Trying to Save

Over the past few days I've spent about sixty pounds on shopping. The first lot was buying more cold and cough medicines, and other stuff, for the ill household. Plus milkshake complan. Lots of that. I keep wiping the shelves out when I see them. It's 1.43 a carton, on sale just now. It's also over 200 calories each, so totally worth it.

The second lot was on food and snacks. I've been buying lots of snacks recently.

Posted a parcel the other day. That was planned spending. I already knew how much it was going to be when the cashier told me.

I had enough Swagbucks to redeem a five pound paypal reward. That, plus the survey reward when it credits, will be going to debt payoff and my emergency fund.

252.78 Beginning Balance
+10.00 Leftover money
+10.00 Four-weekly deposit
+_2.00 Weekly deposit

_______________

274.78 New Balance

Today is payday, but I have a few things to update first.

My impulse spending still seems to be happening a lot. It's mostly something for lunch after work, or out for lunch with the kids, like we did on Monday. Mostly my reason for it is to get something to eat on the way home from work because I'm usually starving by the time I finish. I need to start packing something to eat on the way home.

Speaking of work, the trousers that I wear at work are becoming a bit of a nightmare. Or rather, they have been like that for a while and now it's really starting to get to me. On Monday night I decided that I was definetly going to buy a new pair after work on Tuesday. It means going into the shopping centre and I can never be bothered, but I thought I'd definetly make myself go then.

Well, it never happened. I was three hours into my shift at work when I fainted. The first aider at work decided to call an ambulance. They came out, spoke to me about my weight, blood sugar etc and told me to get an appointment with my doctor. I was lucky enough to get an appointment that day. When I seen the doctor he told me to keep a food diary and come back in a few weeks. As per recommendation, I've now joined my fitness pal to keep track of calorie intake.

I thought I'd lost my bank card but I found it this morning.

I recently qualified for one of those mum surveys. 5gbp reward, so I should have that soon. My Survey emailed me because I haven't been attempting surveys recently. I attempted a few so that's sorted now. My attention seems to be either on surveys or swagbucks, I don't have time for both.

Yesterday I checked my bank balance only to realise that I still had money left over before payday. I transferred some to my emergency fund .

Today I woke up and seen that my pay was less than normal, although I think I was late a few times. It's not drastic though so we'll be fine.

I paid minimum to BOS this morning. I've also paid Christmas savings. I think there's only one pay left of paying them, I'm going to double check. There's possibly only three or four more paydays until my huge buy now pay later (BNPL) item gets added on.

It's dh's birthday next month. It's over four weeks away so we'll be paid before then. Any meals out will come out of that pay, unless I manage to keep money aside from this one.

We've almost finished the last of the meat from the huge order I did online a while ago. I'll have to actually buy meat this pay period.

Whatever that is.

The person who deletes their blog entries and turns off notifications is gone. I was clearly having a crazy moment when I turned off my blog notifications and deleted that entry. So, if anyone has commented and I haven't acknowledged it, can you let me know? I'd hate to miss out because of a moment of stupidity.

The new normal seems to include a lot of talking, which is good.

I read an interesting thread about friendship on the parenting forum I read, but rarely interact with. One member commented that it's easier to find the love of your life than a true friend, especially as you get older.

I've been completely lax about updating what's the cost. It shouldn't take long to do when I finally get round to it.

I just checked BoS and my balance is now sitting at 236.13. Interest still hasn't been added though. If only I had actually paid this off rather than just transferring it. I'm now wondering if I can come up with some extra money over the next couple of pay periods to get rid of this card. It would delay catalogue payoff though. I've not had a chance to check numbers yet so it might be doable. It's in its hundreds now, it has to go.

250.78 Beginning Balance
+_2.00 Weekly deposit

---------------------

252.78 New Balance

I'm looking forward to next week's deposit; it'll be payday weekend then.

