tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88915643792167872082011-11-28T01:16:10.899Z<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.comBlogger1541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-24559499614360210112010-01-27T21:35:00.005Z2010-01-27T21:49:50.174Z

I'm not sure what's more shocking - the fact that Britain has FINALLY emerged from recession or that I've actually got around to updating my blog!Where have I been? What have I been up to? Working hard to pay the bills mostly. Boring - I know - but sadly essential. Here's one of the more exciting highlights from 2009 - a 60ft abseil down a viaduct which I did for charidee last year. You know what

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-6554383960521598062009-08-31T18:39:00.006+01:002009-08-31T19:20:17.086+01:00

Joined the gym yesterday. Yeah, yeah I know that's not very recessionista of me. But I think you'll be impressed...By enrolling at my local council run leisure centre as a 'pay and play' member I get access to a fab range of cardio and weights machines and pay just...£10 for the initial induction£10 for a fabulous electronic key device which records my progressand, then, only £5 for every time I

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-73389970621660509662009-08-29T18:42:00.005+01:002009-08-29T20:39:32.455+01:00

August Bank Holiday and the end of summer is nigh. Not that we'll be able to tell much difference between summer and autumn this year, but that's not to say that the with the advent of golden leaves crunching underfoot we won't all be clamouring to update our wardrobes. The new season's fashions are cropping up in stores already (despite the fact that it was impossible to find any opaque black

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-90940346830603878502009-08-24T16:34:00.005+01:002009-08-24T17:16:40.681+01:00

This is the laptop I dream of...the beautiful MacBook AirAnd this is the one I have in reality...Yep, while half the world goes wireless I seem to be collecting cabling! It's my own fault. I spilled a cup of coffee over mylaptop keyboard sometime ago. I then purchased a wireless keyboard, which was great for a few months until I accidently dropped that on the floor and...kaput. Not wanting to

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-84381615106678083522009-04-10T12:53:00.009+01:002009-04-10T16:14:03.415+01:00

Went to see Prodigy at the NIA in Birmingham last and it was f*cking awesone (pardon my French!). In between all the pogoing, moshing and weird ravey style shapes I was throwing I had a bit of an epiphany (in case you're wondering I'd had half a lager, half a bottle of Smirnoff Ice and a Maccy D's, so it wasn't an epiphany of the E's are good variety!).As I looked around the crowd before Prodigy

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-80030207852169453972009-04-06T22:57:00.003+01:002009-04-06T23:31:01.092+01:00

Like me, do you enjoy a lovely* daily commute to work? My place of employment is about 30-miles away from my home. I know I could live closer, but after being made redundant three times in my professional career so far I'm pretty sure that 'a job for life' no longer exists and so I'd rather live in an area which I like surrounded by family and friends and travel for my work.Granted, my ideal way

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-43633618048165619172009-04-05T18:34:00.014+01:002009-04-05T20:10:55.996+01:00

You can't beat the simple pleasure of kicking back with a Chai Latte, a selection of chocolate biscuits and a good old glossy magazine. For me it used to be Red, Marie Claire, Psychologies, Company, Easy Living, Glamour, or sometimes even Vogue. But (in case you hadn't noticed!) we're in a recession and - while it pains me to say this - somethings gotta give. So these days when I curl up on the

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-39239404884562441552009-04-04T12:49:00.006+01:002009-04-04T13:48:53.776+01:00

May I be the first to wish you a 'Happy New ISA Year' in anticipation of the new Tax Year on Monday 6th April!What's all the fuss about? ISA's (or Individual Savings Accounts, to give them their full title) can be a great way to invest your funds without giving a chunk of your savings to the pesky Tax Man (boo hiss!). There are lots of different options available on the market, I'm no financial

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-47018375102658876692009-04-03T23:42:00.000+01:002009-04-03T23:43:17.261+01:00

New site coming soon!

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-60326035985334228362008-08-14T22:18:00.002+01:002008-08-14T22:25:48.932+01:00

I can't stress enough that a budget isn't something you draw up with the best of intentions and then stash at the back of a draw to gather dust and never be thought about again. A budget is a constantly evolving work in progress.Personally I resort back to the wonders of Excel to keep track of mine, recording everytime some money is spent from a certain budget area. I have one column for

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-88417191360242430562008-08-13T22:40:00.002+01:002008-08-13T22:43:22.077+01:00

In light of my previous post I had to laugh at my horoscope yesterday. . .PiscesYou're working very hard, but where are the signs of your success? If you haven't got a huge house, a posh car and a soaring bank balance. . .why not? And it you don't want those things, why be such a wage slave?Metro - Tuesday, August 12, 2008

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-67771628052515408352008-08-11T19:22:00.002+01:002008-08-11T19:43:07.846+01:00

No, I'm not trying to be environmentally friendly.Nor am I economising.My car went into the garage on Saturday for an MOT and Service, and well, in the garage it has stayed.It started off that it needed three new bulbs, two new tyres and a wiper blade to pass the MOT - not too bad considering the car is six years old. They also recommended getting the alignment checked.Then. . .it needed a whole

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-50723136937427416172008-08-09T09:31:00.003+01:002008-08-09T09:46:09.491+01:00

OK, so it's been a while - but if you remember I was going to let you in on the secret of how I try and remain under budget for those everyday expenses. . .. . .Would you believe a good ole spreadsheet, a note pad and a whole lotta determination tend to work for me?I use the notepad on a daily basis to note down what I've spent. It's so easy to forget that chocolate brownie you treated yourself

