My 2020 Vision

XSpender

The decision about the job is that they haven't made a decision! Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I didn't do so bad I am straight out of the running nor did I do so well I blew them away or have they just not met up to decide???? Who knows? I should hear in a day or two so thinking early next week.


I did walk to sains for milk yesterday and it was 4.25 miles. I enjoyed it so will do it again on a nice day when I only need a couple of things that can fir in a back pack.


JSA has arrived and is more than I expected as it is for more than 1 week so I am only £2 off my '£309 holiday pot'.:D I have decided to put this money in the ISA rather than off the card until I start work again.


I have achieved this target with little effort really. DH gets his bonus next month so even with my reduced income and our 1 week hols I should be able to add to the savings pot. After that it will only be tiny amounts and my normal £4 odd OP as I round up my payment. So July/August will be the month I sell the kids items I have to declutter. We also have some old electronics that I want to get rid of too. We need the space, I just need to speak to DH about them;)

ETA: Just thought, I will receive another £148 JSA this month that I hadn't taken into consideration so this will go to savings too. I wonder if I should set myself another £309 challenge and that would be all of the holiday paid for?

I am feeling much more cheerful today. It may because I know the decision about the job is next week or that DH is home again.


Yesterday's shorter to do list probably helped too. Today's list is:

• Make chicken pie for tea (DH wanted salad last night) with a WW potato topping instead of crumbs as out of GF bread
• Make a cake and maybe an apple crumble for the weekend
• Vaccum and dust top to bottom
• Look in the loft for my sports wear (found some pants but need a sports bra before tonight)
• Make a start on mucking out the bathroom
• Last load of washing & 2 loads to line dy
• Start operation Wardrobe Clear Out for me and DS ( will take to the place they buy by weight next week or put on FB pages)
• Eat my 5 a day

Whoops, long post, better crack on.

XSpender

Whoops, haven't updated for a few days.


Had a lovely weekend at dubfest, but it only makes me want a camper more and more as it has always been my dream to own one:o We have said we would get one and then talked ourselves out of it so many times. We got almost given a caravan one year, I say that cos it was so cheap, which we had a few trips in and sold on when DS was born but it isn't quite the same.


After this weekend DH was speaking to a friend who has had one for years and whose kids are now grown and it has made DH decide we need to do it now before DS gets too big and stop putting it off so we are getting one by spring next year before DS gets any older. We like holidays in the UK and I want DS to experience the whole camping experience which is how I spent my childhood holidays. I also want to use one for weekends away too. 2 of our best friends (with kids) have them too.


It's hard to imagine that you can buy a 40 year old vehicle use it for 10 years and sell it for the same value. DH is able to maintain it and is the driver so if he is happy to have it as a project then I am one happy bunny:D


I just cant stop looking at them on the internet now.


I have added £4 in £2 coins to my camper money box yesterday so that will help;) Up to £38 now.


Had a bit of a spendy weekend, not at the meet but in Mr S and Mr T on GF foods that they were having an event on so there was a massive range compared to normal so I got some fajhita kits, GF couscous and a different cereal to try. Most money was spent on t-shirts and jarmas for DS, a new ironing board we don't realty need, some bits for the garden and some new water bottles for our hols.


It's 3 weeks on Friday until we are on hols again, 2 weeks until DH is off work. I need to do a bit of research to find some decent length walks. We have one of those rucksack seat things for DS and this is the last year he is going to fit in it. He can do a 4-5 mile walk but anymore than that and he will need to be carried.


I have found a new blog to read more shabby chic than money saving but it has had me looking at houses not to move just for ideas about what I would do with it if I bought it. Can you tell I am a bit bored?


It did lead me to looking on z00pla at what our house value is and it almost back to what we bought it for in 2006. I know that's not a real value but it is a lot more than it was showing a year or two ago.


I am off to do some new target setting for the camper fund, put some washing on and make a to do list for this week.


Back soon x

XSpender

Morning

Dull and drizzly here this morning.

I have rediscovered a bit of my get up and go and had a productive day yesterday. Even DH commented on how clean and tidy the house looked. I wrote a to do list in the morning but forgot to post it so it looks like I am cheating a bit with lots crossed off:o


I think having the 2 interviews and waiting to hear about the job messed up my routine but I have put it to the back of my mind as I still haven't heard and am getting on with my life.


The other good news is I found my work out stuff and sports bras:j There is less than I thought but I think I may have had a clear out last year.


