museumworker's quest to consign mortgage to history!

Froggy-G

museumworker wrote: »

Thanks for the words of advice both, I spent quite some time looking at the plans last night and think that may be the only way they can fit in stairs and doors to both extra rooms. however, we have asked to speak to someone tonight at home about the plans as they are a bit more compromised than I thought. Also, the rear extension is higher than I thought it would be, and will probably annoy the neighbours. Although it is within permitted development, I get on well with them and like them a lot, so don't want to hack them off. Going to see if it is possible to have lower back extension.

Finding this really difficult, am just wishing away the next 2 months, sad but true.

On a more positive note, have had subs upped for museums association to reflect what I earn (a bit anti MFW but ethically correct), and have called hospital for replacement glasses for DD. Been meaning to do that since July. Will try and get a walk in at lunchtime. Chocolate cake from cake club today, yum! And did level 2 of the shred yesterday. Amazingly have not put on any weight last 3 weeks, despite lack of exercise and huge amount of bday chocs I have scoffed!

Hi :j

Could you tell me what the shred is, and point me in the right direction please?

Thanks

Froggy

museumworker

Hi FroggyG

The Shred is a rather scary but effective exercise DVD. See http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jillian-Michaels-Day-Shred-DVD/dp/B002RNOS2Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287487297&sr=8-1 for reviews and more info. Idea is you do it everyday - "gimme just 20 minutes" - but have a full and challenging workout. I heard about it from Hypno's thread, and think it is brilliant. Expect jumping jacks, butt kicks, squatting with weights, crunches - and fast results! It is like having a personal trainer shout at you from the telly. Blinking hard work though!

Froggy-G

museumworker wrote: »

Hi FroggyG

The Shred is a rather scary but effective exercise DVD. See http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jillian-Michaels-Day-Shred-DVD/dp/B002RNOS2Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287487297&sr=8-1 for reviews and more info. Idea is you do it everyday - "gimme just 20 minutes" - but have a full and challenging workout. I heard about it from Hypno's thread, and think it is brilliant. Expect jumping jacks, butt kicks, squatting with weights, crunches - and fast results! It is like having a personal trainer shout at you from the telly. Blinking hard work though!

Thanks!! :j
I have followed "the Biggest Loser" and always thought that both trainers had very good workouts..
Have you already seen positive results from using this DVD? Weight loss, fitness level improvement?

Froggy

[Deleted User]

hey mw
sorry the renovation plans are proving stressful- hope you can get it sorted out when you meet with them!
eeek on the shred looks scary to me.... that said, I must get into excercising regulalry (cut our gym membership earlier in the year to be MSE but have not replaced it with doing anything else!) .... find it much harder to get motivated in this weather!
mmm..cakes sound yummy- maybe Ill try suggesting it at work and see how the idea goes down? ....:rotfl:

museumworker

Just had builder round... I am sooo glad we are doing this project with this company! Great guy with a fantastically reassuring manner. Sounds like we have a few options that will be given in more detail once the stair joiner has been and measured up on Friday. I feel lots better about the project now.

Froggy-G - definitely noticed a difference with the shred. Fitness level must have improved as found it easier each time. OH tried it once, he found it really hard! I did it about 10 times in 3 weeks and got loads of compliments - if only I could bring myself to do it every day :rotfl:! Weight loss wise, I have gone from about 9 7 to 9 stone over the last 3 months. I had reached a weight loss plateau and combined with healthier (ish) eating has made a difference.

tyo - I had to give up on gyms, having spent hundreds on them and never going. I've had to teach myself the exercise habit and still struggle tbh. Adult swimming classes were the turning point last year... and home exercise videos are great to fit in with being housebond once DD is in bed. Must admit in such stew like weather I doubt I will exercise as much - but hoping 2/3 times a week still. Cake club is genius I hope you get some takers.

OH is making carbonara now. I must also confess we have switched the heating on timer now, 1 hour morning and evening. I am pleased however we made it this far...

Building work starts tomorrow :eek:!

museumworker

What a day! Have been trying to follow the cuts, it looks like a bad time for the culture sector, but not as bad as rumoured. Does that make 15% cuts for national museums ok? Worrying about the impact of some of the cuts on family, have sister in probation service which has already had a massive round of redundancies, likely to have more. And another family member who is male, single, homeless, and in need of a place of his own due to health issues. Sounds like housing benefit won't be there for him any more. He really needs a secure base, I think that would help him back on his feet. As to the full impact of the cuts, I need a bit more time to work it out.

There are possible financial issues at work with our main funder, so all in all am nervous about the future.

On a more positive note, work started today, loft is cleared and they have put down protective corex on the flooring.

Had £20 for my bday, so today popped to Primarni after work for a pair of their £5 flannel pjs. Have heard good things about these from friends and the forums, and these are quite vintage looking. I very rarely shop there but having compared prices elsewhere seemed too good to turn my nose up at! £15 left, am thinking will treat myself to Mad Men series 1 and 2 on DVD.... cosy weekend in, here we come! Lovely to get a few treats for myself. Popped into Lidl and purchased OH their thermal angora set for £20. Not quite right for me, but he is happy - can use for camping as well as our freezing house! Heating is on apparently....

museumworker

PJ's are really cosy, together with hot water bottle my sister got me for bday and the Lidl flannel sheet I was very cosy last night! Have ordered Mad Men Series 1 & 2 with rest of birthday money through tcb and play.com for 50p cashback. Will put £2 of own money in to cover overspend, that leaves me with £18 til rest of month.

Have £3.52 to claim back from tcb. Cashback has really slowed down this year since am keeping utilities and insurances with current suppliers. Did check who was cheapest, and they won each time. I don't really buy much online so little to gain there. Any tips on how to keep making money from cashback sites?

[Deleted User]

hey mw
pjs and a good tv boxset sound the way to go- one of my favourite ways to spend a weekend!
I hear you on worries about the cuts, having heard noises and had several rounds of redundancies around me in the sector Im in for the past 2 or 3 years now it does worry me that things seem to be getting worse not better- the worry of job losses, being/ending up in negative equity etc is stressful, need to switch off from it really as worrying will not change the economy or governments "strategies" to deal with it I guess...

no advice re: cashback Im afriad have signed up but not used it yet, will probably use it through the year for pressies next yr tho

glad the loft work going okay, just keep reminding yourself how lovely itll be when its done!

tyo x

SmlSave

Hi muse

re the cashback sites, I think that Quidco normally have at least one survey you can do per day (about 70p) It's worth trawling through their forums to see what you can get.

I thinks there's a fair bit less cashback available unless your willing to spend for it - here's hoping that closer to Xmas the supermarkets put cashback on grocery shopping like they did last year!

museumworker

wow tyo, you're in for a treat when you do use the cashback sites - I've made just under £400 in the last year or so. Start now! I don't do enough weekend chilling, but am planning to this weekend. I got given a lovely mexican cookbook for my birthday, OH and I are going to spend Saturday doing our food shopping at the local market, and then trying the new recipes and watching a film sat night. Doubt Mad Men will arrive by then but I can hope! DD is at her dad's, so will be quiet. I'm going to try and keep off the forums if possible as have spent a bit of time on here the last few nights, trying to get a bit of that much desired but very elusive balance everyone talks about :rotfl:... Might go for a quick drink with some old work colleagues tomorrow night, and then Sunday have acupuncture and been invited round to friend's for dinner; should be a great relaxing weekend

I know what you're saying, many of these sectors have been cut before, so its not a 30% cut from the peak, but 30% off something thats already been pruned back several times before... But you're right, not much we can do about it so I am focusing on me, my health, my family, and my finances. Talking of which, why oh why did Martin need to create a new mortgage calculator? I have just spent 20 minutes entering OP figures to see the effect - for the second time today! Makes me realise how even a small amount can make a massive difference - £100 would take 4 years off. I've been aiming high, which I'd still like to do once loft out of way. But after remortgaging in 2012, good to know that we can put less pressure on ourselves and still see results.

Thanks SmlSave - Will look into the daily survey. I must admit I have had so much on of late I have been pants with surveys and the like. But I am giving myself permission to do that. In the new year, once the loft is out of the way I will get back on the money making bandwagon. Meanwhile, good to know what is out there.