misscousinitt's MF Diary

misscousinitt

Hi everyone - and thanks for my messages...

Had a really terrible time with a bad stomach bug. Week off work (DH too) and about 3 weeks more getting back up to 80% - still not fully back to full health, but getting there - probably about 95% now...really, really knocked me and DH for 6 - don't think I have ever been so ill in my life.

After a week off, was struggling through at work - could have done with another week off to be fair.

After this I have been really busy.

Went to see a friend in Bradford I hadn't seen for 25 years - it was great to catch up.

Been trying to get paid work up to speed and again I am getting there - don't seem to have the motivation all of the time, but getting better...

Charity work has also been manic with fundraisers etc... to sort.

Mum's roof is now done and now trying to get the front room at least painted before Christmas, so packing it up at the moment - it's hard cos there is alot of stuff and it was Dads room for the last few years, so quite emotional.

And in the meantime need to sort Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Small amount of money news.

2 x regular payments of £323 plus £30 worth of 50ps paid in.

More 50ps to go in shortly.

Hope everyone is well.

MCI

Goldiegirl

Hello, glad to see you posting again and that you are on the mend.

These bugs can be very debilitating. Try to pace yourself, it can be manic at this time of year. You don't want to relapse for Christmas.

misscousinitt

Thanks Goldie

Think it's going to sporadic posting for a while.

This week is going to be the start of our Christmas preparations - however, we have done a couple of things already.

Yesterday, we deep cleaned the house - it's nearly done now and at least everything has been sorted and put away now.

Turkey is ordered with the butcher!

Gathered together all the presents I have already got and realise how much I have to do!

This week I am going to try and do something everyday for Christmas - however small.

No money news at the moment - but I have collected together all my vouchers and coupons ready for Christmas shopping.

This year we have taken some money out of the joint account to help with present expenses - it's no problem, we save all year and this year we have spent significantly less due to not going abroad on holiday.

We have still got a free night in a hotel to book for a weekend away and I have discovered I have a load of avios points that got converted from airmiles ages ago - these expire at the end of January - so going to get the vouchers ordered off them and we can have some free treats in 2015! Also discovered we have £33 of nectar points - could help with the shopping as there is a new Sainsbugs opened just down the road.

Last fundraiser is done and I just have the charity annual accounts, submission to companies house and the raffle draw to sort!

Trying to pace myself - as per advice above - DH is a great help, especially when we are up against it.

Hope everyone is well.

MCI

misscousinitt

We are going to be paid this week - so will sorting out deposits early this month.

Also, have news of my bonus - so a little extra going in the pot!!! Whoop Whoop! (Not sure about dividend yet - but one stage at a time).

I now have a plan for getting Christmas sorted:

Tree and decorations up. Check!
Online shopping. Check!
Couple of visits to town. (Today/Tomorrow)
Write Christmas Cards to post (Today)
Start Wrapping (Today/Tomorrow)
Post Christmas Cards (Tomorrow)
Carol Service (Thursday)
Wrap DH presents (Thursday after Carol service as he is going out and will be back much later than me!)
Friends's Birthday (Friday)
Lunch out with Friend (Saturday)
More Wrapping (Friday/Saturday)
Christmas Food Shopping (Sunday)
More Wrapping and Card Writing where required (Sunday)
Marzipan Cake (Monday)
Visiting (Tuesday)
Ice Cake (Christmas Eve)
Make Pud for Christmas Day (Christmas Eve)
Prepare Veg for Christmas Day (Christmas Eve)
Make Mince Pies (Christmas Eve)

Probably missed some things off.

Working till lunchtime Christmas Eve, so going to be really pushed this year - but I'll get it done.

Plus got to file the Charity's accounts with Companies House before Christmas - this is planned in for Saturday Morning (hopefully if they are complete by then).

Eating our way through the freezer at the moment.

Flavoured Salmon, Noodles & Stir fry Veg (with a few prawns maybe) tonight.

