:( jamiedodger's back again

donner_kebab

Hiya JD,
Just wanted to say a HUGE merry Xmas to you and your family and to all the other posters on here too! Great to hear that everything is going to plan! I really wanna get out in the garden and start growing things too, will have to look into that over Xmas as will need a lot of planning as it is a weed / nettle invested jungle at the mo! Decorating will be high on my agenda too...soooo gotta be done. It is hard though as really want to crack on with the debt busting, but living here is very depressing so would be nice to make it a kinda home. I keep on thinking though the more I spend on it, the longer it will take for me to rid my debts and find a new home but as I am in this for the long haul, a little bit longer shouldn't make too much of a difference...I just need to keep reminding myself of that but it is so very hard.

Anyhoooos enough of my rambling rubbish...it is Xmas! I am finishing work soon and have to get on wrapping pressies. Have treated myself to some wine for tonight as I prepare for seeing my folks on Xmas day for the first time in sooo many years. I am very excited and am cooking for everyone...eeeeek! Gawd knows where we are all gonna sit as I have really have hardly any kitchen space / dining area etc but who cares!

Take care and hope you have a truly wonderful day,

xxx

Cat_Addict

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve and a magical Christmas Day Donner!

donner_kebab

Thanks Cat...you too xxx

JAMIEDODGER

morning guys!
hope you all had a great xmas!!

I had a lovely time at my parents with my sisters and all our kids. We all got loads of lovely presents and the children did exceptionally well, so much stuff!

I made a ham and split pea soup out of the ham I cooked on xmas eve, that was really nice and I had that for lunch yesterday, the rest has gone in the freezer. I will be making ham and chicken pies tomorrow, need to get the chicken out of the freezer this morning, will cook tomorrow morning and make up the pies tomorrow evening.

I have been looking at my remaining money for 2008 and trying to figure out the best way to spend it, I would like to make sure anything I buy will help me save money in 2009.:)

I know I will be ordering my new fridge on tues/weds, currently I have no fridge in my kitchen (I have to go out to the shed - which is a pain) so that is top of my list. I will be going through quidco to order it. Im going to get a basic white under counter fridge. Cant wait:j

Today I will be writing a list of cleaning and toiletries I use, I am hoping to spend some of the leftover money on stocking up on these (only the items that are on offer though):)

I will also be ordering my greenhouse from ebay next week (£50 + £12.50 postage) and the ground sheet (£3.60 + £3.00 postage).

That should pretty much use up my leftover money!

Will need to have a rejig of 2009 budget again today and probably again after I have bought the above to account for things I wont have to buy in 2009.

Anyways, off to make myself another cuppa before kiddiewinks wake up!

Have a great day everyone!!!

donner_kebab

Heya JD!

Sounds like you and the kiddies had a fab Xmas

Well done on working out ways to stretch your ham...I am doing the same with the leftover turkey! Reckon today is my last chance to get rid of it so will be making some curry and maybe a pie or something I think!

I feel like I am all over the shop moneywise. Haven't put anything on the cards but dunno where I am gonna be at this month. Seriously need to sit down and go over everything, but finding it very hard to motivate myself I think I will sit down tonight and try and sort it as know I will feel better once it is done. My problem is I am far to hard on myself all the time...need to chill out!

Bet it will be lovely when your new fridge arrives! Must be a bit of a mare going out to the shed as it is soooo cold! And the greenhouse too! You will be reaping the benefits soon...all that veg

Glad to hear all is well...I really need to update my diary as haven't done so for a few weeks which is very bad but I just feel all over the shop at the moment....grrrrrr!
xxx

JAMIEDODGER

morning!:D

Donner - Yes, I think you are being too hard on yourself hunni, everyone has off times when they lack a bit of focus and motivation. Have you had a look at the 4k challenge? I find it a huge motivator and it keeps me on track. You dont have to stick to 4k, mine is just under £7100 for the year and what you can include/exclude is up to you.:)

DS2 11th birthday today, I am waiting for the kids to wake up so he can open his presents:D Birthday prezzies always get opened on mums bed:) Its tradition!!!

Will be cooking the chicken this morning and making pies later today with leftover ham. Dinner tonight will be KFC (ds2 birthday request).

Going to have a browse in a moment and double check which fridge I want to order tomorrow:D

Busy day ahead, lots of ironing to tackle!!! Urghh, but its gotta be done!!

Have a great day all:D

sophiesmum_2

Happy Birthday DS DODGER:D
Hope you all have a lovely day, enjoy the KFC later:D

JAMIEDODGER

Morning everyone!

Up early again today (6am) seems to be a habit I cant get myself out of:)

Busy making preparations for the start of the new year tomorrow. Having a friend round this evening so will be a cheap NYE!!

My dad is collecting my new fridge for me today:D I cant wait to have a fridge in my kitchen...no more freezing cold trips to the shed!:j TCB tracked for me on it so £4ish in the pot towards next years money neutral xmas:T I already have £67 tracked in Quidco so I am on my way there....

Had a bit of a spend up yesterday with the money leftover in 2008 budget:D Bought my greenhouse and a groundsheet, mentioned the moving of the washing line to a friend who had popped in for a cuppa and he offered me a rotary line that is hanging about in his garage!!! I love freebies!!!:T

Also bought the bedding for my new bed so I can now cross that off my 2009 budget:D

I have a few £'s left now, I will be paying half of the chinese takeaway tonight, which will then leave me with about £20! Will be thinking hard today if there is anything else I need before tomorrows new budget begins!...

I shouldnt be spending anything out of 2009 money until at least 5th january when the kids go back to school:D

January's main spending plans include a cooker (have been given the money as a gift from my parents), a new bed, already chosen from Ikea (£69) and more decorating (these amounts come out of 'savings' not the 4k challenge)
I also will be starting back on Pad. Hoping to bring down the creditcard to pretty much nothing and am on track to be debt free again in feb, latest in march 2009:T

the debt is not worrying me as it is a small amount, however, instead of hacking at it, I am taking advantage of the sales and reductions in Vat this month and next, to buy the things I have on my list for the house:) Its a balance I am happy with:)

Am also looking forward silly I know, to putting in the meter readings this coming saturday and seeing if I have improved on last weeks usage....I have a feeling I wont have, as I was away for a day and a night last week over xmas and I think this week will show a more accurate picture of what we use. But I still feel there is room for improvement! I am like a loony atm running around and switching everything off after the kids.......mobile phone chargers and ds chargers are the worst culprits as the kids charge and then forget to switch off at the wall!!! arghhhhhh! never mind, i will continue to nag them until they remember!:D

have a great day all.....im off to go through budget again:D:D:D

jenchin66

Morning Jamie. Glad you had a lovely Christmas, seems like ages ago now.

I have sat and looked very closely at our budget for next year. We are really going to tighten our belts. We have a small credit card balance I want gone in Jan/Feb and a loan. The loan has 4 years left to run but I want it gone asap.

I have started a sealed pot and its getting heavy, so wanted to count the money last night, but did stop myself. That will help with next Christmas.

We are staying in tonight, my sister is coming round and a friend of my daughters, so a cheap night here as well.

Have a great new year.

Jen

beanielou

Hope 2009 is a great year for you JAMIE