Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

themadvix

If you can sell them on, that sounds fair enough. But surely the weekend in the cottage would be something to look forward anyway - you could still do that, even without the tickets? But I hear you!

Sounds like you had a lovely day yesterday - it's so nice to see people, isn't it?! Speaking of neighbours, one of ours seems to think Monday morning is a great time for playing music loudly - all I can hear is thud thud thud and it's driving me mad - where's the appreciation for the fact that it's not even just me working from home now? Grr! (Sorry, random rant!).

South_coast

Great that you were able to get all the family together again 😀

Sorry about work though

newgirly

Hi SC, still waiting to hear about work but thanks 🙂

Hi Vix, the cottage is 5 mins from the theme park so was booked just to go there, we couldn’t get the kids there with a farm stay alone now like when they were little and we used to stay on a working farm in Dorset 😬.  Sorry to hear about your neighbours, lockdown certainly magnifies these things, hopefully the music player hasn’t lost their job and will be returning soon! 

I’ve been for a takeout coffee at the park with best friend today, then took dd to an interview at a restaurant where she now has a trail shift, I feel so sorry for her after everything she has done to get a job in what she’s been studying, but after they offered her another unpaid job in the city last week she’s going to take paid work doing anything.

Mse things done today:

• Batch cooked from meat in freezer to make space 
• Bought stronger blonde dye in sup@erdrug on offer that had sold out online (no hairdressers😬)
• Had a detailed look at the finances to work out how quickly we can clear the factory mortgage and how much we are short. 
• Worked on new budget which will start this payday, living on what the factory rent will be when loan cleared (£1900) and allowing for £360 of that to go towards a personal loan which we may take out to pay the shortfall. Personal spends now £115 pm aside from food and petrol at £500 pm 😱
• Next step - reducing grocery spends as much as reasonable, already reduced fizzy drinks a lot into squash and less alcohol has been bought.
• Sending back a few items ordered in the next sale, a couple of things were very cheap and I will need, but some I don’t so it’s going back 😒
• Ds1’s mobile died and although his contract (he pays) has three months to run, he first borrowed an old spare fro my dad which wouldn’t run banking apps, he then decided to not upgrade early or take out a new contract but to buy a much cheaper refurb phone and pay in full from savings 😁 my mse preaching has had some effect, he even checked top cashback beforehand! 

themadvix

Hurrah for DS1’s epiphany! 😁

I feel for DD, but a wise move at the moment as her industry is unlikely to be going at full strength for a while - best to get in quick if there is a job going anywhere at the moment. She might enjoy it - I look back on my waitressing work as one of my most enjoyable jobs, although I’m sure it’s very strange at the moment.

Might I suggest that alcohol could be bought from personal spends? Although it doesn’t seem it at the moment (I’m sure you don’t see it this way, being oh so virtuous 😉) it is a luxury! I guess it depends what it is though - a few cheap beers is one thing, bottles of spirits another! (And it might depend who it’s for - DH’s might get included but make  the kids pay for their own! Can you tell I had tough love growing up?!)

 For the Next stuff that you needed, have you looked on EBay? Not necessarily for used (although lightly used is fine IMO), but for a new with or without tags option - if you know your size there are usually bargains to be had (not for underwear obviously!). I’ve even managed to convert DH and he now sports a very nice selection of Paul Smith items bought at a tiny fraction of the price!

newgirly

Hi vix, dd has done that sort of work before and hopefully this boss seems ok and that’s half the battle! The last place was terribly badly run by a guy that spent his time trying to lure schoolgirls in 😱

The alcohol spends when I drank were rather high 😂 now I don’t  really buy it usually, but whilst on lockdown I’ve taken pity on them not being able to see friends (at least initially) so bought a few boxes of beer on offer. They are pretty good though and have bought their own and also brewed their own, as for spirits there’s no chance of me being that generous 😆
 
I don’t mind buying clothes on flea bay and have bought used before on there too, the sale items his time though were so cheap (£70 jacket for £18, £38 dress for £7 etc.) so I probably couldn’t do much better with postage. I Will bear it in mind though 🙂

I’m in bed early tonight as it’s been a rubbish day, the cat has disappeared again and I’m worried she’s found a new friendly neighbour, she is ultra friendly and looks like she’s not eaten for weeks, a dangerous combination, yet another ‘please don’t feed me’ collar is on its way, but she does have painted claws so it’s pretty clear she’s not a stray really.

Also we are still waiting for terrible work news and I’m slightly bickering with dh for not approaching them after hearing nothing for over a week. Difficult to know what to do for the best! I can deal with anything except uncertainty. I’ve also spent money today from last months personal spends on plates that were in the summer sale, I’ve not gone over my budget but I should not be spending anything really and it defeated the object of sending back the next stuff. Will do better with everything tomorrow 🙄

South_coast

At least you did send back the Next stuff and don't have to pay for that and the plates though, that's progress! And even though the shops have re-opened you haven't been out there picking up loads of bits. It's all good stuff NG. Would it help to compare this June's outgoings to last June's? That might give you some reassurance that you're in control of things

Hope that doesn't sound patronising....

newgirly

Hi sc, that’s not a bad idea as last year we went on a cruise in June 😆 It’s not patronising at all, I feel a bit all over the place at the moment. I guess at least I’m buying stuff I can sell again if I need to, most of the bits I’m buying sell for more on eBay strangely. I Thought I’d save money buying second hand, but there’s some crazy collectors of the stuff out there. Missing the shops but it’s probably for the best financially at the moment, hope all is ok with you 🙂

The cat has been found, with a massive belly 😡 I mean so huge she struggled up the stairs! I think someone is feeding her cooked chicken as she came home with some in her mouth Sunday, will lock her in for a few days while I wait for the collar, although I doubt she will wear it. Seventeen years of treating her like a princess, even dd says she’s my favourite child and this is how she thanks me... 

South_coast

Maybe she's doing her bit to help the family coffers?

themadvix

South_coast said:

Maybe she's doing her bit to help the family coffers?

NG, glad DD's new boss is better than the last!

Not surprised tensions are high - I think that's disgusting that you've been left hanging like that. Although I guess it's better that you had early warning than not heard anything at all yet - you've been able to start battening down the hatches/spending.

newgirly

Haha perhaps Sc 😁

Hi Vix, it’s very frustrating! really though I’ve been working towards worst case plan since the start of the year (although not quite as worst case as it may end up being 😆).
I’m fairly confident we can juggle and cut back and survive come what may and I’ve already partially gone down the old style route like I used to years ago. Unless we are forced to there’s a few bits I won’t want to get rid of : internet/phone/sky/Netflix package - sounds luxurious but we need sky to get a signal on the top floor and using our bedroom like a studio flat is the only way I stay sane in a full house 🙄 I think I we are already on a good discount package but will check.

The food shop this week was under £70 for five of us, we do have supplies in the cupboards and freezer anyway but I won’t be running those bare in the current climate! I have bought more tins and basics to make meals than usual and been on Jack Monroes amazing website, as she always has fab receipes   that make me feel like a good cook rather than a cheapskate! 

Yesterday I made a lovely hot bean chilli in the sc that will also be a in a cold Mexican style bowl with salad and rice tomorrow, I made some granola with peanut butter that was good, also on the menu this week will be a mushroom curry and aubergine curry.