Our attempt at being MF!!

Downshifterella

Well done on the party!! Always a success when they've had a great time! Might have to take myself off to sainsburys too with those clothes bargains! Well done! :money:

CathT

Downshifterella wrote: »

Well done on the party!! Always a success when they've had a great time! Might have to take myself off to sainsburys too with those clothes bargains! Well done! :money:

Thank you, it was a relief it went so well! Have had lots of compliments on my new clothes so I would say it's worth a trip

I really do not have enough hours in the day, am getting up earlier to exercise before work and seem to have no time in the evening to do anything. Get home around 5pm, children have activities every evening except Thursday but dh takes responsibility for that (I just pick dd up from piano which is on my way home from work). I am sure the days used to seem longer than they do now!

2 NSD's so far this week, 50p on y0ugov tonight. Heating not used as it's still pretty mild, even line dried some washing today! Will need a small top up shop tomorrow, mainly just fruit as it doesn't last more than a few days here between the two children!

Am feeling grateful today that a kind gentleman reversed my car out of space as I was struggling and someone blocked me in in a car park. Also feeling super proud of my little sister who has decided to buy a property on her own at just 21!

CathT

Another busy working week but I am off today :j

Accounts checked and looking healthy but money needs moving to savings ready to pay holiday balance. I've managed to clear a cc balance of £345 this month as interest free period was ending so it's good to have another card paid off.

Has been an expensive month as had to pay £90 football subs for dd and £124 for swimming lessons for them both. It's ds's birthday next week and he only has one present so far and no party planned either as he wants a swimming party but I think he's a bit young. He's a good swimmer but am not sure how many 5-6 year olds can swim well. Am also leaving some surplus in the account to take into account his birthday.

Have bought my first christmas related item! I buy a personalised decoration for the children each year and the baubles I wanted always sell out before I decide whether to buy. It helps out a small craft business and keeps up our tradition.

I'm really behind on diaries so hoping to catch up a bit at some point. Happy Friday everyone!

CathT

Where did the weekend go????

Finally decided on ds birthday party and we are going to do something at home and he's really excited about it. It will need to be as stress free as possible as it will be after work/school.

50p on y0ugov this morning but have a feeling it's going to take forever to get to payout at the rate of surveys I am getting!

Plumber called round this weekend to give us a quote to replace our bathroom. It's the last major job that needs doing in the house and until we do that we can't move forward with decorating. Labour costs seem reasonable and it will probably be done in about 5 weeks so we best start choosing suites and tiles! It's only a tiny bathroom and we won't have shower as have other shower room but want it fully tiled and my first choice would be grey tiles with a feature strip. At least I have found a use for the matured regular saver!

Finally started the second HP book yesterday. DS is keen for me to read it quickly so we can watch the film! Am hoping to read and watch all of them by Christmas. Am currently trying to hit 15k steps a day so not getting a huge amount of reading time and have DOMS from Friday's workout!

CathT

Ds's birthday today and he's had a brilliant day. Wasn't sure what to buy him but decided on lego and it was a hit! He's had lots of fun building various things and lego has much more variety than it did when I was a child!

Managed to line dry washing a few days in a row which helps with energy costs and food spends remain low. I'm macro tracking but since giving up meat am struggling to hit my protein. Another weight workout done today and I didn't lose the ability to go up and down stairs!

Y0ugov survey waiting so hoping it's still there when I actually have time to do it.

Have really noticed the change in weather today and although we have briefly put the heating on twice I was hoping to leave it a bit longer but it's definitely nippy. I am trying not to put it on if I'm the only one who is cold!

newgirly

Happy birthday to your ds, glad he had a good day

CathT

Thanks newgirly, it's party day today. Slightly less children than dd party but I think 18 5-6 year olds will be noisy enough!! I've wrapped a 'pass the parcel' and we'll play a couple of games of musical bumps/statues and planning lots of dancing.

Accounts checked yesterday and looking healthy so will move some across to new bathroom fund before it gets swallowed up. Haven't read meters yet so will do it by weekend at the latest.

Macro tracking and walking lots plus weight workouts is working so am motivated to keep going and it helps me feel in control.

Resisted putting the heating on when I got in from work yesterday, house would have benefitted from having the chill taken off it but no one else feels the cold and I just did hot water bottles at bedtime. More money saving by having cheap lunches, a 72p butternut squash made into soup has provided 3 lunches for me. Will try and be consistent with soup making as it also saves me having to prep lunch each day as I pre portion it due to macro tracking.

*almost* the weekend!

CathT

Pretty impressed this morning that we had done all of our 'errands' by 11am! Needed to get myself some new black boots as the ones I bought last year had really scuffed and fell apart (buy cheap, buy twice) so got some I saw in Mr S during 25% off promotion. Unfortunately they didn't have my size then so had to pay full price today. Also got ds a new winter coat as he had outgrown last years and we passed it on a while ago. Also popped to bathroom place plumber has advised to have a look and by some miracle we have chosen our tiles! We are going for greys with hopefully a feature stripe but as it is a tiny bathroom we'll have to see how it will work. Have a few more brochures to browse through as have opted for a vanity unit for toilet and sink also due to the size of the room.

Bought some £1 tubs of soup from Mr S, one packed with lentils to help me with my protein. 50p on y0ugov yesterday so up to £20 now (cashed out in June). Accounts looking healthy with 13 days until payday. Have had to put heating on for a bit to dry clothes but also using heated airer. No need to read meter as last did it end of Sept (I don't remember doing this!!!).

Have accessed my pension pot online. Is the value of the pot the same as 'hypothetical annuity cost?'

Relaxing afternoon needed after a really busy week. Am going to put the kettle on and grab myself a blanket and HP book!

michelle09

Sounds like you had a productive morning!

We picked our bathroom tiles by the salesman going "these are large and on sale". And telling me they had matching floor tiles.

Hope the blanket and HP book gave you a nice quiet afternoon.

CathT

We did a similar thing Michelle! Saw ones we liked on the display bathroom but hadn't noticed the floor tiles. After a quick browse around the showroom looking for matching ones we spotted the display model had them so decision made!

When we did the extension, choosing tiles was one of the few decisions we needed to make and that was a bit stressful and time consuming!

Did have a relaxing afternoon, also caught up on bake off and then had some vino in the evening. Busy morning today as dd has a football match but hopefully get back to reading my book later!