I accidentally published that last entry when I'd only just started to write it. Oops. I'll try again.

I tried to spend as little as possible today. This morning I made sure to pack everything that I needed for work. I noticed we had a really nice cereal with strawberries and almonds in it so took that to work for breakfast. A lot of people commented on how nice my breakfast looked. Packed everything for lunch too.

This is my last week at work before I'm off on holiday (not that I'm going anywhere) I think that's a reason why I'm finding it so easy not to spend anything: I'm counting down the days. Right now I'm not doing any overtime this week so I could, in theory, only have two more shifts to do. However I do keep thinking I should pick up a shift before I'm on holiday.

Hmm, in other news, my uncle proposed to his girlfriend at the weekend. I'm going to have to buy him a card to say congratulations.

Packed

On Monday I handed in a urine sample at the doctors to be tested. Since I'd been working all week I kept missing their calls. I phoned today and the nurse phoned me back. She said that it was a perfectly healthy sample. It's good to know, people at work and family were speculating that I might be pregnant.

I ordered a little present for DH to open on his birthday. It was under five pounds.

It's been a few days since I updated. On Sunday I woke up with stomach pains all through the night. When I woke up on Monday morning I still had a sore stomach but I decided to go to work. Well, I managed two and a half hours of my nine hour shift. I went to the doctors but she couldn't tell me what was wrong. She is my new doctor so she doesn't know anything about me, she asked if I was taking any medication. I don't know what was wrong with me. I'm fine now though.

Unfortunately, the overtime that I did today isn't really overtime since I just made up hours that I had lost out on on Monday. Oh well.

In other news the tribute night that I'm taking my mum too this month is now paid off.

Yesterday me and DH went to visit my friend. It was the first time I'd driven to her house. I googled directions, and estimated time: 49 mins. Well it took me almost three hours to get there. We got stuck in traffic - apparently there was a football game on - and I got lost. The entire experience was really stressful. I'm just glad we made it there in one piece. I had just under a full tank when I left, now I have half a tank. Half a tank two days after payday.

Once we got to my friend's we had a great time. She made us dinner and we had a good catch up. In fact, she said we are welcome to stay with her and fiance anytime, which I thought was nice. DH and I are considering taking her up on her offer during our two weeks holidays. It will get us away from here for a few days at least. It also means I can have a drink with her. DH and her fiance were drinking beer that DH brought with him. Apart from all the petrol I used, the trip was basically free. We had dinner with them so that was nice.

I was back at work today. No sign of any overtime yet this week. I'm feeling better so will probably try and get something.

My auntie is visiting from England this week. I usually don't see her that much when she's here. Either way, if I can get overtime I will do it.

Spending today looks like this:

Asda £6.95
work 60p

Bought fruit, yoghurts, crisps and cheese, all of which will be used for my packed lunches. I haven't managed to achieve 100% with the lunch challenge but I've given it my best shot.

Hope everyone else is enjoying the rest of their weekend! I'm off to read your blogs now

I've still not been well these past few days. I cancelled on my friend who I was going to visit today. I don't feel well enough to drive through. We're going through next week instead.

Found out this morning that my friend had her baby boy this morning. 8.12lbs We'll go and visit her soon

DH pointed out to me last night that I could help him pay back his mum. If I didn't have my own debt I would plus, psychologically, I like knowing that there's at least some savinsg in the bank. I need to make my priority getting most of the credit card cleared before the interest-free period is up, which is January.

I feel crap. I'm loaded with the cold. I've been coughing and sneezing for the past couple of days. We get paid next week, so this week is cut off. Due to that, I usually always try to make sure to do extra the week before we get paid. There's overtime going at work but I didn't take it, I'd rather rest and catch up on sleep.

Went to Poundland after I had finished work and bought Beechams all in one. (£1) I was impressed with the price until I came home and realised there's only 8 in the pack and I've already taken two. I'll be finished the pack tomorrow. I guess I can buy another pack tomorrow.

Tomorrow's going to be busy, well I think it will be. Told my mum I would take her to the doctors, she's making an appointment in the morning. Also she wants to take her dog to the vet. Plus I take DH to work. And I'm going to my mum's for dinner. I think she wants to spend the whole day with me.

Friday should be quiet; DH is playing poker at night but apart from that we have nothing planned.

On Saturday I'm driving through to see my friend who is getting married in October. I'll need to clean the car before I go.

Today's spending looked like this:

£1 Poundland
£2.89 Asda

I bought fruit, yoghurt, sweets which were half price and cereal bars for work next week.

I am failing the Lunch Challenge this month. I've decided I will try harder next month.

Speaking of next month, it's going to be busy. This week two of my friends got in touch with me. They both want to meet up. It's been ages since I seen them. One of them just moved to London, she's coming home for the holidays though. My other friend lives nearer just we've both been busy. It's her birthday in a few weeks. I have another friend who is due her baby next month too. August is going to be a busy month.

