museumworker's quest to consign mortgage to history!

SmlSave

Sounded like a lovely day in London with shopping and food

we had the best cocktails I have had in London

yum...cocktails.......nomnomnom

museumworker

Just been out for lunch with my boss, felt like it was my turn to buy so spent £12 . But does mean I will have my packed lunch for dinner tonight, so will hopefully even out a bit.

Have to pop to Post Office in a minute to post the last of the ebay items. I didn't manage to list any more items yesterday as it ended up being a long day, especially with DD's school fair. I took her best friend too, they had a great time doing all the different activities. I had forgotten to take anything in :o:o so decided to 'give' £5 to the raffle, I didn't win a single thing so that is a bit of divine retribution! Bought a few second hand books, some for DD to take to dad's as she said she is bored by the books she has there and she wishes he was near a children's library. Also bought a couple to take to Poland. Purchased an unused Ted Baker body souffle will use for myself for 50p, and bought DD some of the really unhealthy bbq food they seem to love so that I didn't have to cook any dinner - OH was out last night. I also decorated a big fat cake for 20p and felt a bit sick afterwards , so no dinner for me last night!. Bought some ice-creams for DD, best friend, and friend who didn't have any money. Total spent: £12.90. It would have been more, but gave DD some money from her piggy bank as a budget, that way she really thought about what she wanted and picked what meant the most to her.

Need to have a rethink of the ebay items, I worked out I made a loss on a few items due to higher postage costs than estimated. I normally weigh items at home on a domestic scale, but I think it is either inaccurate, or larger things hang off scale so floor takes most of the weight! How do other people weigh things? Another aspect is the packaging, I use padded envelopes for Amazon selling so used those as hanging around. Am thinking about ordering some of the plastic packaging, like heavy duty plastic bags, instead as these seem lighter and will keep costs down.

Right, better get some work done, am due to look for a bikini top after work, finish packing and finish making the earrings. Early flight tomorrow, can't wait to escape :j:j:j

mummyofonechild

We use bathroom scales to weigh ebay items xx

[Deleted User]

museumworker
good going , school fete sounds fun!!
no tips on weighing items from ebay- I have ended up with same probs with posting books!...didnt quite think it through! still, some money is better than none (so I tell myself!)
have a good weekend

tootallulah

The loft conversion sounds great, certainly it will add value to your house and if you don't have to move because you have more room, it's a win all round. And warmer in the winter too......... Fingers crossed you can make the finances work.

museumworker

Courgette and SmlSave - it was a great day, and all the better for not blowing the bank, means you don't get that guilty feeling after!

Deleted_User - the engagement ring thing is a bit of a joke, I really don't want to get married, although I think OH does so I may need to soften my anti-marriage stance at some point . Congrats on the Amazon sales, you've done really well to sell so many so quickly. Mine has gone quiet lately :mad:. Sometimes I only make 50p or so on an Amazon sale, but every little bit helps. I post second class and get proof of postage (free from counter), that saves a few p too. Fair was great fun, I love fairs (and charity shops, and jumble sales, and car boots...)

mummyofonechild - thanks for the tip, although I think you must have MUCH better bathroom scales than mine. They are currently saying my bag to go to Poland weighs 0kg - tell Ryanair that tomorrow!! They have also given me three different weights, depending where in the room they are - I'm between 11 :eek::eek: and 9 stone :j:j. :rotfl:. OH only bought them last year, they were Salter ones so thought they'd be better than that.

tootallulah - thanks, i think it is a good investment, and will mean we don't outgrow the house in a few years. Really hope we can get it done this year, and then can focus on that pesky mortgage! Does mean I'll have a summer of clearing out loft though :eek:.

After work, dashed to shops and found a co-ordinating (rather than matching) bikini top in Peter Jones sale for £12.50 :T. It is my exact bra size, black with polka dots and has that vintage feel to go with the high waisted bottoms. It is also strapless :eek: so need to not try any energetic swimming in it :rotfl:. This is the first bikini I have bought in five years (when I was 2 sizes smaller), and it really flatters my figure, I feel really confident in it. For £22.50 a total bargain .

