Lulabelle's MFW Diary

lulabelle1

edinburgher wrote: »

And cashback! You can't lose

{Puts down the credit card}

Oops, yes, forgot to mention that! Cash back too :T

lulabelle1

I've seen DS2's Christmas play twice now this week - lovely each time. We've no family around, so I went to both as I think the little ones always like to have some support in the audience.

DS1 had his first disco at big school last night - he seemed to have really enjoyed it and came back with a huge smile on his face and stories to tell.

Had a cheeky coffee with a friend this morning after the school run at a lovely little place nearby that I've never been to - so much nice than Star8ucks and cheaper too.

Can't wait for the children to finish school on Friday - am mostly looking forward to some lie ins. Can't believe that it is Christmas next week!

lulabelle1

Thinking about taking the boys to see Starwars over the Christmas holidays so decided to buy the 1 day travel insurance via Go compare to get 12 months Meerkat 2 for 1 movies..... We bought one each at a cost of £2 each which will mean the 4 of us can have half price cinema for the next 12 months. Well worth doing!

lulabelle1

Just had a to buy a last minute Christmas present... had been planning to buy for a while but waited until now so that it could be delivered to the recipient as closely as possible to Christmas. I ordered a little selection of bits from Thornton3. 3 for 2 on just about everything and if you wait until the last part of the payment process, you can add XMAS20 and get 20% discount. However, if you add it before the last bit (just before you finalise the payment) the 20% discount removes the 3 for 2, so you need to be careful. Cash back too!

Anyway, all these bargains seem to be costing me a fortune. Really need to give the bargain hunting a rest for a wee while!

Slowing down now at work and planning to pretty much finish tomorrow, just need to keep an eye on things as and when they come in via email and take care of them, but can probably do that for an hour or so at the end of each day, so no big stresses.

It's my cleaners last clean today - knocked it on the head for the time being to make some additional savings. Bit sad though as she's so lovely and I know that she needs the income

I've been saving up all of the little samples that I get when I buy full size product and also collected some of the fancy toiletries from some of the nicer hotels that I've stayed at and have popped them all in a toiletries bag for her. There's perfumes, creams etc etc - she loves all that, so it will her going for a little while.

edinburgher

A shame re. cleaner (I could so use a cleaner!) Think abut it positively, she might be facing a bit of a drop in income now that you're not using her services, but if she'd never had your custom, she'd have been worse off overall. It must feel weird having a relationship with someone who works in your home, not sure how I'd deal with the conflicting emotions of knowing someone vs. employing them.

lulabelle1

edinburgher wrote: »

A shame re. cleaner (I could so use a cleaner!) Think abut it positively, she might be facing a bit of a drop in income now that you're not using her services, but if she'd never had your custom, she'd have been worse off overall. It must feel weird having a relationship with someone who works in your home, not sure how I'd deal with the conflicting emotions of knowing someone vs. employing them.

I never knew her before she cleaned for me..... but she's been with me for a few years now and with working from home a lot of the time, more often than not, I've been around whilst she's here, so we have a little chit chat here and there. She's a very nice lady and I like to give her bits and bobs and I know she doesn't have much and she really appreciates it. When we refurnished/redecorated our lounge, lots of the old stuff went to her (curtains, poles, mirrors etc) - It was nice to be able to find a home for it where it would be appreciated.

lulabelle1

A lovely last few days.... School Christmas church service at the little church near DS2's school on Friday morning, Santa Christmas thing with the boys on Friday night, dinner/drinks with friends and kids on Saturday night and then early dinner at another friends yesterday followed by drinks and carols at the pub.

We had our work Christmas lunch today - a tradition that we've had for 8 years now, even though it's just the 2 of us! It was scrumptious and lasted 3 hours, feeling totally stuffed!

Current account is empty, hopefully the salaries will be ready to pay later so that I can replenish!

No OP's planned but money to be saved in Reg Saves, Reg ISA, S&S Isa etc etc. Hate not OP'ing though

lulabelle1

Just checked TCB - up to £34.35 now... saving it for Christmas next year

lulabelle1

Pay day has been and gone - money shuffles completed and funds purchased in the S&S ISA and JISA's.

Reg Saves money staying where it is at the moment as can't pay the money in until January (already contributed max for December when I opened the accounts).

M&S this morning to collect the food for Christmas day - fridge is now bursting at the seams (despite it just being the 4 of us!!). Avoided temptation to browse the food aisles - it was absolutely packed in there!

Itching to use some ISA money to OP the mortgage

CathT

I need to sort out dd's JISA, I have been waiting for her christmas money to add to the funds so she has the £500 minimum to invest. From what I could see when I looked before, her JISA and my S&S ISA would be invested in same funds. I need to look sore funds to ensure we don't have all eggs in one basket. Tbh, my ISA is very up and down and I don't see me getting a decent return on investment!

It does reduce my temptation to withdraw and OP it though since it is a 'long term' investment.