My tyres are causing me problems. One tyre has a slow puncture, the other is my spare and I should have replaced it since I think it's been about a month that it's been on. I'll need to get them replaced. I took the bus to work today. I'll need to go to the garage and get them sorted. Honestly, having a car is brilliant until there's problems with it. I think I'm going to have to put it on the dreaded credit card. I mean there's money in the bank but I don't know how much it's going to cost.

Lunch challenge isn't going too well. Bought breakfast at work yesterday. Packed everything today.

I've got some overtime for next week. Hopefully my pay will be good.

Lunch challenge going well. Packed everything today.

DH told me we've been invited out on Friday. First to a friend's house then to a club after. It's been ages since we've been out, I just wish I'd known about it earlier so I could have budgeted for it. We're having drinks at a friend's first so I'm hoping the night won't cost too much, although when I think about it we will need money for: transport (getting to their house, and to the club and back), drink and money at the club. I always feel like we're the only ones who are watching our money, DH's friends always seem to have plenty of money.

Speaking of Friday, I was arguing with my mum today cos I can't go with her to the hospital on Friday. It's an annual review because she gets benefits. I told her a few weeks ago I was working so I couldn't go. She has a map and they've told her how to get there. She's not happy with me, but I've made it clear I'm not going. I hope she finds the place. I am a bit worried. I told her to leave in plenty of time.

Since my last post, I've had some time to myself. I took both DH and MIL to work so the house was empty. I watched Gilmore Girls, made something to eat, done some ironing. I really should have hoovered but I haven't gotten round to that yet. I'm going to talk to DH when he gets in tonight, or should I say when I pick him up tonight.

Right now, DH owes MIL £3k. It's debt in her name from credit cards and loans, which DH has used. I think DH should try and pay back as much as possible to her while we're here. The other night she told him she can't afford to pay back his debt anymore. I don't know her financial situation but does that mean that she is only paying the minimum payment/interest on the credit cards? This debt is from years ago. This is how it's broken down:

Loan: £1000
CC1: £94.99
CC2: £512.97

MIL: £1372*

*This figure comes from years of MIL buying things for DH and writing down what he owes her e.g. beer, games etc. As it turns out, she didn't write what he had paid her back...

I'm going to say to DH that he should clear CC2 first since it's the smallest. He had a small catalogue bill which he cleared so it shouldn't be hard to clear CC1. He gave her £180 the other day so I'm going to get him to find out where it went then I'll write it down.

In theory, while he is paying her back I can be saving as much as possible. I added my savings to my sidebar to motivate me. There's nothing like seeing other SA blogs to motivate me to save.

I don't know why I'm in this mood, but I am feeling annoyed and irritated.DH is annoying me, our room is annoying me, not having our own place, hardly any savings, the fact we've been here for so long... I could go on. It is driving me crazy that we don't have our own place. I was looking at places online last night and DH wanted us to go for a place that was £800pcm ("that's only £400 each"), it was a four-bedroomed house! I told him no way, there's only two of us. He says he doesn't want to live in a one-bedroom flat cos we're already living in one bedroom. I don't want to live in a one bedroom flat either but I do want out of here.

There's a list of things I need to do today:

- post birthday card
- post tax credits form
- post letter requesting more payment slips for machine
- pay credit card
- pay washing machine
- do ironing
- tidy room
- order prescriptions

I need to get those things done today, I'm working tomorrow.

I ended up buying chocolate at work yesterday. I don't think I'll meet my July goal of 16 days but I'll try.

Lunch challenge still going well. Packed everything. I've nearly met my goal for the month (3 more to go after today)

Gave a girl I work with the money I sponsored her for Race For Life : £5

Apart from that, nothing else to report (makes for quite a boring blog actually)

It was my bank appointment today. I'm switching bank accounts. It will happen within the next 7-10 days. The bank manager said that I should make sure I have money in both accounts in case direct debits come out. I haven't got any substantial savings so when she offered me an overdraft I said yes. I'm hoping I won't need to use it. I also told her I would online and telephone banking. I like being able to check my bank balance whenver I want.

Today was a NSD.

I'm off work for the next few days. I haven't got any plans as such. I'd like to have some productive days off. What I really need to do is make an appointment at the bank.

DH and I were talking about trying to get a loan. We would use the money to help us put towards getting a house. I was against it at first but I've now had some time to think about it. Basically we are on the list for a government scheme for first-time buyers. We have a deadline to put an offer on a house... and we don't have enough money saved. The deadline is mid-August. We haven't been telling people since we don't know if we will get a loan. If we don't get the loan we are just going to have to private let. We are both tired of living here, we would like our own space. Honestly, neither one of us expected to be here this long. I'm going to phone the bank tomorrow to try and get an appointment.

I've just been paid back for buying the dog food. I think I was being too hard on myself. Now I actually feel like I haven't spent anything.

