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

themadvix

Hi Gally,

Yes, funnily enough I decided to put the money in there and then read about you putting money in (from BTL maintenance fund?). I'm remaining optimistic and when I set them up I saw that one of last month's millionaires only had £4100 in them! There's always hope!! Next month Rodney...

themadvix

So far today I have achieved:
- 30p on 1P
- £3 PC
- £1.75 NewVista (nearly at payout)
- £5 payout on SB
- Signed up to Free Postcode Lottery as per Martin's email. DH also signed up too.
- Actual work (not a lot, but all there was for now)

Have arranged for my dad to cat sit when we go to wedding later in month. Saves £20 on cat sitter/BIL cat sitting (did anyone watch Friday Night Dinner last week? The term 'cat sitting' will forever make me think of Jim!:rotfl:) Unfortunately as this wedding is costing an arm and a leg, I don't think I'll be able to OP the £20.

Still haven't heard anything from RM surveys - when I signed up a couple of months ago they said they needed me, but haven't been in touch. Does anyone know how long I should wait before trying again?

In the hope that this will motivate me (it did massively last time I posted one), here is today's to-do list:
- Dig over flower bed
- Finish painting bench
- Make redcurrant and red onion relish (before I use the other ingredients again)
- Cup of tea and slice of cake....

Think I'll start with the last one!:)

themadvix

themadvix wrote: »

So far today I have achieved:
In the hope that this will motivate me (it did massively last time I posted one), here is today's to-do list:
- [STRIKE]Dig over flower bed[/STRIKE] Done as much as was hoping to do, looks a lot better; got soaked just as I was clearing up, vicious rain drops too!
- Finish painting bench Half done - parts of it need another coat
- Make redcurrant and red onion relish (before I use the other ingredients again) Redcurrants defrosting
- [STRIKE]Cup of tea and slice of cake.[/STRIKE]... Done

Also freecycled some wellies (originally from freecycle) to a lovely lady who I've met several times; she took some of the surplus rhubarb off my hands too!:T

Busy_Mee1

Hi Madvix - redcurrant and onion relish sounds lovely and I am definitely going to include a cup of tea and a slice of cake on my to do list in future x

themadvix

Hi BusyMee,

Cake and cuppa is a necessity I think, especially needed before gardening! Will report back on redcurrant and red onion relish. I was all ready to go yesterday and then discovered I needed garlic and couldn't be bothered to get it at that point. Must do today as redcurrants now defrosted.

Large project has arrived, so will probably disappear for a week now! Have just cashed out on Crowdol*gy though, another £4 to OP.

Nearly at the end of Tilly's thread and have been reading Ed's thread - it is making me think that we shouldn't be putting all of the money into OPs but investing some too. DH has shares in various places but as yet I don't (although do have a small pension fund now). We watched the programme Ed recommended near the beginning of his thread last night - about the pointlessness of funds. Twas very interesting and I have a much better understanding of investment stuff (technical term) now. Will keep thinking....

themadvix

Did make the red onion and redcurrant relish yesterday. I did three jars worth, so expected it to take longer than the 55 mins, but not the 4.5 hours it actually took! There was far too much liquid, so it had to boil off. The acidic atmosphere in the kitchen (despite window open) seems to have killed my basil too Haven't tasted it yet - it had better be good!

Have withdrawn £12.16 to OP fund from PP. Combination of SBs and Ebay. TT of 50p too

Had date night last night - spent a grand total of £11.50 (inc tip) - combo of 40% voucher and LV from S&S for the rest.

Need some dishwasher gel (eco friendly), and have been waiting for an offer from Ethical Superstore - 25% off came through yesterday, so will be buying that (£28 instead of £38 for 5l). With £co of course.

Today about to be spendy as going out to buy bits to be able to finally finish off the edging for our pond (started 3 or 4 years ago). Will be lovely to have it done (not holding my breath yet though!).

themadvix

Can report that the relish is tasty, and will hopefully go down well when we have people over for BBQ this weekend.

Not a lot money-wise happening, Santa have messed up the OP made again - it's showing as received but not applied, again. Sent them a secure message and the reply was to ring them - so glad I wasted my time using a modern form of technology. It's frustrating because when I ring they're always really helpful, but I shouldn't have to be chasing them all the time.

Ordered the dishwasher gel - didn't do it until Sunday, but had received an email for free P&P for orders over £20 so saved even more

NewVista excitingly close to pay out, YG at £30-something, 1P at £11.05. £3 PC transferred to OP fund, which currently stands at £22. Awaiting £50 cashback from Miele for our new fridge - should have been paid on 6th according to their website, so not sure where it is (unless it's coming from Germany, in which case I'll let them off as transfers usually take a few days from there).

