Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

greent wrote: »

just caught up - fab news that DH's job is ok


xx

Indeedy! And if I (keep on) have(ing) my way, we could pay it off within 4 years... Obviously, job-dependent, non-emergency-dependent, and all that...

Have set a target of 13k for 2015. Then remembered that we shall HAVE to go out to Texas to see dh's mum at Easter. She's asked us to go as it may be our last opportunity to see her. Maybe I can persuade dh to cash something in to pay for it. She lives in the middle of nowhere, so getting a car is a must. And I can't even think about keeping dd happy and well fed!

Other good news is that dh is coming home tomorrow :j. 3 days early :j.

apple_muncher

Somehow I have done so ething to my right knee - when I go downstairs, it feels like it is going to give way. Or explode! So I am ascending - and descending. - one step at at time, or on my bottom! And that made my decision easy as to going for a walk in the woods or not! Must be my age...

Plenty of wrapping done. Think all of dd's stuff is wrapped. My charity shop bargain of last week isn't a bargain at all. I decided to assemble it and discovered that most of the structural supports are missing. Grrr. So am recycling it, as giving it back to another ch shop would only disappoint someone else.

I tidied my fabric stash yesterday, and boy! do I have a lot of it! And my wool stash is sizeable to. Not helped by me buying more of both yesterday... I have started to unravel 2 cardigans, as I want to re-use the yarn from 1 to do a jumper for dd, and the other will yield up plenty of white cotton yarn for just £1.

So, I have a 1966 comedy caper on the box and shall finish sewing up dd's jumper then knit a few hearts (4 more to do) for neighbour for Cmas.

apple_muncher

Walking home from school today, I told dd that I hadn't got us any crackers yet. 'Oh, that's all right, mummy. Christmas is about more than just crackers and presents. It's about Jesus being born.' I have an adorable daughter! (and I won't be getting any crackers now!)

Knee is still well dodgy, but have managed over 6k steps, so not too shabby.

Two hearts got knitted. 2 more, plus some stitching up and thread attaching, to go.

Spocksavers rang to say that my shades are ready. Until I have them, I remain sceptical! Shall collect them on Mon when popping that way with dd.

Now that dd has broken up, and her presents are wrapped and u der the tree, I'm feeling quietly festive! I quite happily step away from the crass commercialisation of Christmas, as it has never been about that for me. Christmasses when growing up were difficult. But I have no pressure on me from any quarter now, from neither dh's family nor mine. Freedom!!

Now, if I can just keep dh from going mad in the shops over the next few days...

Dd was talking about one of the little boys in her class, how nice and kind he is. Many of the girls are now into make-up and nails, two things that I shy away from totally. And dd isn't fussed by them either. So she likes this boy and enjoys playing with him. She was also talking about our neighbour's spending habits (!) on make-up, hair, nails, and how she spends ALL her money on those things. I try to be balanced in my response, however much I may agree with her! The upshot is that dd seems quite happy with how we use our money, that we still have treats and holidays and fun together, and don't waste it. Old head on young shoulders there!

Hoping dh will be home very soon...

apple_muncher

Dh stayed away from the shops today, as he tweaked his back whilst working away and was hobbling around.

Dd and I had a good rehearsal and a lovely party with plenty of g-f goodies, then a quiet rest of the day at home.

I think I should get her out and about more tomorrow. Nativity at church, then home for lunch and a trip to drop off some presents near a playground...

Another NSD acquired today - yippee! Tis nice not to spend anything and keep the money squirreled away.

apple_muncher

NST December's mini challenges are to select 5 goals for 2015. And then plan how to achieve them. I know I've mentioned some goals somewhere, but need to have a good look through to locate them.

1 Pay 13k off mortgage. Have joined 2015mfw challenge (and somehow got number 1!). (But we do NEED to pop out to Texas at Easter to see dh's mum - possibly for the last time, so I've suggested dh cashes something in to pay for the travel.) We'll reach 13k by paying 1200pcm for 8 months = 9600, plus 800 for 4 months = 3200. So 12,800 so far.

2 Make all gifts. Hmmm. Probably not quite do-able for everybody, but maybe a £5 limit per person?

3 Look after myself: sleep, food, exercise. Lose the excess weight - 125lbs is my goal. So currently 22lbs to go. Grain-free and sugar-free is the way to go. If only I would stick to this! And up the exercise from sporadic to regular. My knee issue would ease if I was less of a heffalump.

4 Visit dh's mum, as mentioned above.

5 Ensure I have quality time with dd and dh. For free!

apple_muncher

:dance: Not only has dh been paid early, but HE HAS HAD A BONUS!! :dance:

Being quite a newbie, he didn't think he'd get one. And in the end he got 6 months' worth. But not to be sneezed at! He's let me put half of it into our 'don't-you-dare-touch-this' savings/offset/redundancy account. And use the other half to pay off the mortgage!

This means that my pipe dream of getting under 60k this year will definitely happen :j:j:j.. I feel an extremely blessed apple.

apple_muncher

I got myself up early this morning, in order to have mse mooching time before dd awakes. Dh has gone off to work, and should find out in the next few days when next they wish him to depart for far-flung places.

Dd and I are off to a local town this morning: meet a friend for coffee at 11; collect shades from spocksavers; go on the carousel; pop into the ch shops. Shouldn't involve too much money escaping from my padlocked and bolted purse...

Today's tasks are thin on the ground - yippee! The usual washing up; sweep the floors (who brings in so much muck, eh?); put box of decorations upstairs; knit 2 hearts; simply enjoy time with dd.

And tonight we are out at a friend's house for drinks. Posh, eh? We'll be going early and just staying for an hour, as a certain dd really should go to bed at a decent time. That said, last night was about 9.45pm! I have no idea how she manages it, but am getting her up by 7.45 this morning, in the hope that it'll 'help' her sleep earlier tonight...

greent

What fab news re the bonus - and great that you can get under 60K with it - each £10k drop (even if it's cause by say £5 from 60002 to 59997) is such a huge psychological lift, I find!


xx

apple_muncher

A successful trip to town was had! We found free parking a 10 min walk away and saw 4 trains as we went over the railway - got 4 waves and a huge toot .

Lovely time with friend in coffee shop. Dd behaved and we had about 90 mins to chat before she got too bored.

Dd came away with a magic set for her bday from a ch shop, plus 6 books. And a bag of candy floss, a carousel ride and a helium balloon of a pink tree with princess baubles on it. Spent about £12, so not too bad.

I got my jobs done and found a few more gifts for neighbours. I've also made pea soup ('garden peas' from aldee, not my favourite, so soup was the best use of them) for tea. With a big dollop of mash (plus onion, red pepper, mushroom) to bulk it out, and ham chopped into it.

Found 6p roadkill . And had 3 £2 coins in change . £365 left in my account . (must remember £100+ union fees due out this month).

apple_muncher

Amazingly, dd went to sleep in nanoseconds last night and was snoring very quickly.

Today we may: go to the library, pop into aldee for a few bits, make lemon curd tarts, visit local coffee shop.

I should also like to start planning 2015! A suggestion I've read says to carry a list - at all times - of people to buy presents for, and acquire them through the year. Seeing as I plan to make most presents, this 'll serve for the awkward ones or for little extras.

Every purchase shall be weighed, as experience shows that most of my rushed ones really aren't so good. I'll definitely need 2 pairs of work trousers - lightweight ones - as the current ones are winter ones. But seeing as the current ones cost £1 each, there's hope for the 'new' ones to be the same!

I'll not boarding the good ship Not Buying It 2015, but I'll be using its principles.

Enough wittering and rambling. Off to investigate a link to annienygma.