My Busy Life

girlatplay

I'm the same with yearly bills. I save so that I can pay them up front. I saved £33 on my home insurance. Delighted so I was!

I would also love to be at home. I always wanted to be a stay at home mum but sadly, that wasn't to be. I had to go back to work when Little Miss Gap was 4 months old. I have worked ever since (apart from a year when I went to college to update my skills). I loved days off when I could spend time with LMG, take her to school, pick her up, just do my own thing with my child. I don't think I will ever be able to afford to give up work. I will be working until I am 70 probably! x

MissOptimistic

Hi Sidneysmum, sorry I have been AWOL - been up to my ears decorating, but just finished the last of the glossing & so sat down with a cuppa & some biscuits to catch up with your diary.
Thats a fantastic arrangement you have come to with the post office. Thats my worst nightmare, having to stand there for half an hour, especially since sometimes they only have one cashier working, and you can hear people behind you tutting because they have to wait!
I couldn't believe you had 75 items listed, that's fantastic. I just have half a dozen things on at the moment, and have been trying to get rid of a few more through a local facebook page, as it avoids the fees, the postage & the trip to the PO - a lady has just been to pick up a tea service that was my grans, there were 3 tea cups, 5 saucers and 6 sideplates. It was very pretty, but just gathering dust in a cupboard - its 5 years since she passed away, and I now feel I can let go - hopefully to someone who will appreciate them (and I'm £12 up too )
I have to drive to the coast this evening to pick up hubby who has been doing some work on the rental house, he has stopped over since Sunday as its too far to travel, so I need to get the kids organised with their tea when I come in from the school run & make the 2 hour journey which Im not looking forward to. Luckily my eldest son is 16 in 2 weeks time, the others are 14 & 8 so I do feel ok about leaving them for a short while.
I am working in my mother in laws shop tomorrow & Friday as they have gone away for a few days to celebrate my Father in laws 70th. Its usually pretty quiet, so I will take my book and catch up on some reading.
Have a lovely few days & I hope your shoulder continues to improve

sidneysmum

girlatplay - Well done on your home insurance saving! Its a good feeling. Yesterday I decided to ask at the gym about a yearly membership rather than monthly. As you know I go to the gym loads, so its worth me paying up front if i can save money. At the moment i pay about £21 per month, but i wanted to upgrade my membership to include some perks i currently dont have. Anyway to cut a long story short, I took out a yearly membership which is actually for 14 months and it will cost me £17 per month by paying up front. So thats just what i did. I am now £250 worse off.....but made a great saving. x

MissOptimistic - Hi, and glad you are cracking on with the decorating. Its just so good to keep busy. It just makes me feel so positive when i am busy and achieving goals !! The ebaying has been great actually. I sent a load of parcels last Monday and i have started packing up items which will definitely sell this Sunday. I have got one or 2 home collections coming up - hoover and large casserole dish. I just feel good gettibng rid of all this stuff. I still have loads of stuff to go. As I have losts of small value items, I think I have about 3 months worth of listings left, as i am allowed to list 90 per month. I am just determined to get rid of most of the stuff. Yesterday I went in my garage amd decided that I need to get rid of some sets of ladders. I have 3 sets of aluminium ladders in there plus the set my son is currently using !! x

On Wednesday I was up about 6 and got the ironing and a few other jobs done. Took Sid out and then dropped my little car Gladys off at the garage. Even though she has passed her car with flying colours last week, I had an oil leak and needed it looking at. Unfortunately is has been a tad expensive (£250) but at least i had the money in the bank with all the saving i have done recently. Anyway, Gladys was in the garage overnight, but luckily the lent me a car as a replacement. Went to the gym and did my usual 60 minutes then went to my new zumba class which i just love. In the afternoon, I did a spot of food shopping and a bit of gardening whilst the weather was OK. At night I went for a walk with my friend and we had a great time chatting.
Yesterday I was up early again and took Sid for a quick walk round before getting to the gym at 8.30. I am still collecting loads of recycling on my walks, so I always look like the bag lady when I am out with the dog ! After the gym I did a spot of shopping. Got some free leaves for the piggies. Also went in the pound shop and bought a Harris paint brush for £1 which was amazing value. Also bought some pizza base mix so that i can use up some odds and ends which are lurking about in the fridge and freezer and will be perfect as a pizza topping. Next went to dance aerobics which was good fun. Yesterday afternoon saw me listing a few things on Ebay which will end in 10 days time. I also did a bit of ebay packing. At tea time I went and collected Gladys from the garage and went to my very energetic zumba class. Went straight out for another walk with my neighbour and we had another hours chat.
My life at the moment is good. Although i have got loads of bills to pay, I am feeling in control of things. The only thing I would change in my life is going out to work. I know I only work 2 days a week, but i made the choice to earn less money and be at home rather than earn a really good salary and hardly ever be at home.
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving few days.

