan

Sometimes you just have to stand your ground.

I actually like it when other members of family are hosting, but direct about can you bring e.g. drinks, desserts?

DancingInTheRain

You're right to feel frustrated by it all, especially with your health, definitely stand your ground.

I'd be tempted to hide away upstairs and catch up on a book or a box set and leave them to it x

beanielou

Well done on standing up for yourself.