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

Karmacat

That really does sound wonderful (except the gas and the Brownie accounts) ... railcards and annual NT membership are brilliant.

themadvix

Morning all, :hello: Karma

My get up and go has returned, I think Due to lack of sleep last week (and the week before to some extent), it had got up and gone.... but now it's back!

I did get the Brownie accounts *all* up to date (some parts hadn't been dealt with since November ), so that's a really nice feeling. Gift aid claim is set and good to go too, but waiting to see if I can get any more parents to sign a form on Friday, so I can claim even more free money back from the government! We're planning on leaving a nice healthy balance for the new leaders in September, but in the meantime we're spending the (rather large) amount we have - if I can get more, it'll be a bonus all round.

Lots of work has arrived overnight, so I'm cracking on with that this morning. FIL is coming for chips for lunch (a tradition started when he helped us decorate the house), so it'll be nice to see him. He's bringing a bike that we've acquired from his neighbour - apparently quite a good one. DH has wanted one for a while, so this is great.

MS things:
* PA surveys - several yesterday as light relief from the accounts
* Clicks etc. done
* Used up fridge bottom veg in casserole last night. Veg box due today, but we're having mac & cheese to use up the toms in the fridge.
* Intending to cycle to return cat sitting keys this evening - a round trip of about 6 miles! Will be an interesting test of my fitness!!
* Have accepted invite for rejoining main RM survey panel in June

Gratitudes:
* Good evening class last night and back into the swing of practice at home
* Sun is out - must go and put washing on
* There's a baby basil poking its head through the soil in the pot on the windowsill :T

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Quick update as I've been out and have lots of work I should be getting on with.

MS things:
* Free tea and cake in JL (voucher expires on Tuesday!) - Mum bought a bagel so we had half and half
* CS shopping - a new tupperware container and a birthday card (1.50 - no idea where my pound sign is?!)
* Cards from CF for the upcoming birthdays
* Paid DH's survey money cheque in
* Bought an item in CS that I hope to ebay for profit
* Clicks etc. - hit SBs target two days in a row

Gratitudes:
* The smell of tree blossom as I dropped cat-sitting keys back last night
* Didn't cycle to return keys, but did get out for a bike ride (and didn't stop going back up the hill!)
* Lovely blackcurrant and elderflower Victoria sponge in JL

Have a good evening all, Dad's coming round for pizza as it's his birthday

shangaijimmy

Your MOT misfortune has made me realise with horror that mine is due next week! Its on my to do list for tomorrow!!

themadvix

Morning all,

Jimmy - hope you get it booked in before it's out of date. Just rebooked mine (DH finished working on it last night) and the earliest they can do is Tuesday!

Had a nice evening with Dad last night - not sure what he made of the slow cooker rice pud - was bemused I think, although he ate it!

Need to crack on with work this morning as have a Brownie planning meeting this afternoon before Brownies. Have got back into comping over the last few days, so am up-to-date with the dailies there (Flylady maybe slipping as a result - I need to get up earlier!!)

MS things:
* Clicks all done
* Comps entered
* Apart from milk (delivered Monday) I don't plan to spend any money on food until next month.

Gratitudes:
* Good pizza night with Dad and he told me a family anecdote I'd not heard before - more family tree research needed!
* The sun is out again today (and might even stay like that?!)
* Forgot my Easter egg from Mum's yesterday so will try to call in on way to Brownies to top up on chocolate!

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

We had a good but relatively quiet weekend - mainly because it was so cold! Had breakfast out for Dad's birthday on Sunday, but Sis paid as she'd invited us (and refused to accept any offered money). Otherwise I think it was a no-spend weekend.

I planted some pepper seeds the other week (from a veg box pepper) and one at least has germinated :T Have been out and done a bit of gardening at lunch time today - wanted to get lots done over the weekend but the weather wasn't nice enough to do it. Did collect the 'potato bin' from Dad's to plant some tatties in. Just need to get some compost.

Entered lots of comps and am now fully back into the swing of comping. Fingers crossed I win something!

Have decided on dates for our holiday and informed the godparents.... They sent us a discount code for the hydrofoil :T Need to sort cattery next, but also need to decide for definite how exactly we're getting there and when.

DH has been at a corporate thing today, with a 3-course lunch, so I only need to cook dinner for me tonight

themadvix

Forgot to say that I think a frugal May is in order. We have a couple of things happening - Mini London to Brighton later in the month and a beer festival with friends this coming weekend, plus 3 birthdays to buy presents for (cards already sorted). Otherwise though, we have lots of food in (we're eating the Brexit stash now, will restock in September if October deadline looms), vouchers should we want a meal out and plenty of cat food (may need chicken towards end of month, but no kibble or other bits required). There will be two MOTs (after my re-test tomorrow), but these are budgeted for separately. One should be okay and the other, well fingers crossed! The (hopefully) better weather means entertainment should revolve around the garden and the countryside

The L2B weekend won't be cheap (2 nights' camping and food out) but we'll set a budget for the beer festival and stick to it.

Have cancelled veg box for this week as we have plenty in the fridge. We've booked (and paid for) a farm walk and dinner where our veg is grown on Wednesday - last time we went to something put on by the company we brought the leftovers home with us Here's hoping we can do that again!

Hmm.... it's not sounding particularly frugal now.... but in general terms it will be. (Although our cc bills may not reflect this if we're booking holiday stuff! :rotfl: Well the idea was there!)

Karmacat

It sounds fine, madvix - camping, cancelling veg box, birthday cards sorted, eating the Brexit stash - though yes, it may *look* expensive when you pay for holidays :rotfl:

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Karma - I'm glad you were able to pick out the frugal bits, I was struggling! I also have a lot of work on this month, which will reduce incidental spends and petrol as I'll need to be at my desk.

New morning routine is working so far - up in time to exercise, fly(lady) and comp before 9 am. Need to keep this up. We changed the cats' routine slightly this morning so I wasn't getting hassle as I stretch! Will do 10 mins in the garden at lunch too.

MS things:
* Clicks, comps etc. done (nice SB survey done too )
* Freegler has offered me some runner bean plants/seeds (I'd asked as I'll only be able to do a couple of plants, so buying a whole packet seemed excessive!). I'll take them some biccies as a thank you.
* We're going to make an OP once the standard payment has gone through (and I've paid myself) :T I think we'll alternate saving for holiday with some OPs as the savings account rate is still lower than mortgage, once our RSs are filled.
* Voucher from garden centre for a free cherry tomato plant

Gratitudes:
* The generosity of people on Freegle - that's two things I've asked for and received lately (I do offer a lot, so feel it's okay to have stuff from others)
* Blue skies here today and the lovely vibrant fresh green of the leaves on the trees
* Episodes of the Good Life on Youtube... although sadly they cut the bottom of heads off (widescreen/not widescreen issues!) :rotfl:

Have a good day all

themadvix

My car passed its MOT :T :T :T :T And, in a fit of efficiency, I've taken the mini along for his (I know vehicles are usually female, but our two named cars are both male...).

As I was writing, had a phonecall to say the mini has passed - woohoo! (Quick get car 3 booked in on the same run of luck please! )