Struggling

I don't think I'm doing very well this month. I've overlooked the fact I am low on petrol, and I'm struggling to find CC payment due early October. I can pay it, but it will be four days late. Think the best route is to phone them. Trouble is with car tax, insurance and assistance all due next month it's going to be very tight.

Did list on ebay, few of the kids coats that they have grown out of. Did a menu plan for the next two weeks, spent £60.96 at Morrisons and kept to the list. My target for the groceries this month was £160, I'm already £2 over and have just over 2 weeks to go, £32 left no petrol and a CC bill to pay. Just haven't done my maths right have I ?

Closed old savings account, couldn't put the £11.51 in my emergency fund because I needed batteries for camera to list items on ebay.

I guess this one of those low points, I'm just going have to get a grip.

Postives and Negatives

Our youngest has declared he wishes to cycle to school every morning, we're happy with that. Trust and independence for him, saves on petrol, wear and tear on the car. However it has cost £30 for a new lock and helmet, but those things can prove to be priceless.

Got accepted for an Esavings account with Natwest, I now have an emergency fund of ..wait for it....£1 ! It's a positive step.

Found an old savings account passbook I hadn't touched for 7 years, went in to local branch, updated account I had earned a whole 8p interest, minus 2p 20% gross tax, well that's 6p more than I had last week . Think I'll close the account and put the princely sum of £11.51 into my emergency fund.

Like reformed spendaholic, I have been suffering from procrastination on the mundane things in life. House is in need of TLC, the evergrowing pile of unmatched socks seems to be having some sort of baby boom. I have still to list a pile of unwanted items on ebay, karate suits, nearly new football boots.

I have been grocery shopping, but wrong frame of mind shopping. Lack of a menu plan is the cause. I have approx £92 for the next three weeks of food, can do it, after all compared to last month it feels like a fortune. So this week I have to sit down and work it out.

£87 sitting in topcashback.co.uk account, hopefully to be credited next month which will pay the most of the car tax.

Things are heading in the right way, slowly, but surely.

Savings

Not successful ! Can't find a quidco or cashback offer for a savings account. So gone with a simple Natwest E-Savings account, only because it's instant access, nice interest rate and they've been consistent with with me since 1985, worst thing that can happen is they refuse due to my horrendous financial history, but would they do that on a savings account ?

Personal Finance Blogs

I have a new addiction, thanks to No More Spending. Found via the wonderful MSE forums I've spent the last hour reading other peoples experiences and journeys of the DFW lifestyle. Very inspirational.

One of the many things learnt is the need for an emergency fund. Given our chequered history of all things domestic, electrical or essential to daily life breaking down, usually within 2 - 3 weeks of each other, this seems like a good idea. Mainly because any repairs, new parts or - worst case scenario - new appliances get put on the plastic because they haven't been budgeted for. So new goal by the end of March 2008 emergency fund of £500+ to be sorted.

Payday is 48 hours away, I am actually going to set a budget for groceries. I've been flailing around spending £30 here, £20 there with no real plan. £160 is my target. £100 on Tesco online, £60 hard cash for top ups, no debit cards . The purse strings have to remain tight this month, car tax, insurance all due October. So with emergency plan fund, only paying minimum off debts and car expenses no spend days will be a plenty !

Off to find a decent emergency fund account via Topcashback.

I Spent !

No money - but nearly an hour at the library, and enjoyed it. This was Day 2 Saturday 25th, came home with James Patterson and Dan Brown :) Spent a purely selfish afternoon in the garden reading, amazing what a little escapism does for you.

Day 3 - Sunday 26th, this is a Bank Holiday Weekend so loads of stuff going on locally. We opted for a carboot sale (I spent 0.00 ) and the afternoon on the beach. I did pay £2.00 for carparking though.

Day 4 - Monday 27th, kids had plans - out with their friends, hubby at work, what are bank holidays for ? Sitting in the garden reading ! Finished James Patterson - Cradle and All (please don't bother, lot of effort for a bad book !) However ran out of dog food and milk so I spent cash, under a fiver, but this weeks target of a total ban on spending has gone out of the window. I'm not cross I just want to be able to do it.

Day 5 - today Tuesday 28th - should be a no spend day.

To Be Continued...

The Joy of ...

not spending. My small dilemma over what to read in the garden (to be honest the books I have planned aren't appealing) this afternoon and how not to spend a penny was running through my mind whilst walking the dog.

Came home and decided I'll visit the library. I used to be a library addict years ago, four books a week no problem, dug out card that hasn't been used for at least 3 years and decided that sounds like the perfect Saturday morning treat.

Isn't life simple when you want it to be ?

Can't spend a penny !

I've set myself a challenge, no spending from 24th of August until 30th. Why? because it's over 2 weeks til payday, all creditors have at least minimum balances, have food and petrol, but only £80 left. I 've attempted and dropped out of so many challenges on MSE -DFW that I want to prove to myself I can do something. Plus it will be a babystep.

Day 1 - Friday 24th - resisted 30p paperback in charity shop, have at least 2 books to read at home. If said book is available on Thursday 30th I will buy.

Today I will tidy this house up, catch up with the ironing then treat myself to an afternoon in the garden with book, followed by Chicken Fahjitas and X-Factor. Kids will be happy playing with their mates.

History

I've just read my blog and I'm dissapointed with myself. Since March I've been declaring I'm going to stop that, do this, change the way I do that. And it's all poop ! I've achieved none of it in the last three months. Nothing is going change unless I make the effort. Mohammed and mountain and all that.

Getting my head together today, set some realistic goals and get with it.

Hysteria sets in.

Friday - Boiler pilot light goes out, husband fixes it.
Sunday - Microwave dies, thankfully still in warranty, gets sent away for repair/replace or refund . Respect to Amazon customer services :)
Tuesday - Fridge dies, freezer ok. Six weeks out of warranty. Only had damn thing since May 2006, second time it failed in nine months. Husband deals with it, but 48 hours no fridge is pants. Just glad for once - that it's not 70 degrees + in July.

House is a total tip. Today is day off work - obviously not day off for attempted domestic goddess impersonation. To top it all I've seen a spider in the utility room that is wearing wellie boots, looks like he needed a shave too.

Wish me luck.

Good to be back..

earning a wage and working hard for it. Mean that. After 3 years of 'self employment' and 100 wishful dreams I have to be somewhere to do something 4 days a week. It maybe slightly monotonous and manual too, but I'd rather this than 9 - 5 Monday - Friday surrounded by computers, phones and office politics ! My days off are now precious and I'm getting myself into a routine.

On the financial side I'm getting there, things are treading water until Iget my first wage packet, now that's something I've missed.

So a positive start to July.