Sashybo - Stray thoughts amongst the wilderness of debt

sashybo

Actually saw my sister yesterday as we went shopping with my mum. Will need to try and see the kids next week, maybe one day after work (as should be on early shift). Bought myself some skirts as need to have a change from wearing jeans all the time but now need some tights as well.

The weather has been horrible the last two days - biting cold wind and heavy rain. Please don't let it snow again - I hate it!

Off to Carlisle next weekend. :j Dinner is included in our hotel deal so just need a bit of money for lunches and doing some exploring.

Not much else to report, just having a relaxing day as up at 5am tomorrow for work, lovely. :cool:

gilligansyle

Hi

wondered were you where,is this your weekend away?

Hope you have a good break, you've worked hard enough for it.

sashybo

Hi gilli, have been awol again, finding it hard to post when I'm on shift as too tired!

Yes, we had our weekend away this weekend and it was very nice in Carlisle. The people were very friendly which is always good - it was even quite sunny on Friday and Saturday which was a nice change. We probably spent about £150 just lunching and visiting places - had a good look in the museums and the castle, both of which would be excellent for kids. So, although we could have spent less (and probably should have ) we had a nice break.

I also discovered a more healthy way to have a gin and tonic - with cucumber instead of lemon. Very nice and refreshing. The hotel deal we got was very good as both breakfast and dinner were included and the food was very nice, so pleased with that.

My mum looked after the cats when we were away and will feed them again in April when we go to London and OH's parents. Don't think the furry fiends missed us at all! They're happy as long as they're fed. :cool: Will be looking after my mum's two kittens when she goes on holiday next week.

Still haven't seen my nephews and nieces, will maybe try to head down to my sister's tomorrow. Have done a bit of housework so far today but am mainly relaxing as back to work on Wednesday.

Going to pay some extra off OH's cc as want to get it under £200 asap. The hotel we have booked for one night in London next month will come off that card (as cc needed) so will need to pay the original balance down as much as possible and try and put the hotel bill money aside as well. Luckily we don't need to pay for the travel (due to my job) but will need spending money as well.

Did some of my Pilates DVD this morning after a few weeks of being very lazy, really need to push myself to get back into it as I did feel better for it. My waistline seems to be expanding and still struggling to find trousers that fit properly, especially for work, as a size 10 is just too small and a 12 is a bit too big.:mad:

sashybo

A few domestic money things I forgot about earlier - the element in our oven has gone so no oven atm. :eek: OH has ordered the part online, cost £34, so just waiting for it to arrive and he can replace the old one. I'm glad he's handy with things like that - I wouldn't have a clue!

Also need a new hoover as ours really smells whenever it's used - have tried replacing filters etc and nothing works. Think we need one that is especially for animal hair - 3 cats shed a lot. :cool: Looking at a ball Dyson but they are very expensive so going to save Amazon vouchers from surveys towards that as don't want to spend that kind of money on a hoover. :eek:

My savings account towards laser eye surgery now has a grand total of £38 in it. This is just odds and ends of survey and review money so not too bad.

gilligansyle

Hi sashy

glad you had a good break, when you work shifts it must be difficult to plan stuff.

Re: the hoover, I have a Miele -cats and dogs - because we used to have a German Shepherd and a parrot. It cost a fair amount, but I've had it 10 years, and it has special filters in it for animals and a special boost brush for hairs. don't know if they still make it though.

sashybo

Thanks for the info about the hoover gilli, I will have a look at that one as well then. I won't mind so much how expensive whatever one I get is if I'm using vouchers to pay for it! Already have £29 in Amazon vouchers saved towards one.

Did 30 mins of my Blast Off Belly Fat DVD today and feeling a bit achey from the Pilates one yesterday. Was exhausted which shows how unfit I am. Need to keep up with the exercise - will aim for at least 20 mins three times a week.

The element for the oven still hasn't arrived yet, getting a bit annoying not being able to use the oven now. :cool: At least when I'm back at work for my late shifts tomorrow I can use the ovens there.

Think we will need to head to Makro tonight as are out of olive oil and a few other things that work out better value from there. Also need cat litter.

Need to do the recycling as well - apparently when you live in a flat you don't need a recycling bin. :mad: No one else in our block seems to bother though and stuff is just dumped. :eek: The best one is someone who apparently thinks it's quite alright to dump a washing machine in the close at the bottom of the stairs and just leave it there. :eek::mad: Would say I'll call the factors but they are useless! Still haven't responded to a query OH made about their most recent bill - 3 weeks ago!!! So we haven't paid it - they really are a joke. :mad:

sashybo

Back to work today for another seven day slog, so might not be posting very regularly.

Am having an exercise rest day today as feeling quite achey but will do some Pilates tomorrow.

The feline fiends had very helpfully pulled some of my clean washing off the clothes horse this morning and were sick on it. :eek: :mad:

Went to Makro last night and didn't go too mad, although we did get a few extras. Need to be careful when OH gets paid next week as we will need extra money for London and our hotel bill.

sashybo

Have been too tired to post recently as working, on my second day off today and then back at work for another 7 days.

Oven has been repaired as luckily OH was right and the element just needed replacing. Not very impressed with the company we ordered the part from though as they took a week and a half to send it out to us, with very little communication.

Have been having neighbour/factor problems again as some people in the building seem to think it's acceptable to drop rubbish all over the close and not bother to pick it up. :mad: Factors still very slow to respond to any queries or complaints. Have decided that every time another mess is made we will take a photo and send it to the factor with another complaint. :mad:

Didn't do much exercise on my last work stretch. Felt the lack of it though as get a sore leg/hip and knee when I don't do my stretching/Pilates due to sitting down so much at work. Did 30 mins of Pilates this morning and feel so much better for it. Also had the chiropractor yesterday so was realigned, which has also left me feeling better. :j

Have managed to get a good amount of housework done today but am feeling pretty tired. Need to go round and feed my mum's cats for her later as she's away on holiday. OH is also collecting my sister's laptop as it's died and he'll try to repair it.

A week today I'll be stopping for my long weekend from work and also have some annual leave following on from it. Have plans to see friends, then heading down to London, then visiting OH's parents and back home after a couple of days - looking forward to it. :j

sashybo

Sat and worked out the debt repayment for last month which was £350.23 - this includes our DMP payment, NR loan and OH's cc. It's not bad but could be better.

Have managed to save £52.61 towards my laser eye surgery fund and will have another £40 to add to that as just cashed out at OnePoll (finally :j). This is just the money I've made through surveys and reviewing, will need to look at making regular savings out of my wage each month to really get the fund going.

Have just under £50 of Amazon vouchers saved towards a new vacuum, earned from survey panels which don't pay in cash.

So not too bad then. Four shifts to go then I'm off work for 10 days. :j

Came home from work today and did housework, including lots of ironing to get it out of the way. Going out in a bit to feed my mum's kittens as she is on holiday. They are wee cuties but are very nosey and in the Spiderman stage of kittenhood - they throw themselves at anything and just climb up it - walls, legs, curtains. :eek::rotfl: Little needle claws in your leg is not a nice sensation!

gilligansyle

Enjoy your time off work.