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

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks for the birthday wishes! Had a lovely, rather filling lunch with Dad yesterday, so I didn't need dinner. DH used some odd bits from the freezer for his, so we've created a bit of space there. Mum is coming for lunch today so we'll use up some of the smoked salmon and prawns left over from Boxing Day. Expect we'll go out tonight for dinner, but no other plans (apart from a walk). I suppose we could go out tomorrow if it's nice - I think I've become a lot less adventurous due to the pandemic/lockdowns - or I'm just happier to stay at home. 

Have received some lovely cards and some even lovelier cash for my birthday - this will be stashed away for some treats, I think. Maybe a trip to the theatre or a spa day (experiences are the name of the game when you're not buying anything new!).

On the not buying new in '22 thing (glad to hear some of you have heard of Jen!), I've had a few thoughts about my rules/exceptions:

Exceptions:
* food (although, Olio!)
* underwear - but I shouldn't need any. I ordered some before the end of 2021 that should arrive tomorrow and I spent quite a bit for quality - the stuff I have from there is outlasting anything from M&S and it's more comfortable too.
* consumables (but being careful to use up and think of alternatives first), including cat stuff
* plants, seeds and compost for the garden (but compost might be from the council who sell the garden waste compost)
* items on our holiday (I rarely buy 'souvenirs' anyway, but there might be a few things I'd like in the States).
* parts needed to fix things if I can't find them secondhand/it's not economical/safe to get them secondhand
* items needed for making bunting - the whole point of it is that it's upcycling anyway, so it's only going to be bias binding, cotton and backing fabric (for some)

DH won't be joining in, but he's pretty good anyway at making considered choices and buying refurbed/secondhand (we both are, I just like the challenge!) I won't necessarily last the year - I'm going to start with two months and all bets are off if we move house (although, I'll still try my best). While it's primarily an environmental challenge, clearly there are huge moneysaving implications!

First challenges are cards for birthdays. I'm thinking about digital cards for adults and making ones for the children (I send to all my friends' children because they like post!). This would cut down time required for me (and save me from self-judgement of my craft skills!) and save money at the same time. I also have to think about BIL and fiancee's wedding card (wedding is in March) - I'll have to make that and it'll have to be good (or buy from our hospice shop, but I'll be lucky to find a nice one in the secondhand pile). (Buying BNWT is allowed - so baby present for friend due at end of the month is OK).

I went to Sainsbury's for my expected spend last night - £12.65 spent, of which £12.50 was Nectar points - I'll take that. Quorn was on offer, so got mince and pieces, which was a bonus, and I rounded up to over £12.50 buying two tins of peaches, so a little treat at some point (and Jack Monroe's chickpea and peach curry too).

MS things:
* 1P surveys
* Clicks done (20p on HW)
* Total spending in 2022 - £1.05 milk, 0.15 Sains, £9.68 dishwasher tabs (but technically these were on DH's parents' supermarket delivery so DH will pay for them).
* Have some work to do, but it's not due until end of MOnday, so not going to worry too much today

Gratitudes:
* Sunshine - not a given on my birthday
* Lovely time with Dad yesterday
* Lots of birthday wishes
* Death in Paradise is back tonight!

Have a good day all!

Suffolk_lass

Morning Vix, I'm really taken with your considered secondhand choices. In 2010 the lid of the food processor I had had for over 20 years broke and it was pre-3d printer days and so old that I had to scrap it as I used to twist the lid to switch it on and the seg broke off. Long story short I bought another - a Kitchenaid that was the display model in JL. I also took the precaution of buying two spare bowls and lids which remain in their original packaging, in the cupboard under the stairs. Yesterday I emptied the cupboard and identified three boxes of stuff to sell, three boxes of memories that just needed boxes with lids, and two crates of curtains (two thirds for charity shop, fabric for existing curtains retained - and the spare bowls.

A quick search of the bay identified this processor for sale complete for around £150 (still half the RRP) from people who have not used it and are clearing out. Lots of components where I suspect the bowls have broken or failed and the people are trying to get a small return. Blades, shredding disks and base motor units, all for modest prices but no bowls. So, do I put them on the bay, keep them (two is too many) or what? My dilemma!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Oooh SL, that is a dilemma! I think I’d agree that two might be too many but excellent foresight for being organised to buy replacements. I have to say, I’ve had to replace the bowl and lid for my Kenwood and they have an excellent spares website. It’s also had a new motor, replaced by a local handyman. It’s great when you can keep things going!

 Ended up going out for a very mediocre meal last night - I wanted to go to Wagamamas, but you can’t book and there was a long queue that wasn’t moving in the freezing cold when we got there. So we ended up at the Harvester where they didn’t have what I wanted, the drink DH wanted or half the salad bar… oh well. I’ve said I’m owed (Not by DH, just in general) a Wagas at some point as we only tend to go for my birthday.

