Debt free in ten years-my new, more realistic challenge.

poohbear59

I am determined not to add to our debt but it does seem to be too slow sometimes. I have made another loan payment and I can see it going down so it does boost me. Despite numerous setbacks we seem to be keeping our head above water.

The hall ceiling is insulated with 70mm recticel insulation with some fibre roof insulation behind the beams and almost all drafts have stopped at last. I can't quite believe we have been here 18 years and I have only recently thought of doing it. I have to admit that I paid for the insulation with a cc but I haven't been reducing the figures in my signature for the cc and it hasn't gone up at all. Next job is to add a layer of 5mm insulated plasterboard. DS3s job is to research prices at building merchants and on line. I haver found that if I order building materials on DH's business account I am charged more than DH. As DH I have deployed DS3 to do it for me as a male voice gets it cheaper. Wrong, I know but it still happens and I have been ordering building materials for years for our house.

We have all the Winter curtains up early this year and have hung the fleece blankets as curtain linings. It has made a difference but I spent £20 on a convector heater for my bedroom. I can't bear to get up in a cold room. My pain is magnified in the cold so I have also bought a plug in timer to gently warm the room at around 7am. We have economy 7 so have cheap rate until 7.30 . A heater isn't in the grand scheme of heating the house with wood only but it is going to be beneficial for me.

To keep tabs on spending I am pinning all the till receipts from supermarkets etc to the kitchen pinboard and totting the costs up. We have spent in excess of £300 since 24th October but we have stocked up the shelves in the store room, the freezers and on toiletries laundry products etc.

poohbear59

Sunday in this house is pretty chilled. Hopefully another NSD. I have only managed 3NSDs so far that I have counted this month.
The convector heater was wonderful. I woke to a warm room today and it meant I had a better start to the day. What a softie I have become. DS3 has a hot water tank in his room and it is always cosey, DS1 likes his window wide open all Winter so he doesn't need one either.

Mr Pooh is out chopping wood and I am researching costs of insulated plaster board for the hall ceiling. I may put a few things on ebay but I don't seem to have much luck selling things.
Next week's plan;
Check ccs for 0% end dates and find new cards if needed
Finish accounts
Research for lower int rate loan

poohbear59

I haven't kept up well with my diary and so it is easy to slip into non MSE methods. Today we have 8 for dinner so I am going to make more of a 450g packet of mince. I bought a cheap pumpkin and have made pumpkin soup using an onion, some garlic, cumin, dried coriander and seasonings. The new:o hand blender was used to make it nice and smooth. Then I have added finely diced onion and carrot to the mince to bulk it out a bit. The final bulking ingredient is a hand full of frozen peas. The mountain of mashed potato and home grown cabbage should make it a filling, nutritious and tasty meal. If anyone can eat pudding I have rhubarb in the freezer which I can defrost and serve with custard. The total cost will be in the region of £7-8.

brizzledfw

Sounds lush Poohbear..room for another for tea?!!;-)

Sounds like you're doing great. The insulation will make a huge difference I am sure. We have just paid a shocking amount for a new wooden door (all the doors on the street are huge 7foot high wooden ones so we needed to match in) but it makes a HUGE difference to the temperature of the hallway. It fits properly and there are now no draughts. It's great and I am so pleased we have done it.

Mixed results MSE wise in the Brizzle house this weekend. Am about to make toad in the hole and also broccoli and Stilton soup. Have already made HM bread. But did spend a load yesterday in town, including some new jumpers for me...and me and DD1 ate out at Carluccios on an impulse, which we loved, but well it was another £40. Got a free dessert tho as the stew was a bit cold!

Keeping up with the diaries helps me a lot so my early NY resolution is to keep up with your guys and all your MSE ways!!

Have a great Sunday eve

Brizzle x

poohbear59

I think I can stretch it to one more...:)

The NY resolution is a good idea. Do you mind if I pinch it?

Our new door makes a massive difference too brizzled. And the hall in it's incomplete state is a lot better too.

Your shopping trip has reminded me that I spent £40 on two pairs of trousers for me in Mr As>> I was in dire need and had even had to resort to wearing a skirt as my trousers were so scruffy. I bought some on ebay and they didn't fit so it was a waste of money unless I sell them on ebay.

brizzledfw

Hi, I'd resell them. Better than them staring at you when you open the cupboard door, making you cross cos they don't fit!

Mr As(a wasnt too bad yesterday for clothes. Bought DDs some stuff and as long as it washes well I will be happy. DD2 has a new coat from there, half the price of last years M@S one and if it lasts that's great. Not sure it's as thick tho.

Have a good eve in your draught free home! Woodburner is on here and OH has finished chopping wood for it. Just waiting for Stric£ly!

turfy6

Im with brizzle try to re-sell them, no sense them just sitting there. I had a look in town on Saturday and I actually like the fashion this winter, but I resisted, maybe will buy a few bits as were off to Dublin next month for a couple of nights. Glad the door is making such a difference, we had a new one last year and it really helps keep the cold out.

poohbear59

I really need to get off my behind and do some sorting things either for ebay or for the charity shop.
Last night I sold a week in the cottage on ebay. It was a bargain for the person who won but also good for us too as we will get the same amount as we would have done through the agency. It has encouraged me to try taking some photos and list some bits and pieces but I don't want to move.

The living room is so lovely and cosy I don't want to leave it. I hadn't thought being nice and warm was going to make me so lazy.
I need a kick to get moving today.

poohbear59

We had a scrummy ham shank broth last night, cost about £5 in total and fed 4 adults. Today I have the leftovers being transformed into a ham and pea soup.
Mr P has gone to the recycling centre with a whole car full of unwanted junk from the loft and the boys' bedrooms. We have the heating engineer coming to have a look at our system to see if we can get the radiators working from the back boiler on the wood burning stove. If it is possible it could be pricey but would make more use of the hot water we are producing. There are only so many baths we can have

I am determined to have another NSD. So I am not going out and not going to do any internet spending. The accounts were not finished so I will concentrate on them this afternoon and aim to get them complete by Friday.
turfy I liked what I saw in town the other day but am determined to make do. I need to tidy up some of my jumpers/cardies which have gone bobbly and they will do another year.

brizzled You have encouraged me to work out a budget and to try to stick to it. Just need to get DH back on board.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Hey pooh, thought I'd drop by 'yours' as you usually come to me

All your meals sound fab. You put me to shame how organised you are. I will have to pull my finger out and make better savings (and probably better meals!) in that department.

Definitely agree with Brizzle though, get the trousers back on ebay Xx