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-72822652458443544162008-07-26T18:24:00.003+01:002008-07-26T18:37:37.513+01:00

OK, so if you've followed step one and two (below) you should now have a list of how much all of your essential outgoings cost per month.Add them up and see how much they come to, for me it's:Anti-Virus Software for laptop = £3.57*Breakdown Cover for car = £4.00*Car Insurance = £33.00*Car Loan = £122.60Car Tax = £10.00*Joint A/c payment (for bills) = £542.50Mobile = £15.00MOT & Service = £21.00*

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-17281661629995177512008-07-24T23:20:00.003+01:002008-07-24T23:40:43.898+01:00

Following on from yesterdays post. . . I sorted out what I want (and need) on a monthly basis and how much that will cost me, and, basically discovered that my 'ideal' lifestyle is a long way off what I can realistically afford. Sure, I could have the lifestyle and the manicures that I crave, but the only way to facilitate that would be to get into debt and that's not gonna land me a foot on the

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-82647240761176793552008-07-23T20:54:00.003+01:002008-07-23T21:12:03.026+01:00

So, now you know what I'm about and where I want to be - let me tell you about how I intend to get my foot upon first rung of said property ladder.First things, first - budgeting!It's not glamorous, but it's oh so essential if you're to actually save any money. Before I started budgeting I was actually spending more money than I got paid each month (If I'm perfectly honest I still do some months)

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-43937210965528432792008-07-22T22:44:00.002+01:002008-07-22T23:12:44.914+01:00

It's been some time since Babe on a Budget was first conceived, so I thought a quick update wouldn't go amiss. . .January 2007 - Babe on a Budget was born, with the original objective of plotting my (now seemly feeble) attempts at saving £5,000 in 12 months. Looking back I was overspending much more than I realised, but I slowly started refocusing my mind on saving instead of splurging and even

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-52550045277818990512008-07-19T17:20:00.003+01:002008-07-19T17:25:33.291+01:00

Woo hoo! I didn't think it was possible, but it looks as though I may, at long last, be able to write my blog again!Had a bit of an incident with a suicidal cup of coffee hurling itself over my laptop and now only certain keys work! Tried to update my blog on blokey's pooter before but it wouldn't let me due to something to do with a Java problem. Not being very technically minded I assumed that

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-85694935618324253042008-06-21T15:55:00.004+01:002008-12-11T19:31:48.311Z

If like me, you've got a hoard of store 'loyalty cards' stashed away (Tesco ClubCard - check; Boots Ad Card - check; Nectar Card - check. . .you get the idea!) then no doubt you also receive regular mailings from said companies trying to entice you into their stores, usually with some vouchers attached. I had some good ones from Nectar the other day, whereby I could pick up Grazia magazine for

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-11497902845160296762008-06-16T21:54:00.004+01:002008-06-16T22:07:36.063+01:00

. . .with Internet Banking.I was a devout Internet Banker, until I recently lost my log-in number. Having to queue up in the bank during my lunch break wasn't much fun. Plus, the payment of my bills/transfer of funds was subject to a number of factors:1.) Me actually getting time to have a lunch break in which to visit the bank2.) Me actually remembering to put my cheque book/paperwork/paying-in

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-10757541901772874222008-06-13T20:22:00.003+01:002008-06-13T21:11:02.766+01:00

Faith in the fact that all this saving is going to pay off! Tickets for George Michael's final arena concerts went on sale today. I'm not sure if it's his last concert ever, or if this just marks the end of the epic '25 Live' tour. I soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo want to go. I love George! I have done ever since I was about five-years old and 'Wham! Fantastic' was the first

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-91699931478506006512008-06-11T23:17:00.004+01:002008-06-11T23:36:54.082+01:00

Woo-hoo! We're going to view a house (to rent) next Wednesday. It's £20 per month more expensive than where we're living at the moment, so it doesn't really fulfil my brief of finding somewhere cheaper. But it's on the same estate we live on at the moment, and we really love this area. It's generally quiet, OK there's a bit of scandal, but we're not talking Desperate Housewives style! Close to

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-65036674489932844052008-06-10T23:05:00.003+01:002008-06-10T23:22:07.009+01:00

Caught an interesting TV show this evening. Shopping is my Life told the tale of 26-year-old Louise Hendry, who it seems pretty much lived for shopping. OK, so she was much worse than I have ever been. When the presenters decided it would be a good idea for her to sell some of the clothes she doesn't wear so she could buy the camera she needed to further her career, she managed to flog around 200

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-58593926768516354162008-06-09T21:02:00.002+01:002008-06-09T22:20:49.432+01:00

Work was manic today - my brain is too zapped from figuring out unit costs, budget codes and purchase orders to even think about my own finances.Catch you soon! xxMoney Spent: £33.51 (toiletries, photo developing, birthday gift and lunch)Money Saved: NoneMoney Made: None

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-55503050303530358012008-06-08T21:44:00.002+01:002008-06-08T21:46:06.437+01:00

Found this article on MSN Money and thought it was interesting considering my recent posts. . .http://money.uk.msn.com/guides/salarycentre/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8249394xx

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-43631220437375792282008-06-08T18:59:00.003+01:002008-12-11T19:31:48.602Z

Apologies for my lack of blogging over the past few days, I've felt like cr*p! I think I'd been running on adrenalin over the past few weeks, what with not knowing what was happening with the whole job thang. And now that things are sorted - comes the impending lurgy! Joy!Soooo, what happened regarding the job? I'm sticking with my current place of work. Felt a bit guilty about letting down the

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-35211593962208840052008-06-03T23:06:00.004+01:002008-06-03T23:41:26.765+01:00

Well, the original plan was that I was going to write a follow up piece to my masterplan, telling you all how utterly marvellous I'd been and how I'd managed to complete my June objective, already by bagging the job, closer to home and with an increased salary. Win, win - right?! Well, maybe not. Today I have spent the day having serious doubts. Granted the job is closer to home and it pays more.

