Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

newgirly

I didn’t realise I had been away that long! Not much to report, we are supposed to be going away today to York but I’m so tired I think we might just book a premier inn for a night nearer to home tomorrow. It just feels like a lot of driving and tidying up for a couple of days, so possibly Oxford for a night as we haven’t been before, I’m not really in the mood to go away right now but it’s dhs birthday so need to make an effort. 

Took him out yesterday to a garden centre half hour away that has a fantastic German Xmas market nearer to Xmas and it looks like they are setting up again for this year, not sure how that would work as it was shoulder to shoulder last year! Bought him a sandwich and me a cream tea while there 😊 

Will look at the finances properly today, I think we are doing ok but I did spend on an unexpected sideboard this week 😱 went for a coffee in n@xt and saw an ex display black wooden painted one that fits well with our room, £399 down to £136, also bought an oversized old fashioned lamp in the range for £21.99 to go on it, looks great and the room is so much cosier now. Not spent on a lot else really this month so hopefully we can get away with it! 

killerpeaty

When I told you about my accidental sofa purchase, I didn't mean to inspire!!  It sounds wonderful, but I have my fingers crossed for your finance checks.

Can we have tea at garden centres now? Because I miss that!

Oxford is a great place to visit normally, they have this great little ice cream shop (I don't know if it's survived the lockdown). You can spend the day just looking up because the buildings are so pretty. I don't know whether the museums are open but Oxford has this weird museum that is a bit like a jumble sale without the sale, it's called Pitt Rivers. Hope you enjoy yourself!

themadvix

Careful NG, that sideboard, while a bargain, definitely wasn't a necessity. (Where's the finger-wagging smiley?!)

I thought they had cancelled all the Christmas markets in Germany, so I'm surprised anywhere is setting up over here. Although, I suppose it is outside....

newgirly

Hi kp, don’t worry I do t need much inspiration to spend money 😆 Yes garden centre tea is fine 😊 will look out for the ice cream shop too, thanks.  

Hi vix, yes I know 🙄 it does look good though! The garden centre German market is inside  😱 can’t see how they can do it unless it’s pre booked tickets.

Hotel is booked for tomorrow, saves booking a higher price if we need to cancel doing it that last minute I suppose, £35.80 not incl breakfast which I don’t know if we will have yet. Managed to book a table at pizz@ express in oxford at 4.45pm, rubbish time but everywhere is fully booked and I don’t want to end up stuck and getting a takeaway. 

We had visitors today, dd, boyfriend and his dd popped by for a cup of tea after she finished work and stayed for hours and had dinner which was great 🙂 we introduced his dd to a bit of Derren Brown which she enjoyed, we do like to brainwash her with our favourite films and tv shows 😆 They only left half an hour ago to drop her home so I’m about to check the accounts now. 

themadvix

Good price for the hotel. Breakfast might be cheaper out than at the hotel.

Garden centre German market will never be allowed to go ahead then - haven't they been paying attention? All the table service and moving around as little as possible... madness! Oh well....

Sounds like you had a nice time with your visitors!

Enjoy Oxford!

newgirly

Hi vix, thanks we did enjoy Oxford 🙂 the hotel was fine, it was a very clean newly done room with a big new walk in shower. We did have the breakfast as it was easier and you need to book everywhere and it was a drive out of town, but not too expensive. We ate out as much as we could on Monday as it was the last Boris day! Popped to Bicester village today which was a lot more “designer” than I expected, I really can’t see the point of really expensive designer clothes, however they did have an Emma bridgewater shop 😱 I’ve never been to one before, I may have bought a few bits reduced 🙄 but we left within an hour of arriving at Bicester and went home to see the kids and eat chip shop chips and birthday cake and chat in the garden all afternoon for dhs birthday 😊

Accounts need updating and spending needs adding up for our night away, lots was cheap but the parking in town was £14.50 😩 and the pizza express dinner was £40 including tip as dh ordered loads and the discount is only £20 for two! Oh well I guess it’s a lot less than the trip to Rome in March and the week long Italian cruise we had booked for this year 😬

newgirly

Oops didn’t realise I’d not checked in for a few days, not that I’ve been up to anything! Been feeling a bit worried again, health anxiety which happens when I’ve been a bit stressed out, hopefully it will pass soon. My plan is to eat better and start to exercise a bit (walking outside to start).

Things could be changing here again soon, ds2 is planning on moving back, well after his girlfriend’s sister gets a negative test result for Covid fingers crossed 🙄 he’s been away for a long time now so I’m happy he will be back, with girlfriend for a lot of the time and their mice and birds 😱 Also we have been told by dds boyfriend that his dad (also ds2’s girlfriends dad) is possibly moving abroad sooner than planned, we were expecting it in eighteen months maybe, but he’s possibly going imminently. So they will move in here, dd and boyfriend have been saving for years so nobody wants them to rent when they are ready to buy as soon as dd gets a full time contract. It’s going to be a very full house possibly! 

Have done two shops to be delivered tomorrow, a small icel@and one and a bigger Ocado one - not my usual shop but they are doing m&s now so I thought I’d get a few bits, what wasn’t sold out already mind. Also topped up my amaz@n account with £50 on visa debit to get a £5 off credit which I put towards bulk cat food, the £50 will get used at Xmas on presents anyway. 

I’ve been eating terribly lately, am wondering whether to try cutting back on sugar, don’t think I have an massive excess of sweet things or ready meals etc. but I do eat a lot of bread and other carbs, does anyone else do low sugar and what do you eat if so? I’m already veggie and don’t drink and have cut out caffeine, I’m going to run out of nice things to enjoy 😆 

Small op of £2 made to the mortgage, just so I can legitimately call myself a mfw 😬 

Moneyfordreams

Exercise is always good. I'm surprised how much I use my fibit (birthday pressie from OH). Sleep /walking /food. but exercise does help me, as much as I don't feel like it often. How about compartmentalising? I do it naturally now, unless something is really terrible. Box it in thought and just file it away. So deal with A first then you can look at B then C. Seen  a TV psychologist talk about it years ago, the issue(s) dealt with even if it is filed for another day. 
Can you make you own bread again? then you will get good quality carbs. I struggle to eat clean A la SW, but I usually feely better for it. I may make veggie lasagne  
I hear you about goodies.... have had sweets more than ever. but no alcohol for 5 months, last night leaving work I stopped at the shop for decaf teabgs!! frozen mango smoothies, with sugar free vanilla syrup, same frozen fruit with 0%fat greek yog and SF vanilla syrup. how about Fluff..... greek yog mixed/whizzed with SF jelly. I'm off to the shops ... after the gym        

greent

I'm still eating carbs (although a LOT less) but mainly things like couscous, wild rice, new potatoes (no butter!) - all unprocessed. A very occasional bread item such as a good quality pitta or homemade roll (left for things like homemade shawarma or pulled pork - neither or which are for you, I realise!) Sweet things for me are protein yogs (aldi's brooklea ones) or frozen berries with fat free Skyr yog (again from Aldi) - relatively 'clean' eating, I guess. I only have the equivalent of less than a bottle of wine per year, so effectively I'm a non drinker.  Wont give up my caffeinated PG tips though!

I think the idea of a full(er) house sounds lovely - just make sure those who can contribute to the household budget do... don't add to any financial strain xx

South_coast

greent said:

I think the idea of a full(er) house sounds lovely - just make sure those who can contribute to the household budget do... don't add to any financial strain xx

Hear, hear. NG, please take heed. You can't do it all x