Spending has been all over the place. I haven't tracked in it about a week or so. I wasn't up to it a few days ago. I've also been adding a lot of impulse purchases to my shopping. Bad, I know. But I'm not using a bad week as an excuse for no progress, and I never touched a credit card. I don't know, it's just been a crazy couple of days.

On Monday we finally went to the farm/museum. It was a last minute decision. I had time to pack some snacks for the kids but not enough for a packed lunch. We met my mum there. We stayed for a few hours, kids were exhausted by the time we got home.

Spending for Monday:

Entry: 18.00 (for three, under-3s free)
Food in cafe: 9.25

Tuesday and Wednesday was mostly shopping after work. Must have spent about forty pounds in total over the past couple of days. This included stocking up on nappies though so not too bad.

Things are home are getting better. Basically, for those of you who didn't see the entry, dh and I started arguing over something small which led to something bigger. We've spoke a lot and we're working on it. As for the new online friend that I made, that is going well.

Throughout this whole thing, I lost some weight. It's even been picked up on by my mum, although she waited a whole two days after seeing me before bringing it up. It's noted, believe me. As a side note, I'll probably have to increase the food budget for a bit. Maybe take some vitamins too.

Earlier I transferred 2700 from BoS to Nationwide. The balance transfer fee was 2.4% which is added on to the transfer. It will be 45 days before I receive a statement. Nationwide is at 2764.81, which works out as 106.34 per month if I want to get it paid off within the time period. I'm not sure I will manage to clear it all but it is nice to have the majority debt on an interest-free card for a change.

P.S. Copy your entries before you hit Publish. I almost lost all of this.

I'm going to do a long update tomorrow.

For now, Nationwide accepted me. Credit limit is 2800. I've checked BoS and I have a balance of 2936.13 before the interest is added. I want to transfer as much as possible. My question is, how close to the credit limit is too much? Will it just seem desperate if I transfer as close to 2800 - excluding 3% balance transfer fee, that is - as possible?

246.58 Beginning Balance
_+1.50 Cheque
_+0.70
_+2.00 Weekly deposit

---------------------

250.78 New Balance

I can't remember what the 70p is for.

P.S. thank you for all your kind comments on my last post. It has been deleted now in case you're wondering where it went. It was too depressing. But now I'm regretting deleting it, it seemed like a good idea this morning.

Waiting for a few things:

Payday. That's still two weeks away. No big plans for payday other than debt payoff, I just like the day.

BoS statement to update. It's not the end of the statement period yet, I'm just impatient. I want to see new numbers!

To hear from Nationwide. I'd really like to know either way, then I can make a plan, or continue with what I'm doing.

To pay my BNPL item off. But that's March/April time probably. Unless I suddenly find a lot of money to throw at it.

To reach my emergency fund goal. With four months left of the year, I'll need to be really patient for this one.

I'm just really impatient right now.

It's been a while since I've had a No Spend Day. But it happened today, so I thought I should document the event. I hope there's more of them in the future.

No spending has meant that I haven't left the house. Although, I did catch up with a friend online so that was good. No spending there.

Have a good day everyone!

My day started almost four hours earlier than I would have liked. This was due to a combination of factors. It was my first time going to work having been up so early. My only issue was whether or not I would fall asleep on the bus (the first bus of the day is really boring) but my phone survived the bus journey, thankfully. I need to remember and charge it.

Nobody noticed at work which was good, although I did explain to my suprvisor later. She was fine and gave me an easy job in the afternoon.

After work meant some shopping. Spent 37.xx. This included a family ready meal because I knew I was too tired to cook from scratch.

Checked my email and my phone bill is under the budgeted amount. Snowflake.

Yesterday I took SG to the library and to our local cafe for some mother-daughter time. I spent 7.70.

I came home, ready to take J to baby group, but he was asleep. When he woke up I took him for a walk. I also went to the post office to send back the terms and conditions for the Nationwide credit card, which finally arrived.