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-57897601769352060252008-06-03T23:04:00.002+01:002008-06-03T23:06:32.105+01:00

Money Spent: £24.61 (phone bill, 'girlie essentials' and lunch)Money Saved: Er, nothingMoney Made: Nowt

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-87049751315013569072008-06-03T22:50:00.003+01:002008-06-03T23:02:43.414+01:00

After carefully constructing my savings masterplan it seemed only right to have some 'downtime' and so I headed to the cinema to see 'Sex and the City - The Movie', with three of my most fabulous friends. It may be becuase I am a HUGE SATC fan, but I luuurved it. I only nearly cried four times!! I won't spoil the story line for those of you who haven't seen it yet, but let's just say despite all

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-79534162249424261352008-06-01T12:24:00.002+01:002008-06-01T13:03:33.108+01:00

Yes, I realise that I'm like a scatty old woman. Saying I'll tell you about something, then moving onto a load of seemingly unrelated topics, before coming back to the original one. A bit like good ole Ronnie and his monologue jokes:Anyway, I'm back on track now, so here's Babe's Masterplan!OK, thought I'd use a bit of my marketing savvy to assist with the whole money saving thing. And so, the

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-80584721763919579502008-05-31T22:00:00.000+01:002008-06-01T12:21:46.895+01:00

Ok, at present I ain't doing particularly well at this blog updating malarkey! If it weren't for that pesky housework I think things would be much easier. Ah well, it's not like we're in a position to hire domestic help now is it? Or, to lose our deposit on this place when we come to move out.As I may have (or may not have - I am totally losing the plot at the moment!) our landlord has put our

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-8875256984388380592008-05-30T19:33:00.002+01:002008-05-31T17:06:38.443+01:00

Money Spent: £10.15 (Starbucks brekkie, M&S lunch, more birthday cards!)Money Saved: None!Money Spent: None!

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-8192277796174549172008-05-29T19:00:00.003+01:002008-05-31T17:02:57.364+01:00

Money Spent: £9.43 (lunch, dinner, birthday card for a friend, brain trainer magazine)Money Saved: ZilchMoney Made: Zilch

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-2948177701951848842008-05-28T20:56:00.002+01:002008-05-28T21:17:55.884+01:00

I'm a firm believer in 'if you don't ask, you don't get' and well, I asked, and I got - hurrah!As you're probably aware, yesterday I was trying to strike a pay deal for a job which I'd been offered. And I've scooped it - YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY! So, now (not wanting to jinx things before the contract is signed) I have a new (and exciting) permanent job, closer to home and for more take home. Bring

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-74901105510042097262008-05-27T23:30:00.004+01:002008-05-27T23:46:21.408+01:00

You can probably tell by the title of the post - they offered me the job. Hurrah I thought. Then came the blow - the salary. They want to offer me exactly the same as what I'm earning at the moment. Everyone knows you're supposed to get a pay-rise when you get a new job, right? Now, OK this job has some seriously good stuff going for it, but if I end up earning the same as I've earned over the

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-64379074954302029172008-05-26T22:57:00.005+01:002008-05-26T23:41:02.576+01:00

and this time she's blinkin' determined!Money Spent: £10.06 (from Joint A/c on household essentials from Wilko's) £1.99 (birthday card for a friend) £523.40 (money into Joint A/c for monthly bills) £219.50 (money used to pay off last months overspend - oops!)Money Saved:£158.66 (to pay into

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-59880749897372270692008-05-04T22:48:00.003+01:002008-05-04T23:06:52.792+01:00

Hey!Have you missed me? Sorry I've been away so long, time passes so quickly sometimes.So, where are we now? Well, my original plan of saving £5k in the space of a year didn't work out. That said, I did manage to pay off my overdraft and credit cards and increase my salary. OK, so I guess I was a bit over ambitious with my original plan, but, on the plus side, progress has been made. Plus, I am

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-20957657885809190932007-11-25T18:18:00.000Z2007-11-25T18:27:41.132Z

Trying to be a clever lass and get as much mullah tucked away in my ISA before the end of April, so that I get an instant boost to my savings courtesy of Mr. Tax Free Interest - hurrah!This has entailed me selling, well, anything in the house which I don't use/need which may make me some money! I think Love of my Life thinks I'm being a bit extreme. But, £5k isn't going to make its way into my

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-17966674529964295812007-11-24T16:01:00.000Z2007-11-24T16:41:20.139Z

I've been loosely following the Paul McKenna course I mentioned in my last post. Can't quite get to grips with the whole 'feel what you feel' squeezy fingers malarkey. But what I've learnt so far is: Time is moneyYes, yes, I know it's one of the oldest cliches in the book, but the over-riding feeling that is coming out through this 'journey of self discovery' is that rather than having more money

