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

Jessy103

Hi vix, just caught up with your diary. Sorry to hear about the Norfolk house but sounds like it was for the best, fingers crossed you find your dream home soon! ❤ 

QueenJess

Hiya, just caught up with your diary - I am terribly behind as usual. Sorry to hear about the house, but it sounds like it was absolutely the right decision.

I used to get a weekly small veg box from r’ford, but as the veg lasts much longer than the supermarket, I realised I could get a medium box every fortnight instead.

Your frugal November sounds interesting. I fear I’m going the other way at the moment!

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Jesses!   That's good to know about the R'ford box QJ - I'm hoping it will work well for us too. The more I've thought about my food budget though, the less I've been convinced it will work - we will see!

It was the London to Brighton veteran car run on Sunday, so we've been away enjoying ourselves. We met other friends on Saturday night for a curry, which was delicious (way better than the average curry in this country) and had a great time (but an early night). Sunday morning we left the house about 5.20 am to get to Hyde Park for 6.45. We saw off our friends, caught up with them at the pastry stop in Crawley (the pastries were *very* below par this year - they used to be provided by Harrods and were a highlight of the weekend, but no more - my Tesco collection ones are better!) and then met them on Madeira Drive in Brighton - they actually beat us there (but we'll blame a lengthy stop at McDonald's for that). We had a fancy dinner in the evening and then yesterday DH and I wandered around Brighton and then went for a walk at Beachy Head in glorious sunshine. It was a truly lovely break!

Finances wise it wasn't too bad. DH paid for the curry on Saturday, our friends paid for almost everything between Sunday morning and Monday morning and we didn't eat a proper meal out yesterday because we just didn't need one! 

Costs (for me) were:
* Parking in Hyde Park £15 (but should get 15% cashback on cc, as there was an offer)
* Parking at Beachy Head £2
* Milkshake (an unavoidable Brighton tradition - but I did get two more stamps on my loyalty card!) £9.38
* Parking in Crawley £1.35 (we were hugely late back, so hoping we don't get a ticket - don't think there were camera and we saw the lady walking towards the car park as we were leaving, so 🤞)
* Drinks and a portion of chips at pub at Beachy Head £7.70 
* £1.25 for milk on way home (cancelled Monday's delivery, so saved £3 there)

Not bad at all really!

Also bought BIL and fiancee's Christmas present in Brighton too.

Back to frugality now though. Just realised I didn't update after Friday's sparklers and mulled cider. Mum and Sis brought veggie chilli in the end for the adults, so I've got ingredients for soup for lunches this week still and we only had half the cider and sparklers, so will invite BIL and fiancee over to enjoy those at some point. Dinner tonight is Instant Pot daal and we're out for lunch tomorrow (I believe DH's uncle is paying - it's a long story). Veg box coming on Thursday and meals are planned for Thursday night and Friday. Will need to continue the meal plan after that.

Currently doing a combination of work for platform and main client, washing is drying on the line and the heating is off. Had a good night's sleep last night, so feeling very on top of stuff! Must dash to PO now as have RM survey parcel to send.

Gratitudes - too many to name! But for the first time, I don't feel really guilty about the money our friends spend on inviting us. They can clearly afford it without it being anything like a problem and they invite us to make it a group and a special occasion - so, while I'm very appreciative of it, and will certainly send a thank gift, I'm not going to beat myself up about it any more, just be very grateful to have such lovely friends.

Have a good afternoon all!

newgirly

I’ve finally caught up with your dairy again Vix, such a shame to hear it’s not worked out with the new place. If you are relieved though it must be for the best 🙂 Are you still keen to move? 

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks NG. I think keen is pushing it. If the right thing came along, then maybe. At the moment we've gone the other way though and are looking at the nicer houses at the other end of our street! Not entirely what we had in mind, but they are detached, with an extra bedroom, bigger garden, driveway, very near the woods etc, right on the edge of the town (we've admired them for a long time!). It's just the cost for something that isn't really what we wanted - they are almost the same price as what we were looking at in Norfolk (there's one on for £500k: we'd offer £20k under, given we actually have the contract for our sale sat on the side waiting for our signatures; the Norfolk house was £530k (after gazumping). I might call and see if we can view the one that's on the market - at least we'd have an idea then. Only one garage though. Not sure about chickens - I think they'd be doable. And we'd have all the advantages that living here has - cat (and chicken?) sitting, good transport, near friends and family etc. etc. But it feels like we'd be selling out on our dream a bit... I think we'd struggle to move again - mentally we'd be too comfortable (which is somewhat the case now!)

Right, have totted up the milk for the month so far (with many additions and refunds due to being away and really being on top of it!): £6.95 since 29/10. Plus 4 pints arriving tomorrow with R'ford delivery. But I think between that and what we've got, I'll be able to reduce Monday's order too. Should be on course to have a lower than usual bill for the month. (To clarify, this also includes a pint of juice on a Friday and a pint of oat milk on a Monday - it's not all just milk!).

Have done my Olio collection this morning - only a small one. Have kept back a few pastries for breakfast/freezer (also helping the milk bill, but not my waistline!) and there were some mango chunks that were use by dated, so I'll have to find something to do with them.

A new project popped up last night from one of my existing clients, so that will keep me busy for a couple of days. Don't know whether it's likely to be a regular thing but it's nice to have something new to work on.

