Judicious January Jangling & Juggling *blows budgeteering bugle*

[claretandamberforever]

Sorry, couldn't resist going overboard on the J's

Happy new year y'all. Welcome to expert budgeteerers, newbies, lurkers and de-lurkers. We're a very friendly, non-judgmental bunch so please use this thread as you choose whether it's as a spending diary, to confess your money sins, ask for help or have a general whinge at the cost of living.....

hi ladies....
I GOT THE PROMOTION!!!! :):):)

NK - that's wonderful news !!! Congratulations!!

NK woo-hoo!!!!!!!

Fab NK !
Have fallen off the wagon a little over the last week or so but have been paid & more than I was expecting so am determined to be back on track for Feb.................
Need to get cards & wrap for DH's birthday at lunchtime, other than that nothing so LSD even if not NSD. In the spirit of another poster I'm going to try to do frugal things every day to keep myself on track (sorry can't remember who it was)
Frugal things done today - remembered to cancel Amazon Prime free trial before having to pay £49 for the year when I only ever order at Xmas; have switched my CC to Barclaycard 30 month 0% balance transfer to minimise payments and hopefully pay off a bit earlier.

Well done NK hope there's a whopping pay rise in there too.

I am sat at work eating my homemade lunch and catching up with you lot. I am determined to have a nsd so I have left my purse at home.'

MrsW I have been stung by amazon prime time before and it hurts!

Well done NK hope there's a whopping pay rise in there too.

I am sat at work eating my homemade lunch and catching up with you lot. I am determined to have a nsd so I have left my purse at home.'

MrsW I have been stung by amazon prime time before and it hurts!

Fab News NK Well done.

Great news NK

I was hoping for a NSD, but the boiler man turned up an I'm 160 quid lighter urghhhh rain and pointing springs to mind

Pouring / bloody phone

Well a spend day today. Had to get more nappies for DS this morning. They were on offer though so got loads for £20. Tomorrow is my food shop day and I wrote my list and meal planned last night. Going to be a bit hectic though as have to do the shop at 8am in order to drop DS to my mums at 9am so she can watch him while I have my midwife app (they are taking bloods and DS does not like people poking his mum he gets very upset!)
Hoping to spend £60 on shop tomorrow. Put more stuff up on eBay last night as well. If nothing else all this selling is making my house look tidier

Fantastic NK
In the process of comparing car insurance here, not due for two months but I wanted to have a ballpark for if any calls start coming offering deals. Annoyingly all the excesses seem to have jumped to £350 ouch
Spending wise I have tried very hard to stick to my lists - 60% success - freezer and meal planning - 65% success - and I am opening a new squirrel account next week in time for payday next Friday. If I keep trying a little change all over instead of one drastic change I think I may be on my way to habit changes

Short don't forget to check topcashback for car insurance. I went with aviva & got £84 cashback.

You sometimes have to buy it on a laptop/pc or it won't track.

NSD.

Well done on the promotion NK

Oh congratulations, NK. Great news!

Well done NK!

NSD for me, I think that's the first time ever!

Yes, it's just like a gym.

brilliant news NK. Hope there's a nice fat pay rise for you.

I have been a bit spendy lately: bought myself a new phone - paid up front so I could get the cheapest contract. I always used to get the cheapest/free phone but use my smartphone a lot on trains etc so wanted a nice one. Also bought a case and memory card. oh and a new Kindle book. I feel pretty indulgent, which is good, I guess - a few months ago I would have bought that without thinking too much, but am now more conscious of treating myself, if that makes sense.

Tomorrow and Friday should be NSDs apart from travel to work costs.

Well done NK so pleased for you.

NSD for me today.

Well done NK
NSD except for paying for parking.
We're nearly there - 2 days left of January! I do invoicing on Friday which is always nice and will do a review of our budget and see how we've done.

Well done NK!

Talking of people coming and going, what's happened to possiblyorange? Hope the house move is all working out, nanny, work etc if you're busy but lurking!

Thanks for responses about March budget. I'm definitely going to switch banks to Halifax. Think I'd rather go into branch to do it to make sure everything is switched properly (or is that being terribly old fashioned?!). I'm amazed at the saving I can make on roadside cover ! Job for the weekend is to sign up to quidco, I can get AA cover for £18!

I'm actually pretty sorted for dd's birthday. She's turning 2 so won't expect a big fuss 1 present bought in the sale and 1 present second hand freebie (but new to us) will just need a card, balloons etc.
Weekend away will be paid for from money already in savings. There are three couples going and we had talked about getting a sainsburys delivery between us. I've texted the main organiser today suggesting £50 per couple which I will pay asap, hopefully reducing actual spend whilst we're there. We all have NT membership so will start researching places to have a wander.

mrs w i try to track frugalness! makes me feel much better in weeks like this where because I spent £2 on chocolatey treats at lunch time I didn't have enough money to buy bread and milk at the shop and had to put the bread back !

Well done NK!
NSD here, used freezer stocks for tea, was yummy.
In my haste to pay off a credit card before the 0% deal expired I managed to over pay so I now need to close the account and get the money back.

Nothing to report but wanted to squeeze in a 'congratulations NK' and 'well done north'!

£- too many but I'm too hot and bothered To Get my head around it. Peeps To view the house should have been Tues evening, then this morning, now Tomorrow morning, allegedly.

Nsd. Not taking my purse to work really helps. I haven't touched my wages yet either. Got paid on Monday and been using the dregs in my purse since.