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-17662575393585089442007-11-11T21:43:00.000Z2007-11-11T21:59:06.195Z

At the moment I am attempting the Paul McKenna 'How to Get Rich, How to Spend Less' course of exercises which appeared in The Times, probably a couple of months ago now.The course starts with a meditative CD, which you play while totally relaxing. Mr McKenna then speaks to your subconscious in a way that (my interpretation here) reminds you how fab you are and that you don't need to spend money

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-35699233520812046412007-11-05T21:19:00.000Z2007-11-05T21:50:20.543Z

Love of my Life bagged a rare Saturday off work, so we decided to hit Birmingham for a bit of Christmas shopping.OK, we were a tad indulgent. Love of my Life treated us to Latte's courtesy of Mr. Starbuck. We did go to Pizza Express for lunch, and I did buy a new jumper from Top Shop. Oh, and there was the Krispy Kreme donuts that we treated ourselves to on the way home.So, why did I still get

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-54705165084600391202007-10-28T20:07:00.001Z2007-10-28T20:18:15.081Z

Er. . . Um. . . OK. . . - I've got £700 saved so far!How crap is that, eh?On the plus side:I'm not overdrawnI don't owe anything on either of my credit cardsIn fact, I had a letter from the bank informing me that it had been so long since I last used one of my cards that they were going to cancel it - hooray!I'm putting aside money every month, ready for those nasty annual billsI guess trying to

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-12876396203709995142007-10-27T22:57:00.000+01:002007-10-27T23:06:18.876+01:00

I will not neglect my blogI will not neglect my blogI will not neglect my blogI will not neglect my blogI will not neglect my blogI will not neglect my blogI will not neglect my blogI will not neglect my blogI will not. . .you get the idea. . . normal service will resume 28/10/07

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-86933679274483835082007-07-12T22:13:00.000+01:002007-07-12T22:33:34.240+01:00

I'm getting there with this catching up malarkey aren't I?Just thought I should fill you in on the holiday...well, it was fantastic. We went to Malta for seven days and it's such a beautiful country. It's got that nice laid back Mediterranean feel about it, that we're oh so lacking in Blighty. Also, sunshine by the mega-watt, another thing sadly missing from our shores. There's so much history

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-15839555747119600692007-07-11T21:24:00.000+01:002007-07-11T21:44:09.834+01:00

Unfortunately, with adult life comes compromise. Oh yes, sirree! There's no playing in the sandpit and with the Barbie dolls once you've been handed the weighty key to the door.With this in mind, it's with slight disappointment, that I have to tell you that this blog has gotta change somewhat. In an ideal world, we would say what we want, to who we want, about what we went, when we want...you get

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-21222053159962235562007-07-10T21:59:00.000+01:002007-07-10T22:09:06.217+01:00

Big Babe on a Budget Apologies...to anyone whose checked in recently to find no new posts. All I can do is apologise and make lame, feeble excuses about the pressures of starting a new job and then being poorly. Oh, and then there was the week when I jetted off to Malta.Anyway, I will spare you the details, but just wanted to let you know... a.) I'm still aliveb.) I'm still budgeting like a mad

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-83854169802961124412007-06-20T22:35:00.001+01:002007-06-20T22:47:22.661+01:00

Following two weeks of part-time (and very boring) temping I am pleased to report that I now have a full-time and permanent-ish job!Well, OK, it's maternity cover to begin with. But there is a chance that it might become permanent depending on how the lady I'm covering for feels about leaving her baby. When push (quite literally) comes to shove she just might be compelled to stay at home and be a

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-71997611664734744792007-06-10T23:08:00.000+01:002007-06-10T23:21:43.392+01:00

It's that time of year again, and whether you're jetting off to Jamacia, or making do with your own back yard, chances are the sunshine will encourage you to indulge the bookworm inside of you to a little alfresco reading.So, what do you do? Indulge in the latest blockbusting, bestseller from Waterstones? Amble upon something interesting on the Amazon site? Not, if you're Babe on A Budget.This

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-36354376258367927232007-06-07T08:20:00.000+01:002007-06-07T08:38:13.582+01:00

I'm currently swotting up in preparation for another interview tomorrow. Please keep your fingers and toes crossed for me.It's dawned on me, since taking on this part-time temping role, just how much time (and money!) is taken up by applying for jobs! First you have to trawl the job sites and local newspapers trying to track down the elusive job of your dreams (which reminds me it's job night in

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-22203952548619290072007-06-05T21:01:00.001+01:002007-06-05T21:50:28.630+01:00

I'm going to have to stop being such a romanticist, or at least toss my rose tinted spectacles bin-wards!I'm not sure what I expected my temping assignment to be like, but let's just say I came back from work yesterday in an awful mood and abs shattered. It wasn't that the work was difficult, anything but, after all it's only a reception post. But in the back of my head I'd conjured up this

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-66194703128840448902007-06-02T17:47:00.000+01:002007-06-02T18:21:24.729+01:00

I feel a bit disillusioned at the moment. All thoughts of trying to raise £5k by the end of the year have gone out of the window, and promptly replaced with wondering whether I'll still be able to pay the rent!So, on hearing Footballers Wives star, Zoe Lucker talking about having to do leaflet delivery to pay the rent before she landed her role as super-WAG, Tanya, in Footballer Wives - well, it

