Building The Burrow!

Pearla*Merle

Oh yes, forgot: have got new Travelex supercard thing to help with any spends while abroad. They will be minimal given current state of currency

Also got two free passes to the airport lounge (thank you, Amex!) (psst if anyone wants referred for their gold charge card - bonus points for initial spend which can be converted to avios or other things - then just say the word )

Also been drip feeding cash ISA with leftover monies, will transfer higher rate monies into this near end of tax year, as happily that combines with higher rate finishing :A (tho boo to loss of high rate )

misscousinitt

Wow...lots of food for thought there.

We have briefly discussed SIPP etc... but we want to see what we will do with the rental once the 5 year lease is up.

Well done on the 'praise and raise' - absolutely fantastic!

MCI

Pearla*Merle

Thanks, MCI

Very quiet few days hanging around the house and slowly packing for holibobs. Lots of book-reading amongst sudden flurries of washing and hunting things down.

Main news is that we discovered this huge, random plant on the balcony (which had shot up then keeled over behind another plant) is actually a tomato plant with a bunch of little green tomatoes growing on it... only I didn't plant any tomato seeds?! Random :rotfl:

Payday tomorrow! :j Can't wait to shift some money around

:www: MWF Wonderment: phone case has fallen to bits but bought a new one with Amazon vouchers and new eyeliner was bought with Boots points :cool:

Found some cheap & easy ideas for packed lunches (e.g. spiced roasted chickpeas in pitta bread with hummus & salad) - shall enact when I get back from hols.

Sewed up a tear in one of my dresses, so that lives to fight another day.

Free lounge passes with my amex card to use before our flight, shall be making the most of those

:coffee: Simple Pleasures: a nice notebook to scribble up plan and holiday packing lists

:heartsmil Burrow Building: another bag destined for the charity shop quickly filling up - found a seam of towels in one of the cupboards while searching for holiday stuff, they're usually avoided as they're we have better ones so off they go.

misscousinitt

Happy Holiday PM!

Hope you have a fantastic time.

MCI x

apple_muncher

Have a lovely time away x

Pearla*Merle

Thankee kindly

Started by having sandwiches at home before heading off to the airport... not sure such MS activities will continue over the next several days though

Will definitely be rallying against temptations in gift shops - exchange rate is :eek:

50% of salary to savings :j Hoping I can keep it that way til the end of the month...!

Kittenkirst

Have a fantastic trip away!

greent

Hope you're having a great time away xx

Pearla*Merle

Hello!

Holiday was fab (though mad being in the US after that election. Bit intense last couple of days there - was very post-Brexit-like with a few horrible things going on as people thought their nasty opinions were legitimised. Was glad to return to blighty!).

Was *pat on the back* restrained with spending, pretty much stuck to budget and resisted buying much touristy tack. Treated myself to a little makeup bag thing (to use in handbag - had been looking for a nice one for ages) and other 'useable' things. Apart from Christmassy gravy boat/butter dish/creamer set thing which was totally ridiculous but too 50s-cuteness to resist, am sure it'll be fun to use come Christmas day.

Came back to super busy time at work, and have been working lots of extra hours (yay for my bank account but I'm zapped!). Spent all day today catching up with laundry and watching Bleak House box set so am feeling a tad more rested now.

Have also been sorting out Christmas stuff. Mr Merle's presents pretty much all covered by Amazon vouchers :T and our present box covers pretty much everyone else! :T Only needed to buy a pressie for a friends baby (got an extra 20% off it today, huzzah!) and then a couple of bits for people at work and then I'm done.

Sale shenanigans over the past few days have actually meant I've bought more for me than anyone else. That new pair of sandals I bought in the last sale were almost got worn out on holiday (was walking 10 miles a day), so have bought another pair as they're still on clearance (with 50% off), so that should do me next year. :T

Increased salary starts this month, very excited to have more pennies to tuck away! Reckon I should hit a savings rate of around 60% now. Great news on the government scrapping ridiculous letting agents fees, that should save us a lot so we're staying put here for the foreseeable until that kicks in.

We lost the plot with meal planning before the holiday as life was so busy, but we're back on track again and have found some lovely new recipes (i.e. Somerset Stew)

:coffee: Simple Pleasures: simple bean casserole knocked together with freezer & store cupboard bits for lunch; watching the wintry, foggy weather out the window.

:heartsmil Burrow Building: two more bags filled for the charity shop already! More of Mr M's clothes, some towels and old sunglasses. Definitely planning to crack on with more epic decluttering over winter - feeling inspired again to create some space (reread The Lilypad List which has helped).

Have been doing well with reading my unread books and will probably move some of them along once done.

apple_muncher

It is great to hear you bounding along, full of energy! Missed ya x