Today's spending has been minimal: bought a sandwich, fruit and a bottle of water (3.xx) after work since I was planning on getting dh's card. I didn't like any of them, so that was a wasted trip. I'll probably just order one online. I then went to the Vodafone shop to get a SIM for the phone that dh bought for my birthday, which I haven't used yet. That was a success.

I found a cheque for 4.99 from the utility company. I deposited that via the ATM while I was there. For the sake of easier accounting, I'm just going to count is as a 5GBP snowflake.

Dh's present arrived today. The one that he picked, that is, not the one I wanted to get him. I'm still waiting on that one.

I've updated my sidebar to include the new catalogue balance.

"It's a well-known fact that as soon as one area of your life comes together, the other starts to fall apart "

I think Bridget Jones said that and I'm beginning to think she has a point.

One area I'm having problems with, the other is going just fine.

I've not properly been keeping track of spending like I was doing a few months ago. I like to think I've got certain categories sorted such as debt repayment and groceries. It's the little things like impulse buys and gifts that get me sometimes. However, I haven't put anything on a credit card so I'm declaring this area a success. I must be doing something right. Mind you I've not touched my card in years so that's probably not the best way to measure it.

As for sleeping, well that's a whole other story. I keep waking up really early. In the past I would have put that down to stressing about debt but I'm not. I've got no idea, I just hope it sorts itself out soon. Early morning tv isn't fun. And everyone else is asleep.

Today I paid two weeks worth of rent. That should be my only spending today. I'll write a shopping list soon for next week soon to limit impulse buys.

Its almost time for some more mother-daughter time. I'm thinking we'll bake this time.

240.00 Beginning balance
+_4.58 disount
+_2.00 weekly deposit

--------------------

246.58 New Balance

I can't believe it's the first of August tomorrow. July was definetly a quick month!

I don't think I posted about this the last time I updated, but a few weeks ago dh got a letter saying that his catalogues were merging. He is essentially paying the same company twice. Want to give them all of your money? I hate it. It gets worse... the icing on the cake is that he told me he couldn't remember one of his account numbers (he usually signs in with his email) so he was late with the payment. Did you check the shredding pile (huge bag!) No. He knows that every time we get mail - if it isn't junk, that goes straight to recycling - it will be in the beside the shredding. He came back a few minutes later with a statement.

Dh is still at me to get a best friend. Sure, I'll just magic one up. I think he forgets that you can't just become friends with people overnight. He's got a few group of friends, some of the newer ones work in the same place as us. Unfortunately, unless I suddenly become interested in gaming, I can't claim them as my own. Whenever I see them, they'll ask "How's [Dh] getting on with x game?" I don't know; aren't you playing the same game? Honestly. "Tell him I'll be online later" Ok, but you've probably already told him.

Then there's one of his oldest friends, who is completely not interested in gaming or anything else for that matter. We get on well. In fact, I remember meeting him for lunch when I was on maternity leave with SG and during my last maternity leave, he could always be relied on to ask how I was getting on with the *three* kids. Not good, want to take one of them off my hands? He has recently set up house, so I foresee a wedding in the future.

I spent a while this morning thinking about how much to pay to cc#1. I decided on 39.09 because the number it's at right now - 1629.09 - is bugging me.

Why didn't I put any of that energy into cc#2? I'm still hoping I will be able to do a balance transfer soon. I had to get in touch with Nationwide again because I still haven't received the paperwork. The woman was worried because it's been sent twice, but I never get it. If I don't get it within the next 3-5 working days I've to go into the branch.

If I do have to go into the branch, I'll get dh's birthday card while I'm there since I have to walk past the shop anyway. He told me what he wanted me to get him, but I ordered him something online from the kids yesterday. I saved 20%, or 4.58, so that is counted as a snowflake. It's going straight to my emergency fund.

Here's my snowflakes for this month:

8.25 Approved Food discount
3.50 Tesco coupon
2.50 Opinion Outpost rewards
15.00 Swagbucks rewards (paying myself back)
3.00 MySurvey rewards
4.58 20% discount savings

Total: 36.83

This is my best month yet! Of course, it helps that I paid myself back for Swagbucks a few months ago.

