The march to financial freedom

Skinnylatte

Good news on DS award, and huge boo to the transport situation, is there any-one you could share the load with?

Ali-OK

Thanks guys - I've had the conversation with school around transport and the issues for both DS and me..the best they can do is move him to top of the waiting list for now. Subsequently, he's found out there is one other boy from the same bus stop who hasn't got a place also, so we are trying to find out how he'll get to school in September - lift sharing may be the answer.

Did you try the cake recipe out Alex? I made another one today - chocolate this time which has gone even quicker as DS kept popping into the kitchen to get another slice :rotfl:.

The water bill works out to be @ £27 a month - why it went £33, then £41 then £23 I don't know. So I'm sending £30 a month to savings to cover it from next month for the year, as they seem to bill annually now.

Batch chilli and bolognaise made, stocking up the freezer with extra portions and upstairs housework done as well as all the usual housey weekend stuff. Started to make a list of the new things DS will need for September too - bag, shoes, trousers, shirts, trainers. He's finally grown into his PE kit and blazer - it was rather big 3 years ago. Apart from his blazer looking a bit tatty, the rest is still in really good condition so will be fine unless he outgrows them.

Garden is coming on in leaps and bounds now - all that mega-prep and seemingly taking forever is paying off. Patio was really easy to lay (apparently ) and some setts are in too. Still some cut slabs to be done, rest of pointing and about 240 setts to go :eek:. Thankfully weather has gone from rain all day tomorrow to just early morning.

Artificial grass and accessories are now ordered too and due to arrive on Tuesday. Phew, the big costs are now out of the way and I should have up to date savings figures and budget sorted end of next week.

Financials then:
- bank account checked
- freepostcodelottery checked
- Inbox Pounds - up at £17.00
- Qmee - pot up at 84p

Having an early night as DIYers arrived about 15 mins after I'd got up this morning :eek:

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

in_need_of_direction

[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]1 packet hobnobs can use digestives[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Half a standard jar smooth peanut butter can use melted butter but add this in 2 oz at a time[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]15 oz dark chocolate (approx. 2 big bars)[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]5 eggs[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]70g cubed butter[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]200g caster sugar[/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Heat peanut butter for 20 secs in microwave to soften then add to crushed hobnobs[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Beat eggs, add sugar and beat til roughly double the original size. [/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Melt chocolate and butter in microwave. Fold into egg mix and pour over the base. use eith a loose bottomed flan tin or a spring loaded cake tin depending on how think you want it to be
[/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Cook at 160 for 20 mins ( I prefer 25mins at 150 but this depends on your oven)

amazingly lovely
[/FONT]

AlexLK

Ali-OK wrote: »

Thanks guys - I've had the conversation with school around transport and the issues for both DS and me..the best they can do is move him to top of the waiting list for now. Subsequently, he's found out there is one other boy from the same bus stop who hasn't got a place also, so we are trying to find out how he'll get to school in September - lift sharing may be the answer.

Hope you can arrange something, either lift sharing or with the school transport.

Ali-OK wrote: »

Did you try the cake recipe out Alex? I made another one today - chocolate this time which has gone even quicker as DS kept popping into the kitchen to get another slice :rotfl:.

Tomorrow is cake making day, Ali. Well, it was meant to be the weekend but I had to make an emergency 120 mile round trip to 'accidentally' purchase a Land Rover. We've also been to my cousin's for the weekend and my son now knows we're getting a dog.

Ali-OK wrote: »

The water bill works out to be @ £27 a month - why it went £33, then £41 then £23 I don't know. So I'm sending £30 a month to savings to cover it from next month for the year, as they seem to bill annually now.

Ours seems to be sent every 6 months, though I've never worked our what it costs per month. I'd imagine about £30 per month would cover it, though.

Ali-OK wrote: »

Batch chilli and bolognaise made, stocking up the freezer with extra portions and upstairs housework done as well as all the usual housey weekend stuff. Started to make a list of the new things DS will need for September too - bag, shoes, trousers, shirts, trainers. He's finally grown into his PE kit and blazer - it was rather big 3 years ago. Apart from his blazer looking a bit tatty, the rest is still in really good condition so will be fine unless he outgrows them.

