To Freedom...

kirstypark

Hosted a party for around 40 people yesterday, house was buzzing and everyone seemed to enjoy it. made large vat of chilli and 2 lots of soup, much cheaper and more filling than party nibbles, then threw margerita ice cream at them. Think we received more drink than we already had it, along with quite a few presents - it's my birthday next wednesday so a few people came with cards for that, which is so nice that folk remember such a wee event in amoungst the big celebrations.

Night ended with my dad on the guitar and some of daughter's pals singing rude words to old scottish songs...

Just got rid of the last guests who stayed overnight and planning a peaceful day with tea and papers now. It's beginning to feel like christmas now. We have spent more this year, but it was well worth it.

kirstypark

have had a great christmas (and birthday - 45:eek:) had parents for big meal yesterday and brother with his 57 kids round last night. Got enough boxes of chocolate to start a branch of Thorntons and loads of leftovers to get through. Best bargain was our sprouts on sale for 6p.

Not going near the sales, but have decided to splash out on a greenhouse if i can find one as a bargain. Have about £300 left in our house budget and that is the only thing left to buy.

Is it sad that i am looking forward to another year of saving and getting rid of this mortgage?

kirstypark

have only £225 in house account :eek: not enough for a greenhouse sadly, but OH still to be paid this week so might manage to squirrel away some cash for that. Still busy socialising - out on friday night with freinds at a tribute night. Had £15 left in our drink kitty between 7 of us so bought lotto tickets, but didn't win anything, so back to work tomorrow. Managed to get tickets for hogmany event on facebay, so looking forward to that.

House still full of leftovers (mainly drink and chocolate) and am now the fattest i have ever been, which means nothing fits. Will have to get back to the gym and healthy eating. Picked up sausagemeat to make sausage rolls with for 30p yesterday - won't lose much weight with that kind of moneysaving!

kirstypark

OH got paid today and managed to skim off £800 which i am hoping to use for tax bill. have transfered it into savings account for now to get a bit of interest as bill not due until end of jan.

Have applied for the new job - but my own job has been going really well this week. Sod's law. I might not get an interview, so not going to worry.

kirstypark

Happy new year, have had a very sober new year actually, DS was working nightshift, DD working today and out with her pals last night so hubby and me went to outside concert in town. Tickets had been sold out well in advance in summer but someone was selling hers on facebay last week for face value, so we decided to snap them up. It was very cold and very busy - lost our freinds we were meeting up with and another called to say she was ill so didn't first foot her. Came home at 1 and sitting with no hangover - a first for me!

Got 5 days off now - gonna challenge ourselves to spend as little as possible but keep busy and not slob about on the couch. Think a walk this morning before the forcast rain arrives. There is a new year dip on in town harbour that my mad family usually do, not this year as we have all had other priorities, but will go and watch.

kirstypark

paid our usual direct debit to the mortgage this morning and then overpaid another £200. This leaves us quite tight for january, but we work best when the cash isn't sitting around. Total outstanding is £93,800 - it's not gone down by much thanks to the daily interest.

kirstypark

Not been to the shops yet and been through fridge, freezer and cupboards trying to sort out food. Had salad, cold beef and yellow stickered new potatoes for tea last night, tea tonight is a cottage pie to get rid of bits of veg. We've been walking, reading and doing a jigsaw son gave me for christmas. OH went to first foot a freind and i took down the decorations - all very peaceful here.

Today's job is to go for a swim, then into the bank to ask them to give me some interest on my currant account that we have had for 30 years. If not, then we are switching!

LauraJo

Hi KP - just having a catch up, sounds like you are doing really well on the money saving stakes! I think Jan is going to be a healthy month for most of us - I for one have eaten my body weight in food every day since the middle of Dec
Good luck with the bank!

kirstypark

Hi LauraJo, definately back on the mse wagon after spending too much and eating too much. Although there is still a pile of chocs to get through here.

Bank upgraded our account and will be getting 1.5% interest now - not a huge amount, but considering we've had that account for 30 years with nothing to show for it, anything is a plus. Mind you, for most of those years we were living in our overdraft! I know we could switch, but i know all the account numbers and local branch is handy... I am just a lazy cow really!

Signed up to john lewis loyality card to get free coffee and cakes every month - and to the gourment society 2 month card, thanks to :money: email this week. Also emailed tesco cos some crab ravioli parcels we had on xmas eve didn't contain any crab - so just empty pasta parcels. They wanted all kinds of details when they replied a week later and i had thrown the packet out, so very nice customer service lady said she would send a £5 giftcard out.

kirstypark

quite looking forward to back to work tomorrow, Mr P has been off for past 2 weeks and is definately needing back to work. He has had loads of calls from folk looking for lessons, but has decided to stop the business this month as not making a profit unless he works full time at it, and already doing this in main job. Bit sad, but means i can have his car for my work which is newer and more fuel efficient. Might even sell my car, but will wait till summer as it is a convertible so will get more for it then.

Off to parents today to meet up with relatives i don't like much - still, it will get us out. Gonna take the last of my tablet and some booze to get it used up. Think after today i might join the drink free january challenge - i don't drink much so shouldn't be that hard, not like giving up chocolate or anything else really nice :rotfl: