Making the future happen - museumworker's MFW diary Pt 2

museumworker

Thanks GreenT, it's been great to see them go. If only I had your energy for flea-bay! Are you doing any listing this weekend with the buy it now free listings?

Have had a lovely weekend with the OH (partner-mw, don't marry me off quite yet ) - the show was excellent, and we had a cheap (ish) meal out too.

Today he really enjoyed his surprise birthday lunch at that well known MSE eatery, ahem, hibiscus :rotfl:! One of our theories is that we don't eat out much or have takeaways but once or twice a year we'll go for a really nice lunch at a top restaurant. This was one of the best we've had. OH's favourite dish was an asparagus cream pudding he'd seen on Great British Menu the other week, my favourite was the Olive Oil Parfait.

Did have to ask them to take a £5 coffee off as it was already included in the lunch menu (:o, you can't take me anywhere!).

It was a lot, but I'm paying for it out my pocket money as OH's birthday present, and it was worth it for the experience, it really was a wonderful afternoon.

We sold 2 items off flea-bay today, so £55 extra brought in from those. Planning to use that towards our fridge freezer fund - I can't even get into the freezer drawers at the minute, and I think we might have to buy one tomorrow - looking at one for £600 :eek:! That means next month's mortgage OP will be negligible but at least I'll be able to get the freezer stocked up before baby comes, and have somewhere to store expressed breast milk (TMI for any male readers?).

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

A good old splash out once in a while does nobody any harm! Glad you had a good time,

Squirrel

museumworker

Completely agree, treats are important to keep us motivated. Don't want to wish away my 30s!

We bought a fridge freezer yesterday, was £630 :eek:! We did look at cheaper ones, but felt most confident this would last well - after my last one being a nightmare from day one I would never buy a bosch again, and as they have cornered the mid-range market there wasn't a massive choice. It's a panasonic, and has all sorts of fancy features, seems very well made, as well as the fridge/freezer capacity we were looking for so I feel we made the right choice. They are offering £70 cashback if bought before the end of the month, which I can apply for when it is delivered, and a free 5 year warranty. The cashback will be an OP. We bought from an independent retailer, as it was £50 cheaper than John Lewis and has lots of good reviews for customer service. We also negotiated free delivery .

We are now trying to eat our way through the freezer. I had a voucher for £5 off £15 spend from MrT so today I am going to do a small shop for perishables to hopefully keep us going til after payday! We have no money left in our account, but cash from the various sales we made so confident we can do this week without being too overdrawn!

museumworker

Had another good week, managed to reign in spending - £35 spent on shopping on Monday, and lasted us the whole week. Had lunch with workmates on Wed, took DD to school tea party on Thurs, and had two friends over yesterday. Been really good to catch up with people.

Got paid on Thursday :j! Have put £200 into savings, rest into current account.

£18.05 OP made today from Ama$on sales and Paypal refund.

The new fridge freezer arrived yesterday and is brilliant, we are really happy with it. OH thinks it is sexy, which is a little worrying :rotfl:! So glad that is sorted before the baby comes. Today we are going to do a shop with a proper stock up, and take it easy. Tomorrow we are going to a local festival with friends. Monday we have family over for a picnic, and Tuesday catching up with friends (and collecting some baby things).

Have a great bank holiday weekend everyone!

museumworker

Oooh, just won a voucher for a free carton of tropicana! It seems to be the one branded product we've not managed to find a decent cheap substitute for. Any suggestions?

2 ama$on sales over the bank holiday for me to post today. MIL is staying, and taking DD out for the day. Slept badly so I think after trip to PO will put my feet up.

Collected DD's old carseat from friend the other day, so now have something to bring baby home from hospital in, all washed and ready for the imminent arrival .

OH gets paid tomorrow, so hopefully some exciting OP news then.

ETA: mortgage statement arrived in post:
as at 01/06/2012, mortgage balance is £169,144.84

:j:j It's official - we're into the £16x, xxx's :j:j

We also received a small sample of nappy ointment - should be useful if I wet myself with excitement :rotfl:!

gallygirl

museumworker wrote: »

Oooh, just won a voucher for a free carton of tropicana! It seems to be the one branded product we've not managed to find a decent cheap substitute for. Any suggestions?

Aldi's Del Rivo and it's not just me Lovely stuff

museumworker

Ooooh, thanks for the tip GG. Aldi is the one shop which is not very close to us... but OH likes the washing up liquid so maybe a little stock up might be on the cards!

An OP to report: £541.93 made today, from standard OP and savings from OH's salary :j! Was hoping to do a little more this month but he had a CC bill from work trip and is awaiting work expenses - better to pay off now and avoid any charges.

Also, have been sent a shopandsc@n invitation :j! Anyone else do it? Would I be able to fit it in around a newborn?

ETA: just used Aldi store locator and found the one nearest to me was destroyed in the riots :eek: - next nearest one 6 miles away and an area we don't ever go to...

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Hmmm, some bargains aren't worth it..... Keep rested and only go to shops where you feel safe!:j:j

museumworker

Had a nasty fall straight onto the bump on Saturday :( - an unmarked step tripped me up. Had a trip to hospital and everything seems good with baby, thank goodness, but for the 40 minutes it took before I got hooked up to a monitor I was scared witless.

Before the fall we had taken part advantage of being in a good area for charity shops - for OH that is. Bought him two really nice shirts - one Paul Smith, one Zara men for £8.45! He's worn them both already, and looks great in them, so a good buy.

We also bought some adaptors off gumtree for the buggy - so now we can fit DD's old carseat (10 years old, used for one child!) to the buggy. They were £10 instead of £30 new (although I forgot to take the money with me , so had to pay a charge to get money out a cashpoint, silly me!).

Had a free schwim with DD yesterday, my first for about 10 weeks. Am trying to turn the baby so it is not posterior, and apparently swimming on your belly good for this. Felt great to be in the water, will have another go tomorrow. Am also spending 1/2 hr a day with bum in the air (knees to chest!) :rotfl: not a good look, and trying not to use our lovely footstool.

DD back to school today, and midwife appointment. Must get us fed ready for the school run (in the rain, groan!)

[Deleted User]

Glad you and bump okay mw! sounds scary for you both!
well done on the charity shop bargains and free swimming - havent been swimming in ages and always want to go when I read about you going!

enjoy last few days? weeks? (when is bump due?...) hopefully you will be able to relax a bit once your new little one is here (and use your footstool again!)