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-16468023947396823982007-05-31T09:31:00.000+01:002007-05-31T10:05:29.676+01:00

"It's not ideal, but I need the money. I mean I don't really want to travel that far, and the role is quite limiting in comparison to what I'm used to, but I need to pay the bills don't I?"This was me, talking to my friend about a job interview I had lined up for today. Who was I kidding? As soon as the words left my mouth she raised her eyebrows quizzically.When I was made redundant in my last

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-81578552175127712652007-05-27T23:32:00.001+01:002008-12-11T19:31:49.042Z

It's been a while since I visited those '50 Ways to Save Money' from the nice people at This is Money, so now I'm 'nurturing' my talents in a vain attempt to make some pennies - it's time to look at what's next...? With my last pay day looming eerily over the way, now, more so than ever, it's important to save like a mad fiend.So tip number 13 (eek!) is:13. Do DIYWe're a nation of obsessive

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-34897206374328189692007-05-27T23:12:00.000+01:002008-12-11T19:31:49.411Z

With my new found (enforced) 'leisure time' I've come over all Stepford Wives and am merrily indulging in a touch of housework.A belated spring clean is sweeping through the house, leaving a scarily organised trail of cleanliness, and it's sister tidiness in it's wake!I've also had a go at some of this baking malarkey. Can I make money out of this 'talent' yet? Hmm, the phrase 'could do better'

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-18178394893792626642007-05-26T21:19:00.000+01:002007-05-26T22:02:37.503+01:00

Sorry, sorry, sorry!I've been a bit AWOL of late, I know. Please don't worry I haven't sunk into a redundancy induced depression, sitting in front of the TV in jogging bottoms watching crappy daytime TV.In fact, I've been a very pro-active pussy cat indeed. Here's a brief catch up.I've...Registered at a number of marketing agenciesSpoken to a (wo)man about a dog (oops I mean a job)Looked into

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-57291358013065007022007-05-15T19:50:00.000+01:002007-05-15T21:10:08.600+01:00

I'm feeling like a big pair of pants this evening. Not a nice saucy Agent Provocateur number, not even a nice 'n' basic pair of M&S briefs. Oh no, I'm swinging more towards a pair of brown synthetic Y-fronts, circa 1965 - complete with coordinating skiddies!The reason for my pantiness? Today was my first redundancy induced job interview! My first opportunity to gain willful (and skillful)

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-69775590205214269172007-05-13T18:22:00.000+01:002007-05-13T18:39:44.374+01:00

I think there's a real stigmata about claiming benefits in this country. Sometimes we're too worried about being classed as 'dole bludgers' to claim what's rightfully ours. At the end of the day, yes there will always be people who work the system and have probably never done an honest days work in their lives. But I'm guessing the vast majority of us aren't like that, and secretly we actually

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-35982205537754095732007-05-12T17:01:00.000+01:002007-05-12T17:05:19.292+01:00

Sorry, the blogging has been suffering slightly just lately as I search for ways to make some of that mystical money stuff!But for anyone who finds themselves in this situation, may I suggest you check out the Citizen Advice Bureaus fab guide to the ins, outs, ups and downs of being chucked out on your ear, by your employer...http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/employment/redundancy.htm

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-11785001338509696652007-05-09T22:03:00.000+01:002007-05-09T22:06:43.011+01:00

Well, with only 20 more get ups before I find myself in the dole queue, I may have to devote a little less time to my beloved blog and a little more time to a job hunt!Fingers crossed I should have an interview lined up with a very prolific company next week.Will keep you posted.

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-87251017665853306242007-05-08T21:20:00.000+01:002007-05-08T21:57:39.301+01:00

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhh! Sorry, but in certain instances only large red writing will do, and this, my dear friends, is one of those occasions.We were all called into the boardroom at work today, to be told (with the grace of Alan Sugar firing one of his budding Apprentices) that our company had been sold to one of our competitors. The offices will be closed and relocated to the north,

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-14839785350611387722007-05-07T22:37:00.000+01:002008-12-11T19:31:49.743Z

How often have you stood in front of your wardrobe, hand on hip, wailing 'I've got NOTHING to wear'. Meanwhile your wardrobe is so full it's practically spewing spaghetti strap vests onto your feet.Normally, when I feel this way I head to the shops. But not this time... This time I pulled everything out of my wardrobe (and I do mean everything) and tried them all on with garments I wouldn't

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-71369961354954244322007-05-06T18:26:00.000+01:002008-12-11T19:31:49.916Z

Boo hiss to spending so much money on cosmetics for my impending holiday.I know I could take what's left in bottles I already own, or decant some of my existing lotions and potions into those little travel bottles. But I'm just not that kind of girl. I have irrational fears of taking what I believe to be a half empty bottle of shampoo on holiday and discovering that in fact it's only one-quarter

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-15307680407136146752007-05-05T22:03:00.000+01:002008-12-11T19:31:50.192Z

Here's a question for you...How do you turn a bunch of cheesy 90's CD's into a cup of pre-flight airport coffee?Easy, simply take said sad CD's to Cash Converters and claim your dosh.I exchanged eight cringe worthy CD's for £4 (the 'going rate' seems to be 50p a CD). That'll sort out my pre-flight caffeine fix next month thank you muchly!Even if you're not saving madly like me, there's no denying

