Here we go…

futuremewillthankme

Today hasn’t been as productive as I hoped. I have done some work and also jiggled things around a little with pots/spaces/accounts. Here is my current set up.

3 bank accounts.

1. Monzo

Child benefit goes into one pot here. Then all spends for the boys that are split between me and my ex husband come out of that.

I also have weekly food pots. I think budgeting weekly will be easier for me. At least initially. I will take out my weekly budget on a monday and that will be in the main Monzo account. I have set up another pot for petrol. Will try to stick to monthly for that and see how things go.

I have set up one more pot which is for roundups for any food spends. This money will be my personal spends for treats.

2. Starling

This is my busiest account. I am setting up a bills space here where all direct debits and standing orders will go out of. I also have spaces for annual bills, and sinking funds. Christmas, birthdays, dentist, optician, clothes, school holidays, holidays, etc. Like with Monzo I have set it up so roundups from any spends go to an emergency savings space.

3. HSBC

I am just keeping money for things I do with the boys. A snack out, paying entry into somewhere, etc.

I’m hoping this is simple yet effective for me.

The scariest part is having no credit to fall back on which has been my safety net for years.

Blackcats

just popping by to wish you luck. My best tip is to keep posting regularly, even when it feels like there's not much to say. There are some of us who have been here for a long time and are now debt free but we still post updates to keep ourselves on track and keep learning how to manager our money.

Could you ask some of your family for activity based Christmas gifts for your children? Cinema vouchers, day passes for swimming at the leisure centre, tickets for a sporting event, museum entry etc.

Will follow along and cheer you on.

futuremewillthankme

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82192370#Comment_82192370

Thank you 😊

I actually do receive money for Christmas from my auntie which is for me and my boys. For the past 2 years I have used it for an annual parking pass for a local country park. During the summer months, parking is about £8 there so having this pass saves a lot. I do need to go there more often though (and make sure I take drinks/snacks when I do go).

futuremewillthankme

Today I have spent £13.04 in the local shop. Did I need what I bought? Nope. I am so used to just popping in and I really need to break this habit. I have £15.56 left in my food pot to last until Monday. I don’t need to buy anything so in theory this shouldn’t be a problem. In practice, I need to work at it.

I had planned to see the person I’m ‘seeing/dating’ 🤷‍♀️ this evening but remembered at lunchtime I had said I was going over to my parents’ house as it’s my dad’s birthday on Sunday and they’re going away tomorrow for a week. We rearranged for tomorrow, then I reminded him earlier it was Bonfire Night. He has 3 children, his youngest is 17 and lives with him full time. She has autism and additional learning needs so I questioned would she want to spend the evening with him. He said she usually hates fireworks but is going to talk with her and let me know. If not, I’m sure we’ll have our date at some point 🤣

A parcel arrived today which had branded tracksuit bottoms in for my teenager for Christmas. They were on sale, and I only ever tend to buy him plain joggers, or branded things from Vinted. I’m sure he’ll be living in them after Christmas. Looking at them I probably should have bought a size smaller so will look at exchanging them tomorrow.

I was planning on reading today but haven’t. I did pick up a book, take it upstairs and then brought it back downstairs so it has travelled a little. I’m yet to open it though. I find myself in a reading slump sometimes, I’m hoping this is a short lived one!

Lolina

Welcome! I'm following your diary with interest and wishing you all the best on your journey :)

You write really engagingly by the way… maybe you should write that dating book haha 😉😄

in_need_of_direction

maybe hold onto those tracksuit bottoms as teenagers can grow like weeds

futuremewillthankme

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82192769#Comment_82192769

That's actually not a bad plan. He's 13, and he's growing fast but he hasn't quite developed into a more grown up body shape (it makes sense to me!) so that could happen at any time soon.

futuremewillthankme

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82192636#Comment_82192636

Thank you for following along 😊

🤣 my friends love the whatsapp updates I send them!

futuremewillthankme

Today has been considerably more productive than yesterday. I have pretty much finished getting what I want for my youngest's birthday, and have been quite organised with it…….something he wants, something to read, something to play with, something he needs and something crafty. All paid for from his birthday 'space'. There's enough money left in the space for a meal out, an activity and a cake.

Whilst working today I have also been whatsapping PayPlan going through incomings/outgoings etc (I much prefer it to a phone conversation). It is far more detailed than StepChange were. If I hadn't completed the online form for them myself, I would be convinced it was a spammer who would end up taking my money. I'm not convinced it isn't to be honest. I have to decide now whether to go with PayPlan or to do it myself.

I've only left the house to bring the bins back in today, so no popping to the shops and spending money I don't have. Being busy at work has its benefits 🤣

I've just stopped for a late lunch and to watch an episode of a crime drama I love (this may be my second time watching it from the start!) and then need to decide whether I need to attack the house or do more work. Neither seem like fun. Adulting is not all it was cracked up to be 🤣

futuremewillthankme

Friday afternoon at last.

I am currently on the phone waiting for Business Debtline to pick up. Hopefully it won't take too long. I have been whatsapping PayPlan back and forth. They're pushing for an IVA but I'm concerned because of the amount of equity I have in my house. I'm hoping Business Debtline will be able to give me some advice.

I have been to the shop to pick up a bottle of wine. I now have 56p in my food pot to last until Sunday. I won't need anything before then, but do want to make a meal plan and a shopping list for next week ready for when the boys are back with me. I already have chicken breasts and beef mince in the freezer so meat spends should be low. I might try a Lidl shop on Sunday or Monday instead of the usual Tesco. I have £70 in the pot for next week, and that should be plenty (as long as I watch the little shops).

I still haven't started my list of places I can take the boys that won't cost the earth. There are plenty of beaches and lovely walks around me, so it shouldn't be too difficult. I'm adding it to the list of weekend tasks.

I'm feeling a bit flatter today about it all. I think it's just been a heavy week, I have had my first 'missed payment' text through which is scary as I've never missed a payment in my life. I know that I am making positive steps though, and I need to do this.

My car went in for an MOT this morning. It failed. I was expecting that result. It is going back in next Friday for work to be done on it and then hopefully get it through the MOT. I'm not looking forward to that bill. Guess where the money from the first missed payments is going 🙄