sidneysmum

Apologies for the lack of posts over the last few days. I just seem to be occupied with some little project or just plain mischief !!!
On Friday morning I went to the gym for my usual 60 minutes then took Sid for a quick walk round. I had to get a bit of a spurt on as i was attending a meeting at the nursing home my aunt is a resident at, and we spent a few hours discussing her care etc. Anyway I had to miss zumba, so i just went and called for the grandchildren and brought them to my house. It just feels great when i have them with me. Even though its hard work, i just love having them with me.
Saturday morning was a bit of an experiment. I took my grandson to the cinema to see Walt Disney`s "Frozen" and we took my 8 month old grandaughter with us. She behaved perfectly. I was amazed. Maybe its because it was a new experience. After lunch i took them to see my aunt in the nursing home. She actually responds when she sees the children. I returned them to their own home at tea time then spent my Saturday night relaxing.
Sunday morning saw me up early and i went to a couple of car boot sales. They were a bit disappointing really. However i did manage to buy a few things. I bought a toy for my grandaughter 50p, a set of Beatrix Potter books which look lovely on the shelf in my grandchildrens play room £1. I also bought a big chandalier !!! £4. I havent done anything with it at the moment but i will be having it fitted in the playroom which is a mixture of shabby chic, retro and glamourous. It will look wonderful. I also bought a couple of coloured glass baubles which are used as plant waterers £1. Although i didnt buy much, i felt happy with my purchases. In the afternoon I went to the cinema and saw "Labor Day" which i really enjoyed. When i got back i packed up all my ebay sales and got them all in the boot of the car ready for my trip to the post office. Everything i had listed sold, apart from one or 2 items. I also sold a few items which have required home collection, so i have had a few callers these last few days. I am really enjoying "simplifying my possessions". All this decluttering has made me really think about what i keep in my home. Anything that hasn't been used in recent times is given some scrutiny ....if its not very beautiful, or used, then its gone. I am just not as sentimental as i used to be.
Yesterday and today have been work days for me. Luckily I have been very busy so the time has flown. After work I have gone straight to the post office to drop off more parcels which need dispatching. I still have a couple which are awaiting payment and 4 things which are to be collected from my home. I still have 10 items listed on Ebay which end on Sunday and i am hopeful that they will all sell. I am then going to try and list about 90 items to sell in April as i really want to make massive inroads into the stuff sat in the front bedroom.
Moneywise i have made more progress. I have now paid a big bill for the year which covers the management charge for an apartment that i own. Over the next few days i hope to pay my car insurance renewal although its not due till mid April. I have already sorted out a good deal. I am enjoying being able to progress something each day.
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving few days.:)

Jazee

Well done on the sales Sidneysmum. I have a question. I seem to remember that you have a cinema ticket with unlimited usage. Can you share the details please as it sounds like just the thing for my DD.

sidneysmum

Jazee - Hi. I use an unlimited card for Cineworld cinemas. I pay £15.90 per month and it allows me to see as many films as i want. Its an absolute bargain. Sometimes there arent any films i want to see but some weeks I can see 3. Not sure if other cinema chains do something similar but i use Cineworld as its near to where i live. Nice to hear from you x