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-38762811685412263672007-05-02T18:15:00.000+01:002008-12-11T19:31:50.380Z

We had friends over for Take Away last night. They've recently got engaged which is very exciting indeed. They make a lovely couple and I'm sure they'll be very happy together forever. Awww!All this talk of weddings, got me thinking about financial compatibility again, as you know myself and Love of my Life have sat down and discussed our money situ and our financial plans for the future,

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-51519716482304963002007-05-01T20:02:00.000+01:002008-12-11T19:31:50.708Z

"How to Turn Your Kitchen Into Such a Mess That Passing Visitors Wonder if it's a Result of Nuclear Fall Out"OK, so that's not really the name of the book I borrowed from the library today. But in my case it may as well be. I'm what you'd term 'creative' in the kitchen, in that what I cook up tastes scrummy, but I make an almighty mess in the process!Anyway, stage one of my crafty money making

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-30285372898310042042007-04-30T19:00:00.000+01:002007-04-30T20:51:53.188+01:00

Well, if it's month end, which means one thing - PAAAAAAY DAAAAAAAAY! Sorry, got a bit carried away there, but boy did it seem a long time coming!!So, how have the old finances faired in this super sunny April?Well, OK I'm slightly in debt, but I've saved more than I've over spent, so that's OK isn't it?!?!? Well, kind of...As for the financial goals I set myself back at the end of March...Aim

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-90008069847612772007-04-29T18:42:00.000+01:002007-04-29T19:01:29.247+01:00

Trawling the Internet for inspiration as to ways to make some money out of my hobbies has left me sorely disappointed. Sure, there were loads of sites offering advice on how to get the most from your Blog with Google Adwords, but to me that’s not a hobby.The one exception came with this really fab article from Get Rich Slowly…Money-Making Hobbies (from 1938)Thursday, 11th January 2007 (by J.D.)

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-7443643979472288912007-04-29T00:25:00.000+01:002007-04-29T17:10:18.111+01:00

Picked up my car from the garage today. It's been repaired (and cleaned) and it's fab. I was so-oo happy and excited to have it back. I just wanted to give it a huge hug, but settled on driving around with a massive smile on my face instead! The courtesy car I was driving around in was 3 years newer than my car, so you'd of thought I'd be disappointed going back to an older model, but having the

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-11086339071254795362007-04-27T20:00:00.000+01:002007-04-27T20:12:03.740+01:00

Well, I didn't understand the Budget, and to be honest I thought it was going to leave me with less money. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised when I got my wage slip today to see I'd picked up an extra £5.19. Not mega bucks, but certainly better than losing money!Cheers Gordon - I would celebrate with a drink but then I realise that at least part of my money would be going back to you,

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-16560564030571546102007-04-25T22:13:00.000+01:002007-04-25T23:21:55.403+01:00

Clearly uninspired by the baffoons at the gym, whose talents certainly don't lie within the realms of customer service! I got to thinking about what skills could make me some cash...What talents do I have? And, more importantly how could they earn me a speedy buck?Here goes...Marketing - maybe freelance/consultancy work? Although could be very time consuming and a bit dull doing it as my day job

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-74400054967076790232007-04-24T21:39:00.000+01:002007-04-24T22:35:49.106+01:00

I'm straying away from the flogging your talent for cash idea here, but bear with me...I went to the gym tonight. Fear not, while the thought of parading around in a bikini in a few months makes me tremble more than my thighs do at the moment, I haven't succumb to reinstating my gym membership. As a former member they emailed me a free voucher to go and use the facilities for two weeks. The idea

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-61166156583040881312007-04-23T19:57:00.000+01:002007-04-23T22:28:21.626+01:00

It's been a while, but alas I return to This is Money's 50 Ways to Save Money for some penny pinching inspiration - it's a sign that I'm counting down the hours until pay day!And what words of wisdom do I stumble upon this time?"12. Use your talent to earn extra cashLet's face it, if you're not a pop star by the time you reach your 20s you're never going to be. But you may be able to use your

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-6420272701861719512007-04-22T21:18:00.000+01:002007-04-22T21:24:00.957+01:00

C'mon everyone loves a freebie!Visit getyouredgeback.com - fill in a few details and you'll be among 10,000,000 Britons to a get a fabby coupon for a free bottle of Lucozade.I've just done mine - freebie-tastic!

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-10769255651253066662007-04-17T22:15:00.000+01:002007-04-17T22:20:26.355+01:00

I know, I know! I'm sorry. I haven't been writing as often as I coulda, shoulda, woulda but that's because I'm doing some 'behind the scenes' work (so to speak).You see I am taking other (more drastic) measures in my bid to try and rake in some serious dough. I would tell you what they were...but I'd have to kill you. Not really! But the trouble with blogging is, you never know whose reading

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-73531198384330102372007-04-15T23:20:00.000+01:002007-04-15T23:51:32.382+01:00

Babe's been doing more socialising on the cheap this weekend, thanks to her four wheeled friend!Went to the Rock Cafe in town last night and managed to save at least £10 by driving! Again, this one isn't rocket science, but so long as you don't mind being behind the wheel being Designated Driver (DD) for the night is a mighty good way to save some pennies.For one, you don't have to shell out for

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-42460156621185839982007-04-14T17:20:00.000+01:002007-04-14T17:43:33.602+01:00

