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

themadvix

Morning (just) all!

Not a lot to report today, but I do find that posting keeps me focused (and reminds me to do the small things). Spent £1.62 on groceries last night - milk and carrots. Total now £58.30 + milk (currently at £13.30). I've decided I'm not going to count Monday's postponed lunch in the budget as DH is paying (for all of us, despite him not now being able to go!). Also had to buy worming tablet for kitty (just the one, as I had one in stock), so £7.54 at the vets. Posted off the Ebay item though and got some exercise in, so it was a worthwhile trip.

Food budget is going to start having an impact on what we eat now - the obvious meals are out (apart from Stir-Friday tonight - might need to buy an onion mind you). So it'll be freezer clearing time (and hopefully some interesting new meals!). There'll be a big shop required at the beginning of March though.

Have done some work this morning, more to do though, but I'm struggling to focus today. Have made shortbread, got Brownie accounts up to date and *will* carry on with work shortly.

Annoyingly I've had a letter from NationW saying that DD requests from my new account have probably been rejected (this is my donor switching account) - so I need to sort that out again before I can start switching...

MS things:
* All DVDs now listed on the Bay. Not sure if they'll sell as postage and fees make it tricky. Has anyone had any luck selling these sorts of things on FB?
* MS rewards, VB poll, SBs done
* £3.81 TT as there had been movement in my current account

NY resolutions:
* 8K steps yesterday, due to walk, which is more like it. Walked while on the phone this morning, and Brownies tonight means I should hit 10k.
* Podcast, yoga, kitty playtime :mad: oh dear

Gratitudes:
* DH is home from working away
* It's Friday!
* Cuppas lined up with sis and then a friend before Brownies (friend has Guiding paperwork I need to sign).

Weekend will consist of housey/car stuff tomorrow and then Sunday we're off to other niece's christening in Notts. Splitting petrol costs with BIL and GF, but will be stopping for American pancakes (but at £3 not an expensive treat!).

Happy Friday! x

try_harder

Morning themadvix . I have just set up two Dd with Nationwidx which i will use to transfer to Halifax ,im wondering why yours have been rejected ,this will be the first time i have tried a bank switch i have no idea if i am doing it correctly .

You are still doing so well with that £75 i have just finished a huge online shop as my fridges and cupboards were bare but i do still have a full freezer ,i am cheating slightly as most of the cost will go on to the food budget for March

themadvix

They seem to have had a problem - tbh I haven't checked if it's affected me yet, but I was surprised to see the money still in the account and not transferred, so at least I know why now.

The temptation to treat any spends as March now is high - I've just had my CC bill through, so it would be a 'new' month. However, we don't need to spend and it would be good to use some of the freezer stuff.... I think I need to inventory it though, as I've no real idea what's in there! (Last night DH had a beanburger but I had to have veggie sausages as there was only one burger left!)

Forgot to add, booked a night in a hotel yesterday for April. Just a very short break for DH and I, part of our plan to do some of the things we've been putting off - we'll be exploring the South Downs. Cat care should be covered by the BIL (assuming he's moved by then!) and I got cashback (and added to DH's H0tels.com rewards) and we'll be doing in on the cheap! Hotel was £58, so not too bad

Also got mum to sign up for TCB and the referral has tracked - that'll be £7.50 for the pot soon then.

try_harder

Thats typical isnt it and i think there is only two or three weeks left to get mine all over to the Halifax before the offer ends ,i set up my DD a fortnight ago and they still dont show in my Nationwidx account so i will be up against the clock soon .

Yes thats a good idea i have written a list of whats in the freezer trouble is i keep forgetting to cross things off when i take them out .

themadvix

That's my problem too re freezer!

ch4rly2002

Same here re freezer

themadvix

I'm claiming the excuse that ours is outside in our utility room and it's cold outside! Next house, I can't wait to have a freezer in the kitchen!!

Clear out continues here, but think we'll wait for some of the stuff until Ebay has another max £1 FVF weekend - we missed it last weekend, so it might be a while. DH is getting stuffed prepped and photographed for it though. He's also trying to work out if he can trade in his really old PS3, his current PS3 and his PSP for a PS4.... in fairness he's wanted one since they came out, but has refrained on cost grounds. If he can do it money neutrally, then I can't complain too much. (Except that there's nothing wrong with current PS3!)

