Sorting through my rubbish

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Hope you've all had a nice relaxing weekend.

Hubby took me to a Gin Festival on Saturday, it was lovely, live music and trade stands, a goody bag and lots and lots of gin (over 100 types). I was very good and only came home with one bottle. We also went for a gorgeous turkish meal which was very reasonable and a real treat.

Yesterday we decided to empty the last few boxes from when we moved, I put a few bits and bobs on Bookface and have sold £85 worth so far, well chuffed. Have also put together a box of bits for DS1 and his g/f as they are moving into a flat together soon.

Food wise we did a fair sized shop in L!dl yesterday, only came to £25 though. We had Tikka masala curries last night (only 3 of us at home), reduced to £1.12 each, couldn't make it for that followed by summer fruits pie, reduced to 19p! Tonight is spag bol, bulked out as usual with plenty of veg. Fajitas on Tuesday as I have some wraps in the freezer which were reduced to 9p per pack and some chicken pieces again just 9p a pack! Probably do a broccoli crustless quiche on Wednesday and then I have a works function on Thursday so the family will have to manage for themselves (there may well be leftovers for them from the previous nights!)

Need a study night tonight, on the final couple of modules for the first year of my degree course and need to crack on with them to meet the submission date at the end of June.

Must fly as I have work to do.

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All,

Another week has passed and I havent managed my daily postings!

We kept to the meal plan all week, DH and DD had leftovers on Thursday, Stirfry on Friday and we had pies (reduced ofcourse) with potatoes and peas on Saturday. Yesterday we had all the kids and the boys' girlfriends round for dinner, huge roast and loads leftover so should be ok for a nice chicken and veg pie tonight. and maybe even a chinese curry bulked out with tinned potatoes and mushrooms.

DD and I have our haircuts booked for Tuesday, a friend does it at her house so very MSE and then I dye it myself to cover the greys. I used to have a vibrant red colour but the roots and greys showed throught too quickly so I have gradually gone light brown and now am going lighter to a dark blonde, lasts a lot longer between dyeing.

We finally got some family photos up on the walls at the weekend, I have a multi apeture frame which I want to put my grandparents etc in, bit of a family tree, DH has one for his side of the family too. Still a couple of boxes to sort through, will Bookface anything that is suitable.

DH has a few days off of work so he is painting the exterior of the new house, saves on paying someone else to do it, even if he only gets the front done at the moment it will look smarter from the street as it looks a bit unkempt next to the neighbours! We have already had several compliments on the work we have done, new drive, tidied the garden, replaced overgrown, woody shrubs with a smart fence. All done as cheaply as possible throught friends and shopping around.

Well must dash, work to do, have a great day

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Just a quick check-in as up to my eyeballs at work.

Managed to make the Sunday leftovers stretch to a yummy chicken and mushroom pie, served with the remaining veg and then a chinese curry (bulked out with more mushrooms and a cheap tin of potatoes and some mushy peas!), very mse! The only bit not used was the carcass as I really cant be bothered to boil it up for stock, we don't eat much soup so it would probably go to waste anyway!

Not sure what is for dinner tonight as DH is in charge and I havent menu planned:eek:. I am going to see a lovely old gentleman after work, he has recently gone into a nursing home and is feeling quite isolated so I am trying to visit twice a week.

Hubby is getting on with painting the house, looks lovely, gleaming white paint in the glorious sunshine! And only costing us his time plus about £100 worth of paint!

Not got anything planned for the Bank Holiday weekend, may attack the back garden if the weather is nice and have a bbq or two, if not I'll try and get some more of my course work done.

Payday tomorrow, had a slight payrise, about £50pm so it will help. Want to put some money aside ready for DS2's move to Uni as he will need some help with bits and pieces and I'll want to go and visit!

Must dash, have a great weekend

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

So quite a chilled Bank Holiday weekend, painted the exterior of the house, drank gin and had a bbq with the kids, all lovely.

What isnt so lovely and is stressing me out and making me feel quite ill is that DH has been suspended from work and I'm really worried he will lose his job over a stupid mistake. We are finally in a good position and getting our lives sorted and he goes and does this! Worst of all he has lied to me about the issue and even now, two weeks later, I am finding out more details. I don't know what to do, I am having to plaster on a smile and carry on as if nothing is wrong when I really want to curl up in a ball and cry. I'm so angry with him. I really hope he manages to keep his job but the more I hear the less likely it becomes.

