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

themadvix

Oh Jimmy, that sounds awful poor Mrs SJ. I hope things settle down for her soon - I know I just want to feel like there's some hope that 2019 will improve. Fortunately I think the funeral is likely to be Feb half term, so the week after I finish jury service. Here's hoping that that will be the turning point.

Jimmy - do you got with one group for several weeks at a time or different groups for a week each? Either way it does sound exhausting! Previously I've enjoyed the trips to Disney (and was the instigator of this one) - it was just the combination of lack of sleep and pain that made it hard to cope with.

themadvix

Morning all,

Didn't sleep well last night (what's new), but today is a day of deliveries, so I had to get up. Supermarket order has already been delivered, S&S'd and put away (refund claimed for broken bag of flour). Expecting the router for our new BB connection later, veg box and hopefully a few more bits (loo roll top-up please WGAC, it's getting squeaky now! ). We're babysitting the niece tonight, so need to work out what/how we're eating - I might prep a mac and cheese and take it with us.

We had a meal out for my birthday last night at Chiquitos (so DH is now insured for travel on 11 Feb ). It was nice and there was a delay on food, which at least meant it was a whole evening, rather than just an hour out!

MS things:
* Another tiny Ebay sale
* 2 more parcels packed and ready to send (will head out this afternoon after router delivery)
* Need to pay in cheques for Brownie expenses
* Clicks etc.
* 2 x PA surveys

Gratitudes:
* Nice date night with DH
* Pretty snow this morning, but not enough to cause problems
* Snowdrops in front garden and catkins on trees.... spring is coming!

Have a good day all

Karmacat

That all sounds a lot better, though I'm hoping the pain's going?

themadvix

Thanks Karma. Toothache is sorted, massive bruise has come out on my leg (still a bit sore) but concerned that the jarring I gave my back/hip is causing some problems. Will have to see how it goes, otherwise it'll be a trip to the osteo.

themadvix

Morning all,

So DH and I looked again at the flights last night. We do have enough to go, but not flying with Virgin Upper Class (Delta One codeshare instead) I'm quite disappointed about this as DH and some friends have spent the last 5 years (that we've been collecting points) telling me how wonderful their Virgin Upper Class experience was. I doubt that D1 will be the same. Anyway, we want to go, so I'm just going to have to get over myself. America is hugely expensive though! We don't tend to stay in hotels on holidays usually (except for a short break) and the price shock is quite something! All the accommodation options seem expensive and that's without food (3 meals, no breakfast inc), transport, activities and in most cases taxes. We have plenty in savings for moving/holiday, but we're both quite reluctant to spend a fortune on a bed for the night, but equally want to be on-site so we don't spend forever driving around (in New Orleans there's safety to consider too and we're not planning on having a car there). Even a 'cheap' motel chain seems to want to charge $100/night (plus tax) - not exactly Travelodge/Premier Inn prices. If anyone has any tips or suggestions, we'd love to hear them.

In the meantime then, UUFF (ultra-uber frugal Feb), as per Busy Mee's suggestion, is on! The supermarket delivery and veg box came yesterday so we are almost fully stocked up (I'll need a rice, pasta, oats and sultanas top-up from the zero-waste shop, but ok at the moment). The Brexit stash is complete (let's hope we don't suddenly find somewhere to move to!) and loo roll is due to be delivered this week. So no spending should be required except for milk and another veg box (possibly two).

I'm on jury service from Monday for two weeks, so will get minimum reimbursement, mileage and hopefully lunch expenses covered (haven't quite worked out about food yet, they suggest you bring your own, but does that mean I won't get any money for it?). I'm intending to take my lappy and work whilst all the waiting around happens (presuming I have work). If I'm called I'll have to work in the evenings - I can't afford to upset my clients. I need to be really organised about lunches and snacks and easy dinners and make sure I'm ready to be out of the house all week - I'm not used to someone else dictating my availability!

Feb is a quiet month otherwise. There'll be a funeral to go to and we're taking the Brownies out for lunch and a show :T, but I'm not expecting to need to spend much on social activities. So hopefully I can keep spending right down and put a lot into savings. If I need additional food bits (always likely), I'll use my Nectar points (~£30) or the WR voucher I have to get them. We have a stash of Leisure Vouchers that can be used if we need a meal out!

We might exchange some of our S&S vouchers for a HotelShopVoucher which will cover most of a night away. Has anyone used these before? We normally stick to Leisure Vouchers. I'll keep throwing SBs into Starbucks credit - at least we'll be able to get something to eat/drink cheaply then.

Right, that's the plan for Feb then. I'm sure, a la New Girly, that it'll change :rotfl:

Ms things:
* 1P survey
* Clicks etc.
* Bread baked yesterday, so lunches sorted for today and tomorrow.
* Babysat last night and took hm mac and cheese instead of grabbing a pizza from Aldi (turned up with dish precooked, wearing oven gloves :rotfl:

Gratitudes:
* We do have the money, we're just reluctant to spend it (on what is, let's face it, a massive luxury)
* Sunshine again here today
* Homemade marmalade on homemade toast (smug, moi?!)

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

Sorry to hear about the price shock for the US trip I stayed in an actual hostel in St Augustine's ... in Chicago, before my convention opened up, I stayed in student dorms - much more luxurious than it sounds, I was in a two bed apartment bigger than my house, and one woman shared it for one night, that was all. Might be worth investigating if you're in a place that has studen accommodation, and the timing's right. Hope you find a way forward you can enjoy.

themadvix

Thanks Karma. There seem to be a lot of hostels but they don't actually seem cheap either! DH is funny (and reasonably enough, it is a holiday) about sharing bathrooms (although this doesn't matter when camping). Maybe we need to look into the hostels a bit more closely though.

Sadly I don't think student accommodation will be an option as we're looking at end of April/beginning of May.

Crumpets

Hi MV, I haven't been on for a while so I haven't caught up yet but have you looked at air B&B for your trip. We just booked a 3 bed apartment in Montreal for 3 nights for less than your budget hotel prices. As there is only two of you should be able to get something much cheaper

Disney sounds a bit of an ordeal for you, I'm sure the girls and parents appreciated it though! I wish my dd's brownie group would have such a wonderful trip!

Look after yourself

P.S what credit card do you collect your air miles on...I've got my mind on our next trip now and want to get saving

Busy_Mee1

Check out the Mystery Hotel Deals ( Details on main MSE site) I got a great deal for a room in New York a few years ago by following the instructions and doing a bit of research.

themadvix

Hi Crumpets, thanks for your suggestion. We've looked at airbnb in NO and it's not cheap. Nashville had some better options though, although again, there's often the issue of it being a room in someone's house/shared bathroom type affair. We need to look at this again, but it certainly didn't seem that cheap tbh. And you don't mention that you're in an Airbnb in New Orleans - they hate it!

We have a Virgin Money cc for Virgin Atlantic points. They've just joined up with KLM/Air France, so the options for short haul will improve soon. I think I'll switch to Avios after this, although DH may stay with Virgin.

Busy Mee - thanks, will check that out! Even if it's a bit more expensive than we might opt for normally, it might give us the bit of luxury we're hoping for!