Countdown to Freedom

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Good morning, I bought some bargainous oxtail yesterday - I have never seen that reduced before, so it flew into my trolley. I put it in the slow cooker with onions, smoked paprika and cinnamon, and a little water. Cooked for 7 hours and the kids came home to a gorgeous meal.

I now have another meal for 6 ready to go into the freezer this morning. I tend to make a suet pastry crust (thanks to a mahoosive bag of McD suet pastry mix from AF), and pop that on the top of left over casseroles etc. Feeling quite hungry now.

Last day of real school for eldest child today. Only back in for exams after that and September for 6th form. Those years have flown by. We have just sat for a while talking about her childhood - so many beautiful memories and that puts into perspective the money we spent whilst the kids were growing up

Sun is out, cleaner is coming, I am working from home so will do the washing in between calls and hopefully may have a little ironing time. So the day is starting off in a good place.

Quick update on the lodger situation. We all think this has been a success, we have the house to ourselves from Friday night to late on a Monday evening. As there are so many activities Monday through Thursday we don't really notice them and I love cooking for more people. The money has certainly helped the OP. We are lucky that the lodgers contracts work with the tax threshold, so fortunately both will be gone just as we are £20 ish away from the maximum. We will have a sabbatical until the next tax year and start again. This has proved to be a very easy way to bring some cash in, helps others out and is actually good fun. DS will really miss the lad we have staying, as they have been in gaming competitions.

Have a good day all, Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Where did today go? I didn't get any ironing time, but most of the washing is finished.

Managed to do the shopping this evening and S&S is growing in points. They also sent another survey for 2000 points so that was a help towards the next voucher. Shopping was quite steep tonight £82 - this did include a few bits in preparation for a party at the end of May, I noticed that things like potatoes seem to have rocketed in price. Admittedly we were in MrT not Ald! so that didn't help but the prices are certainly on the increase.

On the frugal front, the oxtail casserole went into the freezer first thing. We bought a couple of bargainous packs of pitta breads for the freezer. I have an Arabic chicken dish which i am cooking next week, and are serving with tabbouleh salad and hummus, so they were a good find at 21p per pack to accompany the meal.

Weather has been glorious but very windy. Back to early dog walk/runs in the morning so I am hoping it is dry.

Turning in for an early night as we have a busy weekend ahead. Saturday won't be very frugal but Sunday should be back to normal.

Night Tilly x

ammonite

Your lodgers sounds great Tilly! Glad they are helping you to OP and it seems to work well for everyone.

My OH and I have spent some serious money holidaying in the last 5 or so years. We too were reminiscing last night and said how many amazing places we've been too, the kind of places you go to when you retire, but we said how lucky we felt because we have been able to do it whilst we are young. We don't go out much, don't drink or smoke so holidaying is our one big spend of the year and we don't regret one penny of it. The experiences far outweigh the expense

Hope you have a good day today!

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning Ammonite, it's great that you have travelled so much - those memories are really treasured. Not sure if I have posted previously but we have started to buy photo books of our holidays or special occasions and that's been great fun to do, but also really fab to sit and look through.

Have a good day. Weather is still beautiful here and dogs had a fab run.

Best wishes Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

What a glorious day. Family birthday celebrations galore. Cakes made and eaten, food and wine consumed.

Our beautiful kids are growing up and they are an absolute pleasure. It makes me feel very proud, to see them as people, not just our kids, with personalities and great social skills, able to debate and discuss, young and vibrant it's fantastic.

A happy parent

Back to frugalness from now.

Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

How lovely to see the sun and blue sky today :T, although it has been extremely windy. Lawns are cut, more salad seeds sown and washing nearly finished. Currently teaching DS to iron :eek: Whilst I am sat typing he is ironing and the desire to jump up and take over is overwhelming, but that won't help him learn

Salad on the menu this evening with some lovely bacon to chop into it. We really don't have a good butcher where we live, and I was in the Midlands this weekend, so bought some back with me mmmmmmm.

Another busy week coming up but it does mean the weeks whizz by. One of the plus points is the lack of travel and that makes such a difference to home.

Have a good week - no idea of the weather forecast so will go and check that now.

Best wishes Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Very early night and feel completely bushed.

Lodgers money arrives tomorrow so that will disappear quickly. Anyone thinking of taking lodgers do remember the difference between monthly and weekly - weekly equates to 13 months - think of the tax man.

Off to sleep early

Tilly x x x x

abouttimetoo

Hi Tilly :hello:

Just sticking my head round the door after having caught up with your thread. I'm still feeling very under the weather (nearly three weeks now) and just can't seem to summon up the energy for anything

I'm half way through my antibiotics now so hopefully things will start and progress soon. I've also started taking a 'tonic' again so hopefully that will have an impact too.

Well done on your latest progress, I love reading about your milestones though did lol at someone suggesting you make your plants grow to plan :rotfl:

I'm still beavering away at my own MFW plans though can you believe that I've still not updated my signature for April's OP and I'm due to make May's this week. I've had my diary four years gone last month and that's the first time I've never updated my siggy in all that time and just goes to show how meh I'm feeling.

I have had a little good news on the money front too in terms of a kind of unexpected bonus. I'm not sure of the precise amount yet but should be c. £2.5k. I've not fully though it through yet but I'm planning to use about £1.5k of it for some things in the house like decorating, carpet and furniture cleaning etc. I wanted to do those things last year then talked myself out of it as not totally necessary and still paying parents/tax off but as I say this money is kind of unexpected so I'll pay the lovely parents off in full, have some work done in the house then the rest can go to the OP pot

I've not spent much in the last four weeks, lots of NSD's and very little on food as I've been away most of the time with work

Hope you and the doggies had a lovely walk this morning. It's cold and windy here but quite nice blue skies

Regards
ATT x

ammonite

I love photo books and scrapbooking too (cut and paste like a 5 year old ) - agree, great for memories and funny stories.

So nice that you are so proud of your kids!

Off to calculate my daily interest. Will likely want to cry!

ETA: Just done this (interest/30 days) and not as bad as feared! £11 per day. When you say it like that it doesn't sound so much?!

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi ATT, we were walking the dogs the 6.30am and DH would have gone at 6am if I been so inclined. Sad to say I snuggled down for another 20 mns :rotfl: it's lovely watching the dogs run around and so quiet at tht time. However today it was pouring again - completely fed up of the rain now, even though I know we need it.

Anyway, hope the recovery goes well - don't forget you can take time out and be I'll LOL. Easier said than done I know.

Best wishes Tilly x