Tales from a country cottage

ModestyB

ani*fan, just wanted to congratulate you on your new job. Hope everything goes well for you.

turfy6

How did the night out go, and not to mention the haircut!!:rotfl:

ani*fan

So, after doing a repair job on OH's hair ('they won't let me in wearing a hat...I'm not going all that way to have to come home again'...lol!) we headed out.

On the way, we told our mate how we didn't really want to go, couldn't afford it and would prefer to be back at home building a bonfire. Our mate said 'You haven't just come 'cos you were giving me a lift? I don't really want to go either!' For goodness sake! Then I refused petrol money from him...WHY??WHY??WHY??

It turned out we had a brilliant night. The bands were great and we danced 'til midnight. Have a sore neck this morning from moshing. Happy days. We didn't spend too much cash and the situation can be recovered if we cancel next weekends plans. Need to start work back-pedalling NOW to avoid the same thing happening again.

Off to have the bonfire tonight.

Decluttering

Glad you had a good time, enjoy your bonfire

ani*fan

Good morning everyone. :wave:

It's Monday morning again and I'm pretty much no further forward with debt reduction. I have, however, had a great weekend. I'm beginning to realise how bad I am at saying 'no' to going out and spending money, not on stuff but on happy times. I need to think of a way to still be able to socialise but make it cheaper. Hmmnn. Any ideas gratefully received.

Today I have to:

• go to work but only for a couple of hours
• invoice my clients
• pick up a table and take it to my mum's
• check out a pair of trousers that are on sale, reduced to a tenner, and hope they have my size
• go to OH's dentist for a prescription
• collect OH's meds from the chemist
• take clothing and bric-a-brac to the shop for cash
• collect cash for one sold wedding present (£30, not bad)
• clean out the car
• move some money around at the bank
• do the ironing
• clean the bathroom and kitchen

I think that's about it though I may have forgotten something.

I have already volunteered to drive next weekend. I was trying to wriggle out of it but could hear OH saying to one of our pals 'are you still on for next Saturday?'. And truth be told, I really want to go too.

This time, I should have at least 2 passengers though, maybe 3. One has already done me a favour recently with a long, free car trip so I feel I owe her and won't charge any money. The other though...should I ask for a specific amount or just accept whatever's offered? It's hard to take money from your friends. I also feel I save money by driving because I then can't drink alcohol, which I'm not much fussed about anyway but would do if I wasn't driving. Maybe I should drop a hint about paying a few quid each or something before it comes to the actual day? I don't know...:think:

This week is crazy busy but I need to find time to look at the cash situation. We need to not run out of money before the end of the month. That definitely stresses me out and gives me an itchy scalp. I can already feel it starting to tickle...

Igamogam...we have 3 kitties and when we first moved to the country we had rodent carnage here too. But my lot didn't eat them, just killed them, bit them into pieces and left entrails strewn throughout the cottage for me to stand in when I got up in the morning. Purrball has also killed 3 robins, 2 moles and a nursing mummy mouse and her tiny offspring. I tend to bury them in the garden and give purrball dirty looks all day. He doesn't seem to notice.

Why not get your OH a set of clippers and he could do his own hair? Number 2 all over is dead easy. Or you could do it for him? Very MSE.

Have a great day everyone.

ani*fan

I've just reread my last post and am wondering if perhaps OH and me are not quite on the same money-saving page at the moment? We had already had a conversation about cancelling next weekend (I think...or did I just mean to do it then not get round to it?).

Maybe it's time for another talk...

Igamogam

Think you have to be up front with the friends and say that a contribution to petrol gratefully recieved as things are tight and petrol astronomical etc etc Hoesty is the best policy - we live in a rural situation too and amongst our friends its now a given that petrol money is offered - one does offer cake which is nice but not many miles to the gallon in it - she is a none driver and it does hack us all off sometimes.

tried the clippers - disaster

Lemon_Tree

i have those conversations in my head as well, the ones you can't remember if they were real or if they were just in your head! lol

ani*fan

Another day and another chance to make some DFW changes. Excellent.

The sun is shining across our orchard side of the cottage. Had the first plums yesterday...delicious. It's a day for cutting grass.

So I'm working today and training tonight. Won't have much of a chance to do anything else. I'm taking a packed lunch to work, am planning to peel some potatoes for dinner before I leave this morning (I'm never this organised but I'm trying) and have arranged a car share for tonight. Can't think of any other ways to save right now.

MiL, bless her, gave us £100 last night for our 3 year anniversary which is today. We decided to use it for our weekend away when I'm playing with my team. So that fund is nearly full and I can stop panicking and crack on with something else. I'm so grateful. She also gave us a load of shopping including treats like cans of coke we seldom have at home. She's a star. :heart2:

Did most of my chores yesterday but not them all. Still need to:

• take bric-a-brac to the shop (went yesterday but it was inexplicably shut.)
• move cash around at the bank
• do the ironing

Won't get much of a chance to do any of that today but maybe tomorrow evening.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

ani*fan

It's rainy and horrible at the cottage this morning. The pheasants are nowhere to be seen, probably sheltering from the rain. The nip is back in the air...autumn definitely here. The grass needs cut before the first frost comes. Need to get onto that.

I had a great day at work yesterday. My boss had a chat with me about management and seems to have decided I'd be good at it. Trouble is, I love the job I do and would be loathe to rock the boat but there's no harm exploring it and seeing what she comes up with. Came home all chuffed.

Did absolutely nothing to celebrate our anniversary. I missed my training to spend time with OH who was then poorly and spent all evening in bed watching rubbish on tv. Felt miserable all night and fell asleep early. I hate illness. :mad:

However, today is a new day. I'm working again and have no plans for tonight so will get my chores finished hopefully. I'll also have a look at the cash situation and see how we're doing.

Nothing much exciting happening this week but I'm looking forward to saturday. I've already started the rumour about paying me petrol money so hopefully that happens.

Have a wonderful day everyone.