Mrs S.....life after debt

I usually do my main food shop on a Monday and top up on a Thursday, but as we were away last week I did the main shop on Saturday so popped to do the top up this morning. It saves popping into town on Thursday after work. I always do the top up in Tesco as I find it so easier than going to Aldi (parking can be difficult, always queues to pay rather than just pop in quickly, pick up a few bits and scan your own shopping at the till!).

After going over budget on Saturday, I was left with £6.84 for the top up. Thankfully berries are pretty cheap at the moment (Tesco had the wonky type for 90p per punnet, though a lady stood next to me, picked a punnet up and then put them back quickly with a sound of disgust when she realised that they weren't perfect ones!). Raspberries were only £1.24 as well so where I can sometimes spend about £4 on berries, I spent just over £2 today. I also picked up some butter and milk, and then decided to treat myself to a bottle of pop and a packet of sweets (yup....there goes the healthy eating!). I spent £6.33 in total so have a gigantic 51p left over. I shouldn't be needing anything else this week now, so that 51p will be 'skimmed' at the weekend. I think it's the first time in a long while I've been successful with the food budget (it was usually the top ups that caught me out). Posting here more often does make me consider purchases far more, and makes me challenge myself.

Back to work today after my week off. A shorter task list because I know realistically I'll achieve less being in work all day!

Today's tasks

1. Check YNAB and accounts, Already done
2. Check surveys, Already done. 85p this morning......woohoo!!
3. Water flowers,
4. Clean kitchen appliances,
5. Put away clothes,
6. Clean bathroom,
7. Dust and hoover downstairs,
8. Daily quick wipe down of the kitchen,
9. Steps goal today (this is going to be super difficult as I hardly move at all at work and only have 30 minutes for lunch so no time to go for a walk!) - 5,000.
10. Eat healthily,
11. Look to see what's on locally over the bank holiday weekend,
12. Discuss party invite I found in ds1's school bag last night to see whether he'd like to go. Respond to parent.

Work today. Our boss is taking us out for lunch so no need to take anything in :j A free work lunch is always nice! I've had a look at ynab this morning and moved some money around to cover yesterday's spending and also moved some from Christmas to birthdays as there is a lot to pay out during the next couple of months. Ds1 is going to a party, it will be Father's Day (my dad and Mr S to buy for), my mum's birthday and I need to buy a gift for my step mum (was her birthday last month, but haven't seen her since). It does quieten down a little from August onwards.

Today's list

1. Check ynab and accounts, Done
2. Daily survey check,
3. Water flowers,
4. Daily kitchen wipe down,
5. Ironing,
6. NSD,
7. Give bathroom a clean,
8. Hoover and dust downstairs,
9. Have a look at what's on over the weekend (preferably cheap or free).
10. Make a decision about the circus.

I can't think of anything else I need to do today (plenty I should do.......) so will stick to a shorter list. More chance of achieving it with work as well!!

I'm totally shattered tonight, but had a chat with Mr S and he thinks (I agree!) that surely me over eating, eating a load of processed food and drinking more than usual must be affecting my sleep! I do this from time to time, no idea why. I've decided to just ride it out until after the bank holiday weekend and then concentrate on getting proper food in me and cutting out the drinking during the week again.

I found a letter from HMRC when I got home from work about tax credits. It was about renewing and re applying so I signed into my account and completed that straight away. Fingers crossed it comes back similar (or better :rotfl: ) than how it is now. Otherwise I need to majorly re look at our budget.

I had £19.99 leftover over in my petrol category (should have been £20 but I didn't stop in time :rotfl: ). The tank is around 2/3 full which should easily last until June. I've moved £9.99 of it to the 'account skim' category ready for the weekly penny a day save (if that makes any sense :rotfl: ) and £10 into a new category of 'left over petrol'. I thought it would be handy to build a little buffer in case there are weeks where I need more than I've budgeted.

I've currently got £19.19 in the 'skim' account, which isn't bad for a week. It means I should be able to tick off a few of the higher amounts from the penny a day savings sheet. That would mean that I've managed to save just over £35 during the past 2 weeks. I'm super happy with that though know it won't be the same every week!

I've got 1 transaction that should be on my tesco credit card account but isn't showing. I don't have the receipt so it's making me wonder whether I actually paid cash and can't remember doing it :rotfl: It was for the first day of our holiday. I will leave it as it is for another week or so, and if it still is t showing I'll assume that it was cash and I just totally forgot! It's around £15 so will put that towards the mortgage overpayment.

Today's list

1. Check ynab and accounts, Done
2. Daily survey check, Done, no surveys today!
3. Water flowers, woohoo for rain!
4. Daily kitchen wipe down, Done
5. Ironing, Half done
6. NSD, Yay!!
7. Give bathroom a clean, I really need to do this!
8. Hoover and dust downstairs, Not done
9. Have a look at what's on over the weekend (preferably cheap or free). discussed with Mr S
10. Make a decision about the circus. I think we're going

:j it's Friday night and I have already enjoyed a g&t. Every Friday night is 'date night' here so that we can try something which means actually spending time together without children around! We alternate who's turn it is, and tonight it's Mr S's turn to arrange. Instead of cooking he has opted for the easy option of ordering a takeaway, so he has just popped out to pick it up. I love the fact that I'm having a curry and not having to find the money from my budget!

I have a few things in my head I want to do over the weekend, so will create my weekend to do list either later or tomorrow morning.

Today's tasks

1. Check ynab and the accounts, Done
2. NSD, Done - 2 in a row!
3. Clothes away!!! Finally done
4. Give bathroom a quick clean,
5. Hoover living room,
6. A few more bits to iron, I've moved them from the airer to the ironing basket. That's a start, right??
7. Water flowers, Done
8. Daily kitchen wipe down. Done

I've also given the kitchen table another clear (everything gets dumped there!!)