My total snowflakes YTD are now sitting at 165.07.

I think it's safe to say that July shaped up to be a good month.

I think it's been a while since I posted a meal plan. I honestly can't remember the last time I did. Anyway, I'm thinking that we should have these meals over the next four/five days:

- chicken curry with rice and garlic naan
(homemade tomato soup for kids with wholemeal bread)

- pasta in a primavera sauce (jar, want to try making it myself if I like it)
(macaroni & cheese for kids with veg)

- steak, chips and veg
(frittata, or risotto)

- spaghetti and meatballs for everyone

Leftover soup will be used for lunches. I've got a ton of spaghetti and pasta needing using up. I was in the mood for ribeye steak after someone mentioned it, but we haven't got any in, so I will just be using the steak we already had from the muscle food order a few weeks ago.

I was tossing and turning this morning, worried that my alarm wouldn't go off and I'd sleep in. When I checked the time it was 4am and only half an hour until I was supposed to get up. For future reference, it is never a good idea to get up at that time. I thought I'd have lots of time to relax before leaving. Well, that only works if you're organised. I couldn't find my watch, so I was quietly searching for it. Inanimate objects don't care that it's practically the middle of the night; they'll fall off the table onto the shredder below. Sshh! Nobody woke up, thankfully.

Got to work and two people hadn't shown up. Ugh. One appeared later, looking worse for wear. He was away two hours later.

When I finished I decided I deserved a reward for surviving. I bought a cheesecake, and a meal for two because I knew I'd have no motivation to cook for us later.

I put ten on w Christmas savings card. If I can save 97 by Nov I'll get three pounds added, highly unlikely.

Spent 26.xx although ten was savings.

Both kids were asleep when I came home, so I had lunch then went for a nap.

Cheesecake later

As the title suggests, it's raining today, so we never went out. Instead, my mum came here. I'm not going to lie, it wasn't a fun visit.

Before my mum left, I decided that I really had to get some stuff at the local shop. She decided to come with me rather than heading straight home. On the way there I was made to feel 18 again as I answered questions such as:

"You always go shopping"

"Are you going to manage to carry it home?" It's five minutes away.

"Have you put on any weight yet?" No, not in the last two weeks!

"Are you and [close friend] getting on ok?" Why would you ask that? Are you and [her best friend] getting on ok? She was surprised I asked. It's a two-way street.

"I know that Dh gets on with [close friend]" So...

Eighteen year old SG would have just taken it but 30yo me actually had some answers.

I spent 16.xx, which is more than I thought, but I added biscuits and donuts to the list.

I also posted the parcel to the woman in England today. It was only 2.80.

First of all, the next time Dh goes on a night out, he won't be taking the bus ticket. He can just take cash. He can't remember what he did when he came in the early hours of this morning after his night out. I'll look today for it but I'm not optimistic.

There's five more pays between now and the end of the year. I need to add 110 to my emergency fund to reach my goal, which is 22 each pay period. Actually, there's still 6 GBP to be added this pay period so I guess that means 104 left. That's 20.80 each pay so I can manage that, hopefully. 18 is the budgeted amount so it's not much to come up with 2.80 extra each pay.

I've been reading up on different types of personalities since I done the test. I was talking about it the other day. It's quite refreshing to talk about something you never normally discuss.

We might be meeting my mum at the local farm tomorrow, weather permitting. I don't want to go if it's a horrible day.

227.40 Beginning Balance
+10.00 Four-weekly deposit
+_2.00 Weekly deposit
+_0.60 to even out amount

--------------------

240.00 New Balance

110.00 to go to reach my goal.

In other news, Dh may have lost his wallet and the new bus ticket. Yep, the one we just bought on Friday. I'm going to have a good look today for it.

I just wasn't in the mood today. Started off the day by hanging out with J in the livingroom after his 4.30am wake-up call. He obviously didn't realise it was Saturday (get to sleep till 5 then, apparently). As it turns out, my alarm only attempted to go off - so it is a good thing he woke me up.

