The march to financial freedom

Ali-OK

Cheque book in handbag (I've actually done something physical, hoorah :rotfl:)

We've got a Cineworld here, soooo I've registered my (pay off monthly) Credit Card which is an SB one, so I earn nectar points as well. Woo hoo, that means cashback from Quidco and 10% off buying the tickets on line.

I have a whopping £1.40 left in Quidco from..2007 :rotfl: A contribution to the £5 a year membership fee so can't complain (unless its gone up). Can't believe I remembered my log in as well, so not quite as senile as I thought :rotfl:

We used to go to the Saturday morning kids ones (and used them for birthday parties), though DS is into the new releases now - Ender's Game is the pick.

Great reminder about taking own snack and drink. If DS wants sweets/drinks from the counter there he has to buy them himself. Cruel mummy

Just finishing a Wilko's own Cold/Flu relief drink and then hitting bed for a money-saving day and 'doing day' tomorrow.

Ali-OK

I'm more familiar with eBay, so that's probably my best bet and if I wait a few weeks until the next free listing weekend, can add the new office chair in its box and hopefully his drum kit.

We have to work out how to build it again for a photograph, that should be fun :rotfl:

Rosepetal1701

You have inspired me to get back onto eBay to sell all the stuff in my wardrobe that I have worn once or never worn ever! Must remember to be ruthless and not keep stuff that doesn't fit!;)

Ali-OK

Ali-OK wrote: »

Reminder list for [STRIKE]tomorrow[/STRIKE] TODAY:
- DS wants to go to the cinema this week, was hoping to use Orange Wednesday but we won't make the timings due to me working. Are there any other ways of getting cheap tickets? 10% booking online is the nearest offer I can see so far. We don't go often enough to warrant an Unlimited card. Added CC to Quidco and have to wait 24 hrs to buy tickets instore for cashback

- Wrap some Xmas presents and write corresponding cards before the pile falls off the dining table :eek:

- Take clothes bags to clothes4cash once the storm/winds have calmed down DONE - £13.90 (rounded to £14) for the CC envelope extra payments in November

-Remember cheque book to pay kennels when I collect dogs or it'll add 10 miles for a round trip back home to collect it (a la past stay) :mad:DONE - £100.80 spent. Lovely to have my babies back

- Pop to SB to get bits that are cheaper than Aldi - shower gel and Basics blue loos (pay with points too )DONE - also picked up 5 more small Xmas pressies and used £10 in points. Spent £2.43

- Fill up with petrol at SB. Thanks to Morries opening up locally, fuel is 5p cheaper than it was a few months ago and SB are price matching. I want the nectar points! DONE - £35.50 to fill tank. Usually that covers a whole month personal mileage and have 120 miles to do extra this week due to DS going to parents whilst I'm working. Extra work money worth the fuel cost.

Shall be back to update and see how I've done.

Also:
- Checked bank account, nothing to go out now until 1st Nov.
- Cleared out shoes and took to clothes bank with the other bags
- Racked up 134 Adpoints - would have done more, but no more ads available to view :mad:
- Caught up on work stuff

Still to do:
Housework, cookies to make and business accounts to finalise and print for month. Xmas wrapping and card writing. Prep for tomorrow. Dinner, dog walk and then relax!

Half term is way busier than my working week! :rotfl:

Ali-OK

Rosepetal1701 wrote: »

You have inspired me to get back onto eBay to sell all the stuff in my wardrobe that I have worn once or never worn ever! Must remember to be ruthless and not keep stuff that doesn't fit!;)

That's brilliant, go for it!

I got rid of stuff I shrunk in the tumble dryer or I may just have put on some weight this year

I am not sure what to do with my old business suits. Sometimes I need to be really smart, but mostly smart-cas is ok. I have about 10, guess I could downsize to my 5 best ones and stick at that. It would give me alot more wardrobe room too.

Good luck!

Ali-OK

Sorted the birthdays for November and December (and one in Jan too!). That's 5 presents off the dining table :rotfl:

Electrician now coming on Friday (maybe/possibly/might do)...so a few more days of expensive lighting to put up with.

Upstairs housework done, part downstairs done, business books up to date and printing done. All receipts found against expense log (no mean feat :rotfl:).

Dinner was home made salmon fish cakes from freezer with new potatoes and beans. Doggies walked and now snoozing - through DS's rock music blaring :rotfl:

Didn't get any baking done or Xmas presents wrapped. Maybe tomorrow night after work if not too tired/too much else to do.

Added a £1 coin to the CC envelope, so that's £15 extra for November's statement when it comes. It's on 0% so plan is to add £1 a day until then.

A much better 'doing' day

Tomorrow - a NSD and work. And earning money

Ali-OK

Update for yesterday:

My work day was cancelled by the customer yesterday morning, so didn't earn anything. Rescheduled for end of November. Annoying when the day is planned around them.