Some of you on here (Ali, you especially) are far too organised for my liking: nice sounding meals batch cooked so no last minute pub meals because no one can be bothered to cook, time set aside to make the house look decent and I'm not just talking about the hall and the one room guests visit and you've even thought about school uniform ... in JULY!

We've ate out all weekend, no, I know it's not good, the house is an utter bombsite (apart from hall and one room ) and though it's going to be our son's first school uniform, it's not something we'd even considered yet.

Ali-OK wrote: »

Garden is coming on in leaps and bounds now - all that mega-prep and seemingly taking forever is paying off. Patio was really easy to lay (apparently ) and some setts are in too. Still some cut slabs to be done, rest of pointing and about 240 setts to go :eek:. Thankfully weather has gone from rain all day tomorrow to just early morning.

Artificial grass and accessories are now ordered too and due to arrive on Tuesday. Phew, the big costs are now out of the way and I should have up to date savings figures and budget sorted end of next week.

All your garden stuff sounds great. You'll be pleased to see the completed area next summer when you're sat outside with a glass of wine enjoying the view.

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]1 packet hobnobs can use digestives[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Half a standard jar smooth peanut butter can use melted butter but add this in 2 oz at a time[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]15 oz dark chocolate (approx. 2 big bars)[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]5 eggs[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]70g cubed butter[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]200g caster sugar[/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Heat peanut butter for 20 secs in microwave to soften then add to crushed hobnobs[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Beat eggs, add sugar and beat til roughly double the original size. [/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Melt chocolate and butter in microwave. Fold into egg mix and pour over the base. use eith a loose bottomed flan tin or a spring loaded cake tin depending on how think you want it to be
[/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Cook at 160 for 20 mins ( I prefer 25mins at 150 but this depends on your oven)

amazingly lovely
[/FONT]

Thank you! That does indeed sound rather easy, I think son and I will make both cakes tomorrow.

beanielou

Yes have to say people being so organised & accomplished make me feel very inadequate.

AlexLK

beanielou wrote: »

Yes have to say people being so organised & accomplished make me feel very inadequate.

Visit my house, it and the people within are neither organised nor accomplished unless accomplishments are based upon how many bottles of kurust and underseal can be found in one's garage. You'll likely never feel inadequate again.

Ali-OK

:rotfl: DS has already turned the lounge into his man-cave for the school hols, so any visitors that come by will share the dog-den/dining room...which is neither clear nor tidy due to garden dirt/dust being traipsed in by doglets every 5 minutes :eek:.

DS would disown me if there wasn't chilli on tap :rotfl: His favourite go-to meal and great for a quick dinner for sure from frozen.

Bet Little K was delighted with the puppy news Alex :j and hope the cake making goes well. Ahh Land Rover shopping, one out one in I hope at least

The problem we have with school uniform here Alex is that there's only one designated supplier for school specific/badged items so that has to be ordered in advance for delivery in mid-August. Can usually get the non-badged stuff ok, but I like DS to try on trousers in the shop and they can sell out of the required size. Won't get his shoes until a week before - a few days before returning it's a long queue in Cl@rks otherwise along with every schoolkid in the area it seems

Thanks for posting your recipe INOD - sounds great, will have a go at that.

So the garden slab cutting today was 27 pieces, the ones missing from the order were collected and several not needed returned for refund bringing the overall cost down a bit. They'll be back next weekend to continue.

Roast beef dinner tonight and a phone call out of the blue from a transatlantic friend who is back in the UK and we're hoping to get together as they're travelling through over the summer.

Got a busy week ahead on the work front and DS is primed for taking delivery of the grass on Tuesday though I'll only be out for a couple of hours max, it's Murphy's Law it'll arrive then.

Not much news on the financials so will leave those for updating tomorrow.

Heading for another early night - think being outdoors alot is tiring me out, even if it is just drinking tea and watching the work going on.

Hope everyone's had a good day.

