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

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi Brizzle, just caught up on your diary. Sorry to read about tax savings but looks like you've got a plan. I'm thinking of using YNAB - will investigate its budgeting abilities.

Take care xxxxx

brizzledfw

Hi folks :wave:

All OK here (sorry its a bit carp for you Lou )

Yep, thanks all and Tilly - just picking ourselves up. Working hard so that will all help.

Things to celebrate on a grey day

- great weekend of sport (all free to view in the sunshine! ) - professional cycling (Tour of Britain) on Saturday which was AWESOME to watch and pedal (slowly ) after and some rowing yesterday
- PC survey completed
- small TTs made most days - but now switched to 0% CC rather than mortgage/savings but ho hum, thats the way it goes
- 7 watchers on the large EBay item
- low spend weekend, went out for a surprisingly average Sunday lunch after the rowing (its normally great at that gastropub so that was a pity..next time we will know to stay at home!)
- getting into stride with lodger - think it'll be fine (for all of us)
- meal planned for week using freezer etc. May need vegetables and we will need some bread, milk and fruit but thats it. Good crop of tomatoes and cucumbers continues but reckon this is the last weekend we can hope for produce from the garden
- decluttered further 4 items and will take bag to CS and update sig today

In bad news, set off for work and quickly realised I have a flat tyre. Currently in garage. Luckily I was not on the motorway and can (just about) work from home as Severn Tunnel closure is making train travel a logistical nightmare. Here's hoping it is cheap to mend as have already bought 2 new tyres in last month, luckily this was one of the older ones..

brizzledfw

And..update on my targets whilst the kettle boils:

1. Meal planning - working well. Into week 4 now and havent dropped a day
2. 5:2 - hopeless. Last Monday was a write off. Maybe I will try again today as I am home and can just IV black coffee? :rotfl: OK, folks, will do.
3. Host family - my 'third' job is working well..
4. Getting more work - also hopeless. Will set myself a target of 4 'exploratory' emails this week
5. Decluttering - slow but sure - 50 items a month is always doable (tells you something hey)
6. YNAB - recording as ever (thats not the issue as you know) but are we sticking to budget?..The answer is yes, we have had a big shock so yes we are sticking to it! Early days, still only 12th of month tho..
7. Switching off screens - yes managed it last night but usually I fail..
8. No new clothes - absolutely. I have loads and really don't need more..

Thats the 8, updated

More good than bad.

Off to get that black coffee

brizzledfw

Um..well that lasted 2 hours. Capitulated and had 2 slices of yummy sourdough toast, butter and marmite..don't think thats on the 5:2 plan! My 'justification' was that the tyres can't be repaired so that's another £300+ on the car. Uggh. 2 steps forward and 3 back...

Making thai green curry with quorn from the freezer this eve, and will be using loads of veggies I picked up at the greengrocers at lunchtime. Minimal spend which is nice.. and dropped items at the CS, so they are gone, gone, gone

beanielou

Eeek to price of tyre.

brizzledfw

Well, apparently it was a mistake. We only need one so £190. Maybe Oh's mistake or maybe just a cunning tyre place managing expectations??! Anyway found myself weirdly happy it was only £190!! :rotfl: :eek:

So will try and get into work tomorrow. Useful day as did manage to do a few chores whilst the kettle was on for a cuppa - certainly don't get that chance in my usual office!!

DD2 saving us cash by cycling to school. No bus fares for her so far! All helps, doesn't it?

Have a good evening folks

PurpleFairy26

Glad you had a lovely weekend Brizzle well done on the decluterring, mine goes in waves usually when I need to fund something currently new skirting boards how rock 'n roll :rotfl:

Sourdough toast, butter and marmite sounds right up my street

Sun_Addict

What a pain about the tyres. That's one thing I don't miss now we don't have transport, although Mr SA is getting through mobility scooter tyres at a rate of knots just lately!

brizzledfw

Probably all the rubbish in the gutters and so on SA. Do you have to pay for replacements or is a FOC service?

Skirting boards!! Yep, very sexy PF! :rotfl: Almost as bad as my car tyres.. Still on 7 watchers for main eBay item.. I keep looking to check!!

tattycath

Well sone on the decluttering Brizzle. :j
to having to fork out for a new tyre.
Boo and hiss to the 'bill' you got. We got one from the same. Not happy, too big. At Tatty Towers we have had to seriously tighten our belts. To be fair this is a good thing for us, things have been getting a bit lapse as of late.