Mortgage freedom..Shala_moo's attempt at a diary..

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Very professional looking HM jars!

ammonite

You have been really busy Shala!! Great looking preserves too, very professional!

I went to the Good Food show a few years back with school (OK....a good few years back!!!!) - it was really great! I'd love to go to another one like that...I'd probably like a crafty one these days though.

Well done for inspiring your sister too!

shala_moo

Thanks MRN/Ammonite x

Ammonite, they do a massive craft show in November at the NEC i think.. not that i'm encouraging spending money :rotfl:

We're quite lucky as we only live about 30 miles away so it's pretty easy to get to for concerts and shows if we want to go.. although never cheap!

---

Well I can't believe how much warmer it is in the house since the curtains went up. I've been able to turn the heating down a few degrees and OH is no longer sitting in his chair with his hat, hoodie, blanket and gloves on whinging about the cold.:j

Nothing else to report money saving wise.. still 2 weeks till pay day.

Hope everyone's having a great week x

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

shala_moo wrote: »

OH is no longer sitting in his chair with his hat, hoodie, blanket and gloves on whinging about the cold.

When MrMRN moans he's cold in the house I tell him that vacuum cleaning, dusting, sorting the workshop, batch cooking will warm him up. Suddenly he's not cold anymore!

shala_moo

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice wrote: »

When MrMRN moans he's cold in the house I tell him that vacuum cleaning, dusting, sorting the workshop, batch cooking will warm him up. Suddenly he's not cold anymore!

:rotfl:love it, i'll have to pinch this technique!!

I've managed to reach payout on 3 different survey sites so that £30 in vouchers coming my way :j unfortunately they're a bit late for spending on Christmas presents but i'll keep them for birthday presents later next year.

Total this year so far is £425 made on surveys/cashback and nectar points, not as much as some people manage on here but I don't always have much time to spend answering surveys etc..

My goal next year is to better that figure!

shala_moo

Just finished an online shop, used £2.50 off voucher that covered my delivery charge and then 375 extra CC points (£15 in rewards :j)

I've noticed Tesc0 have really knuckled down on codes not being used if they're not issued to the right account. OH also has a clubcard and I can no longer use his point coupons on my account - may have to look into getting them merged somehow.

MSE activity this week

• 8.5 hours overtime
• £1.45 paid from Quidco
• 14p from Search l0tto lottery win
• 16p from work lotto win
• doing last bit of xmas shopping tomorrow - car parks are free on a Sunday!
• just ordered my Xmas present from my dad - a flat griddle pan, saves me buying it as it's £40 and it's something i want
• energy meters read and recorded (used a lot more gas than I estimated :eek: hopefully it'll reduce with the new curtains and foil behind the radiators)
• the new curtains have been left closed in dining room all day:o no one can see them and this way we conserve heat
• saturday night fakeaway being made from store cupboard/freezer - chicken biryani mmm
• off to complete surveys, read diaries, check adp0ints and do swagb*cks

Have a wonderful Saturday xx

shala_moo

How do... :xmassmile

Had a lovely Christmas-sy day today, it was our annual xmas buffet at work(food, xmas hats and songs).. i feel stuffed but at least i've no need for any dinner so very MSE! :rotfl:there's always sooo much food, I think we have enough for tomorrow and Thursday to pick at, none of it healthy of course!:o

OH has gone to play Badminton so i've got a lovely quiet hour or two to myself to catch up on diaries and surveys. For any of you on C0nsumerpulse there's a new survey worth 1500 points, it's a really nice set of questions too and quite quick.

I've received a £30 voucher from Sa*nsburys today, i'd completely forgotten about it so it was a lovely surprise. It was the incentive you received for taking out Home Insurance with them, which i did back in Oct (?). That will go nicely towards some grocery shopping, shame you can't use them online.

Final update to my Pre-xmas goals..

shala_moo wrote: »

• put up curtains in dining room - we can really feel the chill as it's a huge window - done, great improvement on heating
• make a winter meal plan - we're planning on the days we can
• get hair cut - it's been a while - *ahem* i'm saving money, but look like a hippy:o
• get xmas decs out - check if we need any extra (think we definitely need lights for the tree) - did need lights, ended up buying some from B& Q - £50 for 3 lots:eek:
• finish xmas shopping for Dad, Aunty, Nan and cousins - hoping to go halves with my sister on these - done :j
• make onion chutney, chilli jam and whiskey marmalade - 2 out of 3 ain't bad
• marzipan and ice xmas cakes for us and MIL - not got round to yet
• make gingerbread house - very excited for this!:rotfl:scheduled for w'end of the 22nd
• get car insurance/make sure old one cancelled - done
• clean out spare room for the sister to stay over xmas - done
• go to a christmas lights switch on (i'm in the process of persuading OH), Christmas markets in Birmingham and the Good Food show - done
• lose 5lbs - i lost some, then put it back :mad: we're starting a fat club at work in January - 50p a week, weigh and then the biggest loser of the month wins the money
• try to reach onep0ll threshold - at £33.40 at the moment - £39.05
• don't buy any xmas magazines - not bought any, i've stood strong!

Peonie

I like your fat club motivation - money. Plus eating less food = less money spent.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

shala_moo wrote: »

I've noticed Tesc0 have really knuckled down on codes not being used if they're not issued to the right account. OH also has a clubcard and I can no longer use his point coupons on my account - may have to look into getting them merged somehow.

Easily merged by filling out the email form available here

shala_moo

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice wrote: »

Easily merged by filling out the email form available here

Thanks MRN, duly filled out form was sent on it's way to Tesc0 customer services 10 minutes ago.. Tesco customer services gave me a call within 5 minutes! Seems I have three accounts (i have my Tesc0 credit card too) so all 3 accounts are now joined up together and I should just have one lot of vouchers each time! Hurrah :T