Sorry, I've got to go

321 xx

lucielle

Sending hugs your way. Start planning for the worst and hopefully it wont come to that.
L

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Lucielle, thank you for the hugs, much needed, feeling quite sorry for myself but have started the week with a positive mindset as last week was pretty much a write off work wise and I really need to keep MY job!!

I do have an emergency plan in place and we are quite fortunate in that we will get by on my wage - just! He is still on full pay whilst the investigation is ongoing so that's a plus and I have been keeping him busy doing lots of niggly little chores around the house and he is being house husband too!

We've been frugal over the weekend, I was invited out Saturday night but, much as I would have liked to get drunk and let my hair down, I stayed home and watched films with DD and drank some Chinese plum wine bought two years ago in China Town! Last night all the kids came around and we watched the One Love Manchester concert, pretty emotional stuff. DH made a chicken pie which fed us for two days and the rest of the chicken from the pack will make a curry tonight.

Hubby has almost finished painting the outside of the house, has cost about £100 in paint but obviously no labour charges.

Nothing more to add today but will check in tomorrow.

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Sorry I havent posted for a couple of weeks, been a bit stressed to say the least!

DH is still off (on full pay) and the investigation is ongoing. I have made a contingency plan and am bracing myself for the worst, he is applying for other jobs just in case.

DD is off on a school trip tomorrow for a few days, she has saved her spending money so we haven't had to find too much apart from sunlotion etc. While she's away we will just eat whatever is in the fridge and freezer.

We are being very careful about spending on food, buying reduced meat etc as and when we can and popping it in the freezer until needed. Have been shopping at L!dls and definitely save money there.

Had a lovely evening at some friends on Saturday, bbq and live music, just bought 4 cans of L!dl cider for me to take and DH already had some alcohol free stuff at home (as he was driving) so apart from a small pressie and some petrol that was a cheap but enjoyable evening.

Not even missing having a hot foreign holiday this year as long as this weather lasts, just sit in the garden with a glass of something nice and pretend I'm on the Med!!

321 xxx

trixiepix

Hello lovely,


Hope all well with you all? - I'm going to try to have a bit of a catch up and be back soon xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Trixie, so glad so 'see' you again! Hope all is well with you and the family.

So quick recap, DH is still off of work, on full pay, 2 months on and no further forward :mad: extrememly frustrating to say the least!!

My work is absolutely manic so to be quite honest it has been great having a house husband except for the uncertainty of his situation.

We have bitten the bullet and used some savings to clear a lot of our credit card debt (the only debt we have left now the mortgage is cleared). We have kept back a bit as an emergency fund but the interest we were earning was pitiful, especially compared to what we were paying each month to the credit cards. We will be snowballing so that the money saved from payments to the now closed cards will be directed to repaying the final cards quicker.

We are being very careful with spending on food, shopping to a list and making good use of any offers or yellow stickers. Again with DH being home more he is able to work the menu around what needs eating up.

DDs birthday soon, have managed to get a couple of bargains for her, [EMAIL="L'occit@ne"]L'occit@ne[/EMAIL] gift set in the sale for £20 and a Holl!ster Hoody for £16, she has been to France with school so that was partially her birthday present any way. Having some of her friends around for a bbq as well.

No great revelations to add apart from I am trying to be very, very good and even refused to look at the bargain Kipling bags on Amazon, despite DH sending me the link!!!

Take care

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

I phoned up and closed two of my credit cards today, now that the payments have gone through and they are at Nil balances. Have kept one open with a nil balance to help the credit rating (its not good to have used all of your available credit apparently). I hope to have paid off another card in two months time so that one will then get closed and it will just be the two big balances to contend with. By that point I hope to be able to get a good rate on a loan to pay them both off within 18/24 months. (EDIT Signature updated)

I still have DS1's car loan registered on my credit rating, despite being assured by the sales man that it wouldn't be! I am toying with getting him to ask the company to release me from this now that he is older but as the loan finishes is 18 months I'm not sure it's worth it.

My work is still manic and DH is still suspended so not a lot has changed. I am keeping him busy with a big long list of jobs both inside and outside the house!

Take care

321 xxx