At work I met the two new people that started, so I'm no longer the new one. They're making me feel old though, as one of them is only seventeen. I'm not sure about the other one, but we might not talk a lot if he spends every break listing everything he hates about specific sports/reasons why certain "sports" aren't sports.

After work I spent 6.42 I think getting some fruit and veg. I completely forgot to start my extra Christmas savings.

I seen Dh for a few hours when I came home. He's away to someone from work's leaving night. With the bus ticket.

I need to come up with a meal plan. I'm defrosting meatballs for tomorrow, and some mince for J. We'll have spaghetti tomorrow.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I forgot to post what I was planning to spend today. My mind was elsewhere. Maybe I'll do it before my next pay.

Anyway, this morning I've paid:

- 200 to Littlewoods (min. 133.xx)
- 15 to BNPL items
- 40 to Christmas savings (10 is my mum's, so need to transfer that back to me)
- 70 to Bank of Scotland (56.xx min.)

I need to wait a few days for Tesco statement to update. I also paid extra to Bank of Scotland because that was my budgeted amount.

I only just transferred my mum's Christmas savings to me that I paid last pay for her. I'm going to use that to put on an Asda Christmas savings card. I really need to get started saving extra because I know it will help us out.

I almost forgot: Dh walked home from work yesterday. He phoned to tell me he couldn't find the bus ticket, and he didn't have cash on him. It was due to run out on 28/7, so at least it's not as bad at it when we had weeks left.s the last time he lost it.

Dh has requested cornbread for dinner. I noticed the note on the family planner when I was in the kitchen earlier. I've only made it once and everyone loved it. There will be less sugar in it this time though. I'm making us a roast dinner tonight, so I think it might be weird to have it with it, but if it gets eaten I shouldn't complain. I need to put the chicken in the slow cooker soon.

I don't know what it is, but I've gotten to the point that I enjoy going to work. It's not the actual company itself, it's my coworkers. Yesterday a coworker and I were talking about me having a degree. I was surprised he brought it up, because I had only mentioned it in a passing comment before. As it turns out, it reminded me that I actually enjoyed studying Psychology all those years ago at uni. On the way home, I found myself searching for recent articles on Psychology on the bus home.

How weird to find this morning that DP had commented on a very old post about me having a degree.

This morning I took a personality test and I was really surprised at how accurate it was.

DH thinks my positive attitude at work is due to the fact that I was on maternity leave for nine months before. Yes that has helped, but it's also nice to have some adult conversation. His attitude at the moment is the opposite, so we're clashing there. He's been at me to get in touch with my friends more/make new ones so I think I may have a new one soon. (I also got in touch with a few other friends too.)

After work yesterday I bought cot sheets for J, plus some milk, yogurts and a few treats.

I still haven't received the terms and conditions yet from Nationwide, so I will have to get back in touch with them. I'd really like to see what happens - if I get the 0% card.

This morning I spent some one-on-one time with SG. We went to the library then to a cafe for something to eat. That was 6.50 for a cheese and tomato roll, a BLT baguette (for me), a mocha and a juice. Afterwards we went to Co-op where I bought more than I planned to, but I only spent 6.xx, most of it was fruit.

I recently started posting on a parenting forum. For a few months now I've been reading about this one woman who is constantly struggling. She has three kids under five, and the younger two are really ill and hardly sleep because they're in a lot of pain. They're younger than SG so I've offered to send her some of SG's old clothes. She really appreciated the offer. I am aiming to get it sent to her this week. I think it's good to pay it forward.

224.50 Beginning Balance
+_2.00 Weekly deposit
+_0.90 Survey rewards

--------------------

227.40 New Balance

I realised I haven't posted about my goals recently.

As of today, I have 227.40 in my Emergency Fund. This means that I have to add 122.60 to reach my goal of 350.

