Coffee and chocolate

miggy

Piano lesson done and dusted. Lots of black ice so I'm not going to Mum's till it's thawed. Meanwhile I've put in an order for some pressies and although the checkout was jammed probably due to their offer being due to expire at noon, I finally got through and my receipt showed the discount so I think I've saved £7 there.

One load of washing is half on the line - too cold to stand out and peg it all up so I'm back in for a while. Then there's another load to go in.

While I'm waiting for the ice to thaw I need to dry some windows and put in another order for Mum's stuff. When they said Power of Attorney can be time consuming, I didn't realise they meant this much... not that there's a lot of option about it.

miggy

DS1 got the job! So pleased for him. Initially it's a four month secondment, but with a possibility of it becoming permanent.

Yesterday's jobs went to plan and I've done some prep for the appraisal.

It feels freezing here, but isn't as cold as last winter. Wet and windy though, which makes it worse. The trees at the back are doing aerobics.

miggy

I was on something of a downer yesterday and some of it's carried over so I will just get it into writing and hope that helps me think it through and maybe get some of it out of my hair.

Today would have been my Dad's birthday - born 1919 and he died 5 years ago.

I realised I've been skipping vitamins recently so I've out myself back on track.

The thought of going to see Mum's old place (still in her possession, needing work which I am putting off organising because I can't be there to supervise) was getting me down so I talked with DH and decided to go over as part of the Christmas trip to see his Dad. It will be for a shorter time but if I can get a few heavier things in the car that need to go there, it will help. Better than attempting to take them on the train.

Work: the Appraisal went well though I stuck my neck out and have put in place a structure to restart working in an area I find challenging. At least I have my manager's backing, not so sure what the team will think but it's up to her to get them on board.

The actual shift went well until... ! Well, enough said, I made a mistake which has quite shaken me because it's not something I've ever missed on before. I put it down to not normally working that shift and to something else cropping up that threw out the usual timetable. Providently, there are procedures in place which meant it was put right by a colleague ringing me up after I went home, double checking and doing the job herself. Phew. Interestingly, though, neither of the other people on shift noticed the omission either.

Putting that one down to experience: there's not a lot else I can do about it.

I now have a rota till New Year so I can make plans.

Still tons of shopping to do: need to sit down with DH and draw up a battle plan. He has the day off and so do I. Maybe go to Darlo and get the coat Mum has offered to buy me? My old 'everyday' coat won't stay shut any more and the button holes won't stay smaller when I mend them!

A good thing yesterday: I was in T*sco late on and there was some super marking-down so I came away with treasure. (I didn't grabit all - left things for other people ).A quick adding up last night showed I had bought approx £21 of stuff for about £3! I was really pleased but then I got down again - I can think of someone who could have done with that and doesn't seem to be around any more. :(:(

I will save listing my treasures till later as I have to be going in a minute.

Twopositives so far today: I've ordered my meds in advance so I won't run out on Boxing Day (Checked and this is what would have happened!) I've also found a book which we had been searching for and which had got stuck between two files.

miggy

Here we go again: a little list but you know these things make me happy.

Yesterday's bargainaceous T*sco trip

Full price bread rolls £1
Full price 3x tins tomatoes 99p (noticed the whole ones were up by 5p and got some at old price while it lasts... I remember when they were 6p *sigh*)

Was going to get my favourite coffee because it's been half price and there was none on the shelf two days ago. Well it's back on the shelf but full price! So I didn't.

raisin loaf was 120 paid 30
double cream was 130 paid 13
2x pasta pots was 420 paid 20
2x sandwiches was 200 paid 20
seafood was 300 paid 30
olive bread was 180 paid 45
2x melon slices was 280 paid 20
salad was 250 paid 10
organic brown bread was 120 paid 30
apples were 100 paid 55
doughnuts were 70 paid 17

Total original cost of discounted items = £19.80
Actual spend on discounted items = £2.90
Saving = £16.90

Plus I wombled 10p in points.

Off to Freeby's thread to post pennies captured.

I love it when they discount the posh stuff.

miggy

And a quick cheerful note - there are benefits to sorting out one's sock drawer! Apart from finding I have too many socks, I found the remainder of the envelope scheme I made before we started our current budgetting scheme! How could I have forgotten?!

It not only reminds me we need a 'pot' for household repairs and holiday savings (oops, what happened to those? Absolutely nothing after the last holiday was paid for), but it gives me £36 towards Christmas and £52 towards white goods replacement... and four unmatched socks.

What to do? Leave it there? Add to it? Spend it as originally allocated? Add it to the mortgage? Put it towards next year's holiday or something off the 'save for' list?

I think I had better see how the money's looking once Christmas is paid for and then make a decision.

Lemon_Tree

well done on your DS getting the secondment, fingers crossed it becomes permanent, they often do where i work.
hugs about your dad, he's with you even though you can't see him and is probably enjoying your T*esco savings as much as you are.

miggy

P.S. One of the nice many nice things about the sock drawer discovery is the fact that the white goods replacement envelope didn't get touched when we got the new cooker, due to there being an insurance payment plus money in the account. One less thing not to have to buy in hopefully the next ten years or more, which should make the budget stretch further.

When there is a budget, that is...

miggy

£45.50 spent on Christmas shopping on line - and I've not finished yet!

£25 of that was Mum's gift to me though so I get the money back from her, and as I went through Quidco she should eventually get some change.

I also found and used a £10 off code valid till Christmas Eve but it didn't show up at the checkout so the quota may have been used up.

I've wrapped present, too - a whole one. Go me!

fredandwilma

migster, you have alot to be thankful for, a family and a whole lot of love :grouphug:

miggy

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

well done on your DS getting the secondment, fingers crossed it becomes permanent, they often do where i work.
hugs about your dad, he's with you even though you can't see him and is probably enjoying your T*esco savings as much as you are.

:)
I can picture him now, with an accounts book and a calculator! He would have loved this site!