greent's mfw journey

Karmacat

I think you're absolutely right to start the process with decluttering - I'm assuming your money is working it's hardest for you? I need to focus on that, actually

But decluttering makes your environment better/more spacious, it's easier to keep clean, you may earn income from doing it, and it helps you reassess your priorities, as things literally "clear up". And if part of your future plans is a move, then that becomes easier too what's not to like?

greent

Karmacat wrote: »

I think you're absolutely right to start the process with decluttering - I'm assuming your money is working it's hardest for you? I need to focus on that, actually

But decluttering makes your environment better/more spacious, it's easier to keep clean, you may earn income from doing it, and it helps you reassess your priorities, as things literally "clear up". And if part of your future plans is a move, then that becomes easier too what's not to like?

Thanks Kc - I also need to focus on ensuring that our money is working hard. I think I'm overwhelmed by mess at the moment to concentrate on much - return to school will bring that back in line.

I have a fleabay offer of 25% off fvf which ends today - so I hereby pledge to list 20 things by midnight tonight...... that'll be a hard task, but should hopefully go some way to reducing 'stuff' around.

Moving.... ahhh.... I'm still not in love with my house, unlike our old one. However, to get a house this size but with added benefit of a larger garden (we have a decent size for a modern house, but I mean 0.5acres or more) I'd have to spend around 750-800k minimum (because it would be rural Glos then - we're on the edge of rural area - 10 mins drive and we're deep in it) - and no way could we afford that sort of leap, nor would anyone consider lending us that sort of money!! Plus our house works for us - downsizing may come when all children have left home - although I'd like to go a bit rural way then, so downsizing would probably mean a smaller place costing the same! In the meantime I'll move vicariously with those on the mfw board who are doing it - far cheaper!! :rotfl:

School uniform/ shoe/ bag/ stationery shopping with DS1 today - joy of joys! :D I'm hoping that we can sort it all in less than 3 hours....... fingers crossed....

Other than that my plans are (in no particular order):
(the shopping above)
* ironing
* put irning and rest of laundry away
* list min 20 items on ebay
* quick smkt trip for cereal and milk....
* bake rolls/ bread ? - might leave until tomorrow
* clean kitchen inc vac and mopping floor
* do some tidying in DS3's room (might get left in favour of ebaying)

Depends how long shopping takes as to how much I achieve.

Currently have chicken stock from last night's carcass simmering away on the hob. Had very yummy dinner of (ys) chicken from freezer, with parsnips (ys and frozen), broccoli, asparagus, yorkies, stuffing, roast potatoes, carrots & peas. Remains (not much!) of chicken stripped. SMall bits will be used in a risotto (also likely to use this batch of stock) and a pasta dish (just about enough for both) Remaining breast slices will be frozen in gravy and DD can have them sometime when others are eating something which she doesn't like (such as chilli). Followed dinner with either apple and pear crumble (hg pears, apples from neighbour's tree) or (hg) pears poached in red wine and mixed spice, served with whipped vanilla double cream. Yummy! Bit of an expensive pud (a £12 bottle of red was sacrificed to the pears! :eek:) but oh so good! :D

Right - off to shower and dress and wake the teens before heading into town....

xx
*

smallholdingsister

My Mum does a storming pears in red wine with toasted almonds. Yummy.

Karmacat

Tricky situation, even though the towns of Glos are so lovely ... I know what you mean about not being in love with the house, I'm not in love with this one. I adored my 3 bed, 3 floor terrace in centralish Brighton, but the area was too noisy, and that was a while ago now.

You sent me off to rightmove again .... argh!

greent

Hmmm.... yesterday's plans didn't turn out as expected - Gloucester didn't have the size suit we needed so had to nip to CRibbs Causeway@ Bristol. Suit/ shoe/ bag/ socks shopping finally accomplished and we returned home around 4pm! I then ordered some more shirts and spare trousers online and they didn't have any more at Cribbs. I may have ordered some chocolate brown bath and hand towels too.....

I knocked a (part) cup of tea over my laptop (knocked it with my boobs when getting up from my chair) and it wasn't working last night. Left it open for hours in an upside down V shape and it seems ok this morning.... fingers crossed!!! I listed 27 blank listings on ebay last night on DS3's tablet - argh! - will make them 'proper' listings over the next couple of days. Quick smkt trip done - milk and cereals and some veg purchased Cleaned kitchen inc floor (still need to wipe over cupboard doors) and put most of the ironing away. Bread and rolls baking will be done later - as will DS3s room (hopefully)

Today:
* fat club
* bake bread and rolls
* washing
* ironing - and put away
* do 11+ paper with DS2
* DS3's room
* vacuum dining room/ hall/ living room/ family room/ office/ loo. Mop appropriate floors
* ebay?