Credit card debt is sitting at 4635.22. Bank of Scotland is almost under 3k, sitting at 3006.13. If I get accepted for Nationwide's new credit card, which is offering me 0% on balance transfers for 26 months I think, I will transfer about 1000 I think.

Bank of Scotland's minimum payment is now at 56.xx. If I do get accepted for Nationwide, I will ideally work out a payment plan to get it paid off within the interest-free period (Ideally, Tesco too but I've only been paying the minimum, or just a bit more, to that)

Catalogue debt is slowly decreasing too. Minimum payment is still in the hundreds though, currently at 133.xx. At its highest I'm sure it was 180, maybe closer to 190. I am also working on paying off J's cot and mattress.

Come December though the BNPL items I couldn't afford to pay off will be added. I'm not looking forward to that, although with my extra payments it won't be as bad.

I think I'm pretty close to achieving my snowflakes goal of 150, so I may have made that too low. However, having the first three months of the year off definetly helped that.

I bought SG a new top, two pairs of leggings and slippers in the sale yesterday. That was less than ten pounds in total. She absolutely loves them, although I will now have to get another pair of slippers for nursery since these are her only pair in her new size.

We went shopping with my mum on Monday to get SG new shoes. She's up a size so she got new shoes, trainers and boots. That was 76.xx. I still need to get inside shoes for nursery and some clothes, but there's a sale on. I'll look tomorrow after work.

Nationwide text me to say that they can't process my credit card application until I've signed the terms and conditions. I thought I had, so I messaged them asking what I should do, since I applied online.

Speaking of cards, I've decided to close Capital One after reading Liz's post yesterday. I'll wait until I get an answer from Nationwide though.

I really enjoyed paying extra to my emergency fund the other week (8.25 Approved Food discount). I'd like to aim to do that every other month, at least. We'll see.

I spent 18.xx posting three parcels yesterday. One of them was over 2kg, which is why it was so much. I really wanted them gone though, so I think it was worth it.

I still need to gain weight. I keep having to fix my trousers at work and I don't really want to have to buy a size 6. I'm going to try to pack more to take with me to work, or something to eat when I finish.

216.20 Beginning Balance
+_6.30 Survey rewards, coupon, money owed
+_2.00 Weekly deposit

------------------------------

224.50 New Balance

I've been picking up little shops after work, usually between 10-12GBP.

A while ago, I redeemed 25 Paypal rewards from Swagbucks. I sent 10 to debt/EF but I kept the other 15 in the bank because I was a bit short. That was months ago, but I finally paid myself back this morning. And now my emergency fund looks better for it.

I've been feeling a bit rundown these past few days. I think I just need to start taking better care of myself.

I was talking to my co-worker the other day and I realised that he has the same birthday as Laura/KeepingItFrugal. At least, I think he does. 15th December, am I right?

I need to catch up on the blogs. I've been skimming but not reading properly if you know what I mean? I like to know what everyone's up to.

We're taking SG to get her feet measured tomorrow. It's been a while so I think she might be up a size. J isn't walking yet so he won't be getting new shoes yet.

I was doing some shredding this morning and I found a letter from Nationwide, dated May this year, explaining why they had declined my credit card application. That was only a couple of months ago, so I'm expecting to receive the same letter.

I redeemed 2.50 worth of Opinion Outpost rewards, and 3.00 from MySurvey. I also have to add the Tesco coupon to my snowflakes. It's all little amounts, but they all add up. I need to remember and pay back the swagbucks money that I owe too, which is 15GBP. If I can manage all of that this pay it will make for a great month - for me, anyway - for snowflakes.

This morning I paid two weeks worth of rent, so that's us up-to-date until payday now. I also paid 14.80 to the council for the overpayment.

I made a batch of wholemeal cheese scones with SG earlier. The kids were running out of healthy snacks, other than fruit, that is. If I can find the time soon I will make some more biscuits, although they're more for us than SG. That reminds me, I'll need to buy in some more raisins to make a fruit loaf for them.