I have had a productive couple of days. On Wednesday I was up early and took Sid out for a nice walk. I decided to try a new aerobics class at the gym on Wednesday morning and there was an hour gap before my zumba class. Perfect timing just to do my hour on the treadmill. I enjoyed both classes and think i might carry on with the aerobics for a few weeks to see if i take to it. Came home to my council tax bill for the coming year. It was no sooner on my door mat than I`d paid it. I want to use this coming year as a means to do some saving up so all my bills are biting the dust. I have already paid my house contents and insurance, water rate, MOT, years gym renewal, management charges for my flat, and yesterday i sorted out my car insurance and paid that for the year. I feel as though I am making some progress at the moment. Hopefully I will be able to really get on my feet this coming year and put enough money away to cover a new roof when necessary. I possibly have enough in my savings for the roof now but i could do with a good emergency fund. I hope to carry on with this ebaying as the money i have made has been crucial to me being able to pay so many of my bills outright.
Anyway on Wednesday evening I went out for a meal with my work friend and another couple. We had a really nice time. My work colleague also treated me to some stunning lilies which are now in a couple of vases in my house.
Yesterday I was up early again. I love these light mornings. I took Sid out nice and early then went to the town centre gym I did my usual 60 minutes on the treadmill followed by my dance class which was great fun. I made some mushroom soup when i got home as i had a pack of mushrooms in the fridge which were just past their best. I spent the afternoon sorting out my car insurance and also a chap came round and measured up for a couple of carpets. One for the hall, stairs and landing and the other for the playroom. I wont be doing anything for a few months at least as I have got a few other projects etc ongoing, and i want to get everything out of the way before i move onto the next thing. Also I wanted an idea of cost so i can get saving up again. A lady i know came and dropped a load of baby clothes off for me which will be put to good use. At tea time i went to my energetic zumba class and then went for a nice walk round with my neighbour. Thankfully we got home before the heavens opened.
Today is going to be a bit different for me in that the grandchildren wont be staying tonight. I have already taken Sid out for a walk and been to the gym for my hours treadmill. Also i have hung 2 lengths of "wallpaper" in the morning room. Strictly speaking, its not wallpaper. Its a bit like polystyrene on a roll. One of the walls in the morning room is a proper problem wall and as the whole room is just white painted plaster, any blemishes show through. I just cannot seem to get rid of a wet looking stain on one wall no matter what i do. This has been going on for about 12 years !! Anyway i was in B&Q the other day and i saw this stuff on a roll and it sound the perfect solution. I have hung 2 lengths of it this morning and it looks better already. I will be keeping my eye on things. I just thought it was worth a try. After lunch today i am being collected by a work friend and we are heading off to the city centre to a retirement party. I am really hoping its a success and we all have a good time, especially as i will be missing my zumba class and the grandkids !!!
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great couple of moneysaving days.

sidneysmum

Had a nice, sociable weekend. I went to my friend retirement party on Friday night. I wasn’t too late back so was able to get up quite early and pick up the grandchildren on Saturday morning. We went to the swimming baths. It’s the first time for my granddaughter and she never made a murmur even though the water wasn’t as hot as it could be. They stayed with me till late afternoon when I dropped them off and met up with my neighbour to go for a walk. By the time we got back, I just got myself into my pjs so I could have a lazy night. I was up super early on Sunday as we lost an hour. I wanted to have a mooch round some car boot sales. I bought some toys for my grandchildren and very little else. I bought a wooden dolls bed which needs a little tlc. I will be painting it in eggshell and running up some bedding, maybe even a patchwork quilt. At present, Christopher the cat thinks he owns it !! After car booting I had a nice Mothers Day breakfast and had some company with my sons. One of my sons could make it as he is away and will probably turn up today. I had some lovely flowers and cards so was a happy bunny. I just had time to get showered and spruced up before it was time to go to the nursing home and see my aunt. My cousin and myself then took ourselves off out to an Indian restaurant for a curry. It was great to just spend some time together and have a good old chinwag.
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving few days.

