Mrs S.....life after debt

I picked up milk and wine on the way home from work, and came in under budget. I have around 50p left for groceries to last until Monday :rotfl: which is around 10p less than last week. I did walk around the shop a few times with the wine in the basket contemplating whether I really needed it, but it is Friday, I've had a full week in work (only happens 3 or 4 times a year) and I'm basically shattered so the wine won :rotfl:

Ds1 is ready for his school holidays. He's super shattered. They had a school trip today, which is always super tiring. It'll be a quiet weekend for the boys after a couple of busy ones!

My salmon is still sitting in the fridge, but I didn't splash out on a takeaway. I was treated to one instead. Mr S took ds1 to his swimming lesson tonight, and the stopped with me on the way back to drop off a curry!! :j It was definitely a lovely surprise!!

I tried to take this week's £20 entertainment money out of the cash point earlier, but I think there was an issue with the machine. It gave my card back without giving me any money. After a few moment of staring at this machine, I pulled out my phone and checked my account online and it didn't show a transaction. The machine was making a bit of a noise too, the noise it makes when it's getting your money so I'm wondering whether it was either empty or just playing up. I've checked my account a few times tonight, just in case, but it must just have been the machine. So, that £20 is still in my account, and I still have £10 left from last week.

I am having a massage tomorrow which will cost a whole £5 (I'm taking it from the £30). I was given a voucher a few weeks ago for a local lady, and finally got around to contacting her this week. The voucher I have is £20, and the treatement is £25 so I figure it will be £5 well spent.

:j Yay for a NSD today. :j That brings July's total to 7 out of my target 12. 5 to go!! I'm not sure whether to count grocery shopping days as a NSD if I stick to budget and only buy groceries, no other spends. In a way it's another bill that's budgeted for.

I've had a chat with Mr S today about the amount he's paying each month. It seems like I'm struggling and budgeting super hard, and he has all this spare cash. It feels quite unfair. The original intention was that the boys would spend 50% of their time with me, and 50% with him. In fact I feed them between 5 and 6 nights a week, the same for breakfast. Mr S is also eating here more and more. As well as that, a couple of different things have gone up in price. We were supposed to split the boys costs 50:50 and then I paid for all the food they ate here. In fact I'm paying about 70% of the boys costs, plus they're eating here around a couple of days extra a week.

Don't get me wrong, I am really pleased it's worked out that the boys are with me so much. I don't miss anything from their lives. The issue is how tight things are each month. I've written down all the children's costs today, halved it and asked Mr S how he feels about upping his contribution a little. It works out around £10 a week. He has agreed with no questions asked which I'm obviously super happy about. It means that things aren't quite as tight here.

That pretty much sums up the last 2 days. I've spent my 2 days off cleaning, cooking, laundry and lots of sitting in the garden watching the boys play. Back in work tomorrow for the rest of the week, and then 2 whole weeks off :j :j :j

Today wasn't a nsd. Over the coming couple of months, lots of ds1's friends are having birthdays so I ordered the 10 for £10 books from the works. There was enough money in the birthday budget to cover it.

I've also made £30 today from selling old toys that aren't played with anymore. :j I've decided to give Mr S half, I think that's only fair (though a little part of me thinks I'm being too nice :rotfl: ). I around £60 behind now with my Christmas savings, so I'm going to put the £15 there. I've also got another £10 in leftover money to go there, so will only have another £35 to make up before December :j :j

Despite things being tight recently, I am seeing an increase in these little savings pots and it's nice to know there's money there when it's needed. Would be nice to have more in my pocket, but I guess the answer then would be to earn more. I'm not prepared to do that at the moment as the boys are so young. It would also mean me forking out £56 a day in childcare for every extra day I worked. It's definitely something to look at once both boys are in school full time.

Talking about school, it's end of term for ds1 tomorrow. :j I love routine, but I am actually looking forward to this break (though after the first 2 weeks I'll be back at work!). I'm looking forward to spending time with my boys and not having to rush every morning.