Hope everyone is ok.

MCI

misscousinitt

Just a quick update as it's been manic and remains so:

£1000 added to the house fund from my bonus
£323 normal addition (early as got paid yesterday)

£20 of 50ps ready to be paid in on Monday.
£25 won on the Premium Bonds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Going to treat myself with £15 and add £10 to the pot.
£18.50 back of Patients Aid for Dentist charges

£150 extra transferred from joint account to pay fr some more bits - but balance is still healthy so we are not going to worry about that.

Don't know whether I said that my SIL has borrowed some money off us? Well, she's started to pay us back and the first payment has going straight back into the joint account.

Christmas list is going quite well - just a couple of bits to get now that can be bought from Mr T when I go shopping on Sunday.

Still eating from the fridge and freezer, fridge is practically empty.

Tonight's tea is lamb mince kebabs (bought as a yellow stickered item!), pitta breads and salad - might do a starter of hummous and tortillas...

MCI

misscousinitt

Guess who forgot their money to pay in the bank? - Absolute shocker for me lol!

At long last I've got my petty cash back - £22.

Big Christmas shop done at Mr T yesterday - all ok apart from when I looked over my bill I discovered that I'd been charged for 2 seperate items twice - now normally I wouldn't bother, but it adds up to £5.35 - so will be swinging by there on the way home and will see if I can get my money back.

Nearly complete on the presents now, just need to get some money out the bank and buy 4 x scratchcards.

Herr A and Mr W tonight, then apart from picking up the turkey we are done!

Just the rest of the wrapping and card writing - at least I have made a start on this...

MCI

misscousinitt

Hi there and Happy New Year to you all!!!!!

Had a lovely relaxing, quiet family Christmas and New Year.

Back to work now...boo!

Did a little bit on moneysaving over the holiday...

- Got my £5.35 back from Mr T!
- Transferred £30 to the House Fund (50ps and £10 of my premium bond win)
- Loads more 50ps in the pot
- £56 counted up in change ready for our annual after New Year meal out (booking for this Friday)
- Avios points cashed in for 3 activities for two (had to sacrifice a few points - but it was something for nothing as I haven't collected points for years and my account will be closed on 15th January)
- Have started a new spending diary for EVERYTHING!
- Have started meal planning again too - loads to munch through in the freezer.
- Didn't have time to sort Christmas Cake - so we will have it at Easter.
- Mince pies didn't get made either - but we will have a mince pie crumble slice for pudding next Sunday to use the mincemeat up.

Organisation is the key for 2015 - I am usually organised chaos - but I need to a bit more organised to reduce the stress levels.

This will extend to all aspects of my life including home/housework, getting Mum's house sorted, the allotment, charity work and of course work! It will even include some down time will DH.

I hope everyone is well and I look forward to catching up with diaries.

MCI

Goldiegirl

Hello, MCI, Happy New Year to you


I agree, organisation is key - I feel a lot happier when I feel that everything is under control!


We've got some mincemeat to use up as well, various pies and tarts will follow over the next couple of weeks

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

I'm also at peace in organisation. So nice to come home today to find the house exactly as tidy as I left it this morning (MrMRN is back at work this week!!!).

misscousinitt

Hi MRN

Nice to 'see' you.

I do feel more relaxed when it's all sorted - but I must admit things are starting to slip a bit already. HOWEVER, tidy up tonight will be less than the chaos we were in before Christmas.

My 3 'free' activities for 2 arrived yesterday - looking forward to using them - going to try and link in our free night away with one of them for a very frugal weekend away.

Went to see the Hobbit last night - good end to the series - Tuesday night discount, plus 10% for booking online plus a few pennies cashback for using my debit card.

Forgot to put previously that I have invested another £500 in premium bonds - it might not be the best return, but it's not money that I think of as actually having - I just forget about it once it's in there!

Still munching through the freezer - Lamb Dinner using up all the bits of veg in the fridge for tonight's tea.

MCI