LBM in 2003.. What have I been doing since??!

brizzledfw

Hi all :wave:

Lush weekend with some MSE elements:

- Lots of extras when we checked in, including room upgrade, free breakfasts etc
- wonderful surprise of tins of lovely cookies for the children - we mentioned we were thinking about buying some to a lovely member of staff and they then gave us a complimentary set
- choosing house wine - it was good and we didn't need anything more
- use of gym and pool which we loved - haven't used a gym in so long and it felt good
- long walk in the hills before dinner
- Ebay item sold and posted

So, spendy in terms of meals but lots of more sensible choices/offers that were good to intersperse with the spends. We had a great time.

We also have decided to use our CC which gives us hotel points so we can have weekends away more often. OH is always wary of this, but as long as we religiously pay off every month we should be OK and the points certainly accumulate. It also protects our current account a bit from the cash flow vagaries of being self employed. Will see how it goes.

We have done some chores today - including a trip to Mr L. Haven't been to a SM (other than a small top up shop) for months and months..its been online or independents for us..but was pleasantly surprised. Bags and bags of essentials came to £130 which with fruit and veg from the local greengrocers at £16 means that we have a haul for under £150. Am sure it'd have been much more expensive at the usual SMs. Think even OH is sold. Then couple of hours in kitchen making veggie soup for lunches, biscuits (made with AF gram flour so even more frugal), pesto from winter salad and hazelnuts, humuus. Fridge loaded up for the week ahead.

The other event on the domestic financial front today was that we got a valuation of the house. The market is apparently very keen at the moment..everyone wants to move to Bristol ..but basically its worth c.£100k more than I thought. So we have a decent asset which needs to be taken account of in our wider financial planning. Its good in terms of my knowing that if I had to release the safety valve of Plan B the house (despite the lack of work on it) is a great safety net.

Having spoken to OH though.. still think we will try and sit tight and pay off the mortgage ASAP ie. 2021. And..still musing on getting a M-F lodger after the summer and the summer students have left (we plan to have two this year..:eek:). Partly as a result of daft house prices I am sure, but the rental market is keen here too. M-F just to give us some breathing space during the week, even though if we wanted to max the income we could go to a full week. It really is the best way we can think of to increase our income and its tax free. I don't know why more people who are really struggling don't do it if they have a spare room.

He also mentioned getting a loft conversion..but think I have talked him out of that..the thought of getting mortgage free is higher up my wish list!

beanielou

So pleased that you had a lovely time :j :j

Verbatim

Sounds blissful. Glad you had a good time.

brizzledfw

Aaw thanks beanielou.

Looking hard at my Mr L receipt whilst dinner finishes.. (everything in oven..even the LO's!)..17p for the 2l sparkling water. I have decided I like being on Dry January and will be adopting it, if I can, as my more normal modus operandi so here I sit with a much healthier glass of lemongrass and ginger cordial topped up with ice and fizzy water

Oh is helping DD1 with revision as DD2 makes her way home from one of her many clubs. Feel blessed.

Short week this week as have Weds off too. Looking forward to it

Hugs to all who need them this week

brizzledfw

Verbatim wrote: »

Sounds blissful. Glad you had a good time.

Thanks Verbatim. It was. And good to have time together without domesticity always creeping in! Reckon working towards more free trips away with the points on the CC will be a good goal as well.

Another item listed on Bay of E. Goal looks a bit outta reach though..will be a hard one this month.

Caught up with an old friend who lives overseas on Sk8pe this afternoon..was marvelling (despite a couple of times when the line went all weird) at how we all kept in touch before..letters and expensive phone calls I guess. This was great. We arranged a time and pre-proper catch up on Whats A8P and then had a good chat with the kids joining in as they came home from school. Ain't technology great :T

brizzledfw

Hello all

Weird working week this week, working in bits and bobs but does mean I am home today in the sun, sorting freelance work (ie. invoices ) and sitting next to my husband who is working at home. Nice to be near even if both silent and intent on tapping on keyboards!

So, from a money POV..

- chased a hotel chain for loyalty points missed off a stay last year..now added
- earnt my first TCB credit ..only 46p but as the saying goes, every little helps. Will try and use that as much as I can when purchasing essentials like train tickets
- budget again very tough this month but as a family we are very determined to stick to this. YNAB is reconciled at least once a day and TTs underway at least 5 times a week
- looked at insurance details and think we are OK with what we have. No need for top ups. Other amazing news is that looking at them realise again how we had planned to have the mortgage paid off in 2026 but now on track to pay it off in 2021. If we manage that, thats a whole 5 years saved on a stonking amount. Suddenly feel especially focussed which is nice
- not missing alcohol too much as we go into Feb and in fact it is also helping me not to miss going out for food. Thats an unexpected benefit I hadn't seen coming from meal planning and avoiding alcohol unless it is an extra special treat.
- OH getting together a big item of furniture to sell which if it goes for what it worth should meet the sales target for this month (comfortably) which will be a relief. I will also use it as an excuse to pull down items from the loft to then either give to a CS or sell. Probably more of the former, but then that will let me get closer to my decluttering goal which 3 days in hasn't been touched!

Hope everyone is well

Brizzle x

brizzledfw

NSD today. That makes my first of the month

Will add to my signature to give me a push.

beanielou

Great news on first NSD :j

brizzledfw

Thanks beanie. I am having a large glass of a beautiful red now with with JO Carbonara (I am saying its to celebrate!!)

scotdebs

Woo hoo I found you - got a cuppa and now ready to have but of a catch up