Lots of jobs to be done today, so will get back to them. Do we think my washing will dry outside? It's sunny, but bloomin' freezing!

try_harder

And me too mine is in the garage and its a huge chest freezer and it always seems that whatever i want will always be at the bottom .

That sounds like a really good idea to trade in all the unwanted consoles for a new one then hopefully no money needs to change hands.

themadvix

Morning all!

Re freezer - I did get out there and look, but there seems to be a lot of food in there for DH and very little for me.... hmm.... I think we'll be eating different meals for a while.

Weekend was okay. Pottered on Saturday - listed a couple of bits on FB while I wait for Ebay offers, but no takers yet. Did a few bits and pieces, fairly relaxed day though. Yesterday we went to a family christening oop north. Stopped for pancakes at the American diner on the A1 - I've now got a 15% discount card for the place BIL paid as contribution to fuel.

DH is still pondering the console situation... indecisive, much?! He's been suffering with a cold and now cough for the last two weeks and is thoroughly fed up - hence it being a fairly gentle Saturday. I'm hoping he's going to pop via B&Q tonight though to get the bit of wood we need to put the curtains back up in the dining room before the temperatures plummet even further. It's blinking cold here today, and there have been some gentle flakes of snow already (not enough to visibly settle, mind you).

MS things:
* £25 M&S voucher from Christmas exchanged with mum for cash (Still owed, but it's a start!)
* £45 M&S voucher from swapping cat insurance received. Have made mum aware of it's existence!
* Dinner on Saturday from stores
* Milk hadn't arrived by DH's breakfast this morning, but saved on buying something by there being bread for toast. He's having lunch with a supplier today - so a saving there too.
* Leftovers from Brownie parents' eve on Friday brought home - a pepper, an onion, a few bits of Spanish turron (mmm.....) - the theme was Spain!
* Dinner tonight will be v. sausage risotto - haven't had risotto in ages, so looking forward to that. All ingredients from stores.
* DH made some 'cat shelves' from pallet wood at the weekend (brackets from Ikea, but otherwise free) - of course, the cats don't want to use them, but it has finished off the spare room nicely!!
* All the usual clicks and tricks....VB, SBs, MS rewards (DH already has enough for a £5 Pizza voucher again)

Gratitudes: (have you noticed I've missed a section out )
* Nice road trip and breakfast out yesterday. Good to see family.
* Lovely photo canvases DH ordered on offer have just arrived - pics of gorgeous kitties and a lovely view from Ireland now need to be hung up somewhere
* Lots of work to get on with

Happy Monday everyone! x

themadvix

Morning all,

Despite the forecasters' promises/threats, there's no snow here this morning, although it does keep snowing on and off and it's blooming cold. Sent DH off to work with a blanket, spade, boots and emergency chocolate brownie (with strict instructions not to eat unless he gets stuck!!) Have been out for a good walk this morning - down to doctors and then up to shops. Small grocery spend of £5.18 to report. Total now £63.48, so with milk, I'll be a little bit over budget. But only just. While I definitely need to do a delivery order soon, I'm going to continue with clearing the freezer of stuff, as lots of it just needs eating. Weird meals will continue!

Mum and niece popped in for lunch yesterday - mum provided bread and I provided the rest (which means there's still some for today ). Niece is gorgeous and a very happy baby, but very hard work - she's constantly on the go, doesn't like to nap, into, onto and under everything. She **loves** the cats. They are getting more used to her and on the odd occasion that they get close enough, she really understands being gentle with them - it's so sweet to watch!

MS things:
* Radflek panels from :money: arrived and installed - hopefully helping to keep some of the warm in! Managed to get two big rads and a small one covered, which is all that are on outside walls.
* Peanut butter flapjack in the oven now (with last of the butter.... fresh food stocks are shockingly low!)
* Work, work, work - it just keeps coming :T
* Small things done. Lots of SBs yesterday as it was their birthday - so over 50 collected

Gratitudes:
* Lunch with mum and niece was nice yesterday (if exhausting! How do people manage??!)
* Work
* Evening class tonight - assuming the snow doesn't come!

Have a good day all - keep warm!