Jazee's Diary

Jazee

Morning diary.Well good news on the financial front today. DH has been paid and his pay rise is £185 take home a month, which I'm going to save. Also yesterday was another NSD for Oct as I didn't manage to get to the post office.

Today will be a spendy day, but not too much as I've also got the paid stuff to do.

Jazee

Well today I bought some fish which should do for two meals but that does depend a bit on how hungry DH is when he gets home later. He forgot to take his packed lunch today.

I also made a donation to DSs Movember site. He rarely needs to shave anyway, but as he is ill this charity is very close to his heart, so how could I say, its also NOvember!!

And my Mr T order got delivered. Its a mix of DHs non alcoholic drinks which come out of his old alcohol budget and other shopping out of the Grocery budget. Because of the £20 voucher, I got all my shopping for free. YAY!!!

Jazee

Today has been a lovely day here in North Yorkshire. It was really lovely to have blue skies and sunshine that I could ignore the cold and wind. Pouring with rain now though.

Today has been a spendy day as I had lots of post to send and two sympathy cards to buy (yes two, it never rains but it pours). I took the money from the cash in my purse so haven't touched any other budget.

DH is getting into the MSE frame of mind. He did buy a sandwich yesterday BUT it was a half price one. And he says to keep our Coop £10 voucher to buy some last minute reductions at Xmas time which seems sensible.

I have put a meerkat toy on e*ay to sell, will see how it does but its all extra to me if it sells. Still waiting on another two toys as I took out 3 separate insurances for the dogs.

Next week I will be taking part in a radio survey and will get a £5 amazon voucher. I've never had an amazon voucher before! Last time I did one of these surveys I got £5 cash.

For anyone wondering why I am doing things like this when I've got money to save, well I haven't really, but I'm trying to do lots of things at once. The debt is gradually reducing and as I finish each debt I aim to put the money which was going on it to the others. But at the same time, I want some savings pots - my meagre savings for rainy days, an ISA just because its a good idea, and my mortgage fund because when the debt is out of the way, I'd like to have something to put towards a deposit.

ionafan

Hi Jazee

Sorry I wasn't around to commiserate when things were so bleak for you, but I'm back in residence now.

You have been doing so well over the past couple of months and deserve a big (((hug))). So does your DH, but I wouldn't presume to hug a man I don't know personally (and not even most of the ones I do know!) - so you can give him one from me!!!

How is your DS? I hope he's feeling a bit better.

I expect you've picked up from the flylady list that my DH has finally had his medical and results, which mean that he cannot continue in his current job. At least he is still being paid while he looks for another post (hopefully for another 6 months, after which the company will probably offer him voluntary redundancy) and he is putting in applications for any suitable jobs that come up on the internal list. If he can't get another job he can just take his pension and finish a couple of years earlier than he would have liked. But the main thing is that he is no longer stressed in the same way, and life has become much easier for us. My blood pressure has come down too, partly due to the medication I'm on, but also because DH's problems aren't stressing me out so much.

I have had 2 days of looking after my DGSs in their half term week. We went to Greenwich by boat on Thursday (not cheap for me but the boys are still too young to need tickets), then to the National Maritime Museum (free) where they spent about half an hour in the playing with the food lists for officers and crew on board the old sailing ships. DGS1 can already read very well, despite only having started school in September, so of course he took charge. They decided that they were the officers and I was the crew, so all I got was bread and oatmeal and the occasional bit of cheese or salt beef, whilst they were enjoying roast duck or pork or chicken with butter on their bread and mangoes for dessert - almost like real life! Yesterday was an animals day: we went to St James's Park to see the pelicans, then on to the Horse Guards, and finally to Trafalgar Square (lions!) and the National Gallery to see Rousseau's wonderful tiger. I still managed to spend about £40 in 2 days, what with some of my travel and lunches out for all three of us (too cold for picnics) and also a couple of postcards and the book The Tiger Skin Rug for the boys - but it was fun and I don't begrudge that much.

Refilling the bird feeders has begun to feature on my daily list again now that summer is officially over. The robin was first down when I put out the first mealworms of autumn on Wednesday, and the jay has had a peck at the fat block this morning. DH saw a couple of squirrels going after the peanuts yesterday morning, but otherwise it has been fairly quiet. Hopefully the woodpeckers will return - one was checking out the empty feeders a week ago. Ah - and now I can see a great tit on the peanuts. I have got enough bird food to last until Christmas (I hope!) and will also put it on my Santa wish list.

DH has just said that he is taking me to the garden centre for a £1.99 breakfast, so I can also buy some pansies to go in the pots for the patio which I must plant up this weekend - the packs of bulbs have been sitting in the back porch for about 6 weeks, waiting for me to summon up enough energy to deal with them.

Must go.... Have a good weekend.

Jazee

Hello Ionafan. Good to hear from you again. I have been keeping up with your posts on flylady thread and its such good news for you and your DH, less stress is always a good thing. Oh, and yes I'll give my DH a hug later!

DS is still the same and has to go to hospital week after next, so its another couple of weeks of vets, hospitals and doctors for us, like it is for so many people. But DS took some time off work this week and spent a few days with some friends and I think thats perked him up a bit.

It sounds like you've had a great time with the DGSs this week and only £40, well done. I remember taking my two on a big ship when they were small, it was such a great day and a great holiday that the picture of the three of us (DH was holding the camera) is one I still keep on display. Makes me smile and remember each time I dust it which is more frequently now I'm a flylady.

Lovely to hear about the birds, I've got some fat balls so I'm going to put them out later when I get back from second dog walk and still have my boots on.

Today, DH and I had to run a few errands in town so did a 'big' shop as well as weekly shop while there. Total for both £120.42 so currently coming in at £50 under budget on groceries for the month if I can keep this up. Oh and free parking saving the grand sum of £1.20.

Jazee

And diary, I can now report my first NSD of the month. Off to groom the two older dogs to take their minds of the fireworks. Littley already had a bath in the kitchen sink today.

Jazee

Ok, second NSD now recorded. It very nearly didn't happen as I forgot to marinate the meat for tea tonight (its now going to be tomorrow's tea) and was all ready to get a take away. But DH said no, so I've defrosted some mince and spag bol now bubbling away nicely. Oh and two portions will go back in the freezer for another time. How MSE is DH?!!!

Jazee

Hello diary and lurkers. DH continues to be very mse at the moment. Yesterday he bought home some reduced items for the freezer. Not much to report this week, only 2 NSDs. Got some jeans at £7 a pair and Xmas presents, also on offer. Am still well within grocery budget.

Jazee

Just back from church for remembrance service so today is not a NSD as put something in the collection tray.

Jazee

Have marked today as a NSD and I have sold the meerkat toy on e*ay.