2018 New year, new focus and new mission

I feel like I've blinked and the summer has gone!

With Christmas hurtling towards us, I think I need to get back into posting. The good news is that all the house works have been done. I've been saving like mad and cleared all our overdrafts and we're looking ok.

Will get the outstanding figures tomorriw when payments go out in the morning.
Zopa 1, Zopa 2 & 0% Barclaycard.

We've set a budget for this month and it should be pretty low spend. Now we've back on a no spend spree I'm hoping to get rid of the smallest zopa loan ASAP.

I'm back again and no apology or remorse for not posting!

Our joint account is looking pretty empty with a £43.27 balance. The rent from our house is due tomorrow which is the cash flow to get us threw the rest of the month. All our bills mortgages etc have gone out, everything is covered so for first time in ages I feel more in control.

We've got a quiet rest of the month, but if forgotten about half term for the kids. Not planning a lot with being off work perhaps s trip to cinema £30 for family ticket and I can use my £15 food voucher. I complained last time we went so free drinks and popcorn a welcome bonus. The other treat might be trip to swimming pool which keeps the kids busy for 2/3 for around £8. Going to try keep half term costs under £50.

Still waiting for an insurance settled £320, but that's going straight into EF.

Going to have mooch through food stocks today and plan some no spend meals for next few days. Was planning a NSD but my youngest needs her lunch money topping up. She always has a hot lunch on Tuesday because of her after school club🤦!♀️ Do will add £10.

Sorting out the budget for the rest of the month so it's going to be a long waffle! Need to get it straight down in writing and give us the focus. Still waiting for two large payments to clear hopefully will be tomorrow.

Bank account balance £3.39
EF £495

Money due in
Waiting on insurance settlement payment £320
Waiting on rent payment £850
Credit from letting agent £35 to chase
wrapped up boi oil for refund hubby will post today £20
Still need to do amazon return! £35
Hubby's work course refund £150, but he needs to finish his course. Think probably be paid in dec! Stuck it down so don't forget to chase it!

Rent is around £50 higher than expected because agent has been sat on credit! There's still £35 on account so requested that bAck too!

My plan is to whack insurance settlement bank into EF and £5 borrowed yesterday. That'll take it to £820. All our bills have gone out, so hoping to take the extra £180 from rent money to hit Dave Ramsey's magic £1k.

That's leaves £665 until pay day which is the healthiest balance we've had in around two years, but we do have a lot of bits to budget for.

Planned spends
Amazon I've got £50 budgeted for new charging station for all phones to stay downstairs. This is £33 & £7 for cables. I know huge amount of money, but know an investment that'll improve the teenagers sleep and well being. I've been wanting one for months, but never had cash. New loo brush £7 for nice ceramic one, could buy cheaper but not able to drive at minute so easiest option.

Flowers for family members big birthday - £40 will use online florist through Quidco. They live 250 miles away and because not driving guess this is what I'd spend going to see them. They've been really good to us and helped when really skint.

Fuel for hubby's car - £75 but hopefully less. No big trips planned it's 3/4 full now so just his commuting and running kids around.

Food £200 or less! Need to use up loads of freezer and cupboard stocks. Know budget huge, but struggling with my injury to cook everyday and hubby likes the odd chippie tea. Will have one when rent cash hits (£15.80)

Half term treats £50 - £30 family ticket (have £15 food and drink voucher) £8 swim for kids, milkshake at shake hut £12

Rugby boots for eldest £75 hopefully less. The eldest's feet have grown again. Have tried to fit cheap boots in past but foot nightmare width. Hopefully hubby can find a bargain that fit well, we're lucky that we're not brand fussy!

Holy moly that's £490 budgeted for out the £665. I can't believe how quickly it adds up. I do feel a lot happier that we have a budget though and will have the cash for it. Normally we'd reach for the credit card or hit the overdraft for the boots abd flowers. If we can stick to this budget we should have £175 left at the end of the month! That would be a first!

I'm due to get paid on 27th but seeing if we can leave the cash without spending until hubby's pay day on 31st.

Money due in
insurance settlement £323.43 paid 11/9
rent payment £850 paid 11/9
Credit from letting agent £34.43 waiting on BACS
wrapped up boi oil for refund hubby will post today £20
Still need to do amazon return, will print paperwork today £35
Hubby's work course refund £150 waiting for him to finish course

EF have paid in £505 and finally hit Dave Ramsey's target of £1000

Hubby has been food shoppig on way to work and we'll have our cheapie tea tonight. H spent around£57, so will have to udate the budgets spent when i see the receipt. I've ordered the multi phone charger an cables which were a little more than i thought £31.99 & £8.99. Loo brush was £7.95 and not sure why but had an amazon discount of £1.41 so totalspend £47.52.

Hubby has been making noises about needing a new vac bag, as old one broke. It seems bags are more than a new vac, so will need to have a shop around. We have a lot of huge trees and the vac would save him so much work. Leaves are normally my job, but with my injury i can't. Not keen on spending £70 on a new, so will see if we can use old on blow function and get kids to pick them up from a pile.

Planned spends Budget Total £119.30 / £490
Amazon £47.52 /£50.00 = £2.48 left in budget
Flowers for familyb'day £0/£40
Fuel £0/£75
Food £71.78/£200 = £128.22 lef
Half term treats £0/£50
Rugby boots for eldest £0/£75

Grrrr what is it with amazon? They over packed unbreakable things with huge boxes and endless packaging. However, they've sent me the new ceramic loo brush in the manufacturers box with it's one sheet of bubble in one of three huge boxes with token bit of paper. Knew it was broken before opened it! Have ordered the sand one again and they'll refund me this one. Won't include in budget as straight refund in and spend out.

Now I've got two amazon refunds to print off �� and sort!