sidneysmum

I decided to change things about a bit regarding work and instead of doing an early shift on Tuesday, I did a late shift. That meant that i could go to the gym and a dance aerobics class in the morning before starting work at 11am. If felt great to be enjoying my morning before going to work. As I get no pleasure from my job at all, I am trying to make sure that I make the most of all my time outside of work. I think i will do a few more late shifts on a Tuesday from now on. I was home from work at about 8pm and just had time for a nice bit of pampering before having a read then bed.
Yesterday i was up early and did a few jobs. I slapped a coat of emulsion on the morning room wall over where i had put the new "wallpaper". There is absolutely no trace of the horrible stain that has plagued me for over 10 years so I am just keeping my fingers crossed. I went to the gym and did 2 lots of 30 minutes n the treadmill. I also did my 2nd aerobics class and a zumba class which were great. I just thoroughly enjoyed myself. Its not just the exercise, its a social thing. I see so many nice people whilst i am there. I spent the afternoon doing a few little jobs and made a start of the wooden dolls bed i bought at the car boot sale. Its really taking shape. The base of the bed was broken so I replaced it withe some very strong card. The frame was just plain wood so i painted it in some white paint which is perfect for painting furniture. My next job is to make some small bedding for it. I already have a few ideas - a tiny patchwork quilt using up some leftover material I have in my stash. At tea time i went to a town centre pub to support my neighbour who was acting as DJ for the afternoon. It wasn't my cup of tea as the pub was full of our towns lowlife ! However it was worth going just to see how the other half live. I only stayed a couple of hours then called at the Asian supermarket near my house. I bought 2 huge sacks of onions and potatoes. I am sure my kids will be helping themselves to my stock - that's why i buy them.
Anyway I am off out to the gym again soon, hoping to make the most of the day. I hope everyone has had a great few moneysaving days.

sidneysmum

Its been a hectic couple of days and i think the rest of today will be too. On Thursday I was up early as usual, took Sid for a walk then went to the town centre gym for my usual 60 minutes. I had a quick run round the shops and got my free leaves of the piggies plus 3 caulis for £1. Next was dance aerobics which was good fun. Although i love going on the treadmill I love my zumba/dance classes too. Before coming home i called at the local discount bakery and bought 2 big cakes for £2.50. One is in the freezer and the other is in the cupboard ! I also called at Aldi as i needed a few shopping basics. I am only buying what i need food wise as i have got quite a lot to use up. The whole point of going to Aldi was to pick up some of their running shoes which are on special offer at the moment. They are £15 and are brilliant. I have had them twice before and they last for ages. I spent my afternoon making some cauli soup and a huge pan of risotto using up some leftover chicken and some asparagus i picked up for 5p ! Did my ebay listing so i now have about 20 items ending next Sunday. I dont think I will make a lot of money with these items but they will be out of my way if they sell. On my way to my teatime zumba i called at "home bargains" I bought 2 huge sacks of dog food for Sidney and a huge bag of loo rolls. Hopefully the dog food will last towards the end of the year. Did my zumba class which was great then had a walk round with my neighbour before getting home at about 7.30. A thoroughly busy day but its how i like things to be. Just making the most of every minute i am not at work.
Yesterday i went to the gym at 6.30 ! I did my hour on the treadmill then took Sid for a walk. I spent most of the morning photographing more items for ebay and doing draft listings. I then spent a very pleasant couple of hours cutting out some cotton fabric into 5 inch squares. I have decided to make myself a patchwork quilt using up cotton fabrics i already have and also I am going to keep my eyes out for pieces of material I see at car boot sales. In fact I might buy old shirts etc as long as i like the material. Later in the afternoon I called to see my new tenant in my rental house and they are very nice. Next stop was zumba again. Before coming home i called and picked up my grandchildren and we had a nice fun evening together.
Unfortunately my grandaughter got us up extra early this morning so we had a few hours to pass before going to the cinema. We saw Justin and the knight of valor which was a cartoon. After lunch we went to see my aunt in the home for an hour. I have now just dropped the children off at their home because tonight i am off out to a 21st. I dont want to be out too late as i would like to get up quite early to go to the car boot sale in the morning,
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving few days.:)

sidneysmum

The last couple of days have been quite uneventful really. I went to the car boot sale on Sunday morning but only spent 30p on 3 small toys for my grandson. It was pretty poor really. I just have no interest in buying a second hand mobile phone or primark clothing! Had a trip to the gym and took Sidney out. I spent the rest of Sunday just rather leisurely pottering about - filled the car with petrol, paid British gas, did a few draft listing for ebay and did a bit of reading.
Monday was a work day and i did an early shift. I was home mid afternoon and did a few more ebay drafts then went out with my friend for a walk round for an hour. Yesterday I did a "mid" shift, so i went to the gym first thing and did my hour on the treadmill followed by my dance aerobics class. Work was dire. No matter how hard i put my mind to being positive about going to work, I still hate it. Thank God i only work a couple of days a week. I can feel a weight lifting off me when i am walking out of the building knowing i have got a few days off.
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving few days.