DH bought me a new Fitbit for my present - the battery on my old one really wasn’t lasting anymore and this one measures lots more! 

MS things:
* breakfast was a smoothie using up some fairly past it (free) bananas
* clicks and spin coming up
* no plans today

 Gratitudes
* lovely birthday wishes from many people 😊
* time with DH
* lovely prawns and salmon for lunch yesterday

themadvix

DH has spent the afternoon doing sterling work booking more of our holiday. Some extortionately priced flights from New Orleans to LAX, but a couple of good value places to stay. 

Mum, Sis and Niece turned up (expected) for lunch (unexpected), so most of the smoked salmon has now gone. Mum brought me my own copy of Dobble (a family/Niece obsession since Christmas) as part of my birthday present. BIL and fiancée popped by this evening with a present for me - a board game I had considered getting 😊

Finally going to have potato hash for dinner tonight. Yoga time first. 

Expensive day, but the money is already put aside. Just hope we get to go this time! 

Jessy103

Belated happy birthday vix! Glad to hear you had a lovely day! 🎂🍾

themadvix

Thanks Jessy!

 Went for a walk along the canal this morning to make the most of the gorgeous sunshine. Took snacks but didn’t need them and had lunch when we got home. Have spent the afternoon spending more money on holiday - all accommodation and transport has now been booked, just the activities to do!

Jack Monroe’s peach and chickpea curry for dinner - not has it before, so will see what we think! I think a lot of cheap meals may be featuring between now and May given the cost of our holiday! (And desire to pay off mortgage asap after fix ends in 2023.)

 In good news, one of my clients has been in touch to say there’ll be a significant (ish) quantity of work from them soon - long may this continue!

Someone nearby has an Olio collection from one of the big supermarkets this evening so 🤞 I’ll be able to get some goodies.

rtandon27

Glad to hear you had a good BDay Vix!  ...and wonderful news on the news from your client

QueenJess

Ooh peach and chickpea curry.  Sounds interesting.  Let us know how it was.  If it was good I might give that one a go.  DH doesn't like chickpeas, but he eats them when I cook them with spices.

newgirly

Happy belated birthday Vix 😊💐🥂🎂 how was the peach and chickpea curry? I made that once and quite liked it, not sure why I haven’t since actually as it’s easy quite nice and cheap 😁

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks RT - the news about work is certainly very welcome. Gives me hope that I may not have to get a 'proper' part-time job. QJ and NG (and thanks NG for the birthday wishes ), the curry was nice, although we agreed it lacked a bit of bite. Might chuck some quorn in next time for a bit more texture. We love chickpeas here Jess - I struggled to get enough of them and the peaches actually into the curry whilst I was cooking it! It's the second recipe from A Girl Called Jack that we've had successfully lately, so that's a result. 

Picked up some hot x buns, cherry toms and french beans from Olio last night, which has topped up the fridge. Have a rough meal plan in place for the week to use these bits, but this may change as there's another large collection tonight, so will see what's available there. Am covering a friend's Olio collection in the morning too, but not expecting anything different to the usual pastries and bread as it's my normal store. 

DH has gone into work today as a supplier is buying him lunch (which reminds me, he may not want what I have planned for dinner). After a second decent night's sleep in a row, I'm feeling super productive and have done work, housework, made a call and been for a walk. Have also ordered Mum's birthday present (an experience, with a TCB bonus rate) and cat litter. Was going to get litter from Amazon as I have a voucher but it was £5 more expensive (including postage) than from Z00plus, so went there-  also got TCB, discount using savings club and Z00plus points (and no ethical guilt!). Will use the Am voucher for something we can only reasonably get from there, or I'll spend it sending a donation to the local CP branch.

I still have work to get on with and then I'm going for a walk to the charity shops this afternoon to see if I can find some card blanks. I've ordered (second-hand, obviously) a batch of origami paper from Ebay as I thought this would be a good way to make cards for people this year as it's personalisable, fairly straightforward (used to do with Brownies) and quick. Just need the card blanks... hope I can find some at charity shop.

(And if I get a chance before DH comes home, I'll enjoy Call the Midwife too!)

MS things:
* S&S submitted - we have £67 credit at the moment and I've just seen you can get Uber credit - might save this for holiday
* Clicks and spin done (no HW win)
* Have a £5 free bet from a bookie for my birthday (had a £1 one Saturday, but I lost - I couldn't be bothered laying against it).
* PA and YG surveys
* Free food
* Comps entered

Gratitudes:
* Work
* Lovely walk in the sunshine yesterday
* Free food

Have a good day all!