To do list for the week




1. Post birthday cards - done

2. Pick up prescriptions and take to pharmacy - done

3. Meal plan for the week - done

4. Small food shop- done

5. Dust bedrooms done and side of bathroom done

6. Vacuum living room- done

7. Clean kitchen floor- done

8. Swish, swipe, dishwasher and shine sink daily – done

9. Washing – 4 loads – towels, whites, coloureds, darks – done

10. Half the existing ironing pile - done

11. Swim x 2 - done

12. Zumba x 1 - done

13. Name change at building society done

14. Take item back - done

15. Make hair appointment

16. Do something with my eyebrows – done

17. Organise and list larder cupboard - bought some small mesh baskets, not listed

18. Update CV - done

19. Do some job hunting – apply for min 2 jobs - done

20. Find some walks for holidays and print out - had a look not found anything I want to do

21. Sort out mine and DS Wardrobes and bag for kilo man - not done

Another 1 added today

22. Look in the library for some Alpine books fro DH (no doubt I will find some for me too;)) done



I was looking at houses yesterday and found a perfect house for us. The ideal location, decent price, lovely garden, the kind of kitchen extension we would love and ready to move into. I just need a job and a big enough deposit:rotfl:


I'm going to finish my tea and make a start on the ironing. Oh joy!

XSpender

Lovely day here.


I am all dressed ready for Zumba:eek: I haven't done an exercise class in years!


The library is next door so I am going to pop in as DH wants some gardening books and I want to have a look at the cookery/crafty/lifestyley books.


I will need to pop to Mr T to take something back and to get DH some bread rolls for tea as we are having chorizo burgers.


I have rediscovered Mr Money Moustache and have been reading that this morning. I have looked at it before but found the site difficult to navigate and it appeared to be on about investments but today I followed the 'start here' instructions and am enjoying it.


Our food spends are getting out of hand this month and I really need to cut this back. It is a ridiculous amount of money to spend and I really need to get this sorted. All our other expenses are low it is just this one I really struggle with.


We have 2 weeks off in July with the 2nd week in a caravan. DH has been looking at adding four days on at the beginning at a different site. Had a look today and they are much cheaper if you wait and get a late deal so I am going to hold on as long as I can and if I can get 4 days for £150 I will do it. They haven't released any of the dates we want on the offers yet otherwise its nearly £500 and the week is only costing us £600!


Quick snack before Zumba and must not forget water bottle!

XSpender

I didn't get the job:( They said it was very close and that is why it has taken a while to make a decision. They offered me a less senior position instead but it is at the same level as the job I took redundancy from last month so I declined it as I feel I would end up doing the work of the more senior position using my experience but getting paid at the lower level. I didn't even ask the salary TBH but I know what the going rate is.


I was intending to have the summer off with DS anyway but find myself job hunting this week and now feel down and unsettled.


Zumba was great and I will go again. I was a sweaty mess with a bright red face by the end:eek:


Right, off to have a tidy up and do something useful instead of moping about.

Goldiegirl

The whole redundancy thing is very unsettling. I was made redundant 5 years ago, and, although I wanted a short break between jobs, I was obsessively looking at the job websites all the time. I'm sure the right job will come along for you in time, but in the meantime you can enjoy a bit of time out

XSpender

Thanks Goldiegirl. 2nd time in 4 years for me:(, although this time was voluntary as I am at a bit of a cross roads and unsure what I want to do, where I am going. Mid life crisis??:rotfl:


It is much cooler today after yesterday's scorcher.


I need to keep busy today or I will be moping about feeling miserable so today's plan of action is:


1) Check banking/update spreadsheets - tick
2) lunchtime swim - tick
3) Visit library again and get some books for me as fancy something different than the murder and fantasy stuff I have on my kindle - tick
4) NSD - cant remember
5) Vacum living room - tick
6) Clean bit of bathroom DH missed tick
7) Sort out my wardrobe and bag up stuff for kilo man
8) Make a hair appointment
9) Try and find camera that DH has misplaced 2 weeks before our hols:eek:
10) Make double choc cake with dodgy looking nanas. tick


May have a peruse of job sites too.

XSpender

Hello


MIA for a few days but did manage to do most of the to do list I set myself last week which is a good thing as after a long walk yesterday I have been too tried to do much today:o


We have decided not to add a short trip to the front of our week away but stick to the plan to holiday from home and visit my Mum for a couple of days on the way to our holiday.


