Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

newgirly

I have been doing a lot of financial juggling this week , dh came home with a big taped up jar of change from work that he has been saving for the last 3 years, he wanted it to go towards paying for centerparcs or a break near his birthday. Anyway the upshot is there is enough money to pay most of the balance of cp's. So the choice had to be made to leave the booking as it was this summer or swap for a weekend in dec 2013 to spread the cost. In the end I thought although it stretches us more that this year is better as DD is nearly 15 , so will be 16 and 1/2 by the end of next year, she may not be so keen to come with us when she is a bit older, plus its dh's 40th soon after.

Things are going to be tight as we have so many breaks this year, I also have to confess to booking a weekend away as a surprise for dh's birthday for the two of us, we are going to a hotel where we have stayed before in stratford upon avon, in december. We can also get in warwick castle free with our merlin passes which is nearby. It was a great deal, 2 nights accom, breakfast, dinner both nights and a bottle of wine for £159 for 2, (plus 6%tcb!) its very old hotel right in the centre of town.

Although I am spending like its going out of fashion on some things I am still trying to be careful in other areas, I have done lots of batch cooking this week so have meals for dh ready to heat, had the heating off all week and have not used the dryer.I have also not given any school lifts to the kids and made them walk if its dry (its only 10 mins away!)
I will soon send of the paper work to change the mortgage term from june and still intend on paying the cc off this year, albeit over 7 months instead of eight.:o

never_too_old

Hotel sounds great.
Have you decided on when you are going to go camping yet?:D

newgirly

No not yet nto, will wait and see what the weather is like, as if we go and its awful I will never want to go again and it will be a huge waste!

If its nice we might do a night or two near thorpe park if there is a campsite nearby thats available before its peak season. I never realised how expensive some campsites are, I had visions of us going away all the time, but if you want posh loo's and flower beds there ( which I do !) its quite pricey.:D

We had a bit of trouble with the freezer last night , it burnt out and has scorched all round the door, its still working, but dh has just rung from comet to say he is buying a new one :eek: I tried to stop him , as i HAVE to price compare and get cash back be he won't let me. Not sure how is paying for it or what sort it is, so I shall have to sit tight until he gets home.

pink_poppy

I think I would have done the same as your DH, a scorched freezer sounds dangerous & could be a fire hazard :eek: Hope he managed to get something sorted.

newgirly

We now have a new freezer, not sure what its like as its still in the box. Dh has been on a roll this weekend spending wise, we went to ikea and bought a 3x desks, 2 for the twins room and one to go in the conservatory so we can set up our desktop and printer for the first time in over a year.:j

We were going to do a bootsale today, but we are not even done sorting the boys room yet let alone the rest of the house and loft, I seriously underestimated how much stuff there is everywhere. I am putting price stickers on some stuff and bagging it up ready, but it will have to go up in the loft in the mean time as there is SO much!

I used to love decorating but now I really don't, I must be getting lazier as I'm getting older. Basically every room except dd's needs doing plus the hall stairs and landing. the living room was done 2 years ago, but is very grubby already. I think it may have been a false economy to buy cheap paint as they don't make the colours any more so I can't just touch it up it will have to be done properly.

never_too_old

Morning
thought it would be easier to speak to you here rather than reply on my blog.I use to love decorating but i also have lost interest in it,
I really need to get rid of some of the junk in my loft.I have done a bit of freecycling but no where near enough.
Regards the jam maker. i use it a handfull of times a year maybe a bit more.I do love it and im glad i have it.I just wish the recipe book was a bit more comprehensive but then again im sure i could do other things from normal jam making books in it.I tend to do pyo during the summer and make some jam and the onion chutney i make in it is delicious.Hoping this year to make a few more chutneys as these make good gifts.
The fruit was expensive even thiugh reduced and the sugar is over £2 a bag. so those 2 jars of jam cost me £7:eek: but i enjoyed making it or rather watching the machine make it.Borrow your mums and let me know what you make.:):):):)

newgirly

Two whole days clearing the boys room and conservatory/junk room. I have still not finished, and not even started decorating.

We bought 2x desks in ikea that came with shelves as well so have put both back to back down the centre of their bedroom so its their own private sections, not much room in there now but they are pleased, and if it works well considerably less expensive than a loft conversion.

I am shattered now and have an awful lot of clearing up to do tomorrow.

newgirly

Having problems posting tonight , not sure why.

I have broken the boycotting of supermarkets and went to mr s today, I spent £62 on mainly tins/cereal and a bits for lunches for school.It is so much cheaper than the corner shop for some items, I have also ordered some fruit and veg from riverford this week. I thought I might try getting the store cupboard stuff from the supermarket but the meat locally and veg delivered.

After going through the accounts today I might just be able to squeeze through and pay for centerparcs and the 0% cc, only because dh has givenw me his change jar to live off. I am going to book a few activties soon but only the football school for the boys and maybe bowling and pool, we are not a very energetic family (at cp's anyway with those prices!)

Not feeling very frugal at the moment, I have made another batch of laundry gloop this week which makes me feel like I am making an effort, but its only a small gesture really.

greent

Join the club - we're being rather un-thrifty at the moment...

marrie15

Must try to get kids to eat what we eat a bit more and not be so fussy! I do a bit of cleaning for some extra money sometimes, but am a SAHM, at the moment it is easier as OH has just taken over running the company he was working for, which was a bit unexpected, and he is working from 4.30am until at least 7pm sometimes much later, and often weekends, so he is not around much.