MS things:
* Chased L4dbrokes about my money - had to fund the account to withdraw my money (new payment method as I'd closed what was my MB account) and they've been sitting on it for 8 days now. Man said I should hear from the accounts team within 24 hours.
* Clicks and comps done yesterday (and today, I'm sure)
* Free Olio food
* Stuck to the meal plan last night even though it really wasn't what I wanted (and was that great either). Looking forward to lunch out with DH's family today.
* DH and I have opened a Starling joint a/c and are working on rejigging our household bills etc. Hopefully this will mean things are clearer and we will probably even still keep the NW reward a/c for the rewards (DH would really like to simplify, which I totally get, but it's a little bit of money in).
* PA survey
* 1P surveys - trying to see how far towards the next £25 I can get before I get paid this lot!

Gratitudes:
* There was something to collect from Tesco this morning - my friend had a wasted journey yesterday
* Lunch out today - looking forward to seeing DH's uncle (frustrated that we'll be taking two cars - DH has gone into the office and I thought about getting the train but it's £7.10 for a single for a 20 min journey - ridiculous!)
* New work project

Have a good day all!

newgirly

Hi Vix, sounds like viewing might be a good idea then at least you will know if it’s definitely not for you 🙂

themadvix

Morning all,

Yes, NG, it might have been, but unfortunately it is under offer (and over the asking price too!). Have spoken to our EA and mentioned our interest in that area - she said they might do a leaflet drop there.

Had a lovely afternoon yesterday with DH's family. His uncle also brought me (and MIL and family friend) flowers (we were signing/witnessing paperwork) - it's novel to have paid-for, fresh flowers in the house, not Olio ones!

Realised that I don't need Friday's juice order from milkman, so that's come off the milk total, making it £5.60 now. Lunch today is leftover Spanish lentil soup and I've put chickpeas in to soak for dinner, which is a Moroccan chickpea stew thing. I think I've heard the veg box being delivered, so need to get that in soon.

Have been sent two more unexpected projects - a big one from my main client and a reasonable sized one from another regular, so I'm busy now until at least Monday, which is great. Meeting my ex-Brownie leader friends for a walk and a cuppa this afternoon - think it's my turn to pay for the (hot) drinks, but that won't be much.

Had notification that I've won some recipe books yesterday, so looking forward to those arriving! Having to keep it to myself, you lot and DH, in case I decide some would make good presents! 

MS things:
* 1P surveys
* MM surveys
* Wrapped baby present to put in post and have managed to get it in a large letter sized parcel - saving some of my stamps!
* Sticking to meal plan
* Free lunch yesterday meant no dinner required
* Water company have offered a free outside tap jacket, so have requested one of those
* L4dbrokes blamed the issue on my bank and had recredited the money to my account, so I've tried withdrawing again and it seems to be working. Should have the money before lunch according to their website, so we'll see what happens!

Gratitudes:
* Lovely family time and catch up
* A win, although I know I'm already very lucky without that
* The cat who is currently kneading me before settling down for a cuddle
* Lots of work - here's hoping this is the beginning of the end of the quiet period

Have a good day all!

Cheery_Daff

Shame about the house, but a good idea to do a leaflet drop if you're interested. Lovely to have fresh flowers too!

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Cheery!

Work is definitely picking up with more new projects arriving overnight. Yay!  

Had a nice catch up with friends yesterday afternoon and drinks only cost £6.30. Managed to refrain from a toasted tea cake and from popping to McD's for an apple pie (a weakness of mine) on the way home. Bought some butter (£1.55) in Tesco as we didn't have any and have made some biscuits. Also made mango chutney with the mangoes, but it's not set overnight, so will need reboiling. Smells good though.

BIL and fiancee and coming for homemade pizza tonight - I just need some cheese and meat to pop on the pizzas - I have everything else and the dough is already proving. We'll use up the rest of the cider/mulling ingredients and sparklers this evening too.

I think the weekend should be low cost - no plans apart from sorting some bits out and resurrecting our third bedroom which has had stuff from the loft in it in anticipation of moving. Stuff needs to go back into loft and we need to set it up as an office for DH who is still working on the dining table three days a week.

MS things:
* A couple of surveys this morning on Qmee
* Lots of work!
* Mangoes turned into chutney
* Rubbishy food resisted and stuff made at home instead
* Lunch is leftover soup with some free baguette
* Clicks and comps done
* Money finally reappeared from l4br0kes

Gratitudes:
* It's Friday
* The sun is just appearing
* Lovely catch up yesterday

Have a good afternoon all!

themadvix

It's been a spendy afternoon... Booked DH's birthday present for the end of the month (can't say what as he does occasionally have a read here); bought cat litter, dry food and tooth powder for the cats (£88 - but ~£3 off for being part of the saver scheme, two packs of free treats with their loyalty points (which is about standard for each order!) and TCB too); and have settled the bill for the 'abortive purchase' of the Norfolk house (£720).

Fortunately all of the above are budgeted for in one way or another, so it's not as bad as it looks!

I also contacted R'ford as I received an extremely small romanesco in my box yesterday - barely a side portion each. I have been given a £2 credit to my account - as always, the R'ford CS people are lovely and helpful.

Popped to the Coop for ham and cheese as don't really have time to go out - managed to get some reduced ham, which offset the cost of the mozzarella, which was 20p more expensive than Tesco yesterday and I hate to think how much more expensive than Aldi! Also picked up some reduced naans for the freezer as I've been terrible at making them lately. At least I got Coop pennies for it.