And anything else I can fit in/ think of along the way

x


ETA: Kc - stay away from rightmove! (unless it's to view house p0rn, like my husband does - he lusts after the country houses in rural Glos )

smallholdingsister

Busy bee!
About to start on floors myself.

Karmacat

greent wrote: »

ETA: Kc - stay away from rightmove! (unless it's to view house p0rn, like my husband does - he lusts after the country houses in rural Glos )

I'll try My sister really did *send* me there the other day. My mum lives in a town where some Liverpool footballers hang their hats, and one "house" was on sale for £12.5 million, with over 100 pics to show you the place :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

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greent

Argh! Spends this month are crazy! £600 on my mot and service (4 new tyres needed) £360 on 4 new tyres for OH (we were going to hang on until next month as we knew he needed 4 new tyres but he burst a tyre after hitting a kerb in Cheltenham - he drove home on the motorway and thankfully the tyre didn't burst until he was in creeping traffic less than 2 miles from home - that would have been very nasty, and it was peak commuting time!) + lots of spending on DD for uni!!

We were both working like crazy last week on the rental ready for the new tenants - lots of glossing (all new doors), cleaning, rubbish removal from things, arranging EPC, painting of walls.... but it looked lovely and the new tenants moved in on Sat. I left them a large bunch of cream roses in a clear vase as they are very neutral in their d!cor tastes! That means money coming in - £130 ish mtge a month (ok, interest only) with £530 rental income. Yes, we've spent out on it in the past 12 months to get it to that state but (fingers crossed) the only expenses in the next 12 months (exc mtge and buildings insce) will be ground rent (covers all garden maintenance etc) of £200ish, an electrical inspection (last one 4 years ago) and a 25% contribution to the gutters being cleared. We can start building up the money towards repaying the mtge in 7 years then

DD goes to uni on Friday - we will take smallest 2 to school in my car and then come home and leave to cross into Wales, having packed up OH's car the night before with most things. I still have a few things to buy for her (maybe 3 or 4) and then she can buy anything we've forgotten herself! - she will be quite close to a large Tosco, so will be fine

Still no job for OH - our plan after this week is to spend min 2 days/ week each on house/ garden jobs. First jobs in the garden will be to oil tables and chairs for Winter, paint fences, clear out and replant pots and dress the lawns with Autumn feed stuff - oh, and chop back overhanging tree branches before they drop their leaves in my garden! House is tidying/ cleaning/ decluttering (over and above 'normal' cleaning/ tidying) and small maintenance jobs inc new carpet in the understairs cupboard (leftover piece from rental, so a freebie in effect) and redecorating DS1's room. Would like (if OH doesn't get a job before) most little niggles sorted before Xmas

xx

greent

DD went off to uni yesterday - we took her there with all her stuff, did some of the unpacking (made her bed etc), bought her lunch, bought her some shopping @ Tesc0 and then left her to it and came home to the boys. Oh, how I miss her already - I don't miss any of them when they are at sleepovers/ school trips away etc but I know I'm not seeing her for a month and that she's forging a new life so it's so very different. Today it was like a physical pain at times. However, I channelled that into getting DS3's room tidy (and getting rid of some stuff along the way), doing some tidying in DS2's room with him, sorting some NNS stuff out and doing some tidying/ sorting in my room and bathroom - oh, and a little bit in the garden - so positive stuff My pushbike was put at the bottom of the drive with a 'free' sign on and went (yeay!) - which I was pleased with - we live in a tiny cul de sac but have a cut through at the bottom to the canal path so we do get some footfall through. I also got rid of some old schoolwork of DS3's (recycled) some little toys (passed on/ binned as appropriate) and sorted out a couple of items of clothing for the next bag of textile recycling via H&M

OH has fitted new carpet in understairs cupboard and painted the walls with leftover paint. We have bought a new (larger) shoe shelf which works so much better. Have also reorganised where things go in there so it *should* stay tidier in future.

Doing reasonably well at eating food stores up (and sent DD off with some). Will target using up some things which have been hanging around a while. Had fakeaway kebabs tonight which were gorgeous, very cheap and also healthy

DS1 seems to be enjoying VIth form. DS2 is loving Y6. We have been letting him ride to school by himself a few times - he is loving the independence DS3 is scrummy and loving being a Junior now that he's in Y3. They are all fab

Right - time for bed and a chapter or two, I think! Will catch up with diaries tomorrow
xx

newgirly

Oh bless you greent, it must be so hard her leaving My dd is talking about doing some of her course abroad possibly which I am smiling and nodding about - inside though it's like.... :eek::eek: noooooo!!!! stay with mummy :rotfl:

I hope she settles in quickly and returns home with all her washing soon