Zeddy's MFW diary

Zeddy

Well, today has been another good one, which I'm very pleased about as I'm back at work tomorrow.

We went to the swimming pool, in the spirit of trying to get our petrol usage down, we walked there and had an excellent swim. MissZ and I normally go to swimming lessons but they aren't on during the holidays and MrZ hasn't seen her swim for ages so it was great to all go swimming and show MrZ how good MissZ has got. She started swimming lessons when she was 5 weeks old and as been going ever since, she's now 19months and loves it, she particuarly loves going underwater and can be a bit of a monkey.

We then went to the Co-op to pick up a few bits which I couldn't get during the main shop as MissZ had a massive tantrum and I couldn't get out of the shop quick enough.

Lunch was soup and home made bread which MrZ made last night, it was delicious, so delicious that MissZ wouldn't eat any of her soup as all she wanted was bread and then grapes.

We went for a walk along the prom at the beach this afternoon, but it was so freezing. We took drinks and snacks with us and parked a few roads back from the beach where it was free, so feel we are doing well at stopping unnecessary spending where it is easy to still do the same things but without spending money.

Have baked some cranberry and white chocolate cookies this afternoon as well and made seafood stew for dinner. MissZ didn't touch it and all she wanted was bread and grapes again. I try not to get cross but it's so hard as she's so lucky to be able to try all the nice seafood I put in stew, most of which I hadn't tasted myself until I was at uni, it's especially annoying when she normally eats everything and anything put in front of her - I think she's finding her independance at the moment.

Zeddy

Over Christmas my parents mentioned that my Aunt had given them free use of their holiday cottage up in Scotland and there was room for the Z family if we wanted to come as well. After looking at the different transport options, car, train or plane, the journey is approx 600 miles we have decided that flying will be easiest/cheapest.

So after lots of looking we have got flights for the three of us for just under £200, which given we are flying and returning on a Saturday and it is in the school summer holidays, my parents are both teachers, I thought it was quite good. The flights aren't from the most convenient airport, but it's a small price to pay as the next nearest flight costs were approaching £400 for a "low cost" flight.

It should be a cheap holiday as it will be self catering, my parents will have their car there so we wont need to hire one, I expect my parents wont expect us to contribute for any of the food, although we'll take them out for a meal - plus we wont have any nursery fees that week, which saves £120. :j

MrZ hasn't been up to the highlands before and has always been keen so it will be lovely to go - plus we'll have willing babysitters!

Zeddy

First day back at work went well, although it was a little painful getting up a 6 while Mr and MissZ stayed in bed as they had the day off.

I had a NSD, even managed to resist the sandwich van and the chocolate bars that I really wanted.

MrZ had the day off as he's working Saturday, which works well as it means one day less of nursery to pay for.

They had a good day, although spent £20 on nappies, although they were on multibuy and we had a voucher and we were down to our last two nappies, which is not worth the risk of whether we would make it through the night!

They also went to a 'bouncing' session at the local leisure centre which is £4.20 - MrZ usually takes MissZ to one off their toddler activities when he has a day off during the week as it's good for them to get out the house and it's been hard for him to make friends with anyone with similar aged children. There aren't many Dads who go to these groups and a lot of Mums don't seem keen on meeting up with a Dad outside of groups, there is a group who is meets up with about once a month but I think he can find it lonely as he has MissZ 1.5-2 days a week on his own, so the structured groups are good as he gets to do different things and it can break up the day.

