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

themadvix

Just back from a few days away visiting Christmas markets. Much gluhwein drunk, naughty food consumed and many presents bought We had a lovely time. Also managed to knock a load of gifts off of my to-buy list, including some bargains. We even managed to bring some cash back with us so that'll go into the kitty for our summer holiday.

Sold a couple of bits on the bay at the weekend (typical when I wasn't here to dispatch) - one still to be paid for (buyer has been in touch), but will get the other one sent off asap today.

Our kitchen scales packed up just before we went away (needed daily for cats' food). Went to JL to buy some more (original was a wedding present, so wanted to replace like with like - they've done well and get heavy use) - new ones were £40 (originals £30 4.5 years ago!!), but more importantly, they came with a 15 year guarantee - so will be seeing if that's the case for ours and getting them replaced under that! (In the meantime have borrowed mum's scales... good job she's not the baking type!)

Finished up the WR gift cards on Friday before we went, buying the long overdue gin for a thank you present - so will need to transfer another £75 to OP fund at end of the month (not enough in current a/c to do it now!). Also £4 sitting in PC waiting for another £1 before converting to Am vouchers, and £14 from VB on its way.

Had a minor victory on Thursday - bought a pair of earrings from a company online as a gift - when they turned up I was hugely disappointed - they didn't have anywhere near as good a finish as in the photo on the website/were thin and flimsy. I complained and to start with the lady said 'we don't do returns on earrings', but I insisted that they were faulty (they had scratch marks where they'd been cut) and she refunded me the money - as they were on 3 for 2, I wasn't expecting to get the full amount back, but seem to have done. Plus they didn't want the earrings back (even though they were still in a sealed container - will sell them at some point, with full declaration of marks and good photos!).:T

Seem to have an awful lot of jobs to do this week. No work today, but some arriving tomorrow (hooray), so better crack on with stuff today... just don't seem to have the motivation!

themadvix

Found the guarantee for the scales, so will sort that out tonight with DH.

Both ebayers had paid so have posted their items and moved the money, along with VB payment which had come through to the OP fund - £21.35. Total at £77.26 now. Plus £75 from WR vouchers, plus £50 from YG, plus, when I spend them, the money offset by Am vouchers - ~£50 at the moment, hopefully nearer £100.... not far off another OP

Now out of WR vouchers to spend (which saves petrol), but will continue recording non-delivered food spends (i.e. excluding milk and veg box) up until next week's Christmas delivery: £2.37 (satsumas and onions). Total = £4.08.

Inspired by Newgirly (whose diary I am reading), I've been on the MFiT blog and I have come across her freezer inventory sheet - in a moment of action I printed it out and have inventoried the freezer... it makes for interesting reading!! Have now got a rough meal plan sorted and will keep inventory up to date.

Kittenkirst

Oooooh I love the idea of a freezer inventory (even though mine is tiny- just a fridge freezer one!). That's a little job to keep me occupied tonight. :rotfl:

themadvix

Hi Kittenkirst, probably not relevant for you with such a small freezer, but the printable is here: http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/2015/02/freezer-inventory-printable/ Really helped to categorise what I had! (Upshot is, not a lot of coherent stuff, so will be working on sorting it out.

themadvix

A friend came around for dinner last night (mainly because she wanted DH to look at her computer!), so we had sausage and mash - had to buy a couple of GF sausages for her, so another £1.50 on the food spends. Total = £5.56. On the upside, she brought a bottle of wine, which we didn't drink last night :beer:

All other food using up bits from last week's veg box This morning's delivery included some popping corn on the cob as a Christmas gift - just twist it off and pop! As we're getting low on popcorn, this is a lovely present!

Realised we usually buy something for DH's godparents' cat and horse (they started it with cat treats for our boys... ridiculous, but they don't have children and are very generous, so don't feel we can't reciprocate). As they're having HM jelly and some biccies from the Christmas market, I was loathe to spend more money on their animals than them, so have googled catnip cat treats and horse treats!! Will have fun baking those! The things we do to be MF!:rotfl:

Usual surveys done yesterday and an 80p TT (left from veg box DD). No heating on until the evening yesterday - made the most of some lovely alpaca wool socks bought at the markets and did some exercise to keep warm. More of the same today and ploughing through work in the hope it will be done sooner!

Kittenkirst

Thanks for the link Madvix!
Catnip baked treats sound great- am sure that they will go down a treat. We have the parents in law round on Christmas Day and they are bringing the cat for the day (we miss him like mad!) he'all be having a tin of tuna (or maybe salmon as we have some pink salmon that's been lurking a while!)

gallygirl

Just make sure the OH knows what it is you are baking or he'll be snaffling them as soon as they are out of the oven :rotfl:.

themadvix

Hey Kitten Kirst, thanks for popping in! Will be testing some of the cat nip treats on our boys, I'm sure! But I'm a meany and they'll just get their usual food for Christmas Day (although I'm sure some prawns and smoked salmon might escape their way on Boxing Day!).

themadvix

Haha GG, sounds all too familiar! I think I'll have more trouble with the cats breaking into the kitchen though!

themadvix

Work to finish off this morning and another bit arrived to start on, but have a long to-do list so will have to prioritise that - the work deadline isn't until after the holidays and I'm working all next week, so it shouldn't be an issue.

MSE goals for today - ring the scales people about replacement under warranty, ring/go to the vets to sort out prescription for flea tablets.

Lots of other bits to do, so I'd better crack on!