Expensive week

I have spent money like water this past week.

It started with a phone call from Ceri at 4.55pm last Tuesday - he needed my credit card details NOW, to finish paying his deposit on his flat, so he could have the keys on Friday. Considering I had put £500 down only a few weeks ago for him, I was a tad taken aback to say the least to be faced with a demand for another £800. But really, I had no choice, so reluctantly coughed up. Saturday was his moving day. He had gone to London on Friday to sign his tenancy agreement, and to enrol at university - but somehow he didn't factor in coming home to pack, so when he came back on Saturday morning it was chaos. I kept out of it - and just ignored it all. Come 2pm, one car was packed and my husband was out walking the dogs - so it fell to me to drive Ceri down. It is very hard to drive when you can't reach the pedals of the car or see over the bonnet - eventually I got the seat adjusted to fit and reluctantly drove down to London. I don't know London very well, especially South London, and driving the Saab is like driving a bloody tank - I just hope I can fit through the gap and not hit anything. Trying to park neatly outside his flat was a nightmare, so I just parked anyhow, and we unloaded... I can't really describe the eclectic junk he just HAS to take to university. Suffice to say, that there is another carload to go next weekend as well!

After unloading, it was trip to Sainsbury's time. Once I had been stung to the tune of some £159 [and that will probably last him a week!] he announced that we just HAD to go to Homebase. I drew the line at using my card to pay for the TV that was on special offer, and the stainless steel kitchen bin for £35 [what the hell is wrong with a plastic one from Wilco for £3?], but still ended up buying cutlery, an iron [?! when was the last time my son actually USED an iron??] a clothes drying rack, an assortment of screwdrivers and a hammer!! I was quite happy to leave him and head home for some peace and quiet, and bring some relief to my hard pressed cards.

Sunday was spending on the other important young man in my life; an internet shop for Patrick who is also back at university in Leeds. We were going to wait until he was back online to do it, but in the end I decided to do it and get a mid week delivery slot. He wanted things that would keep without having to be refrigerated, so I ended up getting him an assortment of dried pastas, rice, tins, dried pulses and beans, pasta sauces, long life milk/juice, etc that could be stored in the garage of his student house. Sainsburys have done very well out of me recently!

Consequently, in consideration for the health of our personal account manager, so far this week, I have been very restrained, and spent a grand total of 60pence on a box of Rice Krispies in the student canteen for breakfast on Monday. Lets hope the rest of the month follows the same pattern!