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

themadvix

Thanks Karma - I feel like we're in the groove at the moment - lots of opportunities to save are presenting themselves (rather not have any more *major* opportunities like the garage roof, mind you!) and we're really focused on maximising the benefits. I think the UFM on Frugalwoods has kicked us up the bum a bit - I thought we were good before, but now we seem to be achieving even more.

Work is quieter today - not in the sense that I haven't got any, just the deadlines are longer term. I'm enjoying a new project I've got to do - it's really interesting and not too taxing

Had a lovely evening last night with our neighbour - ate faaaar too much! And came home with a jar of pickled apple too. She's so lovely.

MS things:
* Usual clicks etc.
* Hm pizza tonight to use up sauce (and ood mozzarella, whoops)
* Price comparisons made before online shop delivered (have a few bits to get elsewhere)
* Will make yoghurt tonight

Gratitudes:
* A lovely evening last night
* A quieter day's work today (and an enjoyable project)
* A quiet evening at home tonight (much needed) - and I'll get to do some more knitting too!
* Delicious looking veg box has arrived too

Happy afternoon all!

themadvix

Morning all,

DH has got the next couple of days off, so it feels holiday-like here, even if I'm working. I do like having someone around during the day, even if they're not there.

Popped out for some food bits yesterday afternoon from the zero-waste shop. Managed to get two items from the charity shops for Xmas gifts, as well as 5 books for £5 from the W0rks for the nieces for Christmas (we're mainly giving them money, but they have to have something to open). Also snagged a picnic set for niece which Mum has been looking for (I told her we'd find one in a CS, but she wasn't optimistic). It's Peppa too, which niece will LOVE. Who's favourite Auntie?? All in all, a very organised and productive trip out and very bargainous.

Finished the first knitted item last night, but fear I may have underestimated gauge problems, so it might not fit.... Niece will do testing on Monday!

MS things:
* CS items for Xmas gifts (on budget)
* Dinner tonight will use up open passata
* Can already see many uses for veg box ingredients
* Clicks etc. done

Gratitudes:
* Lovely chat with lady in zero-waste shop
* My seriously overloaded shopping bag didn't split on the way back to the car!
*DH for company for next few days
* Lots of work (really helps with the whole moving/FI/RE/MFW thing! )

Enjoy the sunshine!

Karmacat

Brilliant :j:j:j what a great update

Busy_Mee1

I might have bought a few things for Christmas too MadVix. I like to pick up suitable gifts in sales throughout the year to spread the cost. Really impressed with all your DIY too.

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Busy Mee - I'm just not usually a) this organised and b) wanting to think about Christmas before end of November! (I know there'll be some who'll have stuff wrapped by now, but that seems daft to me!).

Well it was a very uneventful weekend as I had a stomach bug on Friday and spent the rest of the weekend lounging about with terrible stomach ache. I did manage (once risk of infection had passed) to stew up the apples collected from my Nan's garden, bake a banana cake to use up some brown bananas and add the peaches I'd bought to my rumtopf at least. Sure there's probably some mouldy veg festering somewhere - stir fry tonight, so we'll find out then! DH had a much more productive weekend - he did car stuff, more roof stuff and brewed :T

We also updated finances - surprisingly food spending was not miles below last month's even with all the free meals we've had. But cupboards are well stocked now, so maybe this month will reflect it more? Spending was more than double last month's but it included a (very cheap) weekend away, flights for our December break and the garage roof, so not that unexpected. Fuel costs were down, despite a trip up to Yorkshire, across to Manchester and back home again. Just shows how much we spent on fuel in July! Despite an extra large cc bill (because I changed the statement date) and a relatively low pay month, I still had money to tuck away in savings - this new frugal mindset continues to work. :j

This month should be fairly cheap, but we are going to a family wedding - hotel is already paid for (Travelodge, not the stupidly expensive one the B&G expected us to stay in) and I've got LV to pay for breakfasts, but need to buy present still. Also going to Woburn Safari park, which was our Christmas present from my Dad. We'll take lunch, but allow for a treat snack - food at these places is always overpriced and under-delivers, so I have no desire to buy a whole meal there!

Update on tea set: I had to have a video call to watch niece playing with it - and she kept thanking 'Nana' because it was at Nana's house :rotfl::rotfl: But she loves it, so that's all that matters!

I've transferred my S&S ISA to Vanguard as the fees on CSD were going up and VG was cheaper than CSD to start with. Even better, VG's website looks *so* much easier to understand and navigate! Downside is minimum investment is £100, which is fine some months but not every month, so I'll be doing manual, piecemeal top ups now.

Have claimed my Expedia voucher from FD too. It should arrive in a couple of days and then we'll book the hotel for our December break.

Gratitudes:
* I ate breakfast this morning and it didn't cause pain!
* It's Labor Day in the US so work is quiet (allowing me to get ahead with another project)
* DH took care of me this weekend

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

You sound like you were really poorly sorry to hear that. Good that you had your OH on hand, though. And great news about still saving when you had so many expenses. Frugal *really* works

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thanks Karma - it wasn't nice and am still suffering from the stomach ache to an extent. Worse things happen at sea and all that, but I have been taking it easy (after last year).

Not much to report - even surveys are quiet at the moment, it seems! Have been focusing on work and it's been productive.

MS things:
* No veg box needed this week
* Use it up stir fry last night (only some furry beans to throw out)
* RM survey stuff posted
* Meter readings submitted. I've started paying closer attention to these and we've been turning the TV etc. off at the wall at night - it may have made a small difference. Will keep up closer monitoring. We're not ones for leaving stuff on anyway. Credit is building nicely for winter.

Gratitudes:
* Saw niece briefly yesterday
* Caught up with brownie leader friend and we made some important decisions
* Stir fry - and I was actually looking forward to food

Back to work now - enjoy the rest of the day!

earthgirl

You have reminded me about the vanguard thing, I will do that too.

Glad you are feeling better!

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Earthie!

Took DH to the station this morning as he's off (to Goodwood!) with a 'work' thing. Won't be back until Saturday morning. I'm not impressed, but at least he'll be fed! (Last time I got to go; wish I was going again this time!).

However, I'm holding the fort - September is looking manically busy for DH - he's not in the office again for 10 days due to meetings etc. and then we're off to the wedding shortly after and then he's on a work trip to Germany at the end of the month. I've got loads of work to get done, as well as keeping on top of everything, so it's going to be interesting! Roll on October!

As a result we've decided not to do an event that we'd been hoping to attend - it's a pity, but I think we'll just need the time to recuperate. It does save us £15 + lunch out, I guess. We went to the cinema last night to see Mamma Mia (sorry!) and had a Meerkat meal beforehand - all in (inc tip) it was £20. It was really nice to have an evening out and the film was entertaining (I don't think I can use the word 'good' )

My Expedia voucher has arrived, so we'll book our December hotel at the weekend.

Otherwise things are just ticking over here. Still some bits on ebay but they're not shifting. Have no need to buy anything, so no money being spent

Gratitudes:
* Lovely date night with DH last night - great conversation and fajitas
* Sunshine - making the most of it while it lasts now, getting everything washed and dried
* Cats... they're endlessly fascinating, furry and lovable

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

Sounding great! And don't apologise for Mamma Mia! It surprised me endlessly how good the first one was, and I've heard brilliant reviews of the second.