Living within my means-the challenge

Verbatim

If you pay less than the minimum payments I guess you'd be in default and that that would show up on your credit rating.

Have you tried looking at the up your income thread? Some peeps seem to be making £5 and £10 a day "free" money.

beckseven

I think I'm just going to have to grin and bear it and pay up-I'm sure I can make it through the month and with some careful budgeting will be ok. I might go and lurk on the old school boards and copy some meal plans from the clever people on there to claw back some money from the shopping budget. Will have to ebay as well. I'm on shifts next week so won't spend much anyway marooned on nights. I have a Waitrose voucher too so if push comes to shove can buy my friend's little boy a present from there for his first birthday. All will be solved-i just panick about these kind of things.

beckseven

I spent £25 on my meal last night-it was lovely and I hadn't been out for a meal for ages so I don't regret it one bit! Going to do my shopping tonight and DETERMINED to keep things very low price-got to do it! Hopefully will be luckier with reduced stuff this week.

lucielle

Keep my fingers crossed you do it.
L

Verbatim

If you work out a meal plan based on what you've got in already and write a shopping list for the rest you'll be less likely to go off budget. As long as you remember to take the list that is!

beckseven

I spent £49 which I was pleased with. I was quite ruthless! Unfortunately DH got home too late for me to get much of the reduced stuff but got some reduced new pots and spinach. I'm cooking my DH a meal tonight for our wedding anniversary!

beckseven

I'm working shifts now so have popped on here to update my diary. I'm just about to plan a very frugal shopping list again-I'm going to use the old school boards to scout for the cheapest possible recipes. We're going away to Devon next week on a sun deal so am going to check out the cooking in a caravan recipe file as well to get some inspiration. Ds needs a waterproof jacket as well-with all this rain he really needs one so hopefully can pick up one quite reasonalbly at Asda tomorrow. was such a yucky rainy day today as well and was at home with DS so did loads of painting, playdough etc. however I dropped him off at nursery at 3.45pm and he went mad and then when dh picked him up at 6pm he was in the naughty chair as apparently he went ballistic. it's the third time in a week when he's had absolutely massive uncontrollable tantrums-not sure if it's because he's been cooped up because of all the rain. Think tomorrow am it's meant to be nice so before going to Asda we'll go to the local country park for a walk and a play on the playground to get rid of his energy. He hasn't had any sugar so it can't be additives-probably is just the terrible twos. Off to write my list now and will post tomorrow with my super low shopping hopefully!

beckseven

Well had a successful trip to Asda-spent £51 on my shop which will last me until next Friday. Have got loads of stuff for hols so all I need to get next week is some meat and milk and some perishables for lunches for during the day. Still need to get DS a waterproof coat though as Asda are really good for girls but seem to ignore little boys and they didn't have any little boys waterproof jackets. we also went to our local country park which was fairly flooded but still managed to give his little legs a good runaround and he was really good today-being cooped up definitely doesn't do him any good. I noticed that it's meant to rain all day tomorrow as well-great!

lucielle

Well done on the shopping. Its horrid when they have strops my 11 yr old was in bed for 6.30 because she was being a rat bag.
L

beckseven

Thanks Lucielle. Oh dear-many more years of having strops then! Especially with another little terror on the way! Just as well that the good bits of being a mum far outweigh the dealing with tantrums bit.