Took DS to his medical appointment and got the last space in their car park, saving £1 on parking.

Did an inventory of the contents of the kitchen freezer and half-chest in the garage, which threw up a few things we need to use up soon.

Picked up another 11 Adpoints.

I was back in SB too and picked up a long sleeved t-shirt for DS with 25% off (still £4.50), 5 small Xmas presents at £2-3 each and 6 bottles of ale on offer at £1 each - I am going to make 3 'pub baskets' (or more like gift bags) adding peanuts/snacks. These are for the men that I find tricky to buy for.

So had quite a spend up but used another £10 of points and a £2 off £20 voucher.

22 Xmas presents wrapped, labelled and corresponding cards written and bagged up ready for delivery.

Found 15m of wrapping paper from last Xmas too - usually that happens after I've finished!

Made phone calls to get some quotes for loft insulation on the single storey bit of the house. It's the original house/design and wasn't covered when the free insulation was topped up in the main loft back in 2009.

£11 sqm x 14 = £154 for one quote. I would try doing it myself with rolls but access is very awkward and I think it'll need the loose insulation blown in. Will know more on the 18th when the company come out to have a look at it.

Shopped around for reduced MOT cost but now torn between my local and very trusty garage or using Halfords or ServiceStop who are doing cheap deals. Hmm. The former is a good contact for selling the sports car, so I might have to bite the bullet on that one and play the long game.

Took DS to the cinema last night, complete with bottle of water in bag so no buying snacks. Used CC instore for tickets so fingers crossed the cashback via Quidco works. We both enjoyed the film.

Another £1 added to CC envelope. SB CC month has rolled over, so have set up the usual full payment from bank for all that 1 week before it's due date.

The heating is on! It's turned proper cold here with a frost but the sun is out.

Hope everyone has a good day and I'll catch up later I hope!

Ali-OK

Quite a good day today.

In a passing conversation, it turns out a neighbour used to fit loft insulation for a living and has very kindly offered to do mine. Has also given me local company name to buy from direct rather than using DIY shop. :j Should be quite a big saving.

Worked today and billable. :j

DS had tea at my mum's so saved on a meal. I had a baked potato with prawns that were lurking in the chest freezer and mixed mayo and tomato ketchup to make the marie-rose dressing. Yum.

The £1 coins in my tin total £16, so I've put all that in the CC payment envelope for November. The tin is a mixture of change for car booting use so will keep a few of each denomination in readiness.

I popped into Asda and picked up largish KP bags of peanuts on offer (2 for £3) to put with the ales. Just need cellophane now as plan to stand them on a rectangular piece of card and tie at the top with manly raffia or string. Pressie cost - £3.50, full price would be £6.50.

I have had the paint to redecorate the kitchen and utility for a while now - Wilkos own in the sale bagged me 5l of white for £8 and 5l of magnolia for £14. The plan was to do that this week - aim now is to at least start on the prep and rubbing down.

Lastly, need to get the extra quilt on the bed as woke up cold in the night and this morning. Hot water bottles at the ready pretty soon I reckon!

Ali-OK

An early eve update for today.

Lots of little jobs done at home today, all money-free.

I have done the weekly food shop as we were low on milk and had run out of breakfast items DS has - spent £24.83 in Aldi broken down as:

£14.68 from food budget
£2.19 (money wallets 6 for £1 now in store & another item to go in my 'pub gift' parcel
£7.96 4 pots of face cream that mum will pay me back for as they're going in my Xmas stocking from her.

Food budget is looking healthy with £71.72 out of £100 left for the next 3 weeks.

Have photographed 2 items for eBay and will be listing shortly - thanks Moomin for posting that on your thread.

Got a triple points Nectar advert, so up to 179 - no more points available to me at the moment.

Bad news in that in order to insulate the kitchen and utility well, will have to do the garage loft too, so amount of insulation needed is more than originally thought. But think its worth it in order to save money on heating it.

Bracing myself for an expensive week next week - Osteopath for back maintenance (had operation 10 years ago and need to keep it in good shape) £40, dental check up £25 (private) and possibly another £25 if he wants to take x-rays (usually an annual event). Will ask if I can move across to NHS and get that cheaper going forward. Cheque for school transport to send in on Monday - £56. All budgeted for.

Good news - lights are going off shortly and candles on. I am being bah-humbug for the trick or treaters tonight

Emmala

Me too! DD is out with friends, and DH has taken the boys out with their friends so I'm enjoying some peace by the light of my laptop!! Though, STILL I've had knocking at the door which really annoys me as round here it's either really decorate your house or don't, so it should be obvious which houses to knock on!!! I'd say roll on Bonfire Night, but I don't like fireworks either!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: