Englishrose's Personal Finance Blog

Well I've not written for ages, I've been getting grief at work. Although since maternity leave I cut down to part time working, they still expect a full time amount of work out of me. It's getting me down so much now. I didn't hardly sleep last night with worrying about it. Not only that, but we have lots more staff joined whilst I was off work, and no one has introducted me to them, told me what they do or anything. They come in my office which I share with two other employees, (who have only been there less than 1/2 the time I have) and chat away to them like I am invisible. My confidence is at rock bottom.

To top it all, I am still having pain where my gallbladder was (had it taken out in August). This is worrying me the most. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? You guys always seem to help me with advice. (Like when my baby was in hospital).

Sorry the above wasn't financy stuff. I am kicking around the idea of jacking my job in, hubby wants to to. But how would we manage? times would be so lean. Oh well....

Well I was asked to babysit for my daughters friend last night. DH didn't mind looking after our two little ones (4yrs and 9months). Also my grandson was staying over. So I babysat from 8 until 1.40 and got £30. Am putting it into newly formed emergency fund. One thing bothers me about this couple, they have newly laid carpet all through their new home,a large plasma tv on the wall, various other things of value and yet their phone is disconnected because they didn't pay the bill. The folly of youth (they are both mid twenties and very much into going out and having a good time).

from hospital last night. Thank goodness. He is still very wheezy and not interested in food, only his formula. Also didn't sleep well at all. Hope the inhalers kick in soon. I am keeping him in the house as the weather is cold/rainy, so won't get chance to be tempted to spend. Although I have to make a confession, I was so stressed out last night I splurged on a bottle of wine for £4.00. I know alcohol isn't the way to go, but sometimes it just helps make things not feel as bad you know?
Well it's DH payday tomorrow and it's all spoken for. No room for saving this month damn. From January we are going to find a way to save a few £'s I am determined.

Well I really tried to stay within hudget, but had to get extra petrol as baby is in hospital again. His wheezing/breathing was so bad we took him to A&E yesterday and they kept him in again. Too young to diagnose asthma but I am feeling so guilty because when I was 14 weeks pregnant with him I had a bad asthma attack and was in the hospital for a week. If I had gone in earlier and not tried to struggle on, maybe he wouldn't be like this. Does anyone know if there is a connection? I know asthma can be hereditary,but have i increased the poor little mites chances? Anyway, DH stayed with him whilst I brought DS2 home. (it kills me to leave him there but it is usually me who stays and DH did offer this time). We are both headed over to hosp now for the ward round. Hopefully he will be discharged. So the extra petrol was needed! Sorry to ramble.

Well I didn't win the table/chairs. I put a bid in of £100 and they went for £140. Nevermind. I will try again at some point.
Am at home today as the nursery at work rang me yesterday and asked me to come and collect my baby as he wasn't well. My boss allowed me to go home straight away, and he isn't fit enough to go today. Also, I have caught his cold overnight. It will definately be a no spend day today as we aren't going out.
I have only £15 to last for food and anything we need until Wednesday, should about do it as we have lots of food in. Am really trying hard to keep to my budget this month.

was supposed to be titled Frugal Alternative but I hit the send button too soon, sorry.

Well I've been hankering after a new dining table and 6 chairs from Ikea, but it would cost nearly £400! So yesterday my daughter and I went to look in a local auction room. There was a nice table and chairs there, granted not pine which I wanted but nice non the less. Far better quality too. Seeing as how I am shy, I filled in a form saying that I couldn't be at the auction (today) and put my highest bid in as £100. The only reason I put so little down is because my daughters friend got a set for £80 a few weeks ago, so you never know. So today I'll be hanging around the phone to see if I was successful. If so, I've saved lots of money, if not, well guess it was just meant to be.

Well I heard rumours that a syndicate at the University where I work had had a big win. I was fantasing that there would be a big ole cheque on my desk yesterday. Alas, it was another dept that won £5million!!! 15 people in the syndicate, so not bad huh? On and off during the day I was thinking... what if it had been me.... all our debts would be paid etc. You know how it is. Well my DH comes home from work after me and says a friend of his has died. He was only 49 and has had bone cancer for some time, but was in remission and bravely had even got a job. He died in his sleep on Monday. I am just sooo sooo sad, poor guy. Hubby is cut up too. Moral to this story.. why dwell so much on worrying about debts, when you can enjoy your healthy life.

After the salaries come in, and payments made, this will be the first month we can save a little. Hubby has been working like a dog to get us here. Whilst I am home from work nursing baby with chickenpox. No doubt DS4 will get it too.
I've been motivated by reading nickle and dimed and low wage britain. Can anyone recommend any other books along those lines? I have to say I love reading these blogs, does prevent me buying things for the sake of it.

As predicted I got stung on ebay. Forgot to put in a reserve price, and guess what? surprise, surprise my stuff sold for the lowest amount. Not only that but I doubt I put the postage high enough, so will be out of pocket today when I mail the stuff. Lesson learnt.