One aspect of this budgeting malarkey which I find particularly difficult is socializing. I've never been the kind of person to be able to have 'just the one', or to be able to have a girlie shopping day without Starbucks and a fancy lunch somewhere.The majority of my student loan was blown on boozy nights out at Gods Kitchen! While a lot of my London salary was spent on drinks after work, which

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-20052473700411806772007-04-12T21:54:00.000+01:002007-04-12T22:20:07.669+01:00

Heard this on the radio yesterday...I warn you, if you're saving for a place to buy, it's utterly, utterly depressing!Struggling to buy a house?People are staying at home for much longer because they can't afford to buy a house or flat. The latest stats show first-time buyers paid an average of £46,489 in 1995. By 2005 that had jumped to £141,229 - a 204% rise. At the same time wages only went up

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-49461994769607290062007-04-11T22:58:00.000+01:002007-04-11T23:27:37.022+01:00

A cross between a pawn shop and a jumble sale, Cash Converters is the ideal location to get some cash for those lonely items that didn't sell through E-bay.Places of luxury they ain't, and sometimes they're, well, not full of the classiest people to roam this Earth (miaow). Although, judging by Marbella Belles which I caught on ITV last night - class and cash don't necessarily go together! (

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-32973916154929575432007-04-10T21:42:00.000+01:002007-04-10T22:02:02.610+01:00

OK, OK I've been slacking over the weekend. The gorgeous weather, coupled with the days off work made blog writing somewhat less enticing.There's always a temptation to blow the budget over a Bank Holiday, but I think I've been pretty good this weekend. Although having some noggin reverse into me while I was doing the weekly shopping kind of put pay to any ideas of driving care free into the

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-12107225849053473222007-04-05T21:33:00.000+01:002008-12-11T19:31:50.954Z

A bit of a footnote this one, but I just thought I should let you know that we sampled the Smart Price sausages the other day.Sneaky minx that I am, I presented Love of my Life with a blind taste test consisting of two 'premium' Lincolnshire bangers and two cheap (and as it turns out not so nasty) 'value' ones. I refused to tell him which was which.His verdict...to be honest he couldn't tell much

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-76202628340705606672007-04-04T19:28:00.000+01:002007-04-04T20:00:22.544+01:00

You may recall that I lost my Ebay virginity a wee while back. Fortunately, it wasn't painful, embarrassing, or regrettable - like so many other first times!OK, so I haven't made mega bucks and it looks as though the latest items I've put on there aren't going to sell at all (boo hiss!). But, I have made the grand total of (drum roll please) £4.27! And, that's my actual profit after taking out

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-89097617556238106552007-04-02T22:58:00.000+01:002007-04-02T23:20:29.601+01:00

OK, so your star signs might be a cosmic match made in astrological heaven;you might have a seriously saucy set up in the bedroom.;but just because you're compatible in other areas doesn't mean you're going to be when it comes to money...and, if you're not? Well that could be one helluva deal breaker.Imagine the scenario. You've got your eye on a gorgeous holiday in Barbados and you're busy

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-54438424976783397172007-03-29T21:12:00.000+01:002007-03-29T21:39:29.031+01:00

Due to my uncanny ability to hemorrhage money I'm actually in debt again! Grrr!In my defense March was an expensive month, with birthday celebrations; gifts to buy for Mothers Day and my brothers birthday; a cut and blow dry to fund; and some essential waxing.Also, at present I'm still paying out two mobile phone bills while I'm waiting for my Orange contract to come to an end.With this in mind

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-69708708190514837402007-03-28T22:06:00.000+01:002007-03-28T22:39:59.185+01:00

When I used to live in London one of my close friends used to speak of 'living an Ebay' life. Her partner would trawl Car Boot sales over the weekend looking for rare vinyl that he could flog on Ebay for twice the price.To be honest I've always been a bit scared of the E-bay machine. It seemed a bit complicated and there were fees and postage and lots of other things to bear in mind.But staying

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-31805733851174672922007-03-27T20:21:00.000+01:002008-12-11T19:31:52.433Z

Apologies for my mysterious disappearance over the past few days.I've taken some holiday from work, and thought that while I was at it, a break from the old blog probably wouldn't be such a bad thing either.In typical style as soon as I take some annual leave I get struck down with the lurgy. I guess it's a blessing in disguise in a way as it means I haven't spent too much on going out!Anyway,

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-12853404399239931662007-03-22T17:08:00.000Z2007-03-22T17:10:26.062Z

For all my fellow Clinique lovers click this link and check out the serious amount of booty you can score for yourself at Boots!http://www.trailermail.co.uk/clinique/email67a/email.html

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-81276692897427772762007-03-21T19:00:00.000Z2007-03-21T19:39:02.169Z

Today we're taking a break from the taste test to focus on the not so tasty Gordon Brown. Yes, today was budget day. I have trouble relating the budget to real life, but I've found the following two online calculators which kind of help.BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/business/budget_calc/html/budget_calculator.stmThe Sun -http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2007070001-2007130189,00.

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-33057881170007816082007-03-20T20:32:00.000Z2008-12-11T19:31:52.670Z

First up for review are the Asda Smart Price tissues.Normally a devout purchaser of Kleenex Balsam the SP hankies are certainly cheaper, but soft they aint. Fortunately neither a head cold, nor hayfever has taken hold so they're OK for the time being, but long term I can't guarantee that I'll be choosing budget over balsam.Box is pretty though!