AlexLK

Sorry to disappoint but not one in, one out with the LR. However, this new LR will be something to play with for a month or two and then move on, so not a permanent addition.

My son is, as you suspected, over the moon. When we went to see them today he spent a long time trying to decide which one is 'his'. :rotfl: He's very good with them, though. The horse riding is also going well and we're fortunate my cousin doesn't charge but he gets professional tuition. I'm really starting to warm to having pets / livestock around due to the time spent around my cousin's house, even agreed to help with lambing next spring. Mother said when I was younger that one day I'll be interested, much to my horror at the time, looks like she was right.

I suppose I ought to look to see if it's the same scenario with school uniform here.

Ali-OK

Are you busy thinking up names for the new pup now Alex? DS chose ours - the test to narrowing it down was whether I'd be happily seen or heard calling it out on walks :rotfl:

I'd imagine for uniform the school have provided an information sheet or prospectus with where to order/buy any badged items from. Check their website if they have one too.

Aha, so the Landy is a new toy for a while?

So Monday over and done with, with the news we have friends visiting tomorrow evening :eek: DS has the task of tidying the lounge since he's taken root in there :rotfl:

All quiet on the cake making and garden front for the first time in a while :rotfl:. Miraculously I've remembered to put the bins out for collection in the morning...having forgotten for the past few weeks

DS has been walked through the grass arrival process for tomorrow in case I'm out at the time. I've got an early GP appointment, then a local client site meeting and then working from home.

I've had a NSD today. Hurrah! :j

Financials:
- bank account checked - big gulp as that has dropped as expected but should claw some back come pay myself day.
- freepostcodelottery checked
- Inbox Pounds up a tad at £17.25
- Another P!necone survey in and completed - another £3 for the pot. That's 3 quite close together and £9 :T
- Qmee - picked up some more and now have 95p ready to move across.

Mortgage interest will go out tomorrow and I'm still hoping for a capital payment of £940 for August (on 29th July).

Hope everyone's week has started off well.

AlexLK

Ali-OK wrote: »

Are you busy thinking up names for the new pup now Alex? DS chose ours - the test to narrowing it down was whether I'd be happily seen or heard calling it out on walks :rotfl:

Names are always difficult, we've thought but come to no conclusions. I will see what ideas my son has but will certainly be applying the same rule as you did.

Ali-OK wrote: »

I'd imagine for uniform the school have provided an information sheet or prospectus with where to order/buy any badged items from. Check their website if they have one too.

Aha, so the Landy is a new toy for a while?

I'd imagine you're right but this is me we're talking about, Ali.

Landy is going to be a new toy for bit, yes. It's a 1972 Series 3 petrol with overdrive. I grew up with these and for the life of me cannot think why I've actually spent money on it ... :rotfl:

You'll be pleased to know (and INOD too) that the cakes have been made and they are absolutely delicious. My son, as always, enjoyed helping and I also made a homemade salmon en croute (quite proud of the cooking today).

Ali-OK wrote: »

So Monday over and done with, with the news we have friends visiting tomorrow evening :eek: DS has the task of tidying the lounge since he's taken root in there :rotfl:

All quiet on the cake making and garden front for the first time in a while :rotfl:. Miraculously I've remembered to put the bins out for collection in the morning...having forgotten for the past few weeks

DS has been walked through the grass arrival process for tomorrow in case I'm out at the time. I've got an early GP appointment, then a local client site meeting and then working from home.

I've had a NSD today. Hurrah! :j

Financials:
- bank account checked - big gulp as that has dropped as expected but should claw some back come pay myself day.
- freepostcodelottery checked
- Inbox Pounds up a tad at £17.25
- Another P!necone survey in and completed - another £3 for the pot. That's 3 quite close together and £9 :T
- Qmee - picked up some more and now have 95p ready to move across.

Mortgage interest will go out tomorrow and I'm still hoping for a capital payment of £940 for August (on 29th July).

Hope everyone's week has started off well.

NSD day is brilliant, I've forgotten what they look like... and a £940 mortgage capital payment is also brilliant, too.