Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

themadvix

Morning all,

Long jobs list to do today, but I've made a good start on it so far. Need to buy some bits for dinner tomorrow with friends, prep JM's 9p burgers for tonight (using up the remaining kidney beans in the fridge) and some more gardening.

Have done various bits of work already and posted the last of my RM survey stuff (not had the pack for next week yet... hope it comes tomorrow). Have made a couple of decisions to get rid of some bits and so need to get them listed on EBay or FB over the weekend.

MS things:
* YG survey
* SBs spins (still waiting on a survey before I can claim swago points), MS rw; no VB poll yet
* PA surveys x 2

Gratitudes:
* Cuddly kitties
* A magnum at Dad's for pud
* The last of the strawbs and general fruity abundance in the garden, despite much negligence!

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

Your kitties are cuddly even in this heat? Clever kitties! Sounds like you've got things well in hand, have a good one, madvix

themadvix

Yes, remarkably they both still love a cuddle.... weird creatures!

Crumpets

Hi Madvix,

Just catching up on your diary, it sounds like you have had a wonderful holiday and happy belated anniversary to you and dh.

Glad to hear Nan is doing ok in her new home, good luck with sorting out her house.

Enjoy your barbecue tomorrow

themadvix

Afternoon all!

Thanks Crumpets - we did have a lovely barbecue, it had been too long since we had seen those particular friends! I did have a bit of a sore head on Sunday

I intended to catch up yesterday but the day was thrown out of kilter when I had a call asking me to pick Dad up from work as he'd bashed his head. So between collecting him, dropping him at A&E (fortunately not far from us) and returning him home, my day was somewhat derailed. He is fine though, which is the important thing.

I've done invoicing and money shuffles and need to update my signature - we now have £1280 in our moving savings pot :T (mainly DH's contribution, but some from me and the various dribs and drabs from interest etc.). I've realised that Tosco kindly cancelled my DDs to my savings accounts, which explains why I'm not getting my Hali rewards anymore. I'm not impressed. I feel a switch to FD may be on the cards, which will conveniently fund our Christmas markets accommodation this year :j Not sure whether I need to leave it a bit longer as Hali might want their switch incentive money back - any thoughts on this?

DH and I have a Whatsapp group to record our spending this month. I'm hopeless at spending diaries, so hoping that this will be simple enough that I'll actually remember to do it. DH has done all the spending so far! (Not that there's a lot). When I filled my car up when we got back from holiday I optimistically thought I might get through until my next cc statement (23rd) without filling up.:rotfl: How wrong I was... I'd forgotten various trips and then driving Dad around yesterday and this morning (taking him back to work, as his car was there), I'm down to half a tank already! (He did offer me money, but I know he wouldn't take it if the role was reversed, so I declined.)

MS things:
* Food all from stores. DH is trying overnight oats to see if he can find a version he likes - cheaper than current cereal. Not a lot of luck so far though!
* Have been manically saving water (empty ice cream tub in sink) to water plants - it's the small things, right?
* Sbs, VB, MS rw
* DH sorted an error on my business accounts last night, so I'm all set to do tax return
* £50 win on PBs :j Haven't won anything for ages, so very pleased with this!

Gratitudes:
* Dad is okay
* Very easy work today
* Enjoyed my lunch in the garden

Have a good afternoon, I'd better get back to the grindstone...

edinburgher

TMV - if planning the switch to FD - I hope you have the details of every aspect of your financial life to hand, have never had the temerity to move house and know the maiden name of your grandmother's corgi! :eek:

I know everyone raves about them, but I am a bit sour after spending 75 minutes on the 'phone to them for a "computer says no" a couple of years ago. I only wanted the blimmin' account for savings!

Well done on the affordable BBQ - we attended one last week (not even the hosts) and spent £40 on carbs, crisps, drinks and HM salads and dips)! I think I'll go down your route when we're hosting next (so salads, veggie kebabs, chargrilled veggies etc.) I find it a little difficult because a) our friends have unadventurous tastes and b) the concept of higher welfare meat has passed them by, so heaven is a luminous pack of inflated chicken breasts :eek:

Baking potatoes in tin foil with a bit of butter and garlic is another lovely cheap one and I suspect that sweet potatoes would be just as good (and healthier)?

themadvix

Thanks for the heads up Ed I'd quite like a regular saver with them, so it's probably worth the effort (whereas it might not be for the Expedia voucher, but then I do love a free trip).

That's a great tip about the potatoes - I never remember to wrap things in foil and cook them on there. Might try that this weekend as we have a different set of friends around (fortunately she's pregnant, so less wine will be consumed!). It wasn't particularly cheap in the end, but probably still cheaper than a meat fest. It didn't seem like much less work either, but then I suppose the plastic-free thing causes me those problems - hm everything! The salads were nice though and fed us the following day too.

themadvix

Afternoon all (just),

Not a lot to report here, but plenty of work happening. Frugalwoods UFM emails are interesting, although not yet earth-shattering. They have prompted me to post a couple of wanteds on Freegle that would save us £25+ if we got what we needed. We'll see what happens. I offer a lot of stuff on there, so feel entirely justified in asking for stuff. I am doing the actions/participating fully, which must yield some results though, right?

Spending diary is working. Although major fail to report - DH had to buy lunch yesterday as he was at a meeting in London that finished at 1 and didn't fancy carrying unchilled lunch around with him (we'd considered various options, but no solution came to us and we thought the company he was meeting might have fed him but no such luck). He bought a pasty (£4.49!).... it was only this morning that I metaphorically kicked us both when I remembered we have credit on the Star$ account We'll remember for next time!

MS things:
* DH away tonight so dinner/breakfast/lunch tomorrow on work
* I'm eating at Mum's (will ask if there's anything I can take)
* SBs survey bonus has been added to my account (thanks MSE) - 410 bucks up, so have enough for a £10 voucher
* M&S sale due - need some underwear, so will use voucher from insurance too, waiting till sale though!

Gratitudes:
* Loved the pic of niece sister sent yesterday - they are away and she went on her first 'rollercoaster' (I think merry-go-round may have been more accurate!) - she obviously didn't understand when they asked her if she wanted to do it - spent the whole time saying 'No, no, no....' Not impressed, but not upset! :rotfl:
* Great last evening class last night and just two of us, so really good learning opportunity
* Cake at evening class made by teacher - delicious!

Enjoy the afternoon folks!

ETA: One item already acquired from Freegle! :T

Crumpets

Hi MV,

Great news on getting things on freegle :T I often give away on there but forget to ask - it's always worth a try.

Can I ask what frugalwoods is? Sounds like it might be interesting to me? I'm always on the lookout for new things to read and inspire me

Glad your dad is okay after his bump to the head

themadvix

Hi Crumpets, Frugalwoods is a PF blog - I definitely think you'd like it