8.8 years

Octobergirl

A beautiful day today, went for a 6 mile walk with the dog. Beef casserole in the hot pot to be portioned up and frozen. I cooked a ham last night and have sliced that (my meat slicer is one of my favourite gadgets:D) it always amazes me how many slices you get compared to the prepackaged....and soooo much nicer.

Homemade yoghurt for lunch, I've transferred £300 from my yearly spends account to pay my overdraft off and rang the bank to raise my over payments. Sadly I can't do it online as we're still on a fixed rate for another year.

I figure that I can drop my petrol budget by at least £5 a week now, so have increased ops by £20 to £80 pm. I'm hoping that will knock 2 more months off and so should be mortgage free in exactly 7 years:T

I have a list of cleaning chores to do, which quite frankly I can't be bothered with.......should never have sat down for that cuppa.....

Octobergirl

Another 6 mile walk yesterday, so hit my target for 3 x in a week. Unfortunately I've been eating twice as much, negating the potential weight loss....OH came and we had a good chat about finances. I suggested once his bike loan finishes in April, we could put the payments towards the mortgage and knock another 4 months off.....he appeared happy with the suggestion:)

2x NSD this week, I shall aim for 4 per week after half term.
busy week of activities lined up with the kids, I've put £50 aside so need to keep to budget.

Ph@tobox have 70% of calendars, I already had them designed for the in-laws christmas presents and was waiting for a good offer. Unfortunately I had drunk a fair amount of Cava last night (left from birthday in Aug) and mucked up the order:o lovely lady at customer services sorted it out first thing this morning.

2 new Mse ides I've picked up from here and starting to use, bringing pasta/rice to the boil then turning off. Fascinating to see that it still cooks without heat. Just dug out an old thermos. As I'm on my own at home during the day, I can't justify using the heating etc. I'm going to fill the thermos with boiling water in the morning to use for my cups of tea.....think I've just crossed the line from Mse to being plain old tight:eek:

Having a rare night out with oh tonight and making the most of it, cinema and a meal out- I usually pick up the tab, but tonight shall make sure we split the bill.

Octobergirl

We had a lovely evening out, only slightly marred by DD having hysterics for 4 hours. She has separation anxiety, it took us 5 years to get her comfortable with us going out for the evening - lots of tears and clingy ness for the week beforehand. We are now back to square one and I'm at the stage where we're going to have to refer to cahms for advice as it's so draining.

Shattered today as I was up bidding on ebay at 2am. We've been trying to sort out an MP3 player for DD, one with speakers and big buttons, no joy in the uk, but found the Canadians do a Sweetpea3 which is perfect. Except they're discontinued and like hens teeth to get hold of. I now have one winging its way from the states - coming out of her savings so not impacting on the budget.

Some spending however, DS needed new trainers and a raincoat. Successful shopping trip at a nearby outlet centre. Clark's trainers half price £20, raincoat half price with an extra 20% off at £15. These are the first new clothes I've bought him, as we've had hand me downs and charity bargains for the past 4 years......feels very frivalous.

Only 7 sleeps til school..........

Octobergirl

The calendars have arrived and look fab, very pleased and in_laws presents sorted.

Bank letter has arrived. 6.11 years til mortgage free:j:j:j

Octobergirl

Had a fab half term, love the whole Halloween thing, even more so than Christmas as it's no so present orientated.

Hurt my leg so the long walks are out this week. My target each day is to paint a wall and clear out a cupboard on top of usual cleaning / tidying. The hall is lovely and fresh again, kitchen to be tackled next. the paint is left over from building works 2 years ago so very Mse.

£54/£60 food shop. Trying very hard to stick to budget, which has gone up by £10 as DS now has packed lunches. 2x NSD so far, only £1 spent yesterday on reduced stir fry.

£40 spends to last til Sunday......need to replace the lamp in the living room which got broken, we've had a week of 'cinema nights' in the dark! I'm also having a girlie spa and lunch on Friday which needs to be done frugally.

have turned down all radiators in bedrooms and hall. Haven't started my boiling water for tea yet, as OHs thermos is about 20 years old and a bit manky. Been pricing them up but can't justify cost yet....I might request one for my Christmas present...only 50 sleeps away as DD informed me yesterday:(

Dreading the Christmas hols, hate the commercial aspect, and overtired, spoilt children. I've really cut back on the children's presents and want it to be more experience orientated, so started planning the two weeks break with carol services, Boxing Day walks etc. I've booked a travel@dge room in the sale and plan to go to a water park in the second week, it will be good to have something to look forward to as it's an anti-climax after the months of build up....

Octobergirl

so, last weeks spends.....
£69/£60 food
£15 for lamp
£30 spa & lunch
£15 iPad lead
£22 petrol......ouch

On the positive front, DDs new splints still fit her shoes, so don't need to buy any new ones.
Parents have given me an early Christmas present, a Thermos hot pot, which is fab, filling it in the morning and saves boiling the kettle for the rest of the day:T

Did a HUGE lid! Shop today, loads of meat, all for £54....just had the whole garlic roasted chicken, gorgeous.

Octobergirl

Ahhh, slacking again. I haven't done my jars this week and it shows. £95/£60 on food - next week will have to be a be a bread and water week.

£26 spent on school uniform top ups, £10 on wine...... and bargain of the week, £17.48 spent on Halloween items from T@scos, all knocked down to 25p. Party bags made up for 18 children (DDs birthday is on Halloween) and loads of fab decs.

Big smile today, as DD and I trialled a new piece prototype of equipment to aid walking.....the OT in charge said she was 'too able' for it:D:D:D:D:D

Octobergirl

Productive day today, I gave the box room two coats of paint and finished the hall and landing:D I did manage to break the bed, but OH is very practical and will be able to mend it.

Finally putting the 'new' blinds up, they've been sat there for the past year. My expensive mistake which should have been for DDs room, I can't even remember what they look like.

My Mse 'find' of the week is Asd@s value dishwasher tablets.....at £1.60 for 30, they are half the price of Mr M's version, and seem to be much better:T

A spendy day today, £25 for a birthday present and £10 spent on food. Lid! Shop tomorrow, which theoretically should be £15 to negate last week's massive overspend.....not going to happen:(

Got to go out tonight, flagging and not really up for it, shall stick to coke.

Octobergirl

Okay, I didn't quite manage £15 at Lid!......budget blown again £72/£60 for this week including the £10 top up, I need to avoid any more top ups, although we've already eaten the 2 loaves of bread since yesterday, so I shall have to replace.

This weekends spends:
£15 petrol
£62 Lid!
£15 swimming + 2 pairs goggles
£26 family National Trust Membership

A good weekend, finished the box room, DS has now moved in, blinds look fab, really pleased as it hasn't cost a penny. We have been swimming, chocolate lolly making, visited 2 NT properties and done all our homework (which is the bane of my life:()

Been searching for months for new chairs for living room, as only 2 left, which are in a really poor state, holes etc Won 2 leather chairs on eb@y, a little more than wanted to spend at £120, but at least we can all sit down now:D

Octobergirl

A great, productive day:T:T
Painted the 2nd bedroom -I am now getting a tad sick of 'Natural Calico', however, free paint left over from the build

Boiled and sliced a ham for tea, hoovered, cleaned bathroom, bid and won a leather sofa from the bay, organised van and man for Monday, organised collection of 2 leather chairs........a glass of wine has been earned today.