Zeddy

I've just had a chance to look at Dec payslips and MrZ got paid £71.74 over his average pay - so that amount goes into the pot to be overpaid with our first extra overpayment on the new mortgage.:T

My New Year resolution is a cliche of being healthier/loosing weight etc etc. However, this year I'm doing it gradually by adding a mini resolution a day - so far I have:

1) Have a hot water and lemon drink first thing each morning - I've read this is meant to be good for you and I quite enjoy it, I don't have hot drinks so this is a nice change.
2) Have breakfast each morning, I'm bad in the morning as I like to get into work for 7.30 so I have an hour before my colleagues come in and skipping breakfast means I always can. So now I'm not going to press snoze on my alarm and instead have a porridge breakfast on my work days and an egg breakfast on my non work days
3) Have a mid morning snack of fruit - I don't eat enough fruit so I need to up this and replace an often eaten bag of crisps with something better for me
4) Not eat chocolate after 8.30pm - I often snack around 9pm on chocolate or ask MrZ to go out and get some for me - I don't need it, its a habit and bordom so cutting it out from then should stop me eating it then.

I'm now off to think about tomorrows.....

Zeddy

Only a small spend today - completely unnecessary, £1 on a chocolate snack - it was worth it though!

Had a call from estate agents today with an update from our buyer, they had just raised another (pointless in my opinion, but hey) question through solicitors, so I must call the solicitors tonight to check that they are not planning on writing to us to ask us the question, for us then to write a reply and post it back as it just takes so much time, I'm hoping if they can't take verbal confirmation then we can at least do it over email. I really want to get moved by the end of January and I can just feel the clock ticking!

Zeddy

Yesterday, I spend £1.60 on snacks and a drink at work, which means I spent £2.60 at work this week, which is an improvement on before Christmas, although this week was only 3 days not 4, but even so.

I went out in the evening with a friend and spent £5.80 on a small glass of wine for me and a coke for my friend. I really felt like I needed the wine after a pretty rubbish day at work where I had a heated debate with my boss.

Today we went over to my mother and baby group that I help run. Was very pleased as there were a lot of people there.

Also did the food shop, came in at £50.97, which I was pleased about as I had a coupon for extra nectar points if I spent over £50 so was impressed with how close I got to the £50 without trying!

Also treated myself and MissZ to a cupcake and a drink in the cafe after which was £3.95, she had been a delight all round the supermarket, so it was nice to chill with her over a cake.

Our buyer for our house wants to come round to see the house tomorrow, so I'm desperatly trying to tidy and clean up, although MissZ is still up as she cries as soon as she goes in her cot. We had this last night, she went down fine but she woke at 10.30pm and I couldn't get her back to sleep until 2am - I've no idea why or what was wrong, it's never happened like this before. I then spent at least another hour awake tossing and turning thinking about work, so she's trying my sleep deprived patience right now!

Zeddy

Just got back in from the park, it always saddens me how few people use it - I can't remember the last time I saw anyone else use it.

Just about to have some lunch, yellow stickered bits picked up in the shop yesterday. Then we're getting the bus into town, using our prepaid card from years ago, I've got a mystery shop to do and need to withdraw my savings and move to my current account in preperation for transfer to the solicitors for our new house purchase.

pavlovs_dog

Zeddy wrote: »

Yesterday, I spend £1.60 on snacks and a drink at work, which means I spent £2.60 at work this week, which is an improvement on before Christmas, although this week was only 3 days not 4, but even so.

if you have a bit of storage space in work and the self discipline not to scoff the lot, why not buy a multipack of your fave choc bars and leave them at work for when you get choccie cravings? Most supermarkets usually have them on offer for £1 for a pack of 5, or if you have a home bargains near you they often have great deals too.

i've finally got a key for my desk drawer so am planning on picking up a few emergency supplies for the 'must have chocolate NOW' or 'forgot my lunch' days

Zeddy

Pavlovs, I wish I had the self control to do that, it really is embaressing to admit to, but I haven't got the self discipline, I've tried it both at home and at work, and I always end up eating more if it is there. I really have no limit to how early I would eat chocolate, if it's in front of me I'd eat it as soon as I woke up. I do need to work on this though, but I don't know where to start.

Zeddy

I've written up my report for a mystery shop and submitted, so that will be £4 earnt, plus I had some lovely cookies which will be reimbursed.

I've put a few more bits on ebay - I've three items ending today, at the moment I'm seeing £34 on these items in total and still about 30mins for them all to be finished. :j