That’s certainly what it feels like this month ( and last month). Now I know we are not the only one’s in this predicament and that there are lots of people a lot worse off than we are.
However, it is difficult to stay positive and not panic when you bank balance literally disappears before your eyes. This month alone has been my youngest’s birthday. Something I normally budget for and this year although I frugally sourced everything it still was difficult to cover. That was because we had so many things to pay for!! There is no other way to say it but we just had loads to pay for!!
So on top of the birthday we had……
*£90 for drama term for youngest.
*£40 for an Explorer weekend camp my eldest really wanted to go on.
*£90 to have my poor ‘Gorgeous George‘ cremated after a shock unplanned pet death.
*£15 for a 1/2 day Geography school trip.
*£20 towards expenses for my eldest’s PE trekking trip.
*£70 for a boiler service.
*£150 for my OH’s motorbike service and MOT.
Ok, so we have not yet overdrawn and I know a LOT of people live via their overdrafts. That is just something I couldn’t do. I wouldn’t sleep ( or get even less than I get now!).However, we have no savings to dip into either. At the end of the day we always pay what’s owed, then live on what’s left. I am extremely frugal with food and have recently made the leap to Aldi where I have found we have been saving at least £10 a week easy, if not much more, on our food bills.
But then there is NO extra!! I mean none!! I don’t go out except for the odd coffee and catch up with friends. My OH never goes out- ever!! He works hard, tries to get as much overtime as possible and then comes home. He never moans about it, that’s just what he does. The kids earn their pocket money by doing chores- it’s not just handed to them.
I’m left feeling worse about not working. Regulars will know I have M.E and this week alone I have been unable to do anything- I mean anything! I have been hit with exhaustion that has made it difficult to function, shower and make dinner- let alone anything else.
If I worked I could help financially, I could relieve the pressure and possibly make things easier. But I cant!!! It’s so frustrating. Frustrating beyond words.
And so I now look towards next month and the run up to Christmas. Thank goodness we pay into a ‘Christmas Club’ via family, it means we get get our money back in November in plenty of time to organise Christmas.
Then I hear people saying hey are going out, going for a weekend away, buying new clothes, going for meals etc and just wonder……….HOW DO THEY DO IT?
I REPEAT……………..HOW DO THEY DO IT??????
I don’t know, but if you find the answer please share!
We have a running joke (not a really funny one though) that “in 2 years time it will all be better”. Well, it’s been about 13 now, and it’s still going strong :), so I guess maybe mine isn’t the comment you were after…
I have no idea how they do it. But I sure would love to find out. (by the way, are those the same people who are always better dressed, have better behaved kids and a more orderly home while eating only healthy food and still getting a lot of time for themselves? 😉 )
Lol funnily enough yes they are those sorts of people!! We have been married 19 years a so thought we would be in a better position too- maybe that will be our motto now 🙂
That is a lot to be hit with all in one month! I’m dreading it when they start school and have all these trips and clubs and whatever else. We do pretty much all of our ‘treats’ through Clubcard or I hunt down discounts, 2-for-1s, offers etc. – it’s the only way!
Oh I’m a definite bargain hunter so I’m with you on the 2 for 1’s etc 🙂