Have claimed a Nectar voucher for 2 Pizzas - will use on holiday probably (if willpower lasts that long!). Will also claim S&S vouchers to top up so that we can eat out cheaply while we're away. Still haven't actually booked a holiday, but that's just a minor matter!

Work beckons (going better than expected), so best get on.

themadvix

Santa have finally credited the OP to the mortgage - just seems to take them forever. It is credited from the day it was paid in (so it shows and the lady on the phone reassured me), so at least we're not paying more interest while they get their act together.

A few more surveys and SBs done this morning. Not sure about the new SB to-do list, especially as it seems to credit just 1SB, but between the ones I get for the other bits on the list, I guess it's helping me to increase the balance.

Spent £50 at the butchers yesterday :eek: £20 on chicken for the cats (lasts a month, so not too bad) and £30 on meat for BBQ we're having this weekend. Should be more than enough, so have carefully divvied up so we don't need to defrost everything and therefore DH won't need to eat it in one go. There are definite financial advantages to pescatarianism!

Sold another 99p item on the bay of E - will need to pop over the road to the PO later. Work quiet at the moment, so it's not a bother. Am still investigating options for holiday.... so indecisive! (and tight!:rotfl:)

Am also looking at raspberry canes on T&M - I used to have some before we moved here and I love raspberries (and am better at growing fruit, which can largely be ignored, unlike veg). Will have to work out what I need/want, where I can put them and then find some money off vouchers/cashback.:)

We made considerable progress with pond at weekend, with the knock-on result that there'll be considerably more space to plant things soon, so might have to wait and see and do one bigger order - I can't wait to have the beds properly planted, it's been 4 years! :j

Actual money news: 25p TT ; 1P at £13.

themadvix

Whoops, it's been a while since I've posted! I'm blaming that on being really busy with the event venue work I did in August and then having been on holiday...

Due to a client not paying when they should have my August payday was pretty disappointing, so there was no OP and not even enough for my usual savings transfer. Fortunately my CC bill was small! TSB monthly saver money came straight from the current account, so I'll need to top this up at the end of this month.

Holiday was lovely - we spent a week in Scotland, near Ayr, visited Arran and Glasgow (both lovely, now dreaming of moving to Arran!), with a stopover in the Lakes on the way up. Feeling much refreshed and refocused on our goals. Holiday was relatively cheap - all in (including cost of trips to toilets - everywhere seemed to charge!!) we spent £950. This has left us with a substantial start towards our holiday next year, which is going to be more exotic!

Straight back to piles of work (yay!) and only one more day of event work for the time being (also yay! I enjoy it but find it very tiring and it disrupts my other work).

Have received several Gfk TV survey prizes (all £2 rather than anything more exciting) - as I've been away I can only assume the prize draws were delayed, either way I'm not complaining. New Vista now just 25p off payout Have done quite a few 1P surveys today too. £4.38 £co cashback winging its way to my account too... Small things, but it's something. I think focus needs to be on reducing outgoings on food, which will be through batch cooking (nothing like the arrival of autumn to encourage this), ensuring there's always something for DH's lunch, and homebrewing to eke out the expensive beer collection we've got! Need to reduce our Quorn intake too - it's expensive compared to veg and we seem to be going through it recently. New recipes required!

Ooh, nearly forgot - month one and I won £25 on the premium bonds! I'm now convinced this is how we're going to get rich!:rotfl: Have put in another £1500 of 'tax' money.... here's hoping October will be as exciting!

themadvix

Another week gone by already, not sure where this month and year is disappearing to! It's been a very hectic week work-wise, but have now finally caught up and can work at a normal pace. Good news is that I don't think income will have been too affected by time off.

Reached payout on NV, so £50 should be winging its way here as we speak (no idea how long it takes as this is the first time I've ever made a concerted effort with them and reached payout). Surveys have been straightforward and good value for time spent, so will keep them up. Still plodding on with others. Have lost the will a bit with SBs - they're great when I'm not busy and have time to do all the carp needed to get points/am willing to be screened out of surveys, but the rest of the time it's too much hassle. Usually manage the daily poll and any codes that get sent through the MSE forums. Not too far off pay out again anyway.

TT of £1.26 this morning.

Have some exciting money-related news but 'don't know about it' yet, so will share when I'm allowed to say!

Am trying to decide what to use £5 photobox credit on - probably a Christmas present, but feeling rather uninspired at the moment.