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-63859801308017519792007-03-19T21:05:00.000Z2007-03-19T21:28:48.333Z

Love of my Life didn't look too impressed when I showed him the plain white, designless packages of Smart Price food I'd just purchased from Asda. We're both foodies and while there's no denying that own brand is an absolute bargain it will be interesting to see if it packs any punch in the taste department, not to mention the nutritional one.I have to say buying own brand food makes you feel

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-49515467088270709002007-03-18T23:25:00.000Z2007-03-18T23:37:49.775Z

Apologies for going AWOL over the weekend. It was my birthday. Inching ever closer to the big 3-0 it scares me how little financial security I have. Granted some of that is because I've frittered money away on vodka cocktails and pretty handbags in the past. But surely I should have some sort of nest egg to fall back on? Apparently not.When I think back to when I was a little girl I thought that

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-87192773006035438582007-03-14T23:01:00.000Z2007-03-14T23:07:30.090Z

This buying own brand malarky might be good for the bank balance, but frankly it makes for very dull copy.I'm sure the fact that I bought a jar of Sommerfield own brand Mayonnaise for 0.64p today will thrill you endlessly.So instead I leave you with one of my most random money saving tips...Got a water meter and want to save money on your water bills? Make sure you make a trip to the loo at the

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-87671277972561771622007-03-13T19:13:00.000Z2007-03-13T19:51:54.966Z

Back tracking a bit here, as I don't really have anything exciting to report from today's financial frolics.You may remember a while ago I posted about how my lovely Clinque make up was all used up and I was going to toying with the idea of finding a cheaper alternative for my old and trusted friend? Well, I tried and I failed. And, before you ask yes I did do reasonably thorough research. As my

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-19764581451795192682007-03-12T17:45:00.000Z2007-03-12T17:58:13.894Z

Yep, it's time for this weeks challenge!According to the ever-trusty, This is Money's - 50 Money Saving tips I can save lots of moolah by only purchasing own-brand goods. Now, when they wrote this I'm guessing they didn't mean Tesco's Finest range, even though that technically is own brand.So, this week it's going to be Asda Smartprice all the way (other value ranges are available - but Asda is

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-47071256505897035672007-03-10T23:02:00.000Z2007-03-11T00:25:02.402Z

OK, so Babe's trip to the market wasn't quite as successful as she would have liked. Far from being a bustling market full of sumptuous wares, the market in Stourbridge is some what dilapidated and, well, half empty. I remember going there as a child and picking up mallow filled ice cream cones from a shop at the back, near the stairs to the Car Park. This unit now lays boarded up. A shop just

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-55031622782275590152007-03-08T23:43:00.000Z2007-03-08T23:45:10.068Z

Free to good home, or any home so long as you're local to me...I've got an extra 'Save-A-Flush- bag - so if you're in the Stourbridge (West Midlands, UK) area and you want to save some water get in touch and it's yours!Remember, you save a litre a flush. So, that's not a bad saving on the old water bill.Email me at babeonabudget@hotmail.co.uk, or contact me in person and it's yours - ohhh the

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-18794008828240232212007-03-08T00:05:00.000Z2007-03-08T00:21:51.416Z

Damn you, Mr Michael. If you're not conducting lewd acts in public conveniences you're raiding my bank account!Discovered tickets for George Michael gigs go on sale at 10am tomorrow. I could have called the priority Box Office number and got my tickets today (before anyone else mwahahahaha!) if, like most people, I was allowed to check my emails during my lunch break at work, and therefore had

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-32277711050309072522007-03-06T23:09:00.000Z2007-03-06T23:19:06.475Z

It's Saturday morning, you're sitting in the lounge supping a nice strong coffee when you hear the post plop through the door. You waddle to the door thanks to your bunny rabbit shaped slippers and find a bundle of nasty A5 window envelopes. The type of envelopes which mean one of two things. Either someone is trying to sell you something, or that's a bill. What do you do? Leave it unopened? Open

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-18750294264989862282007-03-05T21:25:00.000Z2007-03-05T21:31:58.507Z

On Thursday I laid down my priorities. Now it's Monday and things are looking a little different! Well, a girls allowed to change her mind isn't she...? Booked a babelicious holiday last night. A week in a 4* hotel in Malta with Love of my Life in June. Can't wait. Might not be so good on the bank balance, but just think how good it's gonna be for the soul! And, with my shoulders inching

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-16894808006451312202007-03-04T15:21:00.000Z2007-03-04T15:38:26.956Z

With shopping list in hand I completed my trusty grocery buying yesterday.Unfortunately, I don't have an accurate calculation of exactly how much I spent last week, as I started my spending diary from the 1st, which was Thursday. D'oh!However, since Thursday I have spent the grand total of £51.22 on shopping.And, here's how I spent it:£4.16 Body Spray & Shave Gel£1.49 Craft Materials£2.89

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8891564379216787208.post-6370465460024290042007-03-03T12:04:00.000Z2007-03-03T12:14:23.732Z

OK, tip number 7 on This is Money's 50 Ways to Save Money is to write a shopping list when you go shopping.This somewhat bamboozles me! How can you not have a list when you go shopping?! If I did that I'd end up with lots of half meals that don't go together. So, a good tip if you're not already doing it, but it doesn't really help me!I do think Love of my Life and I spend a lot on food, but

<b> babe on a budget </b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09634923866711190218noreply@blogger.com0