Also: Steve Irwin R.I.P.
(shocking)

Sorry to do this, but does anyone know if a reserve price can be added after the auction has started on ebay? I stupidly listed a few things without adding a reserve price, currently one item has a bid at the starting price, which was looooow! I'm gonna be out of pocket if I sell for these prices. Is this just a lesson I have to grin and bear? The auction ends in 20 hours. I've trawled through the help thingys on ebay but can't find anything about it.
Thanks!

Thought I was being good getting petrol at a station quite a way from us, as I was passing yesterday, as it was a lot cheaper. Hubby is going delivering pizzas tonight (does this once or twice a fortnight to help out with our situation), hence the extra petrol. Well our 6 month old wasn't too good yesterday so I took him to the GP whod iagnosed upper resp infection. Last night however, he seemed worse, had a hacking cough and a pathetic little wimpery cry, it broke my heart. To cut a long story, I took him over to the hospital and he has croup! They gave him steroids to kick start his recovery. He didn't have too bad a night surprisingly and is asleep at the moment too. Need more petrol now however, hey ho. At least the little mite is gonna be ok.

so not been writing here. Have been reading the blogs though as they are my inspiration. If I get to that place where I am tempted to fritter some money, I log on and read here and usually it stops me.
At the moment we seem to be taking one step forward then 3 backwards. We never seem to get ahead with the bills and its beginning to get me down now. Although I went back to work last week after maternity leave (and only 8 days after gallbladder surgery) my salary will be way down after nursery fees have been deducted. So my next payslip will be a shock I'm sure.
I did however get another (don't laugh!) paperround, whilst I was on maternity leave. It's like my other one in that it is only once a week. The pay isn't much but it feels like free money as hubby can watch the kids whilst I do them on an evening. It all helps.
Regarding the surgery, my colleagues said I shouldn't be back at work so soon, but I felt ok. Now however, I'm experiencing soreness or it feels like internal bruising where the gallbladder would have been. Not sure if this is normal? anyone know on here?

Today i am in the frame of mind that I must, as everyone says, pay myself first. So today I added £36 to savings which felt good. The rest of my finances need sorting, but until I am able to earn more money we just have to muddle along. We booked a holiday for the 6 of us on a whim, which, although is needed, was pure madness as we will have to live borderline poverty to get there in Sept! oh well, live and learn huh?

On a different note, the weather here is glorious, so me and the kids are making the most of it. Poor hubby stuck at work in a factoryn ho hum.

Strikes me that you guys earn so much more than us folks in UK. I just read on another site about frugal living that one person has managed to pay off over $8000 of debt since January. Geez i haven't earned that much since January!
I have always had a fascination with USA, although have only visited twice. I love reading all your blogs, it keeps me focussed. I read a lot of books to keep me focussed too, but would welcome any book suggestions. Sorry for the second post of the day!

Had to buy some flowers for my aunts Birthday. I already gave her some gifts, but I felt so sorry for her as my uncle is now in a residential home and she lives alone. She's a very young looking 76 today. Also picked up some fresh beetroot to go with salad for lunch. Not too bad it came to less than £5.
We have our name down on a site where you can bid for rental homes. We had bid on one fairly near us, which would have been ideal. We fit the criteria, ie have two young kids, work and live in area, but alas we didn't get this one. At the moment we half own half rent our present home and I know it's not considered savvy to go from owing to renting, but the equity would pay off our debts and give us a little nest egg. Also, if we can rent we wouldn't have to worry about paying house repairs, which have been a major source of wasted money to us lately (don't ask!). I'd appreciate views on this???

Well I walked into town with my daughter this morning (she's 27 and has a 9 year old son). We both had to buy Birthday party gifts for the parties that our sons are going to. She spent £10 I spent £6. I feel like a cheapskate, but my son's friend is only 3 so they don't put a monetary value on 'things'.
I have had to tighten our belts as we need to pay off a £14000 loan we got to build a kitchen extension. I really regret doing it now too, so it's been a very costly learning curve.
My hubby hands his wage over and doesn't know much about what goes to pay what, he likes it that way. I like it that way too but it also means I get to do the worrying! So I've decided to log what we spend on a day to day basis. Todays is:
Gift £6
Cheese pastry 65p (my son wanted it for lunch, and I gave in as he is a very fussy eater)
4 bottles of water on offer £1
Gift wrap 58p
washing up liquid 68p

I will try to have a no spend day tomorrow.

By the way thanks to the ppl who replied to my first post! I was quite embarrassed as I sent it twice by mistake. Not a good start lol.

at blogging! I've been reading the blogs for sometime now and been very inspired, so I thought maybe I'd try one myself. So hello everyone.
As my name indicates, I'm from England. Firstly can someone explain to me what the $20 challenge is?

at blogging! I've been reading the blogs for sometime now and been very inspired, so I thought maybe I'd try one myself. So hello everyone.
As my name indicates, I'm from England. Firstly can someone explain to me what the $20 challenge is?