I think I've miserably failed the Frugal Fast. When I finished work yesterday I had a missed call from DH. He asked me to pick up some veg for MIL. Today I had to pick up dog food for a neighbour. I got the money back from MIL yesterday, just waiting on getting the money back for today's purchase.

Lunch challenge going well. I've packed 100% all this week.

I can drive my car again! My brother-in-law fixed it last night. It felt so good to be driving to work again.

On my break I checked my phone and I had a missed call from the garage. Apparently the key's in. DH is going to pick it up tomorrow for me.

I took my own lunch today but I bought a bacon roll for breakfast. I'll redeem myself the next six days that I'm working.

I need to work out how much money I'll be spending for the rest of the month. I've got two birthday presents to buy but they shouldn't be too much. Sponsored at girl at work £5 for Race For Life, and I've got Avon to pay, although that is under ten pounds. Hmm, shouldn't be too bad.

I'm off today. I'm working the next six days after that. I can't complain, I could do with the extra money. I'm covering a woman's shift on Saturday, otherwise I wouldn't be in. I couldn't say no, her daughter's in a fashion show.

My car should be fixed soon. My uncle has a key that works so he dropped it off yesterday, just need to replace the tyre.

Lunch challenge going well. Yesterday was another day that I packed everthing I needed. I've packed everything for 6 days so it's going well.

I've managed to get my breakdown cover sorted. £28 for the whole year. I took it out through my cashback website so once it has been validated it will go into my bank account, but that will take a while.

Nothing planned today. I got a text about this month's phone bill. £38. I really need to get on the phone to them and cancel my web browsing pack. I've been saying that for a while, I know. I have tried to though, it just takes ages getting through to them.

I just spoke to my uncle. He thinks he has the key that I need to get the wheel off. He's going to come up tomorrow and check. I hope it is, I don't want to get my hopes up though.

Today went well. Packed 100%. Before work I bought cappucino sachets that I can have instead of drinking tea all the time. £1 for 8 sachets, I thought that was a good deal. Instead of having cereal this morning I had a pain au chocolat (I think that's what it's called) with my cappucino, it was nice for a change. There's no more left so will probably be back to having cereal tomorrow unless I think of something else.

I had to get the bus to work this morning. Before I started I picked up some crackers and cereal bars to snack on during the week when I'm at work.

Today was my third day of the lunch challenge and I took all my snacks and lunch with me. For my afternoon tea I had the crackers that I had bought this morning with some tea. I drank a lot of tea today, but at least it was all free.

I was wondering today if people notice that I'm not spending anything. The woman that I took my break with bought a big breakfast then she bought her lunch, and her snacks too. In fact, she rarely brings in her own lunch. I actually thought I might just end up buying something since her cooked breakfast usually looks more appealing than my cereal. Luckily, I didn't. I'm so pleased with myself.

I worked 5 hours today, so in total that's only 9 hours extra in this pay. I get paid tomorrow. Next week I am working 8 and a half hours extra so July's pay should be better.

I didn't have lunch at work today since I finished at 11am.

Hubby worked 5 hours extra today too.

Hope everyone has a good day!

Breakfast: cereal and a cup of tea
Lunch: tuna roll, yoghurt, apple, bottle of water
Snacks: snickers

That's two days in a row I have brought everything in. I like the feeling knowing that I haven't spent anything.

I'm going to have to buy something else for next week's snacks though, as much as I like chocolate I can't have it all the time.

For the June Lunch Challenge I have set these rules for myself:

1. bring own breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack
2. no additional spending

I will do this for 16 days since my week is a 4-day week.

Today was the first day of it. Before I started work this morning I bought a pack of 80 teabags for 28p. I'll keep them in my locker. For breakfast I brought in cereal, and had tea with that. For lunch I had a sandwich, yoghurt and a sweet. For my afternoon break I had a cup of tea and a packet of sweets that I had bought a few days ago.

I worked an extra shift today. The sales at work have been really good so there was money to spend. I've also got a few shifts over the next couple of weeks too.

Hubby worked extra today too.

It was from my catalogue. I haven't ordered from them in months. They're offering me £15 off my next order of £50 or more. The catalogue bill came at the same time. My minimum monthly payment is the lowest it's been since before I ordered at Christmas last year, I'm not adding to it now.

I hope it's nice on Thursday. It was a lovely day outside and I was stuck at work for nine hours. I spoke to my manager and it doesn't look like I'll get overtime this week, so I'm hoping that it will be nice on Thursday.

Never spent anything today.

Still haven't got credit card bill yet but I'm expecting it soon.

I'm glad May is here. I know that one of my goals will be accomplished (paying back MIL). I will be clear of that debt when I get paid next week.

Hubby and I went on a long walk today with my mum and her dog. It was nice. I'm tired now, could do with having dinner soon (it's 5pm here)

Filled up petrol, well it's almost a full tank. Wrote down my current mileage so I can keep track of how many miles I get out of it. I have no idea just now. All I know is that it was nearly three weeks ago that it was full.

Here's hoping May will be a good month!