I am up to 2011 on Mr MM blog and am enjoying it. Had a bit of a talk with DH yesterday on our walk about what we want and feel that a bit of a plan for the next few years is forming, I think goals will be clarified on our hols next month.


This weeks to do list is as follow. Not much money saving I suppose but the 'get a job' tasks will need to be accomplished as part of any plan;):

• Dishwasher, swipe sides and shine sink daily
• Mop kitchen floor
• All laundry, ironed and put away
• Clear the other half of the ironing pile that has been hanging around for months
• List and sort store cupboard and freezer - done
• Make lemon cake
• Make hair appointment for me and DS
• DH to change tariff on my phone to minimum level
• Vaccum and dust living room and stairs -done
• Vaccum and dust upstairs done
• Sweep bathroom floor
• Chase up opening of new ISA and transfer funds chased, will be next week
• Apply for 5 jobs
• Buy storage boxes (H0me bargains) and sort out our bedroom shelves and top of wardrobe not in our store will have to order
• Zumba x 1 nope
• Swim x 2
• Walk minimum 6 miles at the weekend
• Research walks for holidays Old man of Coniston, high street
• Mend breakfast tray
• Find camera – now urgent and worrying as lots of photos still on card and I don't want to spend money on a new one no luck yet

Roll on DH pay day next Monday and JSA day and I can add more to the savings and will be over the amount we have set as a 'the amount we never let our savings go under level' This is the first of our mini goals in the plan for the next 5 years.:)


No real money/MFW news but I did add £6 in £2 coins to the camper van fund this weekend:D

XSpender

Spendy, spendy day today!:eek:

I did a stock up shop at Mr T and Sains to make use of £15 minimum spend vouchers and also used up £10 of n3ctar points. Saved over £55 in all and now have under £60 to last until the end of July but I am on an absolute mission this month to cut our ridiculous food bill.:mad: I have enough meat to last the month, lots of frozen veg (but no peas) and lots of pasta.

Also got 2 pairs of jarmas for DS for now, jarmas for DStepD and DH for Christmas and a new cossie for me, all half price. Not sure if I look like I’m wearing a maternity swimsuit or doing an imitation of the special K woman in it.:o My sporty one is getting a bit thread bare and I fancied something a bit snazzier.

One of my favourite shops is having a sale today so ordered my bday gifts from DH and DS and my DM/DstepD and managed to get a new parents gift for DBIL/DSIL for 1/3 of the price (baby not due for a while yet but knew exactly what I wanted and when it was on sale decided to get it and put it away).:)

I have set myself a target of saving £1000 between 30th June and 30th July. There are some normal saving payments in there as DH gets his bonus this month and I am expecting some income from elsewhere but I will still need to save/make over £300 as we will have holiday spending money to cover too. These savings will go in the ISA towards paying off mortgage no 2.

£4 in £2 coins added to Camper stash, think it’s at £46 now.:)

I have been naughty this week and not been to the gym once and I have a boozy cocktail based lunch date with my friend tomorrow so won’t be going Friday either.:o

I am still reading the MMM blog and finding it really motivating. It does make me want to give myself a slap for the stupid waste of money in my younger and not so younger years when I could be close to FI now. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now except not go back to those ways and save like a crazy thing now.

XSpender

Last week was a bit of a wash out and I didn’t really achieve much except for clearing the ironing pile, some of which has been lying about for weeks. Ironing usually hurts my dodgy back but we have bought a new ironing board which is ergonimicaly (is that the right word??) designed and it has made a huge difference.
There was a c0ck up with DH wages and they haven’t paid him half his bonus. It is just an oversight but I am hoping they don’t expect him to wait until next month! We don’t need it to spend but I wanted to transfer the right amount to our ISA when they finally open it.
Met up with a friend last week and I have a few ideas about my employment future whizzing about in my head. I won’t be doing anything until we come back from our hols mid month but research and lots of thinking to do.
Nothing done towards £1000 savings target but I did stop DH taking a couple of bits to the tip I am hoping to sell on FB.
DS hours change at nursery this week and DH is on hols from Friday so I need to get all my tasks completed this week (a lot of them today really) so we are ‘on holiday’ from Saturday even though we don’t go away until a week on Friday.
Today’s list

• Banking
• Washing and ironing so it’s all up to date
• Make hair appointments
• Make a cake
• Clean house top to bottom
• Turn dodgy apples into apple crumble
• Find a guide for the 13 mile walk we are doing on Saturday