Came home to find have won £25 on premium bonds :j and the £5k from old pension had been transferred to new one :j:j this has been a major headache for me, so glad it is over. Did The Shred, and had lunch for dinner . Finally finished friend's earring, the chain kept breaking as it is really fine silver so was touch and go whether would be able to do it! Have packed it in old perfume box, lined with tissue paper and a vintage Liberty handkerchief I bought still in packaging from a jumble sale for 25p. I really hope she likes it, is is silver and mother of pearl.

Now I have to look a bit more *ahem* bikini ready, and pack the final things for Poland. Could be 35 degrees, or could be 20 and raining. Have no idea what to pack! OH not here this evening, hence why I am rabbiting on so much. Early start tomorrow, so better finish here. Have a good weekend everyone, I'll catch up when I'm back on Tuesday.

mummyofonechild

We have digital Scales and weigh the items already packaged. Have a lovely weekend

museumworker

Had an absolutely fabulous time in Poland. It was a brilliant weekend, lots of girly chat, polish vodka :beer:, homecooked traditional food, and general fun and laughter :rotfl:. Was just what I needed (apart from maybe the vodka, nobody actually NEEDS that!).

Budgetwise it worked out well, spent £50 in total, including present for DD, food, drink, eating out, eating in, petrol money, museum and zoo entrance fees, bus fares... gosh, it really IS cheap there!

Not so financially good was the journey there - whilst on the bus to the train that I had already bought the ticket for, I realised I had DD's passport and not mine :eek::eek::eek:. Had to jump off bus and leg it home with heavy bag (not 10kg heavy though Ryanair!). Got the passport but had to call a taxi to take me to airport as didn't have enough time to retrace steps - as a result £30 lighter. Was annoyed with myself :mad:, however I was glad that I checked whilst still close to home, rather than at the airport when would have ruined chances of escape. Moral of story: open passport to check which one it is before tidying it away :rotfl:.

Have done 20 lengths tonight at the pool, not bad considering last night I was up til 3am and only had about 4 hours sleep, and about 7 glasses of home made Sangria!

Should really do a to to list but feeling very tired now, so will just waffle on a bit.

Have quite a busy week ahead as MIL is coming down on Saturday, the place hasn't been cleaned properly for weeks, the cupboards are bare and we need to clear the office to give her a bit of privacy/room of her own. As OH and DD away this weekend too, we are trying to eek out the remains of last weeks shop :T, just booked an ASDA shop for Saturday morning for £104 , but as we haven't bought anything this week, and are having people over on Sunday, and providing packed lunches and extra food for extra mouth all next week, it is not too bad.

Submitted electricity readings online, we are currently paying £94 pm to Scottish Power, but only used £72 of gas and elec in last three months :j, so next DD is dropping to £21 and we have a massive surplus in our account to see us through winter. My fixed deal is coming to an end, so in the next few weeks I need to check we are on the best tariff currently available for us and look at energy usage in much more detail.

Right, off to bed. Night all.

[Deleted User]

mw
glad you had a good break away! shame about the passport and taxi fare, but as you say much better you realised when you did and got to go!
good idea re energy saving...I must get into that OH is not the best at that... I will give a nudge..

museumworker

Last few days have been really busy, but will try and sum up:
* £1.69 spent on massive yoghurt for work breakfasts
* cleared breakfast club and lunch money for DD for rest of term (£48). Tea time club not sure what we owe them, so given them £50 and hope to settle it September. I want to be more organised with these next year so we know exactly where we are with them. Perhaps pay daily or weekly?
* £20 spent on drink on night out yesterday after work do
* OH has moved desk out of office for MIL, just need to dust and hoover the room ready for her, and tackle rest of house.
* DD's last day at school tomorrow. Think have enough presents in the house to say thank you to all of the teachers and TAs, just need a tin of something for the breakfast club people.
* FORGOT TO POST AMAZON BOOK! Need to do this after picking up DD this afternoon as otherwise will not be in 2 day limit. DD wants me to take her swimming, so will pick up a Schweppes bottle on way back too.
* My turn to bake cake for work, thinking about a chocolate courgette cake...