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

brizzledfw

Thanks for the ideas..Rondo did look good, but maybe a bit too far. We are nearer Granada, but think a lot will depend on roads and traffic. On our last proper villa holiday which was near Cannes, an abiding memory was sitting queuing in French summer traffic...plan to avoid a similar situation if we can!

Bit alarmed at my budget figures and then what's actually occurring. No secrets where YNAB is concerned!! :eek: :eek: All looking a a bit scary. But...

- if we stay put mortgage wise then big monthly payment but largely on a tracker which means it will head down if rates fall
- £21.95 from Amazon sales better than last month
- will need to bring forward doing the company accounts across to the accountant to move products and to be honest think that's more than I can cope with this month
- students starting to stay...bit lumpy over summer as we are also away but should pick up nicely in the Autumn and thereafter. Will be interesting even if more work and will almost count as a second job. It's obviously more work than a M-F lodger, but that avenue just wasn't working out..we tried and no interest
- some money saved for fly and flop holiday. Should cover flights and accommodation, just food and car hire and spending money to find. The other part of the holiday - festival and going somewhere cheap in camper van is also taken care of.
- invoices raised but need to keep something in reserve for company tax bills and of course VAT to pay
- DD2 moving rooms to allow for students to have somewhere to stay over summer - she gets £50 for 'camping' - she's happy
- school trip to pay for at DD1's new school - they got moving fast :eek:
- Miss Tilly's SC pulled pork in prep, friends coming over...lots of food in fridge and wine in cupboard. OH off with mates cycling.. Andy M on Centre Court tomorrow

So we are so very lucky..and I know that. But need to pull big girl pants on, spend less and save more!!!

Help me stick at it ladies!!

Xx

brizzledfw

3 more things to mention..can tell I have been neglecting this diary ....

Oh, and I can recommend HM cured bacon. It's lush, cheap and so v v easy to make. Made a batch and most is now in freezer

The first homegrown courgette has been harvested..well it was really a marrow! And was incorporated into a vat of lentil/vegetable dahl for the freezer. Will be my standby meal when OH is away later this month

And..last week we provided our first micro loan to a refugee food stall trader living on a very low income in S Sudan via a local charity. £280 odd. But it was the right thing to do, am glad we have and was a small chip away at the isolationalist atmosphere that has been so upsetting recently. Although religion is not the point either, it seemed the right thing to do at the end of Ramadan also.

Have a great weekend folks

beanielou

With you all the way. . Xx

brizzledfw

Lovely beanie..thanks hon

6 items in hallway waiting to be decluttered to CS...am slowly getting my MSE/decluttering mojo back

milasavesmoney

My daughter says the big girl (or boy) pants all the time to her workers (UPS) when things get dicey. They bought a ginormous pair of ladies panties and had them framed for her Christmas present one year. They are on her office wall. :rotfl::rotfl:

lucielle

Loving the holiday talk. Hoping to have plans to go aborad myself next year.
L

brizzledfw

Sounds good L. Some sun is good for the soul although still v envious of that recent seaside purchase of yours

Mila...that's the spirit!! Maybe I should copy that for my wall :think: :rotfl:

So..quick half time round up:

- watched and watching some great tennis
- 6 little used games to the CS
- 3 magazines and a side table left outside and they are not there now so that's 10 items today towards my decluttering target
- 1 item on Freecycle
- fresh linen on beds...always makes me chirpier
- tried to shift big arm chair to the CS, but they couldn't take it so found a new place for it in the front room. Quite pleased actually. Will actually be nice to have more seating, but if it's doesn't work medium term we will try the CS again..
- grocery and alcohol spend, but kept to a reasonable level.
- more paperwork done and returns completed. Faff but done.
- laundry done and all pegged out and back in again
- general tidying and a Nadiya pear and ginger cake in the oven

Have a great evening everyone x

beanielou

Enjoy your evening too

milasavesmoney

Rental rented and tenant is moving in the 15th after signing a one year lease. No pets. Single woman who works as a cardiology tech at the hospital. Two kids every other weekend. (No clue why she does not have custody...not my business...well I am curious...not my business)
We came down on the price but I'm really relieved to have it rented. Money needs to come in!

brizzledfw

Brilliant Mila, very relieved to know we're both sorted even if it meant a change in tack for us.

As you say, money comes first in that sense. And need to grab new opportunities. Actually. Think we'll gain a lot from having a student with us - win/win