Countdown to Freedom

unhappy_shopper

Glad to know that you are feeling much better. I am also planning to tidy up my garden today and do some sowing of tomato, beans, pepper,courgette and chilli seeds. Hope the weather holds good and there is no frost.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi US, when DH and I went outside this morning to go to the shops, the change in the air was glorious. You can really smell the Spring coming and like you, I love it. I actually think the older I get (I'm not ancient promise) the more the seasons mean to me.

DD and I have planted some lettuce seeds under cloches, broadbeans, onions and more garlic this morning. DD, DH and I have emptied, resorted and defrosted the freezer and I have a lovely list of goodies to menu plan with. I seem to have a mountain of pasta though, so that needs to feature heavily over the next few weeks.

DH has started painting the gazebo etc and are much improved. DD and I are off to the wak the dog whilst DS and DH go for a mammouth bike ride, after being ill this week neither DD or I are up to the ride.

I have so many things going through my head though. I really don't like being inactive and two days in bed, whilst necessary, has done my head in. Ironing will have to wait until tomorrow so hopefully volunteering first thing, then back home, Archers on the radio and iron in hand will be good.

Hope you are all having a great weekend and loving the weather.

Best wishes Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hiya, what a glorious day. DD and I had a great walk, around 8k steps so not bad considering we were both ill this week.

I have menu planned through until last weekend of March and have minimal shopping to do apart from milk, eggs and fresh veg/fruit. I reckon I could probably manage on £20 a week until the end of March now and my shopping today was £50 as I picked up some good offers in Ald@. So £150 from now until the end of March including todays shopping. That would enable me to put £180 away towards our holiday fund. I am taking cash out for this so fingers crossed.

It was great listening to DD on our walk as our love for the outside has rubbed off on her. She loves the blue sky, smell of the air, and listening to her jabbering away about life, careers, education was heart warming. Being a parent is never easy and you always hope you are doing the right thing, but it seems to be working.

DH and DS were bushed when they came home, I am surprised I didn't get a call asking me to pick them up in the car - not sure where their bikes would have gone though.......

Hope everyone has enjoyed the weather today. Best wishes Tilly x

katsu

I felt full of the joys of spring yesterday - the sunshine, the clear air, washing outside in the gardens, snowdrops and daffodils in the gardens... Perked me up no end

Sorry to hear you were under the weather, glad it has passed off.

Your meal planning sounds very impressive. Fingers crossed that you meet your target.

CathT

Glad you're feeling better and had a better day. Here's to warm sunny days and long evenings.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi Katsu and CathT, back to normal now, not a pleasant bug and certainly knocked us off our feet. You can tell as I haven't done any ironing at all, all weekend - not a rebel I just didn't feel up to it.

I am hoping the meal plan works well. I have meal planned for around 3 years but only for a week or two. Doing a salary month at a time helps the money on one hand but the real help is not having to think about it at all. We have great food, well balanced and all home cooked with very few short cuts. This couldn't be achieved without meal planning, batch cooking etc and in all seriousness, I love it.

DH and I have managed to spend a little quiet time together and talked again about our journey. It is fascinating that life can be turned round so quickly but I appreciate we earn good salaries and apart from a mortgage don't carry any debt. So we both understand that we are extremely fortunate. Without MSE and the support from MFW I am not sure we would have achieved the position we are in, just 4 months after starting a diary.

We have £9k out of the £30k target for MFW 12; we have £16k saved (did have more but bought a sofa!), and are on target to have both ISAs filled by end of April. Once the mortgage switches, then I need to get the £16k up to £25k and will then cancel the mortgage protection insurance. DH is doing a marvellous shop and scan job, with DS doing all the scanning and DH uploading. He has also claimed another £15 Amazon voucher and has put three things in eBay this evening.

It definitely feels like a journey for us all now with the kids also engaged. Although we still fit loads into our time, the cost of things has decreased with a definite focus on time together and volunteering rather than buying things. I can see a difference in DS also, who out of the two kids, is the more materialistic. Now he is thinking about his wardrobe and what really needs replacing and what mixes and matches. It really is great to see.

Thank you to everyone who stops by and adds motivation and provokes thoughts and ideas. I really do appreciate it. If I can help anyone I will always do my best to do so. The comraderie on MFW is phenomal and certainly the delight is two way - I take much enjoyment in seeing how other people progress so it is certainly not just about our own journeys but that of everyone's I think. The positive vibes we send to each other and receive must help.

Have a great week and imagine me on Tuesday morning when the last Spanish bank mortgage payment goes out. Woohoo - I am sure for some the bank works but, for us, it was the worst decision we made.

Best wishes to all, Tilly x

Radish72

1 more sleep to go, 1 more sleep to go :j

I'm sure you know, but the 2012/2013 cash ISA allowance is £5640

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Yay, it's like Christmas countdown. Yep on the ncreased ISA amount that's what I am aiming for. :beer:
Have a great week x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Last Spanish bank mortgage payment has gone today. :j:j:j:j:j

Switch on Friday and then its Operation OP - woohoo:T:T:T

Hope everyone has a great day

Tilly x

Froggy-G

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

Last Spanish bank mortgage payment has gone today. :j:j:j:j:j

Switch on Friday and then its Operation OP - woohoo:T:T:T

Hope everyone has a great day

Tilly x

Bye bye Spanish bank :rotfl: