Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

newgirly

I think dd would have preferred to elope but fiancée wanted everyone there, I can’t say I mind either way as long as I was invited 😆 She has gone for maximum effort with it being basically an empty barn and i think is feeling the pressure as she works in events and her colleagues are invited. Ds2 has an evening wedding at a local hotel so minimum effort. Three months after your BIL is ok surely mfd’s? 

Nice dinner with friends at pizz@ express last night, I think I need to look into getting a tastecard as there are no offers since Covid, not sure how much they are yet but I’m sure we would get the value, especially with the odd weekend away in the Uk.

I have failed dismally lately to update figures of be much of a mfw 🙄 so it’s time to change all that and get back into gear. With a set (large 😆)  travel budget and fairly low living budget things should be ticking along like they used to and I should be looking for extra to make op’s again rather than sitting back relaxing. 

Today’s tasks:

- check accounts 
-update mfw challenge 😱
-book Xmas market hotel 
-set budget for next years breaks 
-sort boys’ 21st’s ready for next week!
-work out how to use dh’s remaining holiday for this year, he NEVER has time off unless we go away
-look into booking a haircut , first proper one since early 2020 😆
-start cooking again, I’ve become lazy as there are only three of us here at the moment, so ready junk food has crept in , unhealthy and expensive! 

Kittenkirst

Hi Newgirly! You’ve had loads going on; all the wedding plans sound really exciting, and how wonderful that your DD found her perfect dress (& that it was in budget!)

Sorry to hear about puss loosing her sight; hope she’s getting along okay and adjusting well now?

Ive been tempted to get a tastecard too as now things are starting to open back up its lovely to be going out, but Ive got used to the not spending the money  

greent

2 weddings in a short space of time sounds a bit stressful - but also jolly exciting!

(I don't know about anyone else, but I almost feel that I kind of 'know' long-term mfw diarists and their families! - I'm excited for them 😄) x

newgirly

Hi kk and Greent, thanks for popping by, the cat is doing ok really, she’s moved from the living/dining  room into the kitchen now if she’s ever alone or at night, less trouble to get into 😆

I know greent, likewise! We have been here a looong time now 😂 

Dh has just suggested going to the seaside for the day, I have declined! Our nearest is Southend which no offence intended but no, or driving over to Kent. It may sound grumpy but I can’t think of anything worse than traffic and a packed seaside on the hottest day of the year. 

It’s the boys’ 21st next Saturday, they are so low key it’s easy 😆 we took them and partners  for breakfast yesterday as they are busy next week, will have a curry Thursday with family and they are out Friday with a few friends but having burgers first in the garden. Wonderfully easy compared to the huge party we had for their 18/ dd’s 21st. 

This week has been very busy, hopefully today I’ll get a bit of time to catch up on diaries and update figures as promised, although I’m a bit scared to do it 😱

South_coast

They showed Southend on the news last night - it was HEAVING 😱! Definitely agree that not sitting in traffic/hunting for parking spaces sounds more fun

newgirly

Indeed sc, in the end we visited our friends from work who lives in burnham on crouch (he commutes by car to east London daily 😱) and had a lovely pub lunch and wander along the water, not really busy at all there and so pretty, he’s always trying to get us to move there but it’s too far from London gigs for ds2 😂 There’s a couple big houseboats for sale there too 😍

So I still have not managed to sort her finances out yet, today for sure! I did book the Xmas market hotel, the one I was going for in further inspection has major building work on at the moment, so I didn’t book and went for a central four star traditional looking one right by where (I think) the Xmas market is, also walking distance to the station as we may get the train I’m not sure yet, I think arriving late and parking could be tricky. 

So I’ve plumped for the dearer option where you can cancel last minute, plus breakfast at £315.90 plus £29 topcashback for a Friday and Saturday in December. 

Food shop arriving today, quite a dear one as there’s beer and cider for the boys birthdays too, need to pop to Costco for a cake and burgers later this week, that should be it though.

Back later with a financial update….

LadyGnome

You are so organised booking for December.  I haven't booked anything for this year yet.  DS2 is a bit frustrated because some of his friends have gone abroad but I did point out that the quarantine rules were changing so fast that some of them will now have to quarantine on their return.  Hopefully, DS1 gets his chosen Uni place and we can combine a long weekend with visiting him.  Just for a change of scenery.

newgirly

Fingers crossed for you he gets his choice LadyGnome, stressful times! 

Half the enjoyment of going away is planning and getting excited so it’s kind of spoilt anyway with the uncertainty. 

The boys had their 21st planned at a club Friday which is now shut, which was a replacement to the two festivals this weekend they now can’t go to, ds1 has not been out for days so as to keep risk low going to the club too. 

Anyway the end result is a party here Friday in the garden 😱 after the family do here Thursday 😩 
So I need to rehome my posh wicker armchairs with clean cream cushions before Friday 😂 I’m going to do two long banqueting tables with my (wipeable) dining chairs instead! Our garden is so tiny I’m not sure how this will all fit! 

So instead of getting started with all this work I’m spending the afternoon with best friend in her pool and tomorrow going shopping and for lunch, I can’t cancel as it’s her last day of freedom before she has three kids off school all summer, I wouldn’t dare 😆

Moneyfordreams

Good luck with the parties , I'm sure they will have a ball.

LadyGnome

I hope the 21st party is fabulous