Sammy Leia Money Saver

I keep putting off posting as I have heaps of photos to upload and edit and have been feeling too tired to do it – very slack, I know!

I did spend a whole day this week advertising all the clothes that I have for sale on Gumtree though. Today I sold $50 worth of clothes!

This week I collected my 2 lay-bys from the local boutique. I was hoping to use a $50 gift voucher that I received for Mother’s Day towards the balance owing, but that wasn’t allowed, so I used it towards another lay-by!

The other money that I spent this week was $2 on craft club fees and $10.45 on a counter meal (roast dinner) and a drink. I went with some other Foodbank volunteers and we had a lovely lunch.

Last week I put $151 on the credit card for a hairdressing appointment. I know I should have budgeted for the money instead I haven’t put anything else on the credit card though).

I’ll just have to keep trying to budget properly!

I’m aiming to upload all those photos tomorrow. Tonight I want to catch up on some blog-reading. i’m still not very organised but will try to do better next week!

Why do I seem to be never achieving much? I’m feeling a bit down today. Mr Sammyleia is working long hours and is stressed. I spent all of today and this evening  (apart from doing multiple loads of washing, some tax paperwork and cooking dinner) finally posting all my items for sale on Gum Tree. There are over 40 items of assorted clothing and jewellery piled up on one end of our dining table. If after a reasonable amount of time (not sure what that is – maybe the end of the month?), the items remain unsold, then they will all go to charity.

I have just finished writing out a grocery list for tomorrow. We have some meals left over from last week again. Here they are:

Pork Sausages Milano

Chinese Beef

Potato Topped Tomato Sausage Bake

Spaghetti Bolognaise

Cheesy Chicken and Capsicum Bake

Cheesy Noodles

Take-away for one night

It’s now 10 pm and I still have ironing that needs to be done tonight I still have loads of photos of my craft work to post when I get the chance. Tomorrow is volunteer work all morning, followed be the much-hated grocery shopping and errands running and I have a meeting to attend tomorow night.

I did have a lovely Mother’s Day yesterday though. My daughter made me a delicious brunch and I spent all afternoon reading – bliss! Then we had Indian take-away for dinner, followed by a favourite dessert concoction of Miss Sammyleia’s. (Chocolate ice cream, sultanas, chopped dates, chopped banana, topped with peanut butter and Nutella! So naughty and sooo yummy!)

Better go and get that ironing done!

Last night I was up till midnight trying to get some more cards made. The Sunday school made some cards for their Mothers for Mother’s Day next Sunday. They were also going to make them for all the ladies in the congregation, but didn’t get around to that, so I made the rest of them.

Tonight I’m working on Mother’s Day cards to teach our craft group how to make on Thursday.

I did a little decluttering today. I gave a friend 2 craft magazines of mine. I didn’t get around to photographing them, sorry. Tuesday is also the start of my budgeting week. I withdrew $80 this afternoon, and spent $30 of it on 2 clothing lay-bys that are due to be collected next week. I also spent $5.99 on a bottle of crystal Kindy Glitz. It’s my favourite type of glitter glue. My bottle is very low, and I need it to teach card-making on Thursday. I think I withdrew $80 last week too, and only had a couple of dollars left this morning.

After my volunteering job, I did the weekly grocery shop and spent just under $162. Mr Sammyleia likes me to use the credit card for this expense, as he collects points to convert into Frequent Flyer points to use on our annual holidays. Our return flights to Europe this year were covered by using accumulated points.

Before I go and cook dinner, I thought I’d better post this week’s Menu Plan.

Monday: Moroccan Chicken

Tuesday: Pork Sausages Milano

Wednesday: Shepherd’s Pie

Thursday: Golden Sausages (A new recipe that I got from a friend. I’ll post the details if the family like it).

Friday: Burritos

Saturday: Mr Sammyleia’s turn to cook

Sunday: Cheesy Noodles or Hot Dogs

I’ve been doing pretty well with the spending, but haven’t blogged what I’ve spent lately.

Today I met 3 friends for lunch. Trouble was, I only had $5 left in this week’s budget (not counting my $10 Church money that I’ll be giving tomorrow). Luckily we were going somewhere pretty casual, so I said I’d be a little late and just had a skinny muggacino. ($4). I went without the cake for dessert too. I still had a lovely time catching up with my friends. Before, I probably would have whipped the credit card out, but I don’t carry it on me any more.

I’m really trying to make cash a habit!

I have quite a few photos of cards to share, but right now I’d rather catch up on my way behind blog reading. I’ve also decided to not blog on Sundays, at least for a while. It’s the only day that Mr Sammyleia and I have to ourselves, as he works all day Saturday and starts early and finishes late every weekday. I’m not sure what sort of blogging routine I should have yet, but I do feel guilty if I don’t post, which is silly, I know!

I just finished Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover book. I thought it was terrific and it made me realise that I need an emergency fund too. I like the spiritual aspects of the book as well. I also like that people have told their stories as to how the money makeover has worked for them.

Tonight I don’t have to cook dinner (Yay!) and am now sitting, beer in hand, in front of the football. (Which I hate, but Mr Sammyleia loves). I’m going to spend the time catching up on some blog reading now