Here we go...a new MFW!

feelingfestive

So far done:
1 x load of washing
Top up shop
Poo picking (which wasn't on the original list)

And then I made the mistake of putting the tv on and watching the tennis! Next plan is to tidy up ready to clean first thing in the morning.

feelingfestive

Thought I'd do a little update on how things are going so far! I'm actually pretty pleased and I'm feeling much more positive. I'm sure the sunshine is helping but I finally feel like I'm getting to be more on top of things. So out of the original list I only have a few things remaining:

• Pack for the Normandy trip
• Do 1 pre-course task for the EdD
• Sort Year 10 Controlled Assessments
• Clean House
• Ironing

I'm also happy to say that if I don't get the Controlled Assessments sorted it won't be the end of the world so this is good. I'm actually quite pleased that I can accept that something won't get done right now as this has often been a problem for me. I have a list and I must complete what is on that list otherwise I get stressed and often I haven't taken into consideration when these things really need to be done by.
In money news we've spent a fair amount of money this weekend. We had some great friends over for a BBQ last night which was brilliant but we did have to go out and buy the meat although we had nearly everything else. OH is sorted the window frames at the back of our house. Plan was to sand them down and prime them ready to gloss so that they're winter ready. But as he started work he realised that one window frame was completely rotten. We didn't want to replace the whole window as this seems silly when we will take them all out eventually anyway when we do the building work so OH decided he could fix it by buying pieces of timber to match and remaking the frame. He's done a brilliant job but we did have to spend nearly £20 on timber. Still at least it is cheaper than a whole new window that we'll rip out in 2 years anyway!
Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine as much as us!

Alchemilla

feelingfestive wrote: »

I make my own and it's really potent.
2-3 tsp neem oil
2-3 tsp citronella
2tbsp vinegar
1/2 pint tea brewed with 8 strong tea bags
2 crushed garlic cloves
Make up to 2 litres with water.

It stinks to high heaven but the midges and horseflies hate it! On really bad days I just stick in extra garlic.

I have ordered up stuff to make this. Where did you get it?

feelingfestive

Hi Alchemilla, I ordered all the oils through amazon. They cost about £10 in total but should last for ages. I worked it out that it cost me £1.50 to make a 2lt refill of the spray. Much cheaper than the £15-£20 I was paying from the tack shop!
Ridiculous!


On other things! Life is manic! I have enrolled on a Doctorate course and so this week is the summer school. I've spent every day in uni from 7am-7pm followed by little bits of DIY and normal household jobs. I have given up even attempting to ride this week. I'm really enjoying being back in the uni environment and challenging my thinking so I think I've made the right decision. Pay day is not so far away and although we've spent quite a bit on small things for the house I think we have saved a reasonable amount so hoping to OP and put some into the savings funds.
Hope all is well with everyone

[Deleted User]

Hi feelingfestive!
Cant believe I haven't noticed your diary before as I spend most of the year looking forward to the festive season! :rotfl:

I can relate to finding it hard to "let go" of work stuff or accept it may not get done perfectly *or at all!* and that's okay most of the time ... Im not a teacher but can relate to feel like having a thousand things to do and no time/energy to do it!

Glad you are feeling more positive- the sun definitely helps there!

Alchemilla

I think you need a rest rather than a kick in the pants.

I tried the fly repellent and it is pretty good watching the horseflies land and then fly straight off.

Hope trip goes ok.

feelingfestive

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted. Things have been pretty mental here. Started me EdD and really enjoying it so far. Getting my brain back into thinking at an academic level has proved tricky, especially at the end of the term! Money wise it's not been great! I think the main problem has been all the bits and bobs that we've had to buy for the house. We are now back into saving money mode. Despite this we have managed a £300 OP this month which is great. Need to meal plan in order to help save more money. Am planning to use my holidays wisely by getting a lot of the reading for the first assignments done and also by cycling lots and losing weight!
Hope everyone is well.

feelingfestive

So here's a little update. Things have been completely manic recently. I've been working on my EdD quite a lot recently which has meant I've put even more weight on! So it's back to SW for me and I feel energised and keen.
On the money front things are OK. We've still been getting bits for the house and we've found things have been more expensive than needed. We needed loads of timber to replace 3 huge window frames which had rotted out and the outside seems to drink paint so we've had to spend an extra £150 on paint! :eek: Mr ff has been stocking up his man cave with "essential tools" so that's been a bit pricey. To be fair he has used them all but still! So after last months £300 OP and this month mortgage which has just gone out the total mortgage now stands at £203040.51! Doesn't seem to have taken much off but I guess that's the way it'll go for a while. Hoping to save a bit more this month to OP as Mr ff brought home some extra pennies from work and I've had a little extra pay for a trainee teacher I was working with.
Hope everyone is having a great day.

feelingfestive

Hello all!
Haven't been around much recently but have been lurking and reading threads even if I haven't been commenting. Not much has changed on the money front but OH and I have been working hard on saving money. We did go camping for a few days but we tried to keep the costs down. It's 2 weeks until payday so the aim is to not spend any money until then! That way we should have a decent amount left to pay off the family loan and make a decent OP! Exciting!
I'm working on distracting myself with jobs around the house. So far we've stripped, primed, undercoated and glossed all the windows (a lot!) at the back of our new house. I've done some serious reading for my EdD although more is definitely required! I've got some veggies going although these need planting out very soon. I'm also planning to gut my classroom and get a new filing system going and new displays up ready for September. I believe the delightful Ofsted are due this year so hoping that if my classroom is top notch it'll give me a little bit of a head start, especially now they don't give us any warning!
On another note I have lost 4lb on SWorld so far which is an OK start for 2 weeks that I've been doing it. Hoping to keep it nice and consistent with a 1-2lb loss every week until I hit target!
Hope all is well with else!

feelingfestive

Very exciting day today! I've just been paid (which is exciting in itself!) but I have finished paying off the family loan from when we moved! Woo!!! :T:T
So since we've moved we've paid off the credit card and the family loan! It feels great that we can now put our attention onto the mortgage as that's the only group we now owe money too! To celebrate this fact I have made a £300 OP :T Feeling very pleased.

Our emergency fund is up to £3000 which is OK but I'd like £5000 by the end of the year whilst continuing to OP as much as possible. I'm really enjoying seeing the mortgage come down and when the payment goes out on the 1st I shall be updating my signature. I think (fingers crossed) that we will make it to under 201k by the end of the year.
Things that we have been buying for the house seem to have slowed a little which is good news and we are just buying little bits and bobs to get us winter ready. OH has been doing a bit of overtime which is great and has given us some extra pennies. Want to save as much as possible so that we can start putting money away for the